"What the hand does the mind remembers"
Activities of Everyday Living
Children have a need to be Independent. The activities in this area are familiar and aim at assisting the child to perfect the skills they need in their daily lives. Eye-hand co-ordination and the ability to concentrate are developed. As children achieve in this area, they learn valorisation. A respect for self, others and the environment is taught and encouraged.
Sensorial
Children are born scientists. They use their senses to ex-plore the world. Materials in this area lead to formation of concepts, the extrapolation of property and ultimately to abstract thinking.
Through exploration the child learns ordering, classification and observation. The child’s experience is enriched and their creativity + imagination are enhanced.
Numeracy
Number concepts are a part of every-day life. The child through manipulating the concrete maths material, are able to achieve a natural appreciation of concepts. Skills learnt include sorting, ordering, matching, pairing and sequencing. The abilities to compare and concentrate are important for cognitive development. This method leads to enjoyment of maths.
Literacy
Montessori noted that from birth to six years of age, the child goes through a period of sensitivity to language. The child absorbs language. By using correct sentences and a wide vocabulary and by speaking clearly parents and teachers are able to assist. Writing preparation and phonics are taught as well as introducing vocabulary based on real experiences.
Knowledge and understanding of the world
In this area, children are exposed to fascinating materials in subjects such as Natural Science, Geography, Music, and History are introduced. Montessori believed that, through an early introduction to other cultures, children would develop an interest and curiosity of others promoting tolerance and peace