Kindergarten: Sensorial Extension Cards

Around this time of year, we like to freshen up the classroom with new ways to do old works. In particular, the sensorial materials (which are out in the classroom all year) require a “boost” to regain the child’s motivation to revisit a material. The Sensorial extension cards show new ways to use materials like the Pink Cubes, Brown Prisms, Red Rods, and Colored Cylinders. These cards challenge the child to create new patterns and designs using our beloved classic Montessori materials. In the picture below, two boys rediscover the Colored Cylinders and are engaged in the task of grading each cylinder by size to create a spiral design. The children also benefit from works such as this because they require the children to work cooperatively and use problem solving strategies to complete the work. Comments such as, “Let’s try the largest blue cylinder” and “I think the smallest green cylinder fits here” could be heard as the children worked happily together.