ACE Montessori Enriched Home Preschool, Cobourg
---- Where Independence and Character are Nurtured----
Examples of Culture Activities& their Importance in Child Development
The Coloured Globe of the Continents:
This work helps children to form a beginning understanding of the size, shape and positions of various land masses and oceans, introduces the terms 'continent' and 'ocean' as well as introducing a jigsaw puzzle element.
(Culture Album 7)
A child of three years old and upwards can be introduced to this concept.
This is a Geography lesson.
Land and Water Forms:
This work provides a sensorial understanding of various land and water forms, teaches the geographical names and their meanings. (Culture Album 17)
A child of four years old and upwards can be introduced to this concept. The land and water forms learned are: island and lake, cape and bay, gulf and peninsula, archipelago and system of lakes, isthmus and strait.
This is a Geography lesson.
History Stories:
This work provides children an understanding of people that have contributed to our lives in the areas of history, sports, medicine, art, explorers and more . (Culture Album 38)
A child of four and a half years old and upwards can be introduced to this concept.
This is a History lesson.
Botany Jigsaws:
This activity exposes children to the different parts of a leaf, tree and flower. The names of the various parts are taught through Three Period Lessons. (Culture Album 67)
A child of four years old and upwards can be introduced to this concept.
This is a Botany lesson.
Float and Sink:
This activity allows children the opportunity to see whether various small objects will float or sink in a bowl of water. Classification of objects that float or sink is encouraged. (Culture Album 83) There is also an extension of testing the buoyancy of various objects.
A child of three and a half years old and upwards can be introduced to this concept.
This is a Science lesson.
Relevant Current Scientific Research & how it validates Dr. Montessori's principles
In their 2006 landmark study, entitled " Evaluating Montessori Education" researchers Angeline Lillard and Nicole Else-Quest compared children aged five and twelve in Montessori and non-Montessori education settings on a variety of cognitive, academic, social and behavioural measures.
The study results of the social- behavioural measures showed that Montessori children, aged five years old, were significantly more likely (43% versus 18% of responses) to use a higher level of reasoning by referring to justice or fairness when trying to problem solve in the playground. Montessori educated children were more likely to feel part of their community and to be involved in positive peer play, rather than rough play fighting.
This directly relates to Culture, as children in Montessori classrooms learn that they are part of linked communities, such as the classroom community, playground community, neighbourhood community and through learning about animals, the environment and how people live in other places, they are part of the World community.
Culture
In Culture, children are exposed to The World. The Culture curriculum provides children a better understanding of the inter-connectiveness of the world they live in. Through various jobs like learning the countries in different continents or exploring animals and where those animals live children gain an appreciation and understanding for how people live around the world. Children start to see themselves as world citizens.
The exploration of Culture combines Geography, History,
Biology (Zoology and Botany), Science, Music, Art and Creativity.
