Organizing Primary Montessori Presentations

Below is just one of many possible ways to organize the primary Montessori experiences (primary being ages 2.5-6 years of age, or the developmental equivalent). Eight intervals across the 3.5-4 years of Primary Montessori (a child could potentially be in primary from the age of 2.5 until almost 6.5).

Each individual child might be ahead/behind in particular areas (i.e. sensorial language skills) but these are roughly where the pieces fit.

NOTE the mentioning of the same heading in various areas - each of these items/experiences has many layers to it. Indeed most of what is below has many layers even within a particular interval.

As defined here, an interval is approximately a 6-month span of time when a child begins at 2 1/2 years of age. If/when a child starts later, then we begin with the first interval and proceed at the child's pace (which is what we do anyway - it just means that it might be faster; or it is ok if a child does take a full 6 months).

A child entering primary at age 5 or older? Check our other Montessori Nuggets for suggestions.

Would you like to download this Primary Montessori Basic Intervals file as a Word doc? Click here.
(edited 2/22/15 - updated the link)

Primary Montessori: Suggested Order of Presentations

Follow your child’s needs and interests. Within each level (interval) provided here, there are few pre-requisites; generally any pre-reqs refer to something in the previous interval. Refer to the album pages for details how to present as well as what to present or invite work on for each age. Older children entering Montessori will move more quickly through some areas. That is fine. Or slower. That is fine too. For a typically developing 2.5 year old just beginning, these levels approximate 6-month increments, with notes of what will take longer.

Anything noted as “Cont” means “Continue into the next interval or even beyond – continue as needed for that child.” With that said, almost everything can be continued for any duration or in extension work or interests – do not be limited by this scope and sequence, but freed to focus on developmentally appropriate activities for your child, providing you time to encourage interests and family experiences.

Recall too that the practical life presentations are not limited to what is listed here. Add practical life and art and outdoor activities as are appropriate to your children. The albums you follow will have additional suggestions as well as guidelines for appropriate additions.

NOTE that these presentations each contain a series of layers (extensions, games, exercises, follow-ups) that are designed to be given in a particular sequence, at particular readiness-ages – some earlier, some later. Please refer to your album pages for the specifics.

First Interval: Entrance into Primary Montessori

EPL: Control of Movement	Walking on the Line
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Orientation Game
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Naming Objects in the Environment
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Collecting Classified Objects
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Classified Cards	Continue until reading
Spoken: Language Development	Storytelling	Cont
Spoken: Language Development	Reading and Books in the Library	Cont
Spoken: Language Development	Poems	Cont
Spoken: Language Development	Conversation	Cont
Spoken: Language Development	Conversation	Cont
Spoken: Language Development	Question Game	Cont
Spoken: Language Development	Cultural Folders	Cont
Spoken: Language Development	Extension: fictional story telling	Cont
EPL: Preliminary Exercises	How to Carry a Working Mat
EPL: Preliminary Exercises	How to Place a Pitcher
EPL: Preliminary Exercises	How to Carry a Tray
EPL: Preliminary Exercises	How to Roll a Working Mat
EPL: Preliminary Exercises	How to Put Down a Chair
EPL: Preliminary Exercises	How to Sit On a Chair at a Table
EPL: Preliminary Exercises	How to Fold Napkins
EPL: Preliminary Exercises	How to Pour Grain
EPL: Preliminary Exercises	How to Pour Water
EPL: Preliminary Exercises	How to Fold a Dust-cloth to Put Away
EPL: Preliminary Exercises	How to Fold a Dust-cloth to Dust
EPL: Care of Self	Snap Frame
EPL: Care of Self	Hook and Eye Frame
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Dust a Table
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Use a Dustpan and Brush
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Sweep
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Wipe Up a Spill
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Dust Leaves
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Make Lemon Water
EPL: Grace and Courtesy	How to Walk Around A Mat
EPL: Grace and Courtesy	How to Introduce Yourself
EPL: Grace and Courtesy	How to Apologize
EPL: Grace and Courtesy	How to Observe
EPL: Grace and Courtesy	How to Draw Attention
EPL: Grace and Courtesy	How to Accept a Compliment
EPL: Grace and Courtesy	How to Blow Your Nose
EPL: Grace and Courtesy	Own Grace and Courtesy
Writing	Sound Games	Cont
Language Extension	How to Teach a Song	Cont

