If you are a parent or caregiver of a school-aged child, the chances are that you have heard about Maria Montessori and her teaching method. Maria was an Italian physician and educator who, at the beginning of the 20th Century, developed a revolutionary teaching approach.
Since then, the so-called “Montessori method” and its extraordinary results have been praised worldwide. Montessori schools continue to exist today, and keep enjoying a lot of popularity.
But what do children learn exactly, by attending a Montessori school? Keep reading our guide to discover the all-important five lessons that underpin Maria Montessori’s method.
Contents
1. Coming of the Universe and Earth
How did the universe come to be? How was the Earth formed? These are some of the crucial questions that the first great lesson tries to help children answer.
Teachers in a Montessori elementary school such as will present this information in a hands-on, engaging, and visual way, to keep children focused and entertained. This lesson stimulates children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, and it starts introducing them to topics like astronomy, chemistry, geology, geography, and physics.
2. Coming of Life
Next, children learn about how all the living things on our planet contribute to life, each of them in its own unique way. This lesson breaks down all the different eras, evolutions, and extinction periods of life on Earth, discussing topics such as animals, dinosaurs, plants, and more.
Again, this information is offered to the children in a very interactive way, through games, charts, and experiments.
3. Humans Come to Earth
It’s now time to talk about the human species. This lesson guides children to the discovery of humankind, answering questions about evolution and the differences between our species and other animals.
At this point, another key concept of the Montessori method begins to emerge: the idea that it’s our minds, hands, and hearts that make us so special. This concept is further developed by showcasing some of the greatest inventions of humankind, as well as laying the foundation for topics including medicine, art, and spirituality.
4. Communication and Writing
In this fourth lesson, children begin to understand how humans communicate through language and images. They follow the development of human communication, from gestures and grunts all the way to written alphabets.
This is also the lesson through which kids find out about stories and myths, as well as learn how to write words and put together sentences.
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5. Numbers
The last lesson focuses on the importance of numbers within human communication. In this lesson, children learn about the crucial role of mathematics and discover its origin and development through history.
But there’s more. By understanding how human beings created a complex system of numbers, children can start applying those numbers to practical things, such as calendars and units of measurement.
Montessori Schools: Expanding Children’s Horizons
Enrolling children in Montessori schools can truly help them learn, live, and thrive in a way that other schools simply won’t achieve. By teaching kids, the five great lessons illustrated in this article, the Montessori method can support little ones in their understanding and appreciation of the world inside and outside them.
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