The metal insets are a traditional Montessori material, which have been an integral and highly successful part of primary and elementary classes worldwide. Children begin working with the metal insets in the Primary classroom and are likely to gravitate toward them when they first enter the new world of the elementary class.

Lengthy, concentrated work with the metal insets leads to a refinement of the small muscle groups used in handwriting and gives the child mastery of all the movements required to form the letters of the alphabet in cursive writing. At the same time, use of this work reinforces recognition of the geometric shapes.

The aim of this material is:

• To provide a kinesthetic preparation for handwriting.
  
• To develop hand-eye coordination.
  
• To acquire control and develop concentration.
  
  Physical Description:
  
  The material is a set of 10 square metal, reddish colored frames with blue metal geometric figures inside each frame, five made from straight lines (triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid and pentagon) and five from curved lines (circle, oval, ellipse, curvilinear triangle, quatrefoil). On each blue shape is a small knob, and the insets are kept on two sloping wooden stands.
  
  
  
  Use by child:
  
  The child used paper cut the same size as the inset frame and colored pencils to complete their inset work. The geometric shape is first traced and then filled in with colored pencil. Later when concentration is further developed filling in of the shape becomes more detailed as the child uses patterns and multiple colors. To further heighten the complexity, a child might trace two or more of the same shape making multiple sections prior to filling in.