If you stand back and observe toddlers and young children at play, you’ll find that they have great capacity for self-direction. Traditional school settings tend to emphasize cognitive development for academic results, though, with long periods of instruction and very little focus on the whole child.
Montessori primary instruction, on the other hand, recognizes the importance of holistic learning, including physical, emotional, and social. It incorporates a range of activities that focus on practical, sensorial, and cultural development for children aged 3 to 6, as well as on language and math.
This is all done in a prepared environment where children are observed and assessed on individual progress rather than through a standardized grading system. Here are a few examples of fun Montessori primary school activities that engage and empower children to learn.
Grooming and Cleaning Activities
Developing practical life skills is the cornerstone of primary classrooms in the Montessori program. Activities are designed to help children develop independence, a sense of order, and both fine and gross motor skills.
Grooming lessons could cover skills like dressing and taking on hygiene tasks like brushing teeth and handwashing that teach self-care. Clean-up time in a primary program isn’t just about personal responsibility and an organized environment, however. Sweeping, scrubbing, and washing activities also focus on independence, coordinated movement, and care of one’s environment.
Exploring the Five Senses
Children learn about the world through all their senses, and sensorial activities in Montessori primary programs help them identify, explore, and formulate knowledge through hands-on interaction with their environment.
Sensorial activities and tools focus on all five senses and could include sorting games, collecting natural objects, and singing and playing instruments, for example. Discovery baskets and mystery bags are also fun options.
Building Vocabulary
Language development for young children provides the tools they need to begin expressing themselves and helps them better understand the world. Vocabulary is a big part of that equation.
Activities in this area could include object labeling, object-picture matching, tactile lessons with sandpaper letters, and games like “I Spy” that help children expand their vocabulary and opportunities for expression.
Counting and Measuring
In the primary setting, children are introduced to math through concrete, hands-on lessons that form the basis for later understanding of abstract math concepts. Activities at this stage often involve counting objects, including items of different sizes, to help with the development of fine motor skills.
Matching and measuring also introduce basic mathematical concepts, and children may be asked to arrange objects in order of length, size, or other measurements.
Cooperative Play
Social learning is just as important as independent lessons in Montessori primary school. Cooperative play helps children develop essential social skills, such as respect for peers and dispute resolution.
Socialization and playful learning are also critical for helping children prepare for a more structured school environment. Kids who engage in playful learning early on are better able to listen to directions, focus on tasks without constant supervision, and use language to solve disputes.
In other words, incorporating this type of play as part of a whole-child program helps kids learn how to behave appropriately in the classroom.
Prepare Your Child for Success With a Montessori Primary Program
The cognitive, physical, emotional, and social lessons children are introduced to in the Montessori toddler program are further cultivated and expanded upon in the primary program. Through lessons that emphasize a holistic approach, every facet of development is addressed so that children are engaged and empowered in their educational journey.
Are you considering enrolling your child in a Montessori primary program? Contact us today to schedule a tour and learn more about the comprehensive range of programs at Montessori West.
