We’ve noticed a trend spreading among our students this spring. A couple of months ago, the maps (USA, world and continents) were very popular. There almost wasn’t enough floor-space at times. As these things go, the interest in maps waned a bit, but recently several children have been found organizing the pieces by color, more and more every day.
As Maria Montessori taught us, each child seeks to put things into order. This is how they, and we, make sense of life around us. Seeing children organize puzzle pieces in this way is a manifestation of order in a child’s brain. There are many other ways this can manifest itself: setting the silverware at the table, counting items, insisting on a consistent daily schedule, or just repeating any task several times.
Meanwhile on a similar track another student has gone, literally, “off the chart” with this geometric work. This work has cards that the student can place the shapes on top of in a variety of diagrams. This student first, she started out by making the diagram next to the card. Then, she started experimenting with her own creations. Lastly, she added the 3D elements that you see below. In her mind, order blossoms into lovely creations!
