The natural phenomena in Montessori's scientific experimentation in education was the child in an environment that offered freedom of choice and movement. She said that in traditional classrooms we don't see the child in their natural state because they are being told what to do all the time by adults, so we don't get to see the natural tendencies of children and their sensitive periods. The Montessori prepared environments allow children to follow their own "inner guides" and by observing them we are able to see them in their natural state…kind of like observing animals in their natural state!