Children use real sinks and refrigerators instead of play ones. Because in real life everyone does not have the same thing at the same time, there is only one piece of material instead of multiple sets. Contact with nature and reality are a third principle. Dr. Montessori taught that a child's direct contact with nature results with understanding and appreciating order, harmony, and beauty. The Montessori classroom environment is a place of life.
Children learn to take care of plants, animals and fish.
Magnifying glasses, microscopes and simple experiments are available for children to observe and learn from nature. The sensitive periods describe inner states of young children. Children do not directly reveal them. Instead, Montessori teachers must learn to observe children for indications that suggest which sensitive period is now awake. The classroom environment is prepared based on the teacher's observations.