Refinement of Movement

Solar System

The solar system is a very popular topic within the classroom. The child is invited to work with the solar system activity where they can learn about planets, asteroids, comets, and other interesting facts about space. In this image, the child arranged the planets in order from their distance from the sun, and followed up with their own drawing of the solar system.

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Artistic Expression

Art is a great way for children to express themselves. It also helps to develop fine motor skills, use of tools, problem solving skills and self-confidence. The Montessori environment provides open-ended art activities to help the children to explore and use their creativity. On the art shelf, watercolour painting, gluing collage materials, playdough, chalk with a chalkboard and various art mediums are accessible and available to the children throughout the day. (Click to read Dr Montessori’s quote and for full photos.)

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Care of the Environment

Through practical life care of the environment activities such as sweeping the floor, washing the table, and cleaning up spills, children learn to take pride in caring for their classroom and completing a job, develop a high level of concentration, respect for their community, a sense of order, and increase independence and improve fine motor skills. (Click for more information.)

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Puzzles

The children begin with a large-knobbed puzzle and make their way through to multi-piece jigsaw puzzles. Puzzles foster a child’s cognitive and fine motor development and are a great way to encourage hand control and small muscle development. They promote concentration, coordination, problem solving and a sense of order, and support spatial awareness. (Click for full photos and more information.)

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Cutting

Cutting with a knife is a skill that is necessary in everyday life. The child is shown how to hold the fruit steady and safely with one hand as they use their other hand to cut up the fruit. Gaining experience cutting velcro fruit and vegetables aids the child in using a real knife. (Please click for the full photos and more information.)

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Enhancing Proprioception

When we explore playdough and focus on manipulating the dough into specific simple shapes, we open an opportunity to develop proprioception: the sense that enables us to know where our body parts are, and what they are doing, without visually observing them. Manipulating the dough and aiming towards specific shapes is a fun way to experiment with pressure control while reinforcing this vital sensory system! (Please click for more information.)

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Refinement of Movement

The children are seen here using some of the Refinement of Movement activities that are provided in the Under 3 classroom. The lock and key activity promotes eye-hand coordination, twisting movements, and a pincer grasp. The cutting activity allows the children to strengthen their hand muscles and grip strength. (Please click for more information and full photos.)

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Latch Board

The latch board allows the child to practice and eventually master opening and closing a variety of latches. This activity fosters fine motor skills, self-help skills, and independence. The child also experiences the relationship between cause and effect. (Please click for the full photos.)

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Nesting Geometric Solids

The Nesting Geometric Solids activities are the beginning of the Montessori puzzle sequence. A child begins with the Ovoid (egg) and Cup, then the Sphere and Cup, and then the Cube and Box, which adds the complexity of matching the corners. These simple activities encourage various grasps, eye-hand coordination, and both hands working together. (Please click for full photos and more information.)

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Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscle movements between eye, hand, wrist, and fingers. A variety of fine motor activities are accessible daily to the children in addition to programmed learning opportunities. Children can be seen using creative, sensory and cognitive activities that encourage the use of fine motor skills. (Please click for the full photos.)

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