"Imagination does not become great until human beings, given the courage and the strength, use it to create." 

MARIA MONTESSORI

The Montessori classroom encompasses the whole child’s development and growth. The academics and the ability of the child to continue to move through extensive language and math concepts are phenomenal. Given that Montessori environments cater to the whole child, music and art are presented within the curriculum as well. Art in the Montessori classrooms will feed the needs of the child to tap into creativity, grasp the use of different mediums and aid in understanding different artists and their particular style. Just as in every area of the classroom, the art materials in the Montessori environment are suited to fit the needs of the individual children working with them.

Art materials in the classrooms are rotated frequently to fit the child’s needs and interests. Both the toddler community and primary classrooms have basic art tools with which the child works. Children learn how to use scissors, brushes, stamps and glue. They will learn about different art mediums such as watercolors, chalk, colored pencils, oil pastels, ink, clay and acrylic. They will learn how different brush strokes create different impressions, how to use the chalk to create thin or thick lines and what kind of paper works well for acrylic paint.

The children are introduced to famous artists. For example with Vincent van Gogh they may study about his life as an artist, his style of painting and recreate their very own Starry Night. They may study the life and art of Wassily Kandinsky and interpret artwork based upon shapes and geometric patterns. Depending on the children in the room, there may even be two works recreating the Starry Night or Kandinsky’s Squares with Concentric Circles: one for the youngest child and one more in-depth for older children.

Children will explore with various styles and art techniques. They may create a 2 dimensional object using the still art of drawing. Having a 3 dimensional object available and a set of pencils and oil pastels or watercolor, the children are able to recreate inanimate objects. They can dabble in pointillism or work with paper origami! The art area of a Montessori classroom is quite extensive. It allows for tremendous creativity to flow! We incorporate much more than simple gluing or painting, but really strive to have the child’s creativity and knowledge of artist, artwork, mediums and techniques come alive!