The Orbis reflected Comenius’ commitment to concretization as an
educational method. He argued that teachers must enable children to have direct
experience with things, for “things are essential, words only accidental; things are
the body, words but the garment; things are the kernel, words the shell and husk.
Both should be presented to the intellect at the same time, but particularly the
things, since they are as much objects of understanding as is language” (Comenius,
1896 translation, p. 267; cited in Piaget, 1993).