Practical Life – Preliminary Exercises

Carrying a Pitcher of Water

Materials A pitcher, 2/3 full of water placed in a designated place in the
environment

Purposes Coordination of Movement

Preliminary Movement

Age 2.5 and up

Presentation:
1. Prepare your pitcher with water and place on a designated spot
on a shelf or table. A place that is easily accessed by the
children.
2. Invite a small group. Direct them to stand in a place that makes
the presentation visible.
3. Announce what you will do. “Today, I’m going to show you
how to carry a pitcher.” Inform the children that there is water
in it and let them peek.
4. With pitcher handle in neutral position, approach, bend from
waist and touch handle with right hand, and place left
fingertips under spout (both palms are flat). Turn handle so it
is parallel to surface edge. Pause.
5. Bend at waist. Grasp handle, position other hand (flat palm)
under spout, lift pitcher to chest height (standing straight).
Pause.
6. Look for a spot to place the pitcher and declare what you will
do. “I will carry this to that table.”
7. Do so, while walking carefully.
8. Place on new surface with bottom edge placed first (3 o’clock,
handle side) and rest the remaining base quietly.
9. Handle will be rotated to neutral position. Declare what you
did.
10. Invite a child/ren to carry the pitcher to the designated spot.
11. State, “Now you know how to carry a pitcher.” Invite to
continue carrying a pitcher is they want.
12. Dismiss the group one at a time after they commit to a new
activity. This is a good way to invite the child to make a
choice.
 Practical Life – Preliminary Exercises

Points of Interest 1. Position of hands and analyzed movements (placement of

hands).
2. Position of pitcher in relation to your body.
3. Orientation of the pitcher.
4. Placement of pitcher on table.

Following Exercises 1. Carrying a glass of water

2. Carrying a watering can
3. Carrying a bucket of water

Pedagogical Notes  The pitcher can be left in its designated place for a few days.
We do not normally leave pitchers out on the shelf that are
disconnected from work.
 Older children can be included in this exercise to model the
movement and to refresh their memory.
 This can be given on the first day of school.
Practical Life – Preliminary Exercises