Montessori Geometric Solids

Children are always in search of exciting experiences that stimulate their senses and enhance their imagination.

According to Dr. Maria Montessori, the child for the initial six has an Absorbent Mind and passes through several developmental phases called Periods of Sensitivity.

In order to efficiently cater to your child’s developmental requirements, the Montessori Method of education provides children with specifically designed Montessori Materials that efficiently stimulate the child’s senses.

Tangibles are the best way to stimulate the child’s visual as well as tactile senses and allow them to explore new possibilities.

The Montessori Method of education integrates several concrete materials that simplify abstract and complex concepts to help children build a firm foundation of forthcoming topics.

Montessori Geometric Solids are one such Montessori Sensorial Material and Mathematics Material that represents geometric shapes in a concrete form.

As appealing as these intriguing Montessori Geometric Solids are, it is a requisite to equip oneself with appropriate information regarding the material’s function, purpose, and benefits to effectively facilitate activities.

Here is everything one should know about Montessori Geometric Solids to efficiently incorporate Montessori Geometric Solids into your child’s curriculum.

What are Montessori Geometric Solids?

Montessori Geometric Solids are exciting Montessori Materials that allow children to fully immerse themselves in a world of creative imagination and enhance their inner potential.

Montessori Geometric Solids are integrated into the Montessori Mathematics and Sensorial curriculum.

This unique Montessori Material comes in a set of ten smooth sanded-down wooden 3-dimensional solid shapes that are painted blue in color.

Montessori Geometric Solids often come along with a wooden case that they are to be stored in.

These three-dimensional shapes usually come along with two-dimensional cards that represent the figures and their respective names, to help build the child’s vocabulary.

What Shapes do the Montessori Geometric Solids incorporate?

Montessori Geometric Solids are an appealing Montessori Material that engages all five senses of the child.

The main aim of this Montessori Material is to provide children with a three-dimensional, tangible, and concrete experience of two-dimensional geometric figures.

Montessori Geometric Solids incorporate the following shapes:

• Prisms
• Cubes
• Cuboids
• Cylinders
• Cones
• Rectangular Pyramids
• Triangular Pyramids
• Ellipsoids
• Spheres
• Ovoids

What is the Purpose of Montessori Geometric Solids?

Montessori Geometric shapes are an interactive and engaging Montessori Sensorial Material that provides children with tangibles to simplify abstract mathematical concepts.

Here is a list of direct and indirect purposes of Montessori Geometric Solids:

• The main purpose of this wonderful material is to enhance the child’s stereogenic sense.
• Prepare the child for forthcoming geometric concepts
• Expand the Child’s mathematical Vocabulary
• Visual Stimulation and Tactile Stimulation

What are the benefits of Montessori Geometric Solids?

Children are able to reach their maximum potential when provided with the opportunity to independently explore new possibilities.

Montessori Geometric Solids are an engaging Montessori Sensorial and Mathematical Material that provides children with tangible three-dimensional representations of complex mathematical concepts.

Here is a list of benefits your child will enjoy when playing with Montessori Geometric Solids:

Control Of Error:

Almost all Montessori Materials have built-in Control of Error that allows the child to independently identify as well as rectify their mistakes without adult intervention.

Montessori Geometric Solids are no different, these tangible Montessori Materials allow children to explore new possibilities through self-directed play.

The child is able to independently identify the shapes with the help of the matching cards provided along with the blocks.

Preparation for Geometry:

Montessori Geometric Solids are a simplified introduction to complex or abstract concepts of trigonometry and geometry.

These tangible solids help children develop an intimate understanding of three-dimensional shapes.

Children are allowed to freely interact with Montessori Geometric Solids to understand the concepts of planes, angles, shapes, and surfaces.

Stereogenic Sense:

Stereogenic Sense in humans is the natural ability to perceive, identify, understand, and recognize objects solely on the basis of tactile information.

In other words, the child will not be able to use the visual, auditory, gustatory, or olfactory senses to identify the object.

Montessori Geometric Solids are an innovative medium for enhancing the child’s stereogenic sense.

These tangibles help children fully explore different dimensions and angles of the shapes as well as promote them to develop an intimate understanding of the nature of the shapes.

Familiarity:

With the help of Montessori Geometric Solids, children are able to become familiar with different angles, dimensions, and surfaces.

By consistently working with Montessori Geometric Solids, children are able to associate the shapes of the materials with common objects they interact with on a daily basis.

When are Montessori Geometric Solids Introduced?

Prior to the stage, the child might be introduced to some concepts of shapes through two-dimensional activities.

Montessori Geometric Solids are introduced to the child when they are of three and a half years of age, or when the child reaches the second year of the Montessori Primary Program.

How to Introduce Montessori Geometric Solids to the child?

Before introducing Montessori Geometric Solids to the child, it is best to establish some key points of interest:

• The texture of the Geometric Solids
• The shapes of the Geometric Solids
• The smoothness of the Geometric Solids
• The Colors of the Geometric Solids
• The weight of the Geometric Solids
• The fact that some solid shapes are able to roll on a flat surface while others cannot

Procedure 1 to introduce Montessori Geometric Solids:

• The Adult will invite the child to the sensorial area to participate in the activity
• The adult will instruct the child to bring the Montessori Geometric Solids to the workstation placing the box on the top right corner of the work mat
• The adult will then ask the child to take out some recognizable Montessori Geometric Solid shapes from the box and place them on the work mat
• The adult will pick up any Geometric Solid shape and refer to it by their designated name
• The adult will then direct the child to pick up the same geometric solid shape and refer to the solid shape by its designated name
• Repeat the Process with other shapes to help expand the child’s vocabulary.
• Once the activity has been successfully completed the adult will instruct the child to put the material back on its designated shelf in the sensorial area.

Procedure 2 to introduce Montessori Geometric shapes:

• The Adult will invite the child to the sensorial area to participate in the activity
• The adult will instruct the child to bring the Montessori Geometric Solids to the workstation placing the box on the top right corner of the work mat
• The adult will then select any three matching picture cards representing the Montessori Geometric Solids and place them on the work mat
• The adult will instruct the child to match the Montessori Geometric Solids with their matching picture cards
• Repeat the process for the remaining Montessori Geometric solids
• Once the activity has been successfully completed the adult will instruct the child to put the material back on its designated shelf in the sensorial area.

Are Montessori Geometric Solids the best way to introduce geometry?

Traditional educational institutions promote children to comprehend geometry with the help of two-dimensional figures on a piece of paper which can often lead to confusion.

To help children comprehend abstract geometric concepts and promote sensory development, The Montessori Method of education takes a more three-dimensional approach.

Montessori Geometric Solids are a fun and exciting Montessori Sensorial Material that facilitate the development of stereogenic sense and help them develop mathematical vocabulary.

Not only do these solids promote children to comprehend geometric concepts, but this Montessori Material also helps the child associate shapes with the different objects in their surrounding environment.

See Also:

• Stereognostic Sense in Montessori
• Sensorial Materials in Montessori
• Math Montessori Materials
• Montessori Geometric Cabinet