Kindergarten Teacher Craft Example Book

Datec. 1900

DimensionsOverall: 24.1 x 22.9 cm
Thickness: 4.4 cm

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Ivan Crawford, Forest, Ontario, 1962

Object number1962.116.003

Label TextTo become a kindergarten teacher in the early 1890s, London’s Mabel Estelle Cannom prepared these workbooks illustrating “Sewing,” “Weaving,” “Cutting,” “Drawing,” and “Folding.” All of these activities were “Occupations,” part of the “Gifts and Occupations” model of early childhood education developed by Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852), the German founder of the kindergarten concept. London’s Louise Wyatt was one of many children who learned this way. In the early 1910s, she completed this exercise in “Cutting.” Swiss educator, Johann Pestalozzi (1746-1829) is recognized as the earliest proponent of early-childhood education. He focused on the individual child and the need to nurture all aspects of his or her development. Friedrich Froebel studied with Pestalozzi. Through his own teaching experiences, Froebel accepted the importance of play in early childhood development. He created the conditions for educative play in the classroom by introducing his “Gifts and Occupations.” Froebel originally conceived of six “Gifts”: 1) multi-coloured yarn balls with string; 2) wooden ball, cylinder, and cube; 3) eight small wooden cubes; 4) eight wooden blocks; 5) wooden blocks, including cubes, planks, and triangles; and 6) more complex wooden blocks. Babies and children manipulated these educative objects in self-directed play, which gave them opportunities to explore, create, and learn. Four more “Gifts” were added later. Children progressed through the “Gifts” in sequence, learning the properties of each of them in relation to themselves and the surrounding world. “Occupations” complemented the “Gifts” and were designed to develop a child’s skill and creativity. They included perforating, sewing, drawing, weaving, paper cutting, and paper folding. Froebel believed that these activities grounded children in the world around them and provided them with a solid foundation for later schooling. Ontario schools incorporated Froebel’s methods into the kindergarten curriculum by the early 1900s. Mabel Cannom was among the first student teachers to have been taught Froebel’s method during her year-long kindergarten teacher training, which she completed in 1894. Following her studies, Cannom took a position at Lorne Avenue Public School, becoming one of London’s first kindergarten teachers. In September 1898, she won the first prize of $10.00 from the Ladies Home Journal, for the “Best Kindergarten Work.” She had competed against teachers from across Canada and the United States. Cannom retired from teaching upon her marriage to James Rogers on December 25, 1902.

NameWorkbook