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 The sensorial
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, weight and offer
the children keys for exploring the environment as they engage their
attention with 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. Though there is an initial prescribed presentation by
the teacher, variations invented by the children that lead to discovery
and new understanding of relationships are encouraged.
The sense of sight is refined and developed through the use of
materials which help the child discriminate color, dimension, shape,
and form. The materials for the discrimination of color are:
Color Box 1 which contains two tablets of each of the primary colors
for the child to match; Color Box 2 which contains secondary and
tertiary colors plus black and white and is used in a similar fashion;
Color Box 3 which contains eight tablets of varying shades of
eight different colors for the child to grade in order from light to
dark. The materials for the discrimination of dimension include the
Cylinder Blocks, the Pink Tower for size, the Brown Stair for
thickness, and the Red Rods for length. Materials for the
discrimination of shape include the Geometric Cabinet and the
Geometric Solids, whereas the Constructive Triangles, the Binomial
and Trinomial Cubes and other materials help students to refine their
understanding of both shape and form.
- Development of the sense of hearing is assisted by a material
known as the Sound Cylinders. This is 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. The Montessori Bells may be used in similar fashion and
exercises such as the Silence Game also help in the development
of the sense of hearing.
- A number of materials are used to help refine the child's
sense of touch. The Tactile Boards are used to teach about texture.
Mystery Bags contain paired objects which the child must match without
looking. The Fabric Boxes similarly contain paired swatches of
fabric which the child must match. Children often find it enjoyable
to use these materials while wearing a blindfold. The Baric
Tablets are used to develop a child's perception of weight, and the
Thermic Tablets are used to help develop the perception of variations
in temperature.
- The Smelling Bottles are used to help develop the olfactory sense.
This material is similar in appearance to the Sound Cylinders in that
it is two boxes each containing six bottles with paired smells.
The aromas may simply be enjoyed or they may be matched.
- Opportunities for exercises in the development of the sense of
taste occur throughout the year at snack, lunchtime and in the garden.
The teachers may also create tasting exercises to explore the
experience of sweet, salt, sour and bitter.
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