Tuesday, 25 October 2011

LANGUAGE  MATERIALS 

Language materials have some essential points in common with Sensorial materials. They provide the children with keys to discover something that is beyond what lies on the surface. Sandpaper letters give the shape of the letters, the Movable Alphabet makes it possible to arrange these letters to form words, and the Metal insets makes it possible for childen to control a writing instrument and later on, put their thoughts on paper.
Sandpaper Letters
The sandpaper letters guide the hand for writing as the child traces the letter shapes in the style and direction that they are written. Each sandpaper letter is in lower case with the consonants on boards painted pink and the vowels on boards painted blue.
Movable Alphabet
After learning the letter sounds with the Sandpaper Letters, the Movable Alphabet is used by the children for the writing of words. The set contains 10 of each consonant in red, and 15 of each vowel in blue, in thick plastic letters.
Writing Insets
Dr. Montessori analyzed the movements, which are connected with writing and developed the Metal Insets for directly preparing the child for handwriting. The metal insets exercises strengthen the three-finger grip and coordinate the necessary wrist movements. The exercises also advance proficiency in lightness of touch and evenness of pressure through drawing activities.
Reading Analysis, First Chart and Box
This material helps the child to analyze the basic parts of a sentence and identify their function. The first chart and box introduces the predicate, subject, and direct object.
Reading Cards
Allows the child to different key letter combinations.
Grammar Symbols
Grammar Symbols help to reinforce sensorially each part of speech. There are 15 different symbols, each representing a specific part of speech.

MATHEMATICS



Math materials allow the children to have a sensorial experience of the abstraction that is mathematics, allowing them to store concepts so that when the time comes to deal exclusively in abstract terms, the understanding is already there. Every piece of material isolates one concept, which integrates to form the basis for a further step in the child's understanding of mathematics.
Number Rods

The Number Rods introduce the child to quantity 1-10 and their corresponding number names. Serves as the child's link to the sensorial exercises as it is very similar to the long rods. Through exploration with the material, the child also develops concepts in sequence of number, combinations of 10 and basic arithmetic.
Sandpaper Numerals

The sandpaper numerals introduce the child to symbol 0-9 and their corresponding number names. By tracing the numerals in the style and direction in which they are written, the child is preparing for writing numbers. The child is then given the opportunity to relate his knowledge of quantity and symbol with the number rods and cards.
Spindle Boxes

Spindle Boxes provide practice in associating quantity and symbol for the numbers 0-9, and introduces zero as no quantity.
Memory Game, Cards, and Counters
The memory game, cards, and counters serve as practice for the child as he is required to remember and associate quantity to symbol. The cards and counters provide practice for the sequence of numbers and also introduce odd and even numbers.
Introduction to Decimal Quantity

A tray containing Golden bead materials for introducing the decimal quantities of 1, 10, 100 and 1000
Introduction to Decimal Symbol
A tray containing cards that differ in length and color to introduce the values of 1, 10, 100 and 1,000.
Golden Bead Material

The golden bead material introduces the child to the decimal system with concrete representations of the hierarchy of numbers. Quantity and place value of the decimal system are explored by the child in activities in the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Stamp Game

After being introduced to the processes of the decimal system using the golden bead materials, the Stamp Game provides opportunities for individual practice in the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. In a step towards abstraction, the quantity and symbols of the decimal system are combined and are represented by each "stamp".
Tens Boards

With the Tens Boards, the child explores the number names of the tens and the sequence of numbers 11-99. Bead quantities are created from the ten bars and unit beads in the Tens Bead Box and are associated with the corresponding numeral on the Tens Board.
Hundred Board

An enjoyable counting activity that reinforces the sequence of numbers from 1-100. The Hundred Board is used by placing the wooden chips in sequence on the board.
Bead Material

This extensive set of bead material is used for the exercises of linear and skip counting the quantities of the squares and cubes of the numbers 1-10. It prepares the child for later activities in multiplication, squaring and cubing, as well as base number work.
Addition Equations and Sums Box

This two-compartment box with lid contains plastic chips, one set with equations printed on them and one set with the answers to be used with the addition working charts. These aid the child in practice and memorization of the unit addition combinations.
Colored Bead Stairs

The colored bead stairs are used for activities of addition, subtraction and multiplication.
Addition Snake Game

The addition snake game introduces the child to addition combinations of the unit numbers.
 
 
 Sensorial Materials



Montessori sensorial materials are materials used in the Montessori classroom to help a child develop and refine his or her five senses. Use of these materials constitutes the next level of difficulty after those of practical life.
Like many other materials in the Montessori classroom, sensorial materials have what is called "control of error", meaning that the child not only works with the material, but has a way to check the work rather than seeking out the teacher. This is done to help promote independence on the part of the child.

