Hexa-Play is a sensory based toy designed to help students new to the Montessori method become familiar with the Montessori curriculum. Hexa-play has a number of gadgets designed to stimulate the senses of 2-5-year-olds. Hexa-Play is designed to grow and change with a student as they progress along their Montessori plan.

Who:

Hexa-Play is meant for students new to the Montessori style of learning and having trouble with the more self-directed way of learning

What:

Hexa-Play is a cube with different types of fidget-like objects on it. These vary from tactile die poppers to rain sticks or gear walls.

Why:

Hexa-Play is made to make kids have an easier and more enjoyable transition into the Montessori method. This avoids the kid feeling stuck, understimulated or lost.

Research & Observations

Children Have Agency

Children Are Expected to Communicate

Montessori Plan

Support Concentration

Active Learning

Lesson Plan

User Overview 

Age:

4-5

Number of Students:

1-2

Lessons:

Collaboration:

Fine & Gross Motor Skills, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving

Younger w/ Older

Phase 1: exploration

Phase 2: introduce vocab & concepts

• Remove the blue side from Hexa-Play and set the main box aside.
• Carefully examine the different gears and pegs, demonstrating how the gear moves around the peg.
• Remove one of the gears and move it to a different peg.

• Vocabulary
• Gear, Peg, Spin, Move,

• Concepts:
• Cause and effect

Phase 4: student practice

Phase 3: instructor demonstration

• Once the students have explored the gears and how they rotate, the instructor can demonstrate how gears can interact with each other.
• The instructor picks a gear up from its peg and places it so that it interlocks with a different gear.
• The instructor then spins the first gear and shows how it affects the second gear.
• The instructor then reattaches all of the gears and shows how the blue side fits back into the Hexa-Play.

• Allow the students to remove and play with the blue side (gear wall). If they try to remove a different side, direct them back to the blue side.
• When a student is done playing, encourage them to return the gears to their pegs and the blue side to the Hexa-Play. If the student moves on to a different toy and is focused, you can clean it up yourself and show them next time.

Potential Expansion