This Montessori practical life activity is an easy homeschool learning activity that only takes minutes to set up. Try it today!
Cutting a banana is a simple Montessori practical life activity, and an introductory lesson in food preparation, that can be used to help young children develop independence, boost self-esteem and encourage reading readiness.
Banana cutting is a Montessori practical life activity and snack time all in one. Invite children to cut a banana in order to help toddlers develop self-confidence and self-sufficiency in the kitchen, make preschoolers feel like they are making a contribution at home, and help kindergarteners and elementary-aged kids build confidence and skills.
Related: Squeezing an Orange Montessori Practical Life Activity.
Banana Cutting Montessori Materials
- Cooking apron for kids or a T-shirt designated for Montessori practical life activities, and helping in the kitchen
- Montessori wooden tray
- Ripe banana
- Cutting board
- Butter knife or safe wood knife for kids
- 2 bowls (we used a shatter-resistant dessert bowl and a soup/cereal bowl for this practical life activity. The small dessert bowls are wonderful for toddlers, beading, painting, eating, feeding the dog and cat, etc.)
- Montessori toddler table and chair [optional]
Present the Banana Cutting Activity
If your children have never tried cutting a banana, you will need to present how to cut a banana before offering this Montessori practical life activity.
Follow the simple step by step Montessori practical life activity instructions below. Everything proceeds from top to bottom and left to right to gently encourage reading readiness.
Make sure you are deliberate in your actions. Young children are imitative creatures and will repeat the actions that they see the adults around them do.
This is why it is important to complete each step in the exact order and in the exact way that you would like your child to do the activity from start to finish.
Banana Cutting Montessori Practical Life Activity Step by Step Instructions
Time needed: 20 minutes.
Cutting a banana is a Montessori practical life activity and food preparation activity that can boost self-esteem and help your child develop independence in the kitchen. Allowing children to incorporate the sequential manner of the entire Montessori practical life activity helps build healthy work habits.
- Put on an apron or work shirt.
It doesn’t matter what you use, it only matters that it acts as a signal that it is time to work.
- Place the Montessori banana cutting materials on a tray.
Invite children to carry the tray to the toddler table.
- Put the banana cutting Montessori materials on the toddler table as shown.
Invite children to place the banana cutting supplies onto the table as shown. Montessori practical life activities occur from top to bottom and left to right in order to prepare children to learn to read.
- Peel the banana.
Cut off the top of the banana before beginning if you would like to make it easier for children to peel it. Carefully pull each peel down and place it directly into the compost bowl to the right of the cutting board. Make sure the action is from left to right.
- Cut the banana.
Take the butter knife and carefully cut one-piece of banana at a time. Once each slice is cut, pick it up, and put it in the food bowl on the right until the banana is completely cut.
Remember, the action should occur from right to left to encourage reading readiness. Cut, then place, repeat. After each slice of banana is cut immediately put it in the food bowl to the right until the banana is completely cut. - Clean up banana cutting activity before eating the banana as a snack.
Have children put the compost bowl, cutting board, and kife back on the tray and carry it back to the kitchen. Next, have children clean up and put their apron away to signal that their work is complete.
- Enjoy the fruits of your labors.
After clean up, invite children to eat the cut banana and enjoy the fruits of their labor. 🙂
Cutting a Banana Photo Tutorial
The photo tutorial below shows each step in the banana cutting Montessori practical life activity.
Montessori Cutting a Banana Practical Life Activity
Every time my daughter wants a banana she wants to cut it “all by herself.” I set her up at her Montessori toddler table and away she goes.
Cutting a banana is a simple Montessori practical life activity for food preparation that can help toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners develop self-confidence and self-sufficiency in the kitchen.
Allowing children to incorporate the sequential manner of the entire Montessori practical life activity helps build healthy work habits.
Try this easy homeschool Montessori learning activity today!
More Montessori Inspired Activities:
- Coin Sorting: A Montessori Sensorial Activity
- Flower Arranging: A Montessori Practical Life Activity
- Squeezing an Orange Montessori Practical Life Activity
More Educational Activities for Kids
- Sorting and Classifying Rocks
- Magnet Fishing: Cool Science for Kids
- Human Sundial Shadow Science Experiment
- Fun Shadow Activities and Experiments
- The Art and Science of Skipping Rocks
- Nature Sensory Bin Scavenger Hunt
Wonderful! You know I’m a fan of Montessori Practical Life!
Thanks Jennifer! I take that as a big complement coming from you 🙂
My middle still loves to cut up his bananas and eat them! It’s his favorite way to have them. 🙂
It’s my favorite way for my daughter to eat them too 🙂
For a leftie would you have them cut from the left side of the banana?
Yes Rena! Allow the child to use the hand that is most comfortable for them to use. 🙂