Bells

Bells
Sensorial - Auditory Sense
Level	Primary
Prerequisites	Silence Game
Materials	set of 26 Montessori bells

The purpose of the activities with the bells is to refine the child's sense of pitch.

Presentations

Carrying a Bell

1. Show how to carry the bell.
   Hold the stem with one hand.
   The other hand should be held flat to support the bell from underneath.

   

2. Give the child a turn.

Ringing a Bell

1. Hold the striker with the fingertips, let it hang downwards.
2. Swing it gently to hit the side edge if the bell.

   

3. Give the child a turn.

Using the Mute

1. step one

   

2. next step

   

Matching Bells

1. step one

   

2. next step

   

Grading Bells

1. Take four tan bells to a table and mix them up.
2. Start by finding the lowest of the four bells.

   

3. Slide down the first two bells and ring them to determine which one has the lower pitch.

   

4. Keep the lower of the two in the middle.
   Slide the higher bell off to the right.

   

5. Slide down the third bell.
   Compare to see which of the two is lower.
   Keep the lower of the two bells in the middle.
   Slide the higher of the two off to the right.

   

6. Slide down the fourth bell.
   Compare to see which of the two is lower.
   Keep the lower of the two bells in the middle.
   Slide the higher of the two off to the right.

   

7. Put the lowest bell in the upper left corner.

   

8. Slide the remaining bells back up.

   

9. Slide down the first two of the remaining bells.
   Compare them to see which of the two is lower.

   

10. Keep the lower of the two in the center.
    Move the higher of the two bells off to the right.

    

11. Slide down the last bell to the center.
    Compare the two bell to see which of the two is lower.
    Slide the higher of the two bells off to the right.
    You now have the second lowest bell.
    Slide it up to the right of the lowest bell in the upper left corner.

    

12. Slide the remaining two bells to the center.
    Compare to see which of the two is lower.

    

13. Slide the lower of the two bells up to be the third bell in the upper left corner.

    

14. Slide up the bell that remains (the highest bell) to be the fourth bell in the upper left corner.

    

15. Ring all the bells in order from left to right to check to see if they are in order from lowest to highest.

Points of Interest

• The sound of the bells

Variations and Extensions

• There are several ear-training apps available that would serve as a good substitute for a homeschooled child.

Material

Make Your Own

• Blog post by Grace and Green Pastures on how to convert handbells (see below) to Montessori style bells.

Where to Buy

Prices and links checked: 23 January 2022
(Amazon/Bookshop are affiliate links, which help cover costs of running the site.)

Set of 13 Pairs of Bells
Store	Price
Nienhuis	$1033.50

Set of 8 Pairs of Bells
Store	Price
Adena	$239.95
Affordable Montessori	$239.00
IFIT	$180.00
Thinkamajigs	$239.95
Montessori Concepts 8 bells, rainbow	$85.00

Bell Mallet
Store	Price
IFIT	$3.00
Nienhuis	$5.30

Damper
Store	Price
IFIT	$3.00
Nienhuis	$5.30

Baseboards
Store	Price
Nienhuis	$45.90

Bells Staff Board
Store	Price
Nienhuis	$45.60

Staff Board with Notes
Store	Price
Nienhuis	$31.10

Bell Cabinet
Store	Price
Nienhuis	$369.60

Bell Cart
Store	Price
Montessori Woods	$350.00

Handbells
Store	Price
Groth	$92.95
Musician's Friend	$87.99
Groth	$77.95
Groth	$209.95
West Music 25 bells, black and white	$165.47

Further Reading

• Basic Montessori: Learning Activities for Under-fives by David Gettman, page 125-127