Montessori in a Minute
Montessori schools like Hudson Montessori School utilize specially designed tools to promote experiential learning at each age level. This Montessori in a Minute series regularly explores the unique benefits of these fundamental materials.
Geometric Cabinet
The Montessori Geometric Cabinet is a vital tool in the sensorial curriculum toolbox. Learning to classify shapes helps children understand their surroundings. Preschool-aged children use each of their senses to learn all about their environment. They are enthralled by the world around them and have an innate desire to explore, question, and classify each new item they discover.
Inside the Geometric Cabinet, students find a collection of metal circles, squares, triangles, regular polygons, quadrilaterals, and curved figures that are housed in their matching insets. The children are able to see, feel, and manipulate this variety of two-dimensional shapes, bringing these shapes to life. Students can discriminate differences in size and shape of the materials, all while learning how to order and classify them.
These sensorial tools layout the groundwork for geometry later on, but in the shorter term, children learn the actual name of the shapes and their properties.
Hudson Montessori School uses an interdisciplinary, theme-based learning approach to education, while following the Montessori philosophy and methodology, fostering the love of learning for children age 2 to sixth grade. The school offers school tours most Tuesdays at 9 a.m. Sign up to attend a tour!