Description

Newly refreshed design! Take a look.

Unique, Original and Handmade Puzzles

This unique Montessori Bald Eagle nomenclature puzzle is created from original drawings and designs by Puzzle Heads Educational Products. Did you know? The Bald Eagle is only found on the continent of North America. It has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782.  Bald Eagles are believed to mate for life and together build some of the largest and heaviest nests in the bird kingdom.  The only other birds with white tail feathers are swans and domestic turkeys. Learn more cool facts like this with the booklet that comes with the replica Bald Eagle feather material found here.

How the Puzzles Are Made

As with all Puzzle Heads Originals products, each one begins as hand drawn artwork created in our studios. Sometimes ideas may evolve from rough sketches with good old paper and pencil. Other times, the concept may be created entirely digitally. Once each image is perfected, it ultimately becomes a digital illustration in the computer. The Bald Eagle puzzle was planned and designed first entirely on paper. The original design has been updated and modified over the years, and has just had yet another refresh in 2021!

The final artwork is printed and sealed with water based varnish. Then each and every puzzle is cut by hand and each piece is carefully sanded to silky smoothness.

These puzzles are constructed from solid Baltic Birch plywood, not pressboard or Masonite. As a result, they will never get rounded corners or “fraying” on the edges. You are purchasing an heirloom quality product that withstands rugged classroom use and will last through many hand-me downs at home. Full color 3 part nomenclature cards available here.

The Pincer Grip

The knobs used on wooden puzzles are important features that are designed to encourage the development of the pincer grip. The pincer grip is the action of grasping an object with the thumb and first finger. Babies begin developing this skill between 6-12 months of age. When you think about it, it takes an amazing amount of hand eye coordination, concentration, precise movements and muscle strength to succeed in picking up and manipulating a small object.

Dr. Maria Montessori recognized the need to encourage the development of this skill and designed many  activities and materials for the classroom with this in mind. The pincer grip is the foundation of so many actions that will come as babies and toddlers grow. You may still be perfecting your pincer grip through your adult life if you being learning a new skill, like painting with a fine brush or threading a needle. Young children need to perfect the pincer grip in preparation for things like holding a pencil, learning to write, buttoning, zipping and snapping. A Montessori classroom has many materials and activities to help develop this skill.

Features

• 10 knobbed pieces (some parts have two pieces, like the Leaf, Skin, Flesh)
• Pieces cut to match the Apple nomenclature card sets (Skin, Flesh, Core, Ovary, Seeds, Leaf, Blossom End (Calyx), Stem)
• Approximate Size: 9-1/4″ x 10-3/4″ (23.5cm x 27.5cm)

 

Recommended Age

3 years+

Preschool, Homeschool and Montessori Casa programs

Handmade in Canada.