It's the Pink Tower NOT the Pink Stair

The Montessori Pink Tower should be displayed as a tower, vertically rather than  horizontally in a Montessori Classroom.

The purpose of the  Pink Tower is to teach the children the dimension of ‘height’—vertically stacked— not laid out horizontally on a shelf.

These are the reasons:

Encouraging Engagement: Seeing the cubes in their vertical arrangement prompts curiosity and invites action.

Instant Visual Cue for the Activity: When the cubes are displayed in a tower form, it immediately signals to the children that the activity involves stacking and building a vertical structure.

Supports Independent Exploration: One of the core principles of Montessori is to encourage independence. When the cubes are displayed in a tower, it allows the children to immediately begin building with minimal instruction.

Helps with Focus and Precision: The vertical display also teaches focus and precision. As the children begin to stack, they will aim to recreate the tower, taking care with each cube to maintain balance and order.

Supports Cognitive Development: The vertical tower provides a concrete representation of concepts like "height," "size," and "order."

I have visited many Montessori Classrooms where I have seen the Pink Tower displayed horizontally on a shelf. Quite often in these classrooms, I have observed the children taking the pink cubes and building a horizontal structure, rather than building a tower.

Children who see the Pink Tower displayed horizontally, often build it horizontally.

By showing the Pink Tower in its vertical form, it’s setting up an environment that encourages the children to observe, learn, and engage in meaningful exploration, fully supporting their developmental progress.

Mahesika Tennakoon

Academic Director

Newborough Teacher Training Institute