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Sensorial work and Science at Oak Farm Montessori School highlight how hands-on experiences sharpen senses, build critical thinking, and inspire a love for learning through exploration and discovery.
Exploring the World Through Senses and Science
How Montessori Fosters Young Investigators
Ina Montessori classroom, every day is an
adventure of discovery. Sensorial work and scientific exploration form the backbone of learning, guiding children to investigate their environment, classify objects, and develop critical thinking—all while refining motor skills and nurturing a lifelong love for the natural world.
Sensorial activities are meticulously designed to help children interpret their surroundings through structured sensory experiences. By engaging with materials like the pink tower and knobbed cylinders, students learn to visually discriminate size, length, and dimension, laying the groundwork for mathematical and spatial reasoning. Tactile
materials, such as touch tablets and fabric feel, sharpen their sense of touch, while sound cylinders and Montessori bells refine auditory discrimination. These activities not only heighten sensory perception but also teach children to categorize and organize information—skills vital for logical thinking.
Maria Montessori famously stated, “The hands are the instruments of the mind.” This philosophy is evident in activities like blindfolded texture matching, where fine motor skills are honed as children rely solely on touch to complete tasks. Through repetition and exploration, children gain independence and confidence, transforming abstract concepts into tangible understanding.
Sensorial refinement with scientific exploration
Science transforms curiosity into actionable learning. Children engage with the natural world through activities like nature walks, where they observe seasonal changes, collect leaves, and examine insects under magnifying glasses. Experiments such as mixing baking soda and vinegar to create chemical reactions or melting ice with salt introduce foundational scientific principles like cause and effect, fostering analytical thinking. Seed germination projects and solar oven experiments empower students to document growth and energy transfer, linking classroom lessons to real-world phenomena. This hands-on approach cultivates a sense of ownership over their learning, encouraging questions like, “Why does salt melt ice faster?” or “How do plants grow?”— sparking deeper inquiry and critical analysis.
By integrating sensorial refinement with scientific
exploration, Montessori education creates a dynamic learning environment where children become active participants in their education. They learn to observe meticulously, classify systematically, and think critically—skills that transcend the classroom. Whether sorting colors, distinguishing scents, or hypothesizing about buoyancy, students develop a profound connection to their world, one discovery at a time. In Montessori, every sensory experience and scientific experiment is a step toward independence, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the universe. Through these practices, children don’t just learn about the world—they learn to shape it.
by: Candice Holbrook Head of School
The Senses in Relation to the Sensorial Area
By: NOAH LIEN | P2
In early childhood, the Montessori Sensorial area plays a crucial role in refining the five senses. During this sensitive period for sensory development, children learn best through hands-on experiences. Maria Montessori emphasized that movement is essential for brain and character development, with materials designed to engage both gross and fine motor skills. Activities such as carrying objects between rugs help children grasp concepts like weight and length.
Sight is explored through materials like the pink tower, brown stairs, red rods, knobbed cylinders, color boxes, geometric solids, and constructive triangles.
Touch is categorized into tactile, baric, stereognostic, and thermic sensations, with materials including rough and smooth boards, fabrics, baric tablets, mystery bags, and thermic bottles.
Hearing is refined using sound cylinders and Montessori bells, while taste and smell are explored through activities that encourage children to distinguish flavors and scents
Sight is the ability to see through the eyes, and it can be broken down into three categories: dimension, color, and form. Maria Montessori created several activities to help early childhood students refine this sensorial skill, including cylinder blocks, the pink tower, the brown stairs, the red rods, knobbed cylinders, color boxes one through three, geometric solids, the geometric cabinet, constructive triangles, the binomial cube, and the trinomial cube.
Practical & Life Science
Maria Montessori stated in Discovery of the Child(page 145), “But if for the physical life it is necessary to have the child exposed to the vivifying forces of nature, it is also necessary for his physical life to place the soul of the child in contact with creation.”
Botany, zoology, and physical sciences are also part of the cultural area of the Montessori classroom.
Botany can be linked to the Sensorial, Language, and Practical Life areas of the classroom. A child can use all five senses in exploring a mint leaf. What does it look like? How does it feel? What does it smell like? Does it make a sound? And how does it taste? These are questions that can be asked when exploring plants. Language can be integrated into lessons by labeling parts, shapes, and types of plants. There are also several three-part card lessons in botany to help children learn the parts of a plant, fruit, or vegetable.
