Geometric Cabinet Control Chart: 26 Shapes
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
A laminated control chart for the Geometric Cabinet: 26 blue shapes with their names underneath. The chart is what lets a child work alone. They take a shape out of its drawer, find it on the chart and read what it is called, without asking anyone. The names of geometric figures are exactly the vocabulary children enjoy using long before they can write it. Four rows group the shapes by family, so the heptagon sits beside the octagon and the difference between them is one side rather than one word. The labels are in English. Laminated, so it survives fingers and water and can lie next to the work itself. Plastic, for children aged 3 to 6.
“The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge.”
The Geometric Cabinet Control Chart embodies Montessori's principle of providing concrete keys to abstract concepts. This material serves as a bridge between the sensorial experience of the Geometric Cabinet and the abstraction of geometric language.
- Visual discrimination of 28 fundamental geometric shapes
- Acquisition of precise geometric nomenclature and vocabulary
- Development of visual memory and shape recognition
- Refinement of eye-hand coordination through matching activities
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By offering visual representations paired with nomenclature, it supports the child's natural progression from concrete to abstract thinking. The control chart honors the child's need for independence by enabling self-correction and autonomous learning. It exemplifies Montessori's belief that children possess an innate mathematical mind, eager to classify and name their world. The organized presentation of shapes appeals to the child's sense of order during the sensitive period for language and visual discrimination, allowing them to build precise geometric vocabulary through repeated, purposeful engagement.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the control chart on a table or hang it at child's eye level on the wall near the Geometric Cabinet. Ensure good lighting and that the chart is easily accessible when children work with the cabinet materials.
- 1
Invite the child who has worked with the Geometric Cabinet to use the chart. Show how to carry it carefully with two hands
Model slow, deliberate movements to emphasize care and respect for materials - 2
Place one drawer from the Geometric Cabinet on the table alongside the control chart
Start with the drawer containing simpler shapes like circles and squares - 3
Select one shape from the drawer and find its match on the control chart
Use your index finger to trace both the wooden shape and the chart image to emphasize similarity - 4
Once matched, give a three-period lesson for the shape's name using the chart label
Point clearly to the written name, pronouncing it slowly and distinctly - 5
Continue matching all shapes from the drawer, introducing names gradually
Follow the child's interest and pace - they may not be ready for all names at once - 6
Invite the child to work independently with other drawers and the chart
Step back but remain available if the child needs support
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
In classrooms
Around the world
European brands
Nienhuis, GAM, Educo
AMI approved
To the association standard
Geometric Cabinet Control Chart: 26 Shapes
