In the Montessori prepared environment the child has the freedom to select their own activities, to work on them for as long as they choose and where in the classroom they would like to work with them. They are not restricted to a desk. It is carefully designed with hands-on learning materials and activities aimed to prepare the child, not just for school, but for life. The environment is divided into five learning areas:
PRACTICAL LIFE
Practical Life activities involve real-life materials which prepares the child for the real world. Activities such as making a snack and washing up, flower arranging, table washing, watering plants and the daily tasks that enables the child to participate in daily life. These activities promote the development of concentration, hand-eye co-ordination and muscular control, creates independence and sense of order. Children develop a strong character and have a love and respect for the environment
Grace and Courtesy – Practical Life
Grace and Courtesy develops positive interpersonal skills that will serve the child throughout their life. Demonstrations of Practical Life activities involving Grace and Courtesy and modeling behaviour are designed to nurture a child’s natural qualities and the inherent desire to contribute to the peaceful order of the environment. Lessons such as how to blow one’s nose, cough, sneeze, saying please and thank you, taking turns, washing one’s hands, respecting others and their space, walking around people and objects, sitting on and putting away a chair, carrying breakable objects and scissors, caring for work, books and the environment, rolling and unrolling a mat to define workspace and being kind
Sensorial
Sensorial materials help the child refine their senses through repeated manipulation, classification and categorising the world around them. Children are able to develop concentration, sense of order and cognitive abilities. Sensorial activities were designed by Montessori to cover every quality that can be perceived by the senses such as size, shape, composition, texture, loudness or softness, matching, weight and temperature. The sensorial materials prepares the child’s mathematical mind
Language
The language materials expose the child to rich language from an early age. Joyful Montessori provides a limitless amount of language opportunities for your child. There are trays with objects and matching cards, sound drawers, sandpaper letters, books and baskets with classified objects (such as items around the home, fruits, vegetables, farm animals and birds)
Mathematics
The sensorial materials prepare the child’s mathematical mind by hands-on learning. The child learns basic math concepts such as learning number recognition, counting, measurement and sequencing of numbers
Culture, Art and Music
Cultural activities lead the child to experience music, stories, and artwork. Folders containing pictures from different countries help to give the child an insight into different cultures and enables them to learn that we are all the same. A varied selection of musical instruments are available for your child to explore. Children (and parents/carers) will have a lot of fun with songs during circle time