The same can be said for zoology. All areas of the Montessori classroom can be connected to lessons, and all the senses can be used in exploring animals. For example, when presenting a lesson on bees, an educator might have the child taste honey or explore other related concepts. A child will also learn that they have bones, and then be introduced to the idea that animals, too, have bones and skeletons. Children can be exposed to concepts like water physics, magnets, light, sound, and chemistry.
Freedom Within Limits: Encouraging Independence and Growth
By: Kim Green - Primary PE
In a Montessori environment, experiencing freedom within limits is essential in guiding children toward becoming respectful, independent, motivated, and inspired learners. This balance allows them to explore their interests while developing self-discipline, responsibility, and problem-solving skills.
At Oak Farm Montessori School, we carefully curate an environment that aligns with this fundamental Montessori philosophy, providing children with the space to make choices, take ownership of their learning, and develop confidence in their abilities. Whether it’s selecting a work activity, engaging in hands-on learning, or collaborating with peers, students thrive when given both freedom and structure.
This philosophy can also extend beyond the classroom and into the home. By allowing children the opportunity to be curious, explore, and make choices within set boundaries, parents can foster independence and encourage meaningful learning experiences. Simple everyday activities—such as letting them help prepare meals, choose their own books, or solve problems on their own—can empower children and build lifelong skills.
We invite you to explore ways to incorporate freedom within limits in your daily routines. When children are given the right balance of guidance and independence, they develop confidence, creativity, and a sense of responsibility that will carry them through their educational journey and beyond. Let your child explore —who knows what exciting journeys they will take you on!
Ecoliteracy By: Melissa Witt, P4
Exploring the Wonders of the World Through Sensorial Science
At OFMS, students have the unique opportunity to spend part of their learning time outdoors. Montessori teaches us that children learn best when they are free to move and use their hands to discover the world around them.
With our beautiful campus at their disposal, science comes alive every day.
Nature provides the perfect setting for informal sensorial exploration. A simple activity, such as collecting sticks and asking, “I wonder which one is the shortest?” can spark curiosity and lead to discovery.
Ecoliteracy
A visit to the pond often turns into an exploration of “sink or float?” To some, it may look like leaves, pebbles, and sticks are simply being tossed into the water, but if you pause and listen, you’ll hear shouts of surprise and delight. “My big one made a big splash!” “That little one went ‘Plink!’” These moments of wonder pave the way for deeper learning.
One day, students decided to build a new structure at Kinderforest. Without realizing it, they were learning about weight and force. “Over here! I want to move this log, but it’s so big! I need a team,” one student called out. “OK. Here we come! Come on, guys, we can do this!” another responded. At first, they tried pulling it, but it wouldn’t budge. Then, they attempted lifting one end, but still made no progress. Frustration set in, but they remained determined. Finally, they decided to push and roll the log instead. It worked!
Though the log didn’t move exactly as they had planned, they made progress and gained confidence. After ten more minutes of effort, they successfully placed the log where they wanted it. “Now our structure has a bench for sitting!” they proudly announced, and everyone cheered.
Outside, students have the space to release their energy in meaningful and productive ways. They think critically, collaborate, and solve problems independently. Any observer can see the pride on their faces when they achieve a challenging goal and the wonder in their eyes when they make a new discovery. The value of the outdoor classroom cannot be overstated. By connecting learning to the natural world, we foster a deeper appreciation for nature while encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. These hands-on experiences ignite curiosity and instill a love of discovery that will benefit students for a lifetime.
Sensorial Work, Scientific Discovery, and Systematic Research
In the Montessori Lower Elementary classroom, sensorial work evolves to encourage more abstract thinking and deeper exploration. This approach combines hands-on activities, scientific discovery, and systematic research, with topics such as botany and zoology sparking students' natural curiosity about how and why things work. Through these studies, students refine their observation and classification skills, building a solid foundation for more advanced scientific understanding.
By: Brittany Reynolds, LE3
and identified different plant growth forms while exploring the diverse campus environment. This hands-on learning gave students valuable visual and tactile experiences that deepened their grasp of scientific concepts introduced in the classroom.
This fall, Lower Elementary students explored the natural world by collecting and categorizing fallen leaves from the elementary woods. They displayed their findings on a bar graph, surprisingly showing maple leaves as the most common discovery, closely followed by oak leaves. Students also distinguished between deciduous and coniferous trees
"The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge," (Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind)
In zoology lessons, Lower Elementary students began with classification and practical application. They grouped animals into categories such as mammals, reptiles, and amphibians by examining physical traits and behaviors. Using classification cards, students explored key characteristics like whether animals are warm-blooded or cold-blooded, how they breathe (lungs or gills), how they reproduce (live birth or egg-laying), and whether they primarily live on land or in water. These lessons helped students organize and connect information in meaningful ways.
