flynn088

The aim of the children who persevere in their work with an object is certainly not to “learn”; they are drawn to it by the needs of their inner life, which must be recognized and developed by its means. —Maria Montessori Spontaneous Activity in Education, p. 220. The hands-on Montessori chemistry activities always spark my students’ curiosity and excitement about the microscopic world of atoms and molecules. They are fascinated with the idea of miniscule parts and how they combine to form molecules with different properties, distinct from their properties as individual atoms. While completing the NAMC activities on the parts of the atom, learning about molecules, and investigating the periodic table, students always show great interest and enthusiasm as they create models of atoms and water molecules. Chemistry Ideas for the Montessori Lower Elementary Classroom To build on their enthusiasm for this topic, I set out activities for those interested to continue their explorations. One a...

When founder and program director Dale Gausman began NAMC,   one of his goals was to make Montessori learning an inclusive experience that students could fit into their busy lives. From his own training and from running his local Montessori early childhood program, Dale knew how important well-written, complete Montessori manuals were to a teacher’s success. But he also understood that his students’ time was valuable, and he wanted to ensure that they were able to concentrate on learning the Montessori method rather than recording activities. Helping students find balance in their lives became the catalyst for the development of the comprehensive range of NAMC Montessori manuals. NAMC’s Full Set of Infant/Toddler Montessori Manuals What seemed like a bold decision to many at the time was a natural progression to Dale: He decided to provide his students with a full set of published manuals that centered on classic Montessori presentations, giving them the resources they needed to fo...

Throughout the year, Montessori teachers introduce themes that can guide the learning and exploration of the students. When possible, they work to integrate the theme across the curriculum. One of my favourite themes in the Montessori elementary classroom focuses on peacemakers and influential leaders. I introduce the theme to the students through books. We begin by reading inspirational books and stories together as a class and in small groups. We read the stories of Terry Fox, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Anne Frank, Maria Montessori, Craig Kielburger, and others. Because lower elementary students are in a developmental stage of understanding and relating to justice, these stories are very meaningful to them. They ignite a spark of curiosity in the students that center on justice and compassion. They feel empathy for these amazing people, many of whom had to deal with harsh circumstances and injustice. The students are even inspired to make changes in their own lives based on thes...

There are two main types of shelf work in the Montessori environment. The first is the Montessori materials themselves. The second consists of a series of cards known as command or task cards that provide follow-up work to lessons and activities. Students work with command cards to practice what they have learned. As the name implies, command cards invite the child to do something with what they have learned, showing that they have command of the concept. Command Cards for Montessori Elementary Students An example of command cards common in upper elementary programs appears in the nomenclature work. In the Montessori classroom Nomenclature Cards, also known as three-part cards, are used to learn the names or parts of objects. The material is made up of three parts: a picture card, a label card, and a control card. For elementary students, a fourth card is added that relates to the definition of the object or part. This is a picture of a typical three-part Nomenclature Card that is used...