Montessori is such a beautiful mixture of freedom, exploration, and structure. The child can choose when they have snack and they learn the snack rules as they gain experience serving themselves, cleaning their tables, and socializing with friends. Lessons work in a similar manner. The guides will show the child the parameters, goals, and points of interest for their lessons (with our younger friends, these tasks are sometimes carried out with just a point, a nod, and a smile so the child will stay focused on what our hands are doing rather than a multitude of words), but the child then has the freedom to explore all the many lessons that have been shown to them!