Practical life exercises are those activities which are performed in our day to
day life to maintain an order in living and work environment like washing
hands, wearing clothes, opening and closing boxes and bottles, covering a book
etc. These activities are the foundation of the Montessori environment as they
help the child in settling down in the new environment. They satisfy the
child's curiosity about materials and his
urge to imitate the adult. These wholesome range of activities allow the
child to develop control and coordination of movements, orderly thought
patterns, independent work habits, responsibility, concentration, self-esteem
and many other characters which can only be developed through spontaneous,
purposeful work.
The child not only adapts to the environment but also learns to control and
master his environment. In these exercises, the child's whole body is engaged.
Repetition of these activities helps to perfect his movements. It enhances his
intuitive intelligence and also prepares the child for future learning.
Socially, he learns to take care of himself and environment and becomes
patient, responsible and disciplined.
With the help of these exercises, children develop a sense of pride in their
'work'. A feeling of confidence, well being and joy begins to manifest in the
child. Overall, the child becomes balanced and normalized and achieves an
integrated personality.
To give an example, a teacher observed a child of 4 years pour water back and
forth with the help of a funnel from one jar to another. His level of
concentration was amazing. He tried really hard not to spill water, and was
partly successful. It is easy to believe that such a concentrated child would
definitely show the same focus in other areas of learning as well.
In a nutshell, Practical life exercises are an excellent foundation to build
the future of the child. Through the Practical Life activities, the child is
prepares himself for further intellectual work, develops his emotional,
physical and social skills; expands his knowledge of the environment and helps
to foster a sense of belonging to his community. They truly prepare the child
for life.
"Emphasis should be laid not on the word practical but on the word LIFE" (E.M.
Standing, 1957)
Sensorial
Sensorial training is the education of the senses. It has been found
that the majority of the human population does not utilize their senses to the
optimum level. For a child, the adult world is full of utter chaos. A child's
world is full of questions-Why? Where? What? When? How?. Every impression
received by the senses aids in arousing
his curiosity, widening the field of his interests and consequently in
broadening the base of the mind. If these senses are refined and trained in the
stages of child's development then his intelligence is formed. Hence the
structured training of senses is required to heighten and optimize the
potential of senses.
Montessori materials are scientifically and mathematically designed to refine
and train these senses, by removing clutter and chaos from the child's mind.
These sensorial materials enable the child to clarify, classify and comprehend
their world through sight, smell, sound, taste and touch. It comprises a system
of objects which are grouped together according to some definite quality which
they possess such as colour, shape, dimension, sound, surface texture, weight,
temperature etc.
The Knobbed cylinders, pink cubes, long rods, broad stairs are materials which
enhance the visual perception of dimensions. There are many other
materials which enhance visual sense of colour and form. The abstract concept
of length, breadth and height are taught by these concrete materials. Other
materials enhance tactile, gustatory, olfactory and auditory senses.
All sensorial material isolate from amongst the many, one single quality such
as colour, shape, size etc. This enables the child to explore one variable at a
time. For example with pink towers the child perceives only the dimensions as
the colour and form remains constant. Once these concepts are understood by the
child he can then apply it to his environment. For example; he can stack his
books in his shelves according to the size or can grade different leaves of the
trees on the parameter of smooth, rough, rougher and roughest.
The sensorial materials help the children to develop cognitive skills such as
thinking, judging, associating and comparing. Sensorial education also helps a
child to classify and organize the environment. Further, it strengthens the
power of discrimination. The importance of sensorial training can be summarized
with the quote of Aristotle, "The senses are the gateways to the intelligence.
There is nothing in the intelligence that did not first pass through senses".
Language
This basic tool of communication is dealt with utmost priority at
Amiown. Our curriculum is drafted in a highly effective and interactive manner
that includes communication development sessions like story telling, reading
and free expression through skits and plays.
Mathematics
Our unique method of dealing with numbers enables the kids to befriend
mathematics rather than straying away from the complexities of the subject. Our
primary object at Amiown is always learning rather than studying.
Cultural studies
A cultivated approach towards a cultured development constitutes our
theory of customized curriculum. This is achieved through various events that
teach the basic ethics of a society, stage performances to identify with our
roots and above all appreciation.
