Montessori classrooms look very different from traditional classrooms. Rather than putting the teacher in the front with children sitting in rows, it’s common to see children working in a variety of settings – on the floor, individually at a table, or with a group of classmates.
Montessori provides a variety of materials for each age that are intended to provide sensorial activities and help children master concepts in a very concrete way. There are a few Montessori materials that are an integral component of each lower elementary classroom.
Bead Frame
This material is for further abstraction of mathematical operations and is set up like an abacus, with place value color representations in line with other Montessori materials. The Large Bead Frame allows for multiplication of large numbers as it adds rows that represent more place values, such as ten thousands, hundred thousands, and millions. Use of this material also allows the child to build concentration and focus.
Grammar Symbols
Grammar symbols are a staple of all elementary classrooms as they allow for a concrete representation of the various parts of speech. They accompany all of the parts of speech lessons and are further used in parsing words as the children practice their skills. They allow for patterning styles of writing as they provide a visual pattern of the noun family, or of the prepositional phrase, for example. Each symbol has a meaning based on shape and color that indicates something about the part of speech. A verb is a red sphere, for example, and it represents the sun, energy, and movement. This allows for colorful and memorable lessons for each of the parts of speech.
Biomes
The beautiful biome materials found in the lower elementary classrooms act as a point of interest and serve to call the child into further research of a habitat or a species. They provide a starting point for work in all areas of learning and are part of developing a child’s sense of place in the universe. These materials provide a visual to allow the child to develop a sense of wonder for the world around him.
Each Montessori classroom is set up with minimal distractions, focusing on natural materials and soft colors to provide a space that is calm and allows focus. Using these materials in such an environment ensures that children can work independently and at their own pace to master each concept presented.
