Parallel with these Froebel devised what he calls the "occupations," which put into permanent shape the ideas expressed by the gifts.
Among the occupations (we will not name all) are: Peaswork, pricking, sewing, weaving, parquetry, pasting, cardboard modeling, sand and clay modeling.
These are arranged in reverse order to the gifts; that is, they proceed from the point to the solid.
Peaswork (Good well-dried peas, wooden toothpicks or hair-wire)
Soak the peas for 10 or 12 hours till soft. Then make a cane of one pea and one stick.
Two peas and one stick will make a dumb-bell.
Three of each will make a triangle.
Make a square in the same way, and then by adding to this other peas and sticks a skeleton chair can be made. All kinds of furniture and geometrical forms may be thus manufactured. The wire or toothpick must be inserted in the cheek of the pea. Watch the child carefully to see that he does not get nervous over the work. Assuming that the peas are in good condition, there should be little trouble if the forms made are simple.
Pricking (Thin white cardboard, long pin, several folds of cloth or a piece of felt)
Froebel recognized the appeal this pastime makes to the mystery-loving child. As sometimes used it may be injurious to nerves or eyesight; but used judiciously the child of five or six will find it a source of harmless entertainment.