Building on this foundation, Lower Elementary students expanded their learning through an integrated animal and continent research project. They developed essential skills in gathering and organizing information, using nonfiction print sources to take notes and create structured outlines.
While researching animals, they also explored the continents where these creatures live, investigating habitats, biomes, and environmental factors shaping ecosystems. After drafting and editing their work, students proudly presented their illustrated final papers with classmates, sharing their discoveries.
Through these activities, Lower Elementary students not only gain a deeper understanding of the world around them but also cultivate curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. The integration of sensorial work, scientific discovery, and systematic research ensures that every student is inspired to explore, question, and grow.
Happy Birthday, Oak Farm Montessori! You Are 25!
Noisemakers, party hats, and birthday sunglasses set the festive tone for Oak Farm Montessori School’s 25th birthday celebration kickoff in the Wellness Center, January 24th, 2025. A crowd of approximately 200 guests joined the festivities, marking the beginning of a yearlong celebration!
Attendees were among the first to preview the Founder’s Video, which documents the school’s humble beginnings and tells its story through the voices of those who joined Lorene in bringing her vision to life. Ultimately, this vision became a shared mission for so many. Lorene’s husband, Phil, spoke about her humility and unwavering dedication to providing parents and children in our area with a Montessori education. He echoed the sentiments shared in the video by many of her contemporaries: this journey was never about her but always about the children and families whose lives could be positively impacted by Montessori education.
The kickoff event was made even more special with Oakey, the beloved character from the book Oakey, the Girl from Oak Farm, leading everyone in singing “Happy Birthday” and blowing out the birthday candles. Guests enjoyed coffee from Oak Leaf Café, along with cookies and cupcakes, wrapping up the official kickoff. Hi li ts 01 02
Following the celebration, Rod Collier, Oak Farm Montessori’s architect, presented “An Architectural History of OFMS,” taking attendees on a journey through the evolution of the campus—highlighting both completed projects and unrealized plans.
1st Birthday
15th Birthday
25th Birthday
Whether you were part of the school during Lorene’s lifetime or joined our community afterward, celebrating 25 years of serving Northeast Indiana is a celebration of you and your families. The success of OFMS is a testament to those who have been impacted by the school and those whose contributions and gifts have helped shape our community. We are grateful for each of you!
By: Kim Davidson - Director of Strategic
Thank you to our supporters
Beyond the Classroom: Hands-On Learning in Upper Elementary
By: Courtney Pillers - UE
Montessori education is rooted in the belief that children learn best through sensory experiences—and Upper Elementary is no exception! As a team, we embrace the philosophy of hands-on learning and take every opportunity to extend our classroom beyond its four walls. Sometimes, this means taking a blanket and Montessori materials outside for a lesson, while other times, nature itself becomes our primary teaching tool.
We are fortunate to be nestled in the woods, where endless opportunities exist to explore and observe animals and insects in their natural habitats. Our students spend time outdoors learning in all seasons. They often choose to collect bugs or small creatures—such as the blue skink lizard—bringing them inside to document observations and launch research projects. If they collect a microscopic organism, they create a slide and observe it under a microscope, drawing detailed images and writing narratives about their discoveries. This year, one student brought a caterpillar inside to observe, and within the same school day, it formed a cocoon. Just two days later, students witnessed a butterfly emerge during morning carline and released it back into its natural habitat—a moment of pure Montessori magic!
Many of the Montessori materials found in Lower Elementary and Primary classrooms remain essential in the Upper Elementary environment. At this stage, children still crave concrete explanations for how the world around them works. For example, the binomial cube, initially used as a simple color-matching puzzle in early childhood, later becomes a tool for understanding algebraic concepts. Simply being told a formula to memorize does not satisfy the ever-present “why?” questions of a nine- to twelve-year-old. At this level, students want to "see it to believe it." They stack fraction circles to prove, in a tangible way, that three-sixths is truly equivalent to one-half. They use marbles on the atom board to visually map the placement of atoms within elements from the periodic table.
What Can You Do at Home?
