Cylinder Blocks Activities

Montessori Activities

The cylinder blocks are a favorite of Montessori classrooms. They’re made of wood, and there are ten pieces, and the children absolutely love to work with them. Let’s find out why.

Materials: A rectangular block of wood, with ten cylinders. There are four cylinder blocks in the collection.

Aim: Visual discrimination of dimension.

Results: Preparation for writing, development of concentration, and confidence.

Observations: Watch as she discovers her own mistakes, and then corrects them. This method is referred to as ‘control of error’, and is a fundamental principle of Montessori. Instead of a teacher letting the child know they accomplished a task, identifying whether it was done ‘right or wrong’, the material itself offers positive feedback. In turn, the child gains confidence in their own abilities.