Second Interval

Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Practical Life Objects
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Parts of an Object
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Language of the Sensorial Materials	Cont
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Three Period Lesson	Cont
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Related Objects Game
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Description/Definition Game
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Stories – Biological Classifications
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Sorting Game – Biology Classifications
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Nomenclature Cards – Scientific
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Life Cycles
Spoken:Vocabulary Enrichment	Oral Language Games
Spoken: Language Development	Land and Water Form Folders	Cont
Spoken: Language Development	Land and Water Form Outline Maps	Cont
Spoken: Language Development	Biome Folders	Cont
Spoken: Language Development	Art Folders	Cont
EPL: Care of Self	How to Wash Hands
EPL: Care of Self	How to Polish Shoes
EPL: Care of Self	Button Frame
EPL: Care of Self	Buckle Frame
EPL: Care of Self	Zipper Frame
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Polish Glass
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Care for Plants
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Polish Wood
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Wash a Table
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Wash Cloths
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Iron
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Arrange Flowers
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Wash Fruits and Vegetables
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Bake
EPL: Control of Movement	The Silence Activity	Cont
EPL: Visual Art	Rubbings (Exploration of Texture)
EPL: Visual Art	Cutting - Snipping
EPL: Visual Art	Cutting - Lines
EPL: Visual Art	Cutting and Gluing (Exploration of Space)
EPL: Visual Art	Painting (Exploration of Color)
EPL: Visual Art	Sculpting (Exploration of Form)
EPL: Visual Art	Beginning Sewing
Sensorial: Visual - Dimension	Cylinder Blocks
Sensorial: Visual - Dimension	Pink Tower
Sensorial: Visual - Dimension	Brown Stair
Sensorial: Visual - Dimension	Red Rods
Sensorial: Visual - Color	Color Tablets Box I
Sensorial: Visual - Color	Color Tablets Box II
Sensorial: Visual - Color	Color Tablets Box III
Sensorial: Visual - Shape	Geometry Cabinet	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Binomial Cube
Sensorial: Tactile	Sensitizing Fingers
Sensorial: Tactile	Touch Boards
Sensorial: Tactile	Touch Tablets
Sensorial: Tactile	Blindfold
Sensorial: Tactile	Fabrics
Sensorial: Baric	Baric Tablets
Sensorial: Gustatory	Tasting Bottles
Sensorial: Auditory	Bells	Cont
Sensorial Aspects of the World	Sandpaper Globe
Sensorial Aspects of the World	Continents Globe
Sensorial Aspects of the World	World Puzzle Map
Sensorial Aspects of the World	Continent Puzzle Map
Sensorial Aspects of the World	United States Puzzle Map
Sensorial Aspects of the World	Land and Water Forms
Sensorial Aspects of the World	Oceans Globe	Cont
Sensorial Aspects of the World	Flags	Cont
Sensorial Aspects of the World	Climatic Zones	Cont
Writing	Sound Games	Cont
Writing	Sandpaper Letters
Writing	Sandpaper Phonograms
Writing	Metal Insets
Writing - Art of Handwriting	Book Making	Cont
Language Extension	Plant Study	Cont

Third Interval

Spoken: Language Development	Land and Water Form Outline Maps:	Cont
Spoken: Language Development	My State	Cont
EPL: Care of Self	Bow Frame	Cont
EPL: Care of Self	Lacing Frame – V Pattern	Cont
EPL: Care of Self	Lacing Frame – X Pattern	Cont
EPL: Care of Self	Lacing Frame – Linear Pattern	Cont
EPL: Care of Self	Safety Pin Frame	Cont
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Polish Metal
EPL: Care of the Environment	How to Peel & Cut Fruits and Vegetables	Cont
EPL: Visual Art	Contour Drawing with Crayon (Exploration of Line)
EPL: Visual Art	Drawing with Colored Pencils
EPL: Visual Art	Sewing a Button
Sensorial: Visual - Dimension	Cylinder Blocks
Sensorial: Visual - Dimension	Pink Tower
Sensorial: Visual - Dimension	Brown Stair
Sensorial: Visual - Dimension	Red Rods
Sensorial: Visual - Color	Color Tablets Box III
Sensorial: Visual - Shape	Geometry Cabinet
Sensorial: Visual - Shape	Geometry Cards	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Shape	Leaf Cabinet	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Trinomial Cube	Cont
Sensorial: Tactile	Touch Tablets
Sensorial: Tactile	Trinomial Cube
Sensorial: Tactile	Fabrics
Sensorial: Baric	Baric Tablets
Sensorial: Thermic	Thermic Bottles	Cont
Sensorial: Thermic	Thermic Tablets
Sensorial: Gustatory	Tasting Bottles
Sensorial: Olfactory	Smelling Bottles
Sensorial: Auditory	Sound Cylinders
Sensorial: Auditory	Bells
Sensorial: Stereognostic	Geometry Solids
Sensorial: Stereognostic	Stereognostic Bags	Cont
Sensorial: Stereognostic	Mystery Bag	Cont
Sensorial Aspects of the World	Continent Puzzle Map
Sensorial Aspects of the World	United States Puzzle Map
Sensorial Aspects of the World	Climatic Zones
Sensorial Aspects of the World	Climatic Zones
Writing	Sound Games
Writing	Sandpaper Letters
Writing	Sandpaper Phonograms
Writing	Small Metal Insets

