Peace Education

The peace curriculum is such a special and truly beautiful aspect of Montessori education, teaching through a series of hands-on activities.

Most often, the abstract nature of kindness and compassion are explained to the young child through words, making it all the more intangible. However, just as in all other Montessori curriculums, peace education is taught through a series of hands-on activities.

The child learns skills in effective communication and conflict resolution through use of the peace rose that provides a very concrete process and exchange of words that encourages a child’s understanding of back-and-forth conversation, listening to the thoughts of others, explaining their own feelings, and coming to some agreeable outcome.

During activities such as the kindness jar and the thankful chest, each child places gems representative of a kind act that they have done, or a special treasure tin their lives that they are thankful for into a special vase or chest. Once full, the children discuss all of the kind acts or treasures they have in their lives that they used to fill up the kindness vase or thankful chest. This brings a physical aspect to each lesson. The child can hold and identify an actual object that represents some aspect of peace education.

The peace curriculum also encourages meditation and soothing practices to help the child gain self-control and emotional regulation. Through use of a calming peace corner, with music boxes or a singing bowl, the child has a safe space with which they can go when feeling overwhelmed or frustrated.

The teacher often guides them in affirmations, breathing exercises, and other techniques designed to help the child reflect on how they are feeling and what are appropriate ways to express themselves.

The peace curriculum gives more specific lessons to foster social and emotional growth in the child and allows each child to be more in tune with their own emotions and those of their peers in a respectful and secure environment.