The cylinder blocks

Small, tall and short, thick and thin, and combinations of these.
The cylinder blocks are ten wooden cylinders of various dimensions that can be removed from a fitted container block using a knobbed handle. To remove the cylinders, the child tends to naturally use the same three-finger grip used to hold pencils.
Several activities can be done with the cylinder blocks. The main activity involves removing the cylinders from the block and replacing them. The control of error is constituted in the child's inability to replace a cylinder in the wrong hole. There are four cylinder blocks. Their purpose is to provide various dimensions of size to help the child distinguish between large

The pink tower

The pink tower has ten pink cubes. The smallest cube is 1 cubic centimeter in volume, and the largest cube is 1000 cubic centimeters in volume (each side is 10 cm in length). The work is designed to provide the child with a concept of "big" and "small."
The child starts with the largest cube and puts the second-largest cube on top of it. This continues until all ten cubes are stacked on top of each other.
The control of error is visual. The child sees the cubes are in the wrong order. The successive dimensions of each cube are such that if the cubes are stacked flush with a corner, the smallest cube may be fit squarely on the ledge of each level. If the smallest cube is too small or big to fit on the ledge, the tower cubes are in the wrong order

 The broad stair

The broad stair (also called Brown Stair) is designed to teach the concepts of "thick" and "thin". It comprises ten sets of wooden prisms with a natural or brown stain finish. Each stair is 20 cm in length and varies in thickness from 1 to 10 cm. When put together from thickest to thinnest, they make an even staircase.
As an extension, the broad stairs are often used with the pink tower to allow the child to make many designs.

 The red rods

The red rods are rods of equal diameter, varying only in length. The smallest is 10 cm long and the largest is one meter long. Each rod is 1 square inch thick. By holding the ends of the rods with two hands, the material is designed to give the child a sense of long and short.

The colored cylinders

Also called the knobless cylinders, the colored cylinders are exactly the same dimensions as the cylinder blocks mentioned above.
There are 4 boxes of cylinders:
  • Yellow cylinders that vary in height and width. The shortest cylinder is the thinnest and the tallest cylinder is the thickest.
  • Red cylinders that are the same height, but vary in width.
  • Blue cylinders that have the same width, but vary in height.
  • Green cylinders that vary in height and width. The shortest cylinder is the thickest and the tallest cylinder is the thinnest.
The child can do a variety of exercises with these materials, including matching them with the cylinder blocks, stacking them on top of each other to form a tower, and arranging them in size or different patterns. When the yellow, red, and green cylinders are placed on top of each other, they all are the same height.

 The binomial cube

The binomial cube is a cube that has the following pieces: one red cube, three black and red prisms, three black and blue prisms, and one blue cube.
A box with eight prisms represent the elements of (a + b)3 or: a3 + 3a2b + 3ab2 + b3
The pieces are stored in a box with two hinged opening sides. The color pattern of the cube is painted all around the outside of the box (except the bottom).
The material is not designed as for math education until the elementary years of Montessori education. In the primary levels (ages 3–6), it is used as sensorial material.

 The trinomial cube

The trinomial cube is similar to the binomial cube, but has the following pieces:
  • 1 red cube and 6 black and red prisms (varying in size)
  • 1 blue cube and 6 black and blue prisms (varying in size)
  • 1 yellow cube and 6 black and yellow prisms (varying in size)
  • 6 black prisms (same size)
This is similar to the binomial cube, but is a physical representation of the formula:
(a + b + c)3 = a3 + 3a2b + 3a2c + b3 + 3ab2 + 3b2c + c3 + 3ac2 + 3bc2 + 6abc

