Cultural: Lifecycle of a seed
Children always enjoy the ‘lifecycle of a seed’ lesson (especially poignant in the spring) because of the many exciting and tactile ways in which the learning can be applied and extended.
There are the five stages of plant life cycle:…
Using feelings dolls to help children understand emotion
In Montessori education, fostering social and emotional skills is important because it lays the foundation for a child's holistic development, promoting empathy, effective communication and self-regulation essential for both academic success…
Sensorial: Knobbed Cylinders
The presentation with knobbed cylinders is one of the first sensorial activities in a Montessori classroom. The apparatus was designed by Maria Montessori herself, and consist of wooden cylinders of varying diameter and height, all of which…
10 Montessori activities children can do on Valentines Day
Montessori activities focus on hands-on, experiential learning that encourages independence and creativity. Here are 10 Montessori-inspired activities that children can enjoy on Valentine's Day:
Heart collage: Provide children with coloured…
Mathematics: Small Hexagon Box
The Hexagon Box shows children how different shapes can be used to create other shapes; more specifically, that by joining together different triangles, four-sided figures are formed.
The Small Hexagon Box is a lesson that follows on…
Favourite Montessori instruments to inspire a love for music
In Montessori education, the emphasis on hands-on, child-centred learning aligns seamlessly with the benefits of music. Through self-directed exploration and exposure to various musical experiences, children in Montessori classrooms not only…
Mathematics: Geometric Solids
Geometric Solids not only form some of the groundwork for geometry but encourage exploration and creative thinking. The apparatus comes in a set of 10 wooden 3-D shapes, including:
cube
sphere
cylinder
rectangular prism
square-based…
Ten ways that young children can give back to their communities
Teaching small children to give back to their communities is a wonderful way to instil values of empathy, compassion, and social responsibility from an early age.
Here are ten age-appropriate ways for young children to make a positive…
Sensorial: The Brown Stair
The Brown Stair (also called the Broad Stair) is a series of ten graduated, wooden prisms all the same length but different heights. As a grading activity that helps visual acuity, the Brown Stair is important in early mathematics and sensory…
Teaching empathy in Montessori classrooms
There are many wonderful, important and essential skills that children learn in Montessori classrooms but one of the most fundamental is empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand the feelings of another. It’s something we learn, and plays…
Sensorial: Triangular Box
In Montessori classrooms, we introduce geometric shapes to young children using the Triangular Box. Whilst the activity does form the foundation for exploring more complex geometric concepts, it is part of the sensorial curriculum as it focuses…
Ten top tips for starting Montessori school well
Starting school is a big deal! Exciting but also a bit scary. Children are unique and their transition into a new environment may vary. It’s important that they know it’s totally normal to feel nervous and that we’re there to support them…