The Montessori Method of Education is dedicated to the holistic development of the child. To aid this holistic development, a very broad range of topics are presented for the child’s benefit. The Montessori method of education comprises of five areas: Practical life, Sensorial Education, Maths, Language and Culture (History, Geography, Science).
Montessori Method of Education:
Practical Life:
The children participate in Practical Life Exercises to develop skills that will lead to independence and increased concentration. These activities are beneficial for developing gross and fine motor skills. Practical Life activities include polishing, arranging and caring for flowers, opening and closing jars, folding cloths, hanging out clothes to name a few.
Sensorial Education:
Sensorial Materials are used in the Montessori environment to assist in developing the child’s senses. Such exercises include learning about colour, texture, smell, sound, taste and discrimination of size. Much of these activities relate to constructive play. The children engage in games where they distinguish between different smells, taste and sounds.
Language:
There are specific materials in the Montessori environment where the children are introduced to phonetic sounds, engage in activities that prepare the child for reading and writing. This is enhanced with the use of music, songs, rhymes and drama.
Maths:
The materials dedicated for the development of mathematical concepts are introduced to the children in a sensorial manner. The child develops knowledge of numbers in both symbolic and quantitative forms. With the use of water play, the mud kitchen, constructive play, baking and art, mathematical concepts are reinforced in an indirect manner.
Cultural Subjects:
History: The children of Fermoy Montessori School enjoy using our timeline to discover how our world was created, investigate land formation, research dinosaurs and other topics that interest the child.
Science:
In Montessori school we actively engage with science experiments. These experiments are the cause of great excitement – especially when they don’t work out as planned!! Science is fun and that’s how we want to keep it. We engage in Science week – but throughout the year!!
Geography:
Making volcanoes, discovering the rain cycle, engaging in archaeology, investigating our solar system and continents expands the children’s knowledge of the world we live in. We enhance this knowledge with music, stories, baking and drama.
Art/Music/Drama:
As part of every activity in Fermoy Montessori School we have a song! Music is a large part of daily life with the children, developing concepts through the medium of music, art, dance, games and drama reinforces the child’s knowledge in a fun way.
Play:
Fermoy Montessori School (Est. 1971) is situated in a quiet area of Fermoy town. We are extremely lucky to have free access to a large outdoor area with both a large patio area and green area. This outdoor area can be accessed at anytime during the session. It is a secure gated outdoor area which allows the children an abundance of opportunities to explore. We endeavour to use our outdoor area as often as possible. We plant, play games and have picnics. The children bring in waterproof leggings and wellingtons and have the freedom to engage in messy play in our mud kitchen, play football or use their imaginations to create their own games and characters.
Messy play, water play, playing in the home corner, engaging with construction and cars are also part of the indoor environment. While having fun the children are indirectly developing their social intellect and communication skills.
