“So in the child, besides the vital impulse to create himself, and to become perfect, there must be yet another purpose, a duty to fulfill in harmony, something he has to do in the service of a united whole.” ~ Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
Maria Montessori believed that children are the key to peace and empathy among humanity. This important belief is a foundation in our Montessori classrooms, beginning with practical life lessons and continuing throughout childhood and beyond. I’d like to share how a “simple” lesson can provide the mechanism from which children in the classroom learn, practice, and express their empathy and love for their community.
Flower arranging is a work in the Practical Life area of our classroom. It not only fosters fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination but also gives the children a sense of ownership of their environment.
“Flower arranging work has a more important indirect aim than simply admiring nature’s work of art. It is an opportunity for little hands to contribute to the beautification of the environment. It is a tender moment when a young heart lays down a symbol of friendship, love, and peace on a table for someone else to enjoy. It is a brief yet integral step outside of oneself and one’s own needs. -The CHILD Centered Blog
Flower arranging is only one of many classroom works and activities sowing the seeds of compassion and empathy in your children. Please remember that compassion in your home helps your children do the same.
We are so excited to share that we are incubating eight chicken eggs in our classroom. Incubating the eggs provides an amazing learning opportunity for the children to learn not only about the responsibility of taking care of the eggs but also the life cycle of a chicken. The eggs should hatch in 21 days. Each day, we are learning about the development taking place inside the eggs.
I wish you a week filled with peace and love.
Christine & Hailey