Dr. Montessori saw the senses as the “doorway to the mind”  and considered sensorial materials and manipulation as a starting point for intellectual growth.   Sensorial activities are designed to sharpen an early learner’s five senses.  With the help of sensorial material, children learn to distinguish, categorize and relate new information to what they already know.  Sensorial exercises isolate a specific concept, inspire careful observation and require the mind to judge, compare, classify and draw conclusions through identification of similarities and contrasts.  When children learn to order, compare and classify sensory stimulation, their intellectual development and future learning are more meaningful and useful and they are better prepared for future learning in math, language and science – and for making sense of life experiences and information, in general.