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Preschool & Kindergarten Sensorial Materials
The five senses are exercised using the wide variety of sensorial materials. The materials were designed by Maria Montessori to offer young children concrete experiences in comparing and classifying their environment. She believed that there is nothing in the intellect that was not first experienced via the senses. These materials isolate particular qualities such as shape, color, texture, flavor and weight and offer the children keys for exploring the environment as they engage in hands-on work.
As with practical life activities, sensorial materials are carefully presented to children by the teacher. Because much of the material has a built-in control of error, correction by the teacher is often unnecessary. Children are encouraged to work repeatedly with the materials. There is an initial prescribed presentation by the teacher. From then on, children are encouraged to invent variations that lead to discovery and new understanding of relationships. Below are a few examples of some of the many sensorial materials found in the classroom.
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The sense of sight is refined and developed through the use of materials which help the child discriminate color, dimension, shape, and form. Some of the materials used for the discrimination of dimension include the Cylinder Blocks, Pink Tower, Brown Stair and the Red Rods. |
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Development of the sense of hearing is assisted by a material known as the Sound Cylinders. The Sound Cylinders consist of two boxes containing six closed wooden cylinders, one box with red tops, one with blue. The child shakes the cylinder near his/her ear and listens to variations in volume, pitch and intensity. Each red cylinder has a matching sound in the blue set. The cylinders may be simply enjoyed, matched or graded. |
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A number of materials are used to help refine the child's sense of touch. The Fabric Boxes contain paired swatches of fabric which the child must match. Children often find it enjoyable to use these materials while wearing a blindfold. |
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Opportunities for exercises in the development of the sense of taste occur throughout the year at snack, lunchtime, in the garden and during baking activities. The teachers may also create tasting exercises to explore the experience of sweet, salt, sour and bitter. |
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