Illustration coming soonThe Piece That Turns
Shaindy works on a wooden puzzle at the low table. One place is empty. She holds a long piece with a roof-shaped end.
She lays it across the opening. The long end sticks out. Shaindy presses once, then stops. "It does not fit."
Mommy sits nearby. "Put it beside the space first," she says. Shaindy sets the piece on the table. Nothing is stuck now.
Shaindy looks at the roof-shaped end. The matching end of the opening points toward the window. Her piece points toward the door.
She turns the piece on the table. The roof-shaped ends now point the same way. She lifts the piece over the opening.
This time it settles in without a push. Shaindy runs a finger over the top. "I had the right piece," she says.
"And you found which way it goes," says Mommy. Shaindy takes it out again. She turns it sideways and looks at both ends.
She turns it back and lowers it into place. Then she lifts the puzzle by its wide base and puts it on the shelf.
Activity 1
What part of the puzzle is still empty?
Activity 2
What shape is at one end of the piece?
Activity 3
What does Shaindy do after pressing once?
Activity 4
Where does she set the piece to look at it?
Activity 5
What is different about the two roof-shaped ends at first?
Activity 6
What changes when she turns the piece?
Activity 7
Draw a long shape with a roof-shaped end. Draw the same shape turned sideways.
Activity 8
With a grown-up, turn a large safe puzzle piece beside its space before trying it. Watch instead if you prefer.
Grown-up notes and answers
1. One place.
2. A roof shape.
3. Stops.
4. On the table beside the opening.
5. They point in different directions.
6. Its roof-shaped end points the same way as the matching opening.
7. Accept both orientations; no illustration supplied or required.
8. Adult chooses age-appropriate pieces too large to swallow; no force needed.