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Whole Earth Montessori Curriculum Outline

3 - 6 year olds

The Whole Earth curriculum consists of the traditional Montessori materials and activities within the areas of 1) Practical Life, 2) Sensorial, 3) Math, 4) Language, and 5) Cosmic Education. Cosmic education includes study of everything in the cosmos: stars, galaxies, the solar system, Earth, continents, people, plants, and animals. The purpose of the cosmic curriculum is to increase the child's awareness of the total environment he lives, his place in it, and the people, plants, and animals who share it with him. The materials, activities, and discussions nurture the natural curiousity children possess regarding the world around them and introduce the idea that all things are connected.

The following is an outline of the sequence of studies presented throughout the school year along with ongoing activities in Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, Music, and Art. The length and depth of each area of study is determined each year by the interest of the students.

  1. Unit on Plants
    1. Parts of Plants
    2. Needs of Plants
    3. Life Cycle of Plants
      1. Seasons
      2. Seeds
    4. Gifts of Plants
      1. Food
      2. Shelter
      3. Clothing
      4. Beauty
      5. Medicine
      6. Oxygen
  2. Unit on the Human Body - Self and Others: Similarities and Differences
    1. Parts of the Body
      1. Body Trace
      2. Parts of the Body
    2. Self-portraits
    3. Colors of Humanity
  3. Unit on Feelings
    1. Definition of Feelings
      1. Stating Feelings
      2. Talking it Out
    2. Hypothetical Situations
    3. Role Play
    4. Real-life Situations Occuring Within the Classroom
    5. Perspective Talking
    6. Discussions of the Values of Truth, Right Action, Peace, Love, and Non-Violence
  4. Unit on Earth - Birthplace of Humanity
    1. A Study of Earth's Place in the Universe
      1. Universe
      2. Stars
      3. Galaxies
      4. Solar System
    2. A Study of the Earth
      1. Landforms
      2. Layers
      3. Volcanoes
      4. Paleontology
        1. Fossils
        2. Dinosaurs
    3. Continent Studies
      1. Continent Picture Files
        1. Plants
        2. Animals
        3. People
          1. Needs of People
            1. Food
            2. Shelter
            3. Clothing
            4. Health Care
            5. Transportation
            6. Communication
            7. Beauty
            8. Music, Art
            9. Belief System
    4. Biome Studies
      1. Biome Picture Files/Habitat
        1. Plants
        2. Animals
        3. People - How Biome Provides for Needs
  5. Unit on Plants
    1. Seeds
    2. Planting the Garden
    3. Flowers

With the return to a study of plants and planting the garden in the spring, the children have returned full circle to the place where they began in September. And along the way, it is our hope, they have learned respect for self, others and the environment all living things share.