Sensorial Simplicity

This little guy is marching around his brown or broad stair creation.  Every morning he comes in, and makes some new creation with the brown stair or the pink tower and then moves on to other things.  We all have our routines.  He knows geography better than most adults, can read and do basic equations yet is drawn to the sensorial materials.  I am amazed at how basic these materials are, yet they have such intricacy just below the surface.  I'm sure that is why so many children are drawn to them, to some unconscious complexity in the world that finds order in these materials.  I know that the materials make geometry easier when it is later introduced in the more conventional way.  My own son asked me, "Have I taken geometry before, because it seems like I understand it before it is explained?"  The simplicity of the genius of Dr. Montessori.  

Beautifying the environment

I am working on sewing some linen bags for word study. They are embellished with antique pins I found on e-bay. However, I decided they should also have a drawstring--aaaahhh!!!! I wanted a finished edge for the casing, then thought they should probably be lined, and so on and so on. They are now in a pile on my dining room table, casting their evil eye at me, begging to be finished. Here are a few of my more successful projects. Maybe you'll find some new ideas as you ready and beautify your environment.