Explanation of Montessori Materials
Introduction to Materials:
100 board
PURPOSE:
1. Providing the experience and learning in
sequence numerals from 1 to 100.
2. Development of order, coordination,
concentration, and independence.
Extensions:
odd and even numbers
skip counting by twos, fives, and tens
missing numbers
writing numerals
MATERIALS:
A wooden board frame. The board is
lined to form one hundred squares. A
wooden box to hold 100 chips. Square
chips with numerals 1...100 printed on
them.
Fraction Skittles
Materials
 wooden tray with
four identical holes
 four large skittles,
representing
divisors of whole,
½ , 1/3 and ¼.
Purpose
To help the child gain a sensorial
impression of a fraction.
Introduction to the concept and notation of
fractions.
Sensorial exploration of equivalency
among fraction.
Introduction to simple operations.
Metal Polishing
Materials
 silver to be
polished
 Caster containing
metal polish
 cotton swabs
 2 minute timer
 polishing cloth
Purposes
DIRECT: Coordination,
Concentration, Independence,
Order
INDIRECT: Learning to polish
Introduction to Materials:
Object Box
Introduction to Materials:
The Pink Tower
Introduction to Materials:
Sandpaper Letters
Purpose
To give the child the
opportunity to match
phoetically spelled words
with the objects that they
represent.
Materials
 phonetic objects
 word cards
Develops 1. Visual and small muscular
perception of dimensions.
2. This awareness of dimensions
leads to observation of the
child’s environment.
3. Helps to make smoother and
more coordinated movement.
4. Math readiness by
introducing concepts of
smaller, larger, prepares for the
decimal and number system.
Develops 1. Fine motor skills
2. Concentration
3. Phonetic sounds
4. Memory
5. Pre-writing
5. Independence
This helps to prepare for the
cube root. 1000 smallest cubes
make the largest 10th cube. 8 of
the smallest cubes make the
second cube, 27 of the smallest
cube make the third cube, 64 of
the smallest cubes make the
fourth cube, 124 cubes make the
fifth cube, and so on.
The cubes represent the
concrete concept of the
numbers of 1 through 10.
Purpose: To learn the sound and shape of
the letters of the alphabet. To gain a
muscular memory of the shape of the letters
as a prelude to writing. The letters of the
alphabet cut out in the finest sandpaper
mounted on a strong background. The
vowels are mounted on a pale blue card and
the consonants on a pale pink background.
The letters are mounted with sufficient space
on either side to hold them steady.
Introduction to Materials:
Number Rods
Purpose
- To experience the qualities
of each number and to learn
their respective names.
- To show that each number
is represented by a single
object, as a whole, separate
from others.
- To help memorize the
sequence of numbers from
1 to 10.
Materials
- Ten rods identical with the Red Rods in
length, but divided into red and blue sections.
The shortest rod is red. The second is twice
the size of the first; one half is painted red
and the other half is blue. The third rod is
three times the size of the first and is divided
into three
b
Introduction to Materials:
Binomial Cube
Introduction to Materials:
Botany Cabinet:
Purpose
Direct:
To build the cube.
Indirect:
Preparation for
mathematics: the cube of
a binomial.
Preparation for the cube
root.
Introduction for algebra
and preparation for the
proof of the formula
(a+b)3 at Elementary
Level.
Purpose
Direct Visual
discrimination of forms.
Indirect Preparation for
botany.
Materials:
A box with:
- One red cube and three red and black
matching prisms.
- One blue cube and three blue and black
matching prisms.
All the pieces, once assembled, form a
cube of a binomial (a+b)3
The square of the binomial is painted on
the lid.
Materials:
With the Botany Cabinet, the child learns the
shapes and names of leaves. The child may also
trace their borders and match them to those in
the natural environment. The Botany Cabinet
consists of a beech plywood cabinet with 5
drawers and contains a total of 14 leaf shape
insets and frames as well as the parts of the leaf,
flower, and tree.
Introduction to Materials:
Teen Boards
Purposes:
Direct
To connect name and
symbol.
To count sets 11-19
Materials:
- Two boards each divided into five
compartments. In nine of these compartments
a large 10 is printed in black.
- A set of cards, on which are printed the
figures 1 – 9, which will slide into the boards,
covering the ‘0’.
-A set of 9 ten bead bars
-A set of bead bars 1-9
Introduction to Materials:
Grace and Courtesy Lessons
Please review these important lessons
with your child at home.
Purpose: To guide
children to be well
prepared well mannered
individuals and group
members
Presentation: The following lessons will be
reviewed at school. Please follow up at home to
establish the teamwork that we need to help the
children be successful
 taking care of materials
 sharing materials
 taking turns
 speaking with a quiet voice
 moving with purpose
 patience
 self control
Introduction to Materials:
Noun and Verb Work
Purpose
A concrete way to
help children visualize
the functions of the
noun and verb in a
sentence.
Materials:
A black pyramid to represent a concrete
object-noun (person, place or thing)
A red sphere to represent energy-verb
(action words)
3-Part Cards
Materials:



Picture Card
Word Card
Control Card
Purpose:
The direct purpose of Classified
Cards is to enrich and enlarge a
child's vocabulary, and to aid in the
classification of the environment.
The cards are meant to give a small
introduction to the child; it piques
their curiosity and they are then
internally driven to find out which
other objects belong within the
classification.