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School Facilities

Sensorial Area

Education of the Senses

The sensorial area in a Montessori classroom focuses on lessons and activities that help develop and refine each of their senses: sight (visual), touch (tactile), smell (olfactory), taste (gustatory), sound (auditory) and stereognostic (kinaesthetic). The lessons and activities provided in the sensorial area of the classroom help children clarify, classify, and understand the world around them. This area includes specifically designed materials that refine fine motor skills, visual and auditory senses and develops coordination. Materials include Pink Tower, Brown Stairs, Knobbed Cylinders, Colour Tablets. 

Mathematics Area

Mathematics or numeracy in a Montessori classroom is developed with the use of concrete learning materials. The sensorial area is the preparation for mathematics. Hands-on materials are used such as number rods, sandpaper numbers, number boards, spindle box, number tiles, beads, and games. Each exercise builds upon another and the child gradually moves to from concrete to abstract areas such as place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and fractions. 

Language Area

In the Montessori Classroom language and pre-reading readiness are achieved through phonetic awareness. Children work through specific hands-on and tactile language materials such as the sandpaper letters to the moveable alphabet. Language is not an isolated topic but runs through the curriculum. The spoken language is the foundation for writing and then reading. 

 Practical Life Area

Activities of Everyday Living

The Practical Life area includes activities of everyday living. These activities encourage the children to develop independence, coordination, concentration, self-control, self-awareness, confidence. These activities also promote the following life skills: 

  • Care of Self (food preparation, dressing, washing),

  • Care of Environment (cleaning, gardening, care of pets, environmentalism),

  • Grace and Courtesy (greetings, manners, social interactions),

  • Control of Movement (refining movements, walking the line, moving quietly).

Knowledge & Understanding of the World Area 

This area is filled with activities that allow the child to explore the natural world around them and includes:

  • Geography (continents, landforms, earth layers, solar system), 

  • Zoology (classification, physiology of animals),

  • Botany  (ecology, classification, physiology of plants),

  • History (time lines, using a calendar),

  • Science.

Toddler Area

The Toddler Area includes each of the five learning areas of the Montessori Classroom but at a more basic level.  This is a nurturing and loving environment. This area accommodates a maximum of 10 toddlers with 2 qualified and experienced directresses and an assistant. This area provides a brilliant transition to pre-school. The Toddler Area is equipped with a bathroom, diaper changing area, snack area and their own play area.  

Playground

All of our playground equipment is made out of natural material and we avoid plastic as much as possible. We are situated next a forest so we feel like we are in a bubble of nature outside. 

Hand Washing Area 

When washing hands became an essential preventative against Covid-19, we decided to have these amazing foot operated taps designed and installed. The children feel empowered when they can wash their hands independently.  

©2021 by Poppy Seeds Montessori Pre-School. 

poppy@poppyseeds.co.za

+27 81 867 7195

Facebook: Poppy Seeds Montessori

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