Gift 8, Connected Slats, was kindly crafted and donated by Rick Miller and Wally Rogers, since they cannot be purchased anywhere known to us.

The connected slats are in the Maria Kraus-Boelte and John Kraus Kindergarten Guide Volume One: The Gifts (1877). Catalogues published during the the same time period move directly from Parquet Tiles (Planes Gift 7) to Stick Laying (Lines Gift 10) skipping past Slat Interlacing (Lines Gift 9) to the Connected SLats, studied here.

The group was excited to start exploring Gift Eight, since it is really a unique learning tool. One can be very creative with it...making combinations of closed and/or open shapes including multiple outlined figures.

The players touched on the three Forms of Life, Knowledge and Beauty. Made from Popsicle sticks, each slat measures 4" long and 3/8" wide to match the Kindergarten grid. Any angle can be made from two or more connected slats, creating acute, right and obtuse angles, at will.