Plants & Animals

How often is the soul of man, especially that of the child, deprived because one does not put him in contact with nature. There is no description, no image in any book, that is capable of replacing the sight of real trees, and all the life to be found around them, in a real forest. Something emanates from those trees which speaks to the soul, something no book, no museum is capable of giving. The wood reveals that it is not only the trees that exist, but a whole, interrelated collection of lives. And this earth, this climate, this cosmic power are necessary for the development of all these lives. The myriad lives around the trees, the majesty, the variety are things one must hunt for, and which no one can bring into the school.
— Maria Montessori

 

In the primary school class, for children from age six to twelve, the study of biology has three main focuses:

(1) Experiments and observation of plants and animals to discover the amazing variety and needs of plants and animals

(2) Evolution of plants and animals
(3) Classification of plants and animals

 

At the beginning of each year the teacher inspires children to carry out research in these areas by telling stories, and presenting beautiful books, posters, charts, and timelines. Then each child begins a personal journey of discovery, joining others for research projects and presentations. Every year is unpredictable, not even the teacher knowing what will be covered, as the rule is to "follow the child."

 

 

Experiments & Observation

Experiments and observations help the child to discover first hand just how plants and animals live, to find out how their needs are met, and to discover the amazing variety of life forms.

Children become aware of the world in a new way, discovering the tiny plants in the cracks of pavements—growing wherever they can find a little light, moisture and nourishment. This close hand experience makes children appreciative and protective of all of life.

 

 

Adaptation & Changes of Plants and Animals

Experiments and observation lead to discoveries that help the child travel, through his tremendous imagination, back through time to the very beginning of life, to discover the miracle of variety and the transformation of plants and animals through time.

 

 

 Classification of Plants and Animals

The discovery of the multitude of kinds of plants and animals helps children understand why there must be a system of sorting and naming them—this is biological classification.

 

Children want to know how and why plants and animals have been classified and how the systems of classification change as we learn more about biology. This work links biology to logic, math and language, English and Latin.

When subjects are connected like this, and the child is allowed to follow his interest, facts becomes part of his long term memory instead of just being memorized, tested on, and forgotten. Biology can become a lifelong interest for this child.

 

 

Our Human Bodies

The child from birth on is constantly learning about bodies, from the way we handle an infant, the way we respect and care for the growing child's body, and from the way we feed and care for our own bodies, even the way we treat our spouse.

 

A natural and healthy attitude develops about bodies develops if this topic is part of the daily conversation at home and at school. Otherwise a child is put into the position of learning about these things from the media or from other questionable sources.

Caring for our bodies and learning to respect the bodies of other people, love, relationships, and families—what could be more important information for us to pass on correctly to our children during these very curious years from age six to twelve, and beyond.