This post heavily references “Discovery of the child”, pages 136 to 138 in an effort to share the five characteristics of the Montessori materials The Sensorial materials help the child to focus one or more sense on a particular property of matter through a purposeful activity. To help the child sensorially discriminate between the materials …
Types of Sensorial Activities
All of the materials for Sensorial Activities are purposeful, developmental ones, they should be handled in a way which acknowledges their essential property, to help refine the senses and intellect. Pairing By pairing the child identifies two objects with the same quality from a series of different objects, this is more …
Introducing Sensorial Materials
The Sensorial materials were the first of the four types to be used by Montessori and arguably the most important, later the Exercises for Practical life were added as preparations for them and the Mathematics and Language materials further develop the abstract capacities developed by the sensorial materials. The Exercises of Practical Life are …
The Purposes of the Sensorial Exercises
Sensorial activities are designed to isolate and materialise properties of physical matter. Each activity appeals to a corresponding sense organ. Each set must be complete and in proportion. The child is born with her sense perception at a relatively early stage, she must learn to distinguish people from objects, one face from another, her father’s …
Details of Sensorial Activities
The materials are Made from aesthetically appealing, natural materials Proportionate to the child Their developmental purpose is simple and clear once the presentation is given Scientifically designed, accurately and precisely formed. The materials are unfamiliar to the child so they bring no external meanings, implications, distractions or ‘noise’. …
Aims of Sensorial Activities
Direct Aim: To increase awareness of the ‘essential properties’ through sensorial experience, independent of discreet objects. To refine the senses To consciously recognise that each property exists in an infinite array of (degrees) qualities Indirect Aim: Each activity has a specific indirect aim, generally they are to help prepare the child …
Introducing Grace and Courtesy Activities
Grace can be defined as harmony between body and mind, for a young child, grace is the ability to complete a series of simple gestures and movements with dignity. Courtesy is harmony between an individual and their society, this can be expressed in situations without any direct social interaction as consideration and independence, e.g. refraining …
Activities for offering items to others
Offerings Introduction Offering objects to people is done in daily life, we can offer visitors refreshments, a chair, objects in our surroundings. The activities of offering help the child to confidently welcome visitors, making a successful adaptation to her society, rather than becoming anxious when new people are present, this helps inculcate social values of …
Ten more activities for Grace and Courtesy
Blowing ones nose Introducing oneself, friends and an adult Opening a door for another Knocking before entering Offering help to a friend Giving comfort to a friend Offering a chair to a visitor Ordering food in a restaurant Serving a guest at a Dining Table Passing a platter of food and choosing one item …
Art
Have a shelf to set up art activities for free expression, the outcome is up to the child, the process helps with the acquisition of practical skills, co-ordination and sensorial refinement. Crayons Material Description: Plastic mat, newspaper the size of a chowki and three containers for red, blue and yellow crayons, …