"Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment."   -    Maria Montessori

As per the quote, with the help of Global Montessori Plus Approach of GIIS, the children are encouraged to explore, create, learn, socialize, and develop concentration, coordination, and independence.  During the Montessori Week in the Academic Session 2017-18 held in May, the Pre-Primary children of GIIS Bangalore have enhanced their skills through various extended activities.

Day 1: E. P. L. Activity

Practical Life Exercises comprises of simple, day-to-day activities using objects that are much familiar and identifiable to the child. Children are able to explore their natural curiosities with the help of the materials in the practical life area. The children become independent and are given the essential tools that will help in their daily lives.

Nursery did an activity of transferring the balls using a strainer, KG 1 made necklaces/bracelets using straws and KG 2 matched number names to numerals using tongs. These activities helped children to enhance the eye-hand co-ordination, concentration, order, fine motor skills, confidence, and control of movement.

Day 2: Sensorial Activity

Sensorial materials are very important to develop discrimination of specific qualities, to stimulate cognitive development, and to develop an ability to make judgments or comparisons. The materials are so designed to isolate the sense, for a child to perceive the single quality within the work they are assigned.

The kids from Nursery segment did an activity of matching geometrical solids with the real objects. KG 1 students were excited while tracing shapes from sand tray. KG 2 students solved a puzzle using rectangular bars. This was a good learning activity where the children were able to identify different shapes. The activities were meant to enhance the eye-hand coordination, math skill and concentration power among the small wonders.

Day 3: Math / Cultural

Learning mathematical concepts at Montessori classroom starts with concrete topics and then they finally reach the abstract. The process is taught in a simple manner and then the facts are introduced later. It is seen that children experience coordination, concentration and independence while using these materials. The cultural area of the Montessori classroom comprises of Geography, Science, Botany, Zoology, and History.

The Nursery children did an activity of matching quantity to numeral using different sizes of apartments. KG 1 did a Number box activity and KG 2 did a Continent cards activity. The activities were meant to enhance their writing skills, fine motor skills and logical thinking.

Day 4: Language

Every thought that is created in the mind, requires a language to be communicated. Language helps a child to integrate into society and to deal with abstract concepts.  It comprises of 4 areas of learning namely- listening, speaking, writing and reading.

Nursery children did a sound wheel activity where they had to match the picture to the beginning sound. KG 1 did recognition of family words wherein they had to sort the family words using the toy fishing net. KG 2 kids made their first story booklet. Children were able to enhance their language skills, vocabulary, reading, listening and concentration skills from these activities.

GIIS Bangalore pre-primary children truly enjoy the Montessori classes and the extended list of activities definitely imbibed a lot of skills that will help them as they seek higher education and in their daily life as well.

Montessori