We would like to present another iconic Montessori material, the Brown Stairs. As with every Montessori material, the Brown Stairs material isolates one concept, which is size. The material consists of 10 rectangular prisms ranging from 1 cm to 20 cm in height and width. All the prisms are perfectly calibrated to offer a sensorial experience with sizes. The edges and vertices of each prism are designed to send enhanced sensory inputs. You will find on the market toys that claim to offer sensorial experiences. The Brown Stairs are crafted in such a way that the child experiences logical size patterns through the visual, kinesthetic, and baric senses.
Therefore, the material contains a self-corrective device, which is reflected in the incrementally increasing size. During the presentation, the adult carefully demonstrates how to transport each prism, from the widest to the narrowest. While transporting each prism, children are intuitively experimenting with size and weight. They can observe that objects may be constant in length (20 cm), and increase or decrease in height and width (by 1 cm). This method allows them to retain flexibility of mind, especially after having worked with the Pink Tower which offers a more predictable outcome.
Brown is the original color of the material. It is possible that the color had been chosen arbitrarily, however; Dr. Montessori has often been intentional about the materials’ colors. The solid color of the material prevents children from noticing any irregular aspects of it. The dark brown color of the prisms is highly contrastive making it easy to identify characteristics and to self-correct. After much experience with the material, a young primary learner will be offered to use the Brown Stairs in a creative manner. This could mean placing the prism and different positions or combining the prisms with other materials such as the Pink Tower. The physical and cognitive benefits of such design allow children to extend their learning experience by comparing and contrasting materials based on the decimal system. Through manipulating logically designed materials, children are refining their fine motor skills, gross motor skills, visual perception, and concentration. Other indirect skills are acquired which can be applied in math and science.
How to use the Brown Stairs:
The Brown Stairs are introduced to children as young as age two and a half. The adult always walk the child to the Shell where the majority is located, and name the material. At this point, the adult grasps the largest prism with two hands and bring it to the working mat. With much exaggeration, the first prism is gently placed vertically on the working surface. The child must sit on the side of the non-dominant hand of the presentator. This way, the arm used to align and adjust the objects is not obstructing the child’s field of vision. The child is fully absorbing every movements in hope to repeat such marveling process.
Once all the prisms have been laid down from left to right, from the widest to the narrowest, children go through a series of three-period lessons where they are provided the language to compare sizes (wide, narrow, wider, narrower, the widest, the narrowest). A Control Chart may be provided to transition children from the initial presentation to independent work. Once the child has exhausted the ways to manipulate the Brown Stairs and is showing less interest, it is possible to invite her to combine the Brown Stairs with the Pink Tower. You may demonstrate a few examples, but ideally, the child should make these creative discoveries.
