Montessori Earth Science

This story sets the broadest possible context for learning for the children, setting the universe in time, and entices them into further exploration in all subject areas, including the arts as well as the sciences. Having provoked the Elementary children’s imagination and wonder about the intricacies of this infinitely complex universe, the children are encouraged to investigate and discover the answers to these interesting and puzzling questions.

They are free to hypothesise, discuss and debate all the questions about Science raised by First Great Lesson. The child’s interest is sparked, not only by the teachers’ retelling of the Great Stories and the many fascinating follow-upon lessons, but also by the interests and the investigations of their peers and the explorations of the older children in this multi-age environment.

The inspiration to do more, to learn more, to satisfy one’s own interests is at the core of Montessori.

The Upper Elementary student investigates how human beings are profoundly connected to the world around them, which leads to investigation of economic and cultural geography. Learning becomes deeper and more integrated, and concepts more complex. Chinese Teachers support these increasingly complex concepts by providing more detailed vocabulary and additional Chinese language lessons on Earth Sciences.

There are many more opportunities to learn and to explore the questions raised during the first Great Story in small groups. Science projects and Materials encourage and assist further exploration by the child to begin to answer all of these questions raised.

In the Lower Elementary classroom, Physical Geography is a key area of exploration, as well as an initial exploration of Cultural and Economic Geography.

In Upper Elementary, deeper exploration occurs. Children explore more in depth into and the concept of the influence role of geographic features and the influences on the economies of various types of societies. and their resulting economies is investigated according to their own interests.

Interest is sparked, not only by the teachers’ retelling of the Great Stories and the many fascinating follow-up lessons, but also by the interests and the investigations of their peers and the explorations of the older children in this multi-age environment. The inspiration to do more, to learn more, to satisfy their own interests is at the core of Montessori.

After the this introduction to Chemistry in the first Great Story, children explore the three states of matter in more depth, discover what the universe is made of - atoms, investigate basic atomic theory, and then conduct experiments to understand more about compounds, solutions, and mixtures. Later, they learn about Mendeleev's Table of the Elements and get excited about building atomic models or about the history of the discovery of the Periodic Table. There is literally no end to the possible avenues of interest and or exploration.

As the children receive many follow up lessons in Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, the Lower Elementary Chinese Teachers provide Chinese language extension about the solar system, sun and the earth, Geographic features including continents and oceans, countries and flags, maps, the Three States of Matter, and more.

The Upper Elementary student investigates how human beings interrelated with the world around them, and economic and cultural geography are key topics of interest. Learning becomes deeper and more integrated, and concepts more complex. Chinese Teachers support this learning by providing more detailed vocabulary and additional Chinese language extension lessons about Energy and its role, the Solar system, the interdependencies between earth and humans, and biomes, and more.