"From the ball as a symbol of unity, we pass over in a
consecutive manner to the manifoldness of form in the cube."
"The child has an intimation in the cube of the unity which
lies at the foundation of all manifoldness, and from which
the latter proceeds." FRIEDRICH FROEBEL.
"Notice has now become observation, and observation leads to
discrimination. He sees and is curious by nature, but it
belongs to us to lead him to observe and inquire."
EMILY SHIRREFF.
1. Froebel's second gift consists of a wooden sphere, cube, and
cylinder, two inches in diameter (as now made), with rods and
standards for revolution.[18]
[18] "The wooden sphere has no string like the balls of the
first gift, because the child no longer needs the outward
connection; he now realizes the spiritual connection between
himself and the outer world." (E. G. Seymour.)
2. In the first gift the child received objects of the same shape and
size but of different colors, thus learning to separate color from
form. In the second gift he receives unlike objects, and learns to
distinguish them from each other by their individual peculiarities.
The first gift suggests unity, and leads to the detection of
resemblances; the second suggests variety or manifoldness, and
emphasizes contrasts.
3. The most important characteristic of the gift is contrast of form,
leading to the distinction of different objects. The mediation of
contrasts here suggests the connection of all objects, however widely
separated.
4. The purpose of the gift is to stimulate observation and comparison
by presentation of striking contrasts, and to afford new bases for the
classification of objects. Spencer says that any systematic
ministrations to the perceptions ought to be based upon the general
truth that in the development of every faculty markedly contrasted
impressions are the first to be distinguished; that hence sounds
greatly differing in loudness and pitch, colors very remote from each
other, and substances widely removed in hardness or texture should be
the first supplied; and that in each case the progression must be by
slow degrees to impressions more nearly allied.[19]
[19] _Education_, page 132.