Geometry Cabinet

Montessori Activities

How do you use this material?

The Geometry Cabinet is located in the Sensorial Area. There are six drawers, containing various triangles, polygons, quadrilaterals, and curved figures.

The first shapes we introduce are circle, square, and triangle. We take the intro tray, containing these three shapes, to a table with a child.

Using the non-dominant hand, the guide selects one shape, turns it sideways, and traces using two fingers on the dominant hand. The guide places the shape on the table and traces the outline in a similar fashion.

After repeating this process with the remaining shapes, the guide will invite the child to trace the shapes.

Perhaps when the child is returning the intro tray to the shelf, they’ll be invited to select one drawer at a time and trace the enclosed shapes.

What is a child learning?

The child is internalizing different shapes, from simple to complex. Later, we’ll apply language for quatrefoil, heptagon, acute-angled isosceles triangle, but right now they’re learning the differences through touch.

What does a child not know they’re learning?

First, Geometry! Later in mat, a child will calculate angles, complete proofs, but this early experience is a strong foundation for squares as measure of area, circles to calculate angles, triangles as builders of other figures.

Additionally, tracing a shape and noticing nuance also prepares a child’s mind and eye for literacy, as the skills to trace and to identify a shape are identical to those used for letters.