Montessori elementary students can make Earth Day an event to remember by getting outdoors and involved. Not only is Earth Day a great time to learn more about the environment, but the core principles of the day also correspond to Maria Montessori’s belief that children need time in the natural world as part of their regular education. How Trees Age
Using fireplace-sized pieces of cut trees, Montessori elementary school children can learn about the growth rings of trees and experiment with counting the ages of different pieces of cut timber. They can even compare the way trees grow upward to the progress they are witnessing with their seedlings. Build a Compost Heap Composting is simple and easy. It requires biodegradable trash, a shovel, and simple ingredients like water and earthworms. Learning about compost heaps helps children see the full life cycle of plants, and shows them how recycling works in nature. Planting Seedlings If the class keeps a compost heap for a while, newer generations of kids can plant seedlings in the rich soil it provides. Kids can plant their own trees at home and around the school and learn the essentials of caring for a growing plant. Chart the progress of the trees for a few weeks and make sure they get plenty of sun and water. After that, the work is done and each child’s tree will be a lasting testimony to the work they have put into making the environment a better place. Facts About Litter Picking up neighborhood or park rubbish is a wonderful practical life experience, and offers the opportunity to examine exactly what kinds of trash their community is throwing on the ground and how those materials impact local landfills. Investigate how long it takes, for example, a plastic cup to decompose and look at ways to reduce waste with reusable utensils and dishes. Other Earth Day projects include things like practicing turning off the lights when leaving a room, learning about endangered species in your area, or exploring the food web of different biomes such as marshes and forests. Earth Day is meant to be experienced outdoors, and Montessori elementary students thrive on the fresh air and open spaces. Comments are closed.
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