THE 6 AREAS OF THE MONTESSORI CURRICULUM
Practical Life materials are the first activities the children are introduced to when they start at nursery, many of the objects the children will be familiar with, such as jugs, spoons, socks for example. These activities help children with their transition from home to school. The practical life materials help develop a child’s concentration and independence, as well as building life skills. All materials in practical life are real tasks that will help them in everyday life; for example pouring rice from one jug to another. This is helping develop the child’s understanding and ability to pour their own drink, as well as developing fine motor development, confidence and self belief in their own ability to do things independently.
Sensorial materials were created by Maria Montessori to refine and stimulate the different senses individually. The materials look at developing; sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing, through these senses children learn about the environment around them. Whilst looking at developing the senses the sensorial materials achieve this by looking at materials that concentrate on length, width, weight, volume, and promoting problem solving skills for example.
Maths materials look at introducing the child to mathematical concepts by physically experiencing the materials before the formal teaching of the mathematical language is introduced. Children are introduced to numbers firstly through materials such as the number rods and then the number name is introduced. Children are surrounded by numbers in the everyday environment, we support this learning opportunity, in addition to the maths materials, with singing and number rhymes.
Language The classroom has a cozy book corner with a wide range of books, where the children can relax and enjoy. The children have regular opportunities to get involved with listening and telling stories.
As children move through the year we also have a range of language materials, such as the sandpaper letters which introduce the letters through a sensory approach using the child’s muscle memory. We also have the pink, blue and green series which introduce children to word building and reading three letter phonic words, to more complex words which start using blends such as ‘sh’.
Cultural, Maria Montessori believed that a child should have an understanding about the world around them and the consequences they have on the environment. The cultural materials look at; history, biology, geography and science. Children experience a wide range of learning from looking at the continents in a puzzle map to creating an exploding volcano.
Creative we have an extensive range of creative activities for the children to experience, such as singing, painting, cutting, junk modeling, play dough, crayons, sticking, sand play, as well as weekly activities including cooking, clay modeling, dancing to name a few.
Village Montessori Ltd. 