“We give the name scientist to the type of man who has felt experiment to be a means guiding him to search out the deep truth of life…” Maria Montessori
When science is mentioned or discussed at Cherry Hill Montessori, we think of Dr. Maria Montessori. Dr. Montessori was the first woman physician in Italy. She opened a school in Rome called ‘Casa dei Bambini’; the “Children’s Home”. The training she received in medical research proved invaluable to her work with children. Today, her educational theories are viewed as being far ahead of their time.
Children are natural observers and they are fascinated by the wonders found in nature. When my son was a toddler, I remember being cautious and careful when checking his pockets. I was used to finding all sorts of interesting objects; some sticky and some squishy. And yes, some were even alive! I was always surprised by what captured his interest and imagination. Children are little scientists. They are constantly exploring, discovering and experimenting.
Science is all around us. Young children enjoy interacting with nature everywhere they go. They love investigating how things feel, smell, taste and sound. Discovering something new in nature awakens a child’s curiosity and, in turn, starts the journey to learning ‘what it is’ and ‘ how it works’. Maria Montessori recognized the need for children to observe and absorb the world around them. The majority of educational materials she created addressed this need.
This month the children will be introduced to a wide array of scientific principals, including classification of living and non- living things. They will learn the difference between plants and animals. We will identify and classify animals and talk about their life cycles. We will also discuss basic needs of plants, including identification of roots, stems, leaves, seeds and fruit.
The study of science is both fun and interesting. It offers such a wide spectrum of opportunities to learn and discover our world. I know the children will enjoy this month!
Enjoy every moment!
Miss Neicy