Other materials

There are many Montessori sensorial materials, and more are being investigated and developed by teachers. Other popular Montessori sensorial materials include:
Monomial cube 
A cube similar to the binomial and trinomial cube. The child has a sensorial experience of the power of multiplying by two and developing that into a cube.
 Geometric cabinet
Several different shapes are inset into wood and placed in drawers. The child distinguishes the different shapes, learns their names, and learns how to discriminate from the shapes.
The constructive triangles 
Different triangles are put together to form various shapes. Shapes made with the triangles include the parallelogram, hexagon, rhombus, and trapezoid.
Color tablets 
Boxes with tablets inside. The sides are usually made of wood or plastic. The middle is painted wood or plastic. The only difference between them is the colors in the middle. There are three color boxes. The first has the three primary colors (red, blue, and yellow). The second has 12 different colors. The third box has nine colors, but in different grades from light to dark.
Geometric solids 
Ten Geometric three-dimensional shapes made from wood and usually painted blue. The shapes are:
  • Sphere
  • Cone
  • Ovoid
  • Ellipsoid
  • Triangle-based pyramid
  • Square-based pyramid
  • Cube
  • Cylinder
  • Rectangular prism
  • Triangular prism
The mystery bag 
The mystery bag contains various object that the child feels and sorts without looking into the bag. The object is removed after the child has decided how to sort it and a visual check is done. (Though this may also be done blindfolded to add to the experience).
Rough and smooth boards 
Sandpaper is glued onto a smooth wood board. Various grading of sandpaper are used later as an extension of this activity to help the cRoughhild discriminate between them.
Fabric box 
Different fabric materials are used that the child must feel and match. A blindfold is usually used so the child cannot see the materials.
Thermic bottles
Water of different temperatures is added to metal bottles. The child lines them up from hottest to coldest.
Baric tablets 
Wooden tablets of various weight to help the child discriminate between weight.
Sound cylinders 
Two boxes, each containing six cylinders. One set has a red top and the other a blue top. When shaken, each cylinder of the same color gives off a different sound. The sound from the red cylinder is matched with the same exact sound from the blue cylinder.
Bells 
Twenty-six bells are used to help develop a sense of musical tones.
SENSORIAL EXERCISES
Sensorial Materials allow for individual work and repetition, and allows children to clasify their sensorial impressions in an organized, orderly, and scientific manner. They have a built in control of error, which builds in the child the habit of working independently, without fear of making mistakes, becoming comfortable in the fact that errors are essential to the process of learning.
Rough and Smooth Boards Set
This set of three boards forms the introductory materials for development of the tactile sense and prepares the hand for writing. The first board introduces the contrast of rough and smooth. The second board helps to coordinate finger movements and builds dexterity. The third board introduces gradations of texture from fine to coarse.
Pink Tower
This series of cubes develops visual discrimination of size in three dimensions. Exploration with this material prepares the child for mathematical concepts in the decimal system, geometry and volume.
Set of Knobless Cylinders
The Knobless Cylinders are the final stage (application) in the dimensional material where the child places in order the sets of cylinders based upon his abilities to discriminate. The cylinders have interrelationships in size that are revealed to the child as he works with the sets in combination.
Thermic Tablets
When touched, each of the Thermic Tablets has a different sense of temperature. The pairs of tablets are used to cultivate the ability to discriminate thermic qualities.
Baric Tablets
The Baric Tablets introduce and refine the concepts of the baric sense. While blindfolded, the child endeavors to discern the weight of the tablets of wood. Error is controlled by the color of the wooden tablets, the lightest color being the lightest weight to the darkest color wood being the heaviest weight.
Geometric Solids
The Geometric Solids introduce the child to solid geometry. The set contains one each of the following solids: Cylinder, cube, ellipsoid, cone, sphere, square-based pyramid, triangular-based pyramid, ovoid, rectangular prism and triangular prism.
Binomial Cube
The Binomial Cube is a concrete repre-
sentation of the algebraic formula (a+b)3. The factors of the equation are represented by the cubes and prisms. The primary Montessori child explores the Binomial Cube as a sensorial activity of visual discrimination of color and form. This indirect preparation for algebra prepares the child for the elementary Montessori class.
Trinomial Cube
The Trinomial Cube is a concrete representation of the algebraic formula (a+b+c)3. The factors of the equation are represented by the cubes and prisms. The primary Montessori child explores the Trinomial cube as a sensorial activity of visual discrimination of color and form. This indirect preparation for algebra prepares the child for the elementary Montessori class.
 
 



PRACTICAL LIFE EXERCISES(EPL)
(Practical Life Exercises are the foundation of the Montessori environment, provide a sane and wholesome range of activities which allow the children to develop control and coordination of movement, awareness of their environment, orderly thought patterns, independent work habits, responsibility, and many other characteristics which can only be attained through spontaneous, purposeful work.
Dressing FramesThese individual Dressing Frames present a variety of activities which introduce self-help skills - buttoning, lacing, zipping, etc. While doing these exercises, children also hone fine finger motor skills, understand the importance of sequence in tasks, as well as enhance focus and concentration.
Pouring ExercisesDry Pouring
Wet Pouring When presented to the children, they are shown how to do pouring without spilling the contents of the vessels. Mind-hand coordination is developed as the children exert their efforts to pour in the same manner presented by the teacher. Thus, all their focus and attention, their entire body concentrates to complete "pour without spilling".
This procedure promotes what Montessori calls "integration of the mind and the body" which is the primary foundation for the child's "development of will". The child discovers that he can conduct his bodily movements through the direction of his will. When translated to a life skill, this gives the child confidence in facing challenging activities realizing that he can practically accomplish any task as long as he wills it.
Transferring ExercisesSpooning
Marble Spooning
Tongs Exercises
(various kinds of tongs ranging from simple to difficult) Transferring Exercises in the Practical Life Area provide interesting opportunities for the child to build eye-hand coordination, develop focus and attention, refine motor skills and hone muscular control.
Making use of things mostly found around the home, these activities promote learning of skills that also enable them to participate fully and independently in their home life. With independence comes also the building of the child's self-confidence and initaitive which carries out to his attitude towards learning in general.
Washing Hands ExerciseThe Washing Hands Exercise is only one of the many "Care of the Self" exercises of the Practical Life Area. In doing these exercises, children are able to integrate and practice a variety of skills while gaining a better understanding of the importance of sequence in completing a task. Since the completeion of this activity requires a series of related steps, children learn to improve on their focus on the task and increase their attention span to see the task through its completion