Scott, I love the idea of chimps creating learning objects which they place strategically for their young to explore - just like a Montessori environment.
Looks to me like we need to distinguish something like '[open] learning objects with intentionality', and [closed] 'learning objects with instruction' (corresponding to emergent and prescribed learning, perhaps?) - the point being that the learner can accept and explore the intentionality and internalise it in some way, but the instruction only allows for complicance, and there is no need (or motivation?) for internalisation.
This certainly applies to Montessori materials, and would be a useful tool to discriminate between 'well designed' Montessori materials, and (mere) 'learning objects'. I can think of many examples, from the 'scubbing table' throught to complex mathematics.
And ... I will have to set aside some time to visit Emily Cross at academia ... thanks ...