The Farm: Fences (5)
Five fences for the farm, sold as spare parts. Fences look like scenery and are not: they are what makes position mean something on the farm layout, because an animal is only inside or outside once there is a line to be one side of. That is the whole reason the farm sits in the language area rather than with the toys, since in, on, behind and between need a place before they can be said. The farm itself is a separate item.
“Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world.”
The Farm: Fences addresses children's developmental need to recreate and understand their observations of the real world.
- Spatial reasoning through creating varied enclosure shapes and sizes
- Fine motor control while connecting and positioning fence sections
- Mathematical concepts of perimeter, area, and geometric shapes
- Vocabulary expansion related to farm environments and animal care
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These five connecting fence sections allow children to physically construct boundaries, satisfying their urge to organize space and classify environments. By manipulating these plastic fence pieces, children externalize their mental concepts of enclosure, separation, and protection - fundamental ideas they've absorbed from observing real farms. The fences serve as concrete tools for abstract thinking about spatial relationships and animal care. Through arranging these fence sections into various configurations, children exercise their mathematical mind while building vocabulary around farm life. The act of connecting and repositioning the fences engages the hand in service of intelligence, as children test different enclosure designs to solve problems they create themselves. These fence pieces transform abstract concepts of 'inside,' 'outside,' and 'boundary' into tangible experiences children can manipulate and master.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the five fence sections on a work mat alongside farm animal figurines. Ensure ample space for the child to create different enclosure configurations.
- 1
Demonstrate connecting two fence sections at their joining points
Show how fences can connect at different angles, not just straight lines - 2
Create a simple square enclosure using four sections
Count aloud as you place each section to integrate mathematical language - 3
Place an animal inside and discuss why animals need enclosures
Use concrete examples: 'The sheep stay together so they don't wander off' - 4
Invite the child to create their own enclosure design
Resist correcting unless fences won't stay connected - let them explore - 5
Encourage creating different spaces for different animals
Ask questions like 'Which animals might need bigger spaces?'
Every Child Is a Little Creator
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Since 1929
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schools worldwide
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