The The Story Of The Three Kings is a Educational Materials Montessori material designed for children aged 3-6, crafted by Nienhuis Montessori to AMI standards.
The Story of The Three Kings introduces mathematical concepts through three beautifully crafted wooden cubes in graduated sizes. This material supports the development of visual discrimination, size relationships, and spatial reasoning while engaging children in imaginative storytelling and mathematical exploration.
“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”— Maria MontessoriEducation and Peace
“The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
— Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
The Story of The Three Kings emerges from Maria Montessori's understanding that young children grasp abstract mathematical concepts through concrete manipulation of objects. These three wooden cubes in graduated sizes allow children to physically explore size relationships before they can articulate them verbally. The material's storytelling element engages the child's imagination while their hands discover mathematical truths about volume, dimension, and proportion. Each wooden cube represents a different 'king,' transforming abstract size comparisons into concrete characters children can manipulate and understand. The Story of The Three Kings builds the sensorial foundation for later work with the pink tower and brown stair, as children internalize concepts of 'large,' 'larger,' and 'largest' through repeated handling of these precisely crafted wooden forms. This progression from story to mathematics reflects Montessori's observation that children learn best when abstract concepts are embedded in meaningful, manipulable contexts.
Each order includes everything needed for proper presentation and long-term use.
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Introduce each cube as a 'king,' starting with the largest: 'This is the Great King'
Present the medium cube: 'This is the Middle King,' then the smallest: 'This is the Little King'
Tell a simple story involving the three kings going on a journey, using size-appropriate language
Invite the child to arrange the kings from smallest to largest for their 'royal procession'
Encourage the child to create their own story using the three kings
Every material is carefully selected for durability, safety, and authentic Montessori experience.
Each cube is crafted from solid wood, providing substantial weight and durability that allows children to experience the physical properties of size and mass relationships.
Each material supports multiple areas of child development simultaneously.
Introduces concepts of size gradation, comparison, and seriation essential for later mathematical work.
Develops the ability to perceive differences in dimension through hands-on manipulation of graduated objects.
Enriches vocabulary with comparative terms (small, smaller, smallest) and supports storytelling activities.
Builds understanding of three-dimensional relationships and geometric concepts through concrete exploration.
Designed for child-sized hands
Professional tips from AMI-trained guides to maximize the educational value of this material.
“Present this material before the pink tower to establish size discrimination with fewer objects”
Use consistent vocabulary across presentations - always 'great, middle, little' or 'large, medium, small'
Store the cubes where children can access them independently for repeated practice
Document children's evolving stories to track language development alongside mathematical understanding
Everything you need to know about this material.
This material introduces size comparison, seriation, visual discrimination, and spatial relationships. Children learn to order objects by size, understand concepts of small/medium/large, and develop mathematical language while exploring the three graduated wooden cubes.
Children begin by exploring the cubes freely, then learn to order them by size. They can stack, nest, or line them up while developing stories about three kings of different sizes. The material supports both sensorial exploration and creative storytelling.
The set includes three solid wooden cubes in graduated sizes, typically ranging from approximately 2cm to 6cm. They are crafted from smooth, natural wood with rounded edges for safety and painted in attractive colors to engage young learners.
Yes! Children can use the cubes for building, pattern-making, counting, and creative play. They serve as props for storytelling, can be traced for art activities, and help with vocabulary development using comparative language like bigger, smaller, and equal.
This age group is in the sensitive period for order and sensorial exploration. The material's concrete nature appeals to young children who learn through manipulation, while the storytelling aspect engages their growing imagination and language development.
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