Fourth Interval

Spoken: Language Development	Land and Water Form Outline Maps	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Shape	Geometry Cabinet	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Shape	Geometry Cabinet Cards	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Shape	Leaf Cabinet Cards	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Constructive Triangles	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Rectangular Box A	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Rectangular Box B	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Triangular Box	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Large Hexagonal Box	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Small Hexagonal Box	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	12 Blue Triangles	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Graded Geometric Figures
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Decanomial Square
Sensorial: Thermic	Thermic Tablets
Sensorial: Auditory	Sound Cylinders
Sensorial: Auditory	Bells	Cont
Sensorial: Stereognostic	Geometry Solids	Cont
Writing	Movable Alphabet:
Writing	Map Making	Cont
Writing - Art of Handwriting	Sand Tray	Cont
Writing - Art of Handwriting	Chalkboards
Writing - Art of Handwriting	Paper Material
Writing - Art of Handwriting	Initial Strokes
Writing - Art of Handwriting	Green Boards (Initial strokes)
Writing - Art of Handwriting	Handwriting Charts – 5	Cont
Musical Expression	Notation with the Bells	Cont
Musical Expression	Note Names with the Bells	Cont
Musical Expression	Reading Music	Cont
Language Extension	Clapping – Rhythm	Cont
Language Extension	Plant Experiments	Cont
Mathematics: Numbers 1-10	Number Rods
Mathematics: Numbers 1-10	Sandpaper Numerals (cyphers)
Mathematics: Numbers 1-10	Number Rods and Cards
Mathematics: Numbers 1-10	Spindle Boxes
Mathematics: Numbers 1-10	Zero Activity
Mathematics: Numbers 1-10	Cards and Counters
Mathematics: Numbers 1-10	Memory Game of Numbers (Chit Game)

Fifth Interval

EPL: Visual Art	Advanced Cutting
EPL: Visual Art	Advanced Sewing – Running Stitch
EPL: Visual Art	Sewing a Pillow (Student’s Own Presentation)
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Decanomial Square	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Decanomial Square	Cont
Sensorial: Visual - Dimension	Knobless Cylinders
Sensorial: Auditory	Bells
Writing	Movable Alphabet
Reading: Phonetic Reading	Phonetic Object Box
Reading: Phonetic Reading	Phonetic Reading Cards
Reading: Phonetic Reading	Phonetic Reading Commands
Reading: Phonetic Reading	Phonetic Booklets
Reading: Phonetic Reading	Rhyming Words
Reading: Phonograms	Phonogram Object Box and Alphabet Boxes
Reading: Phonograms	Phonogram Shadow Box
Reading: Phonograms	Phonogram Booklets -
Reading: Phonograms	Phonogram Cards
Reading: Phonograms	Phonogram Alphabet Exploration
Reading: Phonograms	Phonogram Commands
Reading: Puzzle Words	Puzzle Words
Musical Expression	Staff, Ledger Lines, G-Clef
Musical Expression	Note Names on the Numbered Staff Board
Musical Expression	Note Names on the Unmarked Staff Board
Musical Expression	Unmarked Staff Boards – Parallel Exercise 1: Matching Cards with Bells
Musical Expression	Unmarked Staff Boards – Parallel Exercise 2: Nomenclature Cards
Musical Expression	Unmarked Staff Boards – Parallel Exercise 3: Grading
Musical Expression	Composing on the Bells
Mathematics: Decimal System	Introduction to the Bead Material
Mathematics: Decimal System	Introduction to the Card Material
Mathematics: Decimal System	Formation of Numbers
Mathematics: Decimal System	Change Game
Mathematics: Decimal System	Addition with the Golden Beads
Mathematics: Decimal System	Subtraction with the Golden Beads
Mathematics: Decimal System	Multiplication with the Golden Beads
Mathematics: Decimal System	Division with the Golden Beads
Mathematics: Decimal System	Stamp Game Addition	Cont
Mathematics: Decimal System	Stamp Game Subtraction	Cont
Mathematics: Decimal System	Stamp Game Multiplication	Cont
Mathematics: Decimal System	Stamp Game Division	Cont
Mathematics: Counting	Teens Stage I: Teen Boards 11-19
Mathematics: Counting	Teens Stage II: Teen Boards 11-19
Mathematics: Counting	Teens Stage III: Teen Beads and Boards 11-99
Mathematics: Counting	Tens Stage I: Tens Boards 10-90
Mathematics: Counting	Tens Stage II: Tens Beads and Boards 10-90
Mathematics: Counting	Tens Stage III: Tens Beads and Boards 11-99

