Exposure to the outdoors is a part of an authentic Montessori preschool curriculum. Maria Montessori was very specific about a child’s need to not only learn about the world they live in but to experience nature first-hand. She saw nature as an important tool for educating children and pointed out how it impacted childhood development in multiple ways. Sensorial DevelopmentOutside time is beneficial in teaching Montessori preschool children to get the most out of their senses through hands-on experiences that directly convey information. Scents, textures, colors, flavors, and sounds found in the outdoors are all excellent opportunities to learn about animals, plants, and everything the world has to offer.
Practical Life Picking up pine cones, sweeping or raking leaves, and experiencing weather fluctuations directly are some of the many ways that spending time outdoors provides practical experience for life. Even simple activities like running and lifting are valuable developmental exercises. Language Skills In addition to learning to recognize and name the many sounds of nature, being outside is a great place for storytime, show and tell, singing or other vocally-oriented activities. Start with a minimal vocabulary such as “trees” and slowly develop more precise naming with “oak,” “pine,” etc. Early Math The symmetry of nature encourages learning to count and do basic math. Furthermore, learning to do math with nature at the core gives children a direct link to the world they live in. Rather than trying to imagine 7 leaves, children can enjoy the fun of collecting 7 leaves and expand directly into 7 leaves each from 7 trees. Before children had classrooms and desks they learned by interacting with their world. And while the Montessori Method is quite a bit more structured than that, the idea that nature is essential in teaching is valid. Your Montessori preschool embraces the outdoors as an extension of the learning environment. Comments are closed.
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