Montessori Philosophy, AGE 6-12+ YEARS

LIFE SCIENCES - PLANTS & ANIMALS

AGE 6-12+ PLANTS & ANIMALS:
Introduction
Experiments and observation
Adaptation & changes of plants and animals
Classification
Bodies—sex education

Reprinted from:
Child of the World, Essential Montessori for Age three to Twelve
ISBN: 1-879264-11-0

EXPERIMENTS & OBSERVATIONS
Experiments and observations help the child to discover first hand just how plants and animals live, to find out how their needs are met, and to discover the amazing variety of life forms.

Children become aware of the environment in a new way, discovering, for example, the tiny plants in the cracks of pavements—growing wherever they can find a little light, moisture and nourishment. This close hand experience makes children appreciative and protective of all of life.

ADAPTATION & CHANGES OF PLANTS & ANIMALS
Experiments and observation lead to discoveries which help the child travel, through his tremendous imagination, back through time to the very beginning of life, to discover the miracle of variety and the transformation of plants and animals through time.

OUR HUMAN BODIES
The child from birth on is constantly learning about bodies, from the way we handle an infant, the way we respect and care for the growing child's body, and from the way we feed and care for our own bodies, even the way we treat our spouse.

A natural and healthy attitude develops about bodies and sex if these topics are part of the daily conversation at home and at school. Otherwise a child is put into the position of learning about these things from the media or from other questionable sources.

Caring for our bodies and learning to respect the bodies of other people, sex, love, relationships, families—what could be more important information for us to pass on correctly to our children during these very curious years from age six to twelve, and beyond.

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INTRODUCTION
How often is the soul of man, especially that of the child, deprived because one does not put him in contact with nature.

There is no description, no image in any book that is capable of replacing the sight of real trees, and all the life to be found around them, in a real forest. Something emanates from those trees which speaks to the soul, something no book, no museum is capable of giving. The wood reveals that it is not only the trees that exist, but a whole, interrelated collection of lives. And this earth, this climate, this cosmic power are necessary for the development of all these lives. The myriad lives around the trees, the majesty, the variety are things one must hunt for, and which no one can bring into the school. —Dr. Maria Montessori, MD

In the elementary class, for children from age six to twelve, the study of biology has three main focuses:

(1) experiments and observation of plants and animals to discover their needs and the amazing variety of each;

(2) evolution of plants and animals;

(3) classification of plants and animals.

At the beginning of each year the teacher inspires children to carry out research in these areas by telling stories, and presenting beautiful books, posters, charts, and timelines. Then each child begins a personal journey of discovery, joining others for research projects and presentations. Every year is unpredictable, not even the teacher knowing what will be covered, as the rule is to "follow the child."

CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS & ANIMALS
The discovery of the multitude of kinds of plants and animals helps children understand why there must be a system of sorting and naming them—this is biological classification.

Children want to know how and why plants and animals have been classified and how the systems of classification change as we learn more about biology. This work links biology to logic, math and language, English and Latin.

When subjects flow into each other like this, a child following an interest, the knowledge is in a sense recreated by the child and becomes a part of his long term memory, instead of a subject to be memorized, tested on and forgotten. Biology often becomes a lifelong interest for these children.

TEXT - To return to the Child of the World main page of the philosophy and practice text, go to: michaelolaf.net/ /1CWhome.html

PRODUCTS - For "Age 6-12+ Plants and Animals" products, go to: www.michaelolaf.com/1CW612plants.html

The products selected by the Michael Olaf Montessori staff are very different from those commonly available for children. They are made of natural materials whenever possible; they are beautiful; they meet an important developmental need; and they have proven themselves over the years, or have been well-tested to meet the highest standards. Products which support this section of Child of the World, Essential Montessori for Age Three to Twelve, include: a book of biology experiments, a visual dictionary of plants, pronouncing dictionary of plant names, dictionary of word roots and combing forms, several animal books, a book explaining Latin names, human anatomy books, cards, and game, a human anatomy coloring book, fossil collection, books, and timeline.

If you would like to order a copy of Child of the World to read at your leisure, and to share with non-internet friends and associates, please see http://www.michaelolaf.net/ordering.html

Return to the Michael Olaf home pages:
http://www.michaelolaf.net (free information on Montessori philosophy and practice)
http://www.michaelolaf.com (products)

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