Kindergarten: The Sound Cylinders
Recently, the sound cylinders were presented to the class as a new work whose purpose is to refine the child’s sense of hearing. The child carefully shakes one cylinder and then attempts to find its match. The cylinders’ sounds range from almost silent to quite loud when shaken. A young student has taken this work off the shelf, sits quietly at a table with focus and determination, and begins to match the sound cylinders. She is oblivious to the noise and activity of the classroom around her. Her work has her entire attention. Beyond matching the sounds, this activity builds a child’s sense of order, concentration, and focus. It is a beautiful moment to behold in a kindergarten classroom, where much of our day is filled with noise and activity, to observe a child lost in her work.
“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.” ― Maria Montessori
