Creativity and Curiosity in Action: A Montessori Afternoon
During a recent Additional Day session, two Primary students, Harry and Avery, showed how creativity and curiosity unfold when children are given time, space, and freedom to explore.
Harry began by taking an L-shaped block from the shelf. He gathered paper and markers, then announced to himself, “I’m going to do an experiment.” Carefully, he traced each block, colored the shapes, cut them out, and taped them together. He was immersed in his self-directed project for quite some time.
Nearby, Avery observed with interest. When Harry finished, she chose her own materials (magnetic blocks) and began building, tracing, and coloring her creation in much the same way. Her work, too, reflected deep concentration and joy.
“Additional Days are a wonderful opportunity for the children to engage with materials that aren’t always available in the Montessori classroom,” shared Caroline Orford, who was leading the group. “They have the chance to explore in different ways while still working purposefully.”
The children’s collaboration and creativity did not go unnoticed by others. “This is not unusual for Montessori children,” said Primary Program Coordinator Teresa Hartmann. “Their creativity often bounces off each other!”
The after-school and Additional Day environments are thoughtfully prepared to extend Montessori principles beyond the typical classroom day. As Jennifer Aguilar, Primary After School Lead Teacher, noted, “We’ve observed the children’s growing interest in experimentation with sensorial materials. They love translating 3D work into 2D creations, using paper, pencils, and markers to express what they’ve built. We continue to adjust materials to meet their creative and explorative needs.”
Moments like these highlight the beauty of a Montessori education, where curiosity leads to discovery, collaboration sparks creativity, and learning truly has no bounds!