Sixth Interval

Sensorial: Visual - Shape	Geometry Cabinet Cards
Sensorial: Visual - Shape	Leaf Cabinet Cards
Sensorial: Visual - Combined	Decanomial Square
Sensorial: Auditory	Bells
Reading: Phonograms	Research	Cont
Reading: Phonograms	Spelling	Cont
Reading: Phonograms	Dictionary	Cont
Reading: Phonograms	Personal Dictionary	Cont
Reading: Puzzle Words	Puzzle Words	Cont
Reading Classification	Presentation I – Classifying the Environment	Cont
Reading Classification	Presentation II – Cards with Labels
Reading Classification	Presentation III
Reading: Function of Words	Article -
Reading: Function of Words	Adjective
Reading: Function of Words	Logical Adjective	Cont
Reading: Function of Words	Detective Adjective	Cont
Reading: Function of Words	Conjunction	Cont
Reading: Function of Words	Preposition	Cont
Reading: Function of Words	Verb	Cont
Reading: Function of Words	Adverb	Cont
Reading: Function of Words	Logical Adverb	Cont
Reading: Function of Words	Continuation of Commands	Cont
Reading: Function of Words	Symbol and Phrase Game	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Compound Words	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Suffixes	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Prefixes	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Word Families	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Adjectives	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Singular and Plural	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Synonyms	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Antonyms	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Homophones	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Homographs	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Animal Collectives	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Animals and Their Young	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Animal Sounds	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Animal Homes	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Animal Families	Cont
Reading: Word Study	Contractions	Cont
Musical Expression	Unmarked Staff Boards – Parallel Exercise 4: Descriptions/Definitions
Language Extension	Who Am I?	Cont
Mathematics: Decimal System	Dot Game
Mathematics: Decimal System	Word Problems	cont
Mathematics: Counting	Linear Counting: Stage I – Hundred Chain
Mathematics: Counting	Linear Counting: Stage II – Thousand Chain
Mathematics: Counting	Skip Counting
Mathematics: Memorization	Addition Snake Game
Mathematics: Memorization	Addition Strip Board
Mathematics: Memorization	Addition Charts
Mathematics: Memorization	Subtraction Snake Game
Mathematics: Memorization	Subtraction Strip Board
Mathematics: Memorization	Subtraction Charts
Mathematics: Memorization	Multiplication with Bead Bars
Mathematics: Memorization	Multiplication Board
Mathematics: Memorization	Multiplication Charts

Seventh Interval

Reading Analysis	Simple Sentences Stage I
Reading Analysis	Simple Sentences Stage II
Reading Analysis	Simple Sentences Stage III
Mathematics: Decimal System	Long Division with Bows
Mathematics: Memorization	Unit Division Board
Mathematics: Memorization	Division Charts
Mathematics: Fractions	Introduction to Fractions
Mathematics: Fractions	Fraction: Operations

Eighth Interval

If primary children do not get to this work, they will have appropriate elementary versions presented. Some children will get to these presentations; some will not.

M: Passage to Abstraction	Small Bead Frame
M: Passage to Abstraction	Wooden Hierarchical Material
M: Passage to Abstraction	Large Bead Frame
M: Passage to Abstraction	Division with Racks and Tubes