In Upper Elementary, we are fortunate to have Katie Lautzenhiser guide students through hands-on experiences in our science lab, a space that exemplifies learning through the senses. The curriculum explores sound and heat energy, simple machines, inertia, potential and kinetic energy, and much more. Students always return from their lessons buzzing with excitement, eager to share their discoveries.
We encourage you to engage your child in hands-on experiences beyond the classroom. Encourage them to step away from electronics and dive into the world around them. Let them get their hands dirty—whether by using their fraction skills to help cook dinner or by planning and growing their own garden. Meaningful, real-world experiences spark curiosity, build independence, and create lasting memories that leave them eager for more.
"Exploring Science Through Discovery and Innovation"
By: Laura Gould - MS
We're excited to share the incredible journey our middle school students have embarked on in our science program this year. Our Montessori approach ensures that science is not just learned—it’s experienced firsthand, empowering students to become active participants in their own learning journey. Our students have become adept at handling various types of lab glassware,
honing precision in measurement, which is crucial for accurate scientific experiments. They have worked with tools like the triple beam balance to measure mass and Bunsen burners to conduct flame tests on different chemicals. This hands-on approach not only teaches them how to use lab instruments but also reinforces the importance of accuracy in scientific data collection.
Math has also played a key role in our science labs, as students calculate both absolute and percent errors in their experiments. They are discovering that science is as much about learning from mistakes as it is about confirming hypotheses—an essential mindset for any young scientist.
In the coming months, our curriculum will delve deeper into chemistry, exploring ionic bonds and witnessing the magic of chemical reactions through color changes in single and double-replacement reactions. We will continue to provide students with opportunities to interact with scientific materials, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for science.
At the core of our science program is the philosophy of active exploration. Students are encouraged to question, hypothesize, experiment, and draw conclusions on their own terms, building essential critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By engaging with real scientific tools and processes, they see the direct application of their knowledge, making science both relevant and exciting. Our environment is designed to spark curiosity, motivating students to seek out answers and become lifelong learners.
We are thrilled to witness our students grow— not just in knowledge, but in their confidence to explore the scientific world. We encourage you to extend this curiosity at home by modeling inquisitiveness, voicing your own wonderings about the world, researching questions together, and having discussions about exciting discoveries. By nurturing curiosity both in and out of the classroom, we empower our students to think like scientists every day.
"Unlocking Discovery: How High School Science Inspires Inquiry and Exploration"
“There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony, the beauty...”
-Maria Montessori
By: Katie Lautzenhiser - HS
In high school science, students are inspired to learn when given time to observe nature, investigate incongruent events, and solve problems with real-world applications. One of the most engaging aspects of science is figuring out why something is
High school students spend much of their time exploring the diverse ecosystems on our campus, as well as additional locations off-campus. Seeing and interacting with what they are studying deepens their understanding and fosters a meaningful connection to the content.
They also participate in ecological service-learning projects, where they actively care for and restore natural environments, developing a sense of responsibility and investment in the spaces they help protect.
On the first day of every science class, students observe a variety of science “magic tricks.”
Throughout the year, they learn the scientific principles behind these phenomena, igniting their curiosity and motivating them to uncover the "why" behind each event.
Science students are encouraged to learn through experimentation, eventually progressing to designing their own experiments. They begin with an observation that sparks a question, conduct research on what is already known about the topic, and use this knowledge to develop a hypothesis. From there, they design an experiment, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions based on their findings. By constructing their own learning through inquiry and experimentation, students develop critical thinking skills, creativity, and independence.
Through thought-provoking experiments, immersive experiences in nature, and real-world applications, students engage deeply in the learning process. This approach fosters concentration, self-discipline, and a genuine passion for scientific discovery— setting them up for success both in the classroom and beyond.
YOURCALENDARS
Feb 10th: Mid-Winter
Break: School Closed
Feb 15th: MS
Semi-Formal
Feb 22nd: Tall Oak Gala
Ways to give
Supporting Oak Farm Montessori School is easy and impactful! Here are a few ways you can contribute:
• The Annual Fund – Invest in our school through unrestricted gifts, Lorene’s Legacy for tuition assistance, Professional Development, or Related Arts Programming.
• The Tall Oak Gala – Join us on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Mirro Center for our largest fundraising event of the year! This exciting evening features both a silent and live auction, bringing our community together to support and celebrate OFMS.
• The School Granting Organization (SGO) – Support Lorene’s Legacy tuition assistance while receiving a 50% tax credit. Donations must be made through the Sagamore Institute to qualify.
Every contribution makes a difference —thank you for helping us grow!
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