Montessori materials are only the tools in a prepared environment to fulfilling the purpose of the Montessori Method.
They are not the 'Method' themselves.
However' they are extremely important to achieving the objectives of Dr.
Maria Montessori.
The goal of using this equipment is to help the child along the path to self learning and exploration' which according to the Montessori Method are of primary value.
Completely adapting materials developed by Doctors Seguin and Itard who specialized in attending to children with special needs' Dr.
Montessori looked for ways in which normal children could be stimulated.
She went on to formulating other equipment that would encourage a child's natural curiosity to learning in a manner that respected his individuality.
Independent and spontaneous moves towards learning are aided by these materials being made available to children within a harmonious atmosphere.
Dr Montessori's dictates required several conditions for the materials to be able to achieve their best results:

• Presentation by well trained teachers who themselves thoroughly understand their purpose
• Clean' well maintained and attractive material
• Only one of each type to be made available

Several categories of learning covered under a Montessori curriculum and their basic objectives are listed: Practical Life:

• Courtesy and Grace
• Care of the environment and person

Sensorial Equipment:

• Classification and Grading
• Working without being anxious about failing since the materials have inbuilt systems to control error

Language Equipment:

• Facilitate the development of language at a crucial stage of the child' life
• Learning the connection between symbols' sounds and language
• Understanding that words convey a concept

Mathematical Equipment:

• Learning math in isolated units of concept which are combined to present the whole
• Being able to understand the interaction and inter-connection between numbers
• Ability to produce abstract forms on paper from concrete models

Montessori materials seek to internalize concepts in a child by the process of unhampered repetition.
The free moving atmosphere and lack of pressure to perform are conducive to voluntary moves made by children towards ingraining such concepts.
They remember something that interested them and go seeking for it by their own volition.
If another child has got there first and is using the item' they learn a 'Practical Life Lesson' as they are expected to wait their turn without protest or fuss.
Each material has a specific purpose in Montessori.
There is no room left for anything superfluous or extraneous.
This is the beauty of the Montessori Method.