Introduction

Montessori addresses a range of learning and experiences that are focused on six core areas of learning: practical life, sensorial, language, mathematics, cultural and creative activities.

Carefully structured activities, often using specially developed Montessori equipment, especially in the sensorial and practical life areas, provides children with a broad platform of skills and knowledge that will support their future learning.

An outline of some Montessori projects used at Cherrytree

Sensorial

Red rods – ten rods ranging from 10cm to 1m, laid in order of length on a mat.  The rods are lined up parallel to the left hand edge, using sight and touch to decide each one’s position.  Pre-runner to number rods (maths).

Knobbed cylinders – set of four blocks, each with ten removable cylinders, which are placed into the corresponding sized hole, by use of the knob on top, promoting strength in the fingers for future writing activities.  The cylinder height and diameter vary in each block.

Knobless cylinder – as knobbed cylinders, but without the blocks as a guide.  Cylinders are placed in order of size from left to right, to reinforce reading and writing pattern in English.

Baric (weight) tablets – three sets of seven tablets of differing weights.  Touch is used to decide which are the same weight.

Sound boxes – two sets of six boxes with differing tones.  Hearing is used to compare the sounds and order them from loud to soft, or to match the two sets.

Pink tower – a set of ten cubes, ranging from 1cm square to 10cm square.  The tower is built with the largest at the base to the smallest at the top.  A basis for later mathematics.

Broad stair – a set of ten rectangular blocks, ranging from 1cm to 10cm across.  They are built into a ‘stair’ in order of size.  A basis for later mathematics.

Practical life

Pegs – strengthens writing digits, to open and close clothes pegs.  Also used to practise pegging clothes to a line.

Bottle tops – strengthens writing digits, to open and close screw bottle tops.

Fastenings – a range of clothes fastenings on frames to allow the child to develop self help skills, e.g. buttons, zips, poppers, Velcro, lace-tying, buckles, safety pins, belt fastenings etc.

Dusting – encourages children to be neat and tidy and respect their environment.

Pouring beans – refinement of gross actions by controlling jugs in order to pour from one to another.  Pre-runner to pouring water.

Spooning beans – refinement of gross actions in order to feed self; also aids pencil grip for later writing skills.

Pouring/transferring water – a range of activities using cold water in order to become confident in pouring/transferring water from one container to another.  Pre-runner to using warm or hot water later in life.

Laying a table – understanding where each item should be placed when laying a table for a meal.

Folding clothes – learning how to fold clothes so they lie flat and are less creased.

Mathematics

Colour box – set of eleven basic colours, two of each, for colour matching and recognition.

Geometric cabinet – cabinet with trays of various shapes.  Each tray has four or six sizes of wooden triangles, squares, circles, curvilinear shapes and multifaceted shapes with knobs.  Each shape has three corresponding cards with a solid shape, bold outlined shape and a thin outlined shape.  Each wooden shape is matched to the corresponding cards to refine visual perception.

Sandpaper numbers – various activities for number recognition and matching.

Number rods – set of ten rods from 10cm to 1m, coloured red and blue on alternate 10cm sections.  Placed in order of size and therefore in numerical sequence.  Can be used with sandpaper numbers to reinforce idea of quantity with number.

Spindle box – box with ten compartments numbered 0-9.  Correct number of spindles are placed in each compartment and the concept of zero is introduced.

Numbers and counters – numbers placed in sequence and correct number of counters placed under each number in pairs.  Introduces idea of odd and even.

Constructive triangles – various shaped triangles placed in certain ways to create larger triangles,  squares, quadrilaterals etc.  Trains the eye to discriminate various lengths and sizes.