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The History and Science Behind Montessori Materials

 

 

Dr. Maria Montessori’s educational materials were born out of careful observation, scientific study, and collaboration. Rooted in her medical and anthropological background, Montessori designed materials that allow children to learn through their senses and hands-on experiences. Some of these materials were inspired by earlier educators and scientific instruments, while many others were developed by Montessori herself through years of experimentation and refinement in her classrooms.

 

Montessori believed that concrete materials are essential in early childhood, when children absorb knowledge through movement and the senses. Every element of these materials (from the exact weight of a cylinder block to the gradation of colors in the pink tower) serves a developmental purpose, guiding the child from the concrete to the abstract with clarity and precision.