Montessori Tidbits: The Sensorial Curriculum

The Sensorial materials are designed to help the child develop perception and discrimination as they explore smaller details and patterns. This helps them become more aware of the world at large, and as an added bonus they are preparing their mathematical mind.

Each activity in this curriculum focuses on one important quality such as color, weight, shape, size, texture, sound, smell, and so on. They refine their 5 senses as they see which cube is the largest, feel which cylinder is the heaviest, listen for which sound cylinder is the loudest, smell which candles have the same scent, and taste the difference between sweet and salty.

From the ages two to six years old, a child goes through their sensitive period for refining their senses, and are thus enthralled by anything that captures this kind of stimulation. Also, they are drawn to activities that involve movement, as this is another sensitive period they are growing through. Since their body and mind are directed to this kind of learning, it feels engaging and fulfilling to them!

Try telling a story with all the sensory input you can think of, such as “when I cooked breakfast I heard the bacon sizzling, and smelled the sweet maple…”

Or a go for a sensory walk outside, pointing out small details and asking your child questions about their perceptions, “I hear the chickadees, what do you hear? I can see a very s

mall patch of the earth under this tree. Do you think it has a scent?…”