Design Guidelines for Montessori Schools

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to provide architects, designers, and teachers with design guidelines they must be aware of when designing for the child's environment necessary to enhance the Montessori method of teaching. This thesis is based on three types of information gathering: 1) the reading and analyzing of books written by Montessori and her followers, 2) interviews and inventories done in six Montessori schools, and 3) existing environment-behavior criteria for early child care environments. The results of this research is analyzed and design guidelines for Montessori schools proposed.