The seventh gift is derived from the geometrical surfaces, and consists of wooden tablets in shapes of circles, squares, triangles, etc.
The eighth gift represents the geometrical line and is made up of wooden sticks in lengths of one, two, three, four, five, and six inches. They may be had in two thicknesses and either colored or uncolored.
The ninth gift, derived from the edge of the circle, consists of metal rings, half rings, and quarter rings, in several sizes.
The tenth gift, derived from the geometric point, is the lentil.
Kindergartners differ as to the amount of emphasis to be placed upon the geometric side of the "gifts," and as to whether or not they should always be presented in a certain logical order. To appreciate their full value the mother must read her Froebel or take a kindergarten course. We give below some simple methods of using them, from which the child will derive both pleasure and benefit. What follows should be entirely clear, especially if the mother has the "gifts" before her as she reads.
First Gift Balls (Rubber ball 1½ inches in diameter, wool in six primary colors, crochet-hook)
These balls can be made by taking a rubber ball and crocheting around it a case of worsted; or a case can be crocheted and then stuffed with loose wool or cotton. In the latter case to insure a good shape it is well to crochet over a ball till nearly finished; then take the rubber ball out and fill with the cotton or wool and then complete the ball. Then crochet a string about eight inches long and attach to the ball, for suspending it. The ball can then be swung, raised, lowered, made to hop like a bird, swing like a pendulum, revolve rapidly like a wheel. The child may play that it is a bucket being raised or lowered. See how steadily he can raise it.
The balls lend themselves to many color games.
1. Place them in a row, let one child blind his eyes, another one removes one of the balls and the first one, opening his eyes, tries to think which one is missing.
2. Let children observe the colors through a glass prism and try to arrange balls in similar order. Ask child if he can tell which colors are uppermost in the rainbow, the cold or the warm ones.