Introduction to Sensorial Materials

Purpose of Sensorial Work

Sensorial materials are designed to help the child refine their senses of sight, touch, sound, smell, and taste. By isolating specific qualities (like size, color, or weight), these materials help the child classify and organize their impressions of the world.

Famous Materials

The Pink Tower

Ten wooden cubes varying in three dimensions. The child builds a tower from largest to smallest. This teaches visual discrimination of size and prepares the mathematical mind.

The Color Tablets

Matching and grading colors. This refines the chromatic sense and introduces artistic concepts.

Sound Cylinders

Matching pairs of cylinders based on the sound they make when shaken. This refines auditory discrimination.