Art in the Montessori Classroom

          In the Montessori classroom all children’s activities are considered their work. Grace and courtesy are fundamental aspects of the Montessori code of conduct. Montessori lessons consist of the teacher’s demonstration of how the materials are used. The child is then free to explore the materials on her own. If the child begins to misuse the materials, she is redirected to a different workstation. 

            All Montessori work emphasizes the process. Art can be integrated into all the areas of the Montessori curriculum. Language activities include story and calendar illustration. In Mathematics geometric insets teach the shapes, exercising eye and hand for writing while making lines and creating designs. Theme-related work such as solar system resist painting and issue transfer butterfly wings. Drawing or painting maps, making play dough continent maps, and later, detailed clay relief maps in Geography work. Exploring other countries and cultures. The sensory area explores color theory, geometric shapes and visual relationships. Children become familiar with famous artists by matching, identifying, and categorizing their works. Methodical demonstrations and opportunities to execute practical life exercises teach children how to focus and carry out a complete process in sequential steps from beginning to end. A step-by-step demonstration is given for art processes such as dipping a paintbrush, washing a brush, gluing, washing a glue lid and glue brush. Once the art lesson or demonstration has been given, the child has the freedom to create as long as the art process is being used correctly and materials are not being misused or abused. The Montessori classroom includes an art area where children can find a selection of basic art materials always available.