Over my 16-plus years of teaching, I have realized that young senses require continuous basic sensory awareness training to help them develop their abilities to see, hear, touch, taste, or smell.
Furthermore, at a more advanced level, children perform various tasks such as arranging a set of objects in proper order based on the variation of length, height, color, tone, shapes, etc. As a result, their cognitive skills take proper shape.
While teaching in a Montessori classroom I, on numerous occasions, applied the advanced method to introduce the concept of geometry with the help of the Montessori Geometric Cabinet to my young students (below the age of six).
At a personal level, I introduced the concept of geometry to my son and daughter through the Montessori geometry Cabinet, geometry solids, and constructive triangles.
Montessori Geometric Cabinet Purpose:
Montessori Geometric Cabinet plays an important role in the ‘ Children’s House’. Moreover, it is a hidden sensorial material. Thus, it helps children recognize shapes through sight, touch, and movement. As a result, they learn to name them in three-period lessons.
In addition, it is a wonderful material that teaches simply by being handled. Finally, it provides concrete experience.
Montessori Geometric Cabinet Benefits:
The benefits of the Montessori Geometric Cabinet are many-sided. I write down a few here:-
Montessori geometric cabinet provides young minds with concrete experience of the basic geometric shapes and also introduces new language.
Through the adept handling of the geometric cabinet children fully understand the concept of geometry.
It stimulates young minds and makes them feel attracted to mathematics.
Montessori Geometric Cards:
There is an interesting way to introduce the basic concepts of geometry to preschoolers.
I printed out the three-part cards with different geometric shapes on them. Then, I gave it to my young ones.
At first, I hesitated to utter complicated-sounding words like the ‘ rectangular prism’, ‘ triangular prism ‘ and the Ovid or the ellipsoid but to my amazement I found that they absorbed these words easily and loved the challenge of mastering ‘ big words’.
After that, I introduced the other shapes in the same way. Finally, I advised them to relate the solid shapes to real objects.
As they grew older, I told them to draw pictures of the solids using Geometric Solid Worksheets.
When it comes to teaching Geometric shapes to my students in a 40-minute classroom, I follow the same process.
Montessori Geometric Cabinet Lessons:
The success of the study of mathematics in a Montessori classroom or a Montessori-inspired home lies in the exercises of practical life and sensory activities.
The children learn about order and sequence through the exercises of practical life. Furthermore, they learn how to use the smallest objects with precision and accuracy. Above all, they learn how to concentrate.
I normally take three to four periods to familiarize my students with Geometric shapes from the Geometric Cabinet. Gradually, they learn to recognize various shapes through sight, touch, and movements.
After getting familiar with the shapes, I, now, explain the etymology of each shape before them.
For example, while I emphasize the sharpness of the three corners of a triangle, I explain the etymology of the name ‘ triangle’ (tri-three; angle- corner).
Thus, my young students learn the names of the shapes distributed in different drawers of the Geometric Cabinet.
I always advise them to play memory games with geometric shapes but for children from the age of six, I suggest choosing follow-up work from Geometric Cabinets.
I also stipulate them with various activities. These activities include labeling, matching, and sorting for the shapes in the environment.
What is more, I always encourage them to make models of solid shapes.
In addition to this, they draw, cut, and glue activities with shapes. Thus, by engaging in their own activities, they slowly develop an understanding of geometric concepts.
Sumanta De is an educator. He has been teaching students for more than 16 years following the principles of Dr.Maria Montessori. He has a 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter.
He is nurturing his children abiding by the principles of Dr.Maria Montessori. His passion for Montessori methods goes beyond the classroom.
Hence, he shares his experiences and insights through a dedicated Montessori blog and a YouTube channel under the name “NewChild Montessori”. He aims to offer valuable guidance to both parents and educators.
Education: M.A. English, Masters in Child Psychology & Bachelor’s Degree in Montessori Teachers Training