The Montessori cultural curriculum brings the world to the child through cultural study from across the globe.
The culture lessons expose the child to the people, animals, foods, and practices from around the world by creating activities and physical representations of geographical and cultural opportunities for the child to explore.
Through directed activities that focus on study of each specific continent, the child is immersed into life from all over. This exposes the child to the world through celebration of differences and a strong sense of unity. Through identifying the ways in which we have different beliefs and traditions, but also many similar experiences, our curriculum creates a sense of commonality and togetherness. This nurtures in each child a sense of acceptance and tolerance through an understanding that we are all connected as humans on this earth.
An extension of the geography curriculum that ties into peace and cosmic education, focuses on the child’s understanding of his own place in the universe through an outward to inward approach.
First the child learns about the universe and how all things connect to one another. We are all a part of our planet earth, and earth is a part of our solar system, which is a part of our galaxy. We then move inward to look specifically at our planet earth and how all things on it relate to one another. We explore the entire world and study all of the continents through the world map. We look at the ways in which we are intertwined with nature and responsible for all life on our earth.
We then focus more directly on each continent with the continents maps and supporting activities to represent various cultures in careful ways. Finally, we delve into our own country with the United States map, and we discuss our own state, towns, and neighborhoods to consider where we come from. This allows the child to develop a thoughtfulness for how to comprehend the vastness of their universe, respect the beauty and uniquenessthroughout their world, and care for their own environment so essential to all life.
The expansive study of all things gives the child a sense of self and what their place is in their own life, their world, and beyond. This is both humbling and inspiring for the young child to realize that they are but a grain of sand on a beach in their universe, but can have such a substantial impact.