Manual arts such as woodworking and handwork help the brain develop the capacity for organized thought. C hildren, until around age 12 or 14, learn best through direct engagement with their senses and their imaginations. Experiential learning keeps subjects vital and alive. For example, body movement in rhythmic patterns contributes to a fuller comprehension of mathematics. In the upper grades science is taught largely through hands-on experimentation and demonstration.
Adults learn primarily through concepts and abstract ideas.
For young children, however, abstraction is an inappropriate teaching method which confuses a child's growing understanding of the world. Adults often fail to realize how differently a child receives and integrates knowledge . T he class is a social unit, not just a series of individuals. Children learn a great deal from each other as well as from the teacher. Sometimes the teacher acts almost like an orchestra conductor, seeing that the whole class moves forward so that everyone benefits.