The practical life area of the classroom focuses on the care of the person and the care of the environment. Practical life activities give the child real life skills to learn and master. We have all heard from a child "I can do it by myself." This is their inner voice telling them what they need to learn. It is the premise of these activities. Practical life activities include buttoning, zipping, tying, sweeping, sponging, pouring, spooning, cutting, etc. All of the practical life activities give the child a sense of order and help refine movement and coordination and promote independence. Even if you see a child struggling with one of these skills, let them continue. Let them do as much on their own as possible. Children receive great satisfaction by doing things for themselves.
Sensorial
The sensorial materials in the Montessori classroom help the child make sense of their world through the refinement of their senses. Concepts like size, color, shape, sound, and spacial relationships are internalized by using the materials. They do this through the childs five senses, hence the name sensorial. The sensorial materials also prepare the child for the development of other skills such as handwriting, language, and mathematics.
