Another map? Did you spend your entire day making a map
yet again? Why is my child making maps
at school? How many maps will he/she
bring home? Where are the language and
math works that I saw in the tour, all my child does is make maps all day,
every day…
Have you, as a
Montessori parent thought any of these things?
The beautifully
painted wooden maps of the world and continents are very attractive and draw
the child to them, as is the intent of all of the Montessori materials. The direct aims of Montessori materials are
to instill cooperation, coordination, concentration, independence and order
within the child in their world—through these five aims evolves retention of
knowledge, respect for others and the world around them, confidence to try new
things, a sense of independence and self-assuredness, and the ability to
succeed.
The Montessori
cultural materials include learning about the earth, first with the Sandpaper
Globe—this is land, this is water.
Following lessons on land, air, and water, children are introduced to
the Globe of the Continents—often learning the names of the seven continents
through song. Perhaps you have heard the
little jingle that we sing at The Montessori Academy,
North America, South America, Africa, Europe
and Asia
Don’t forget Antarctica, don’t forget
Australia.
North America, South America, Africa, Europe
and Asia.
Often, the puzzle
map and song are all that a first year (3 year old) Montessori student may work
on, as he/she will be busy working with the Practical Life, Sensorial, and
beginning Language materials most of the time.
Throughout the 3
years in a Montessori Early Childhood Classroom, children are exposed to
cultural units of study on each of the continents. The continent is introduced, there may be cultural
objects for the children to explore, maps are presented, and food tasting and
art projects are available within the classroom.
Typically in the third year, children are
yearning for more extended challenging works that take time to complete and pose
as a challenge for them in terms of concentration, independence, and
order. Prior to ‘making a map’ children
are introduced to the names of the countries that make up a continent.
Making a map to
take home involves a lot of work!
Matching map pieces to the correct color of paper is primary. Then the child (sometimes with the aide of an
adult) traces the puzzle piece onto the paper.
The next step is pin-pricking the outline of the country/state with a
sharp stylus or jumbo tack in order to make a perforated outline, to then be
gently separated from the paper. The
holes must be close together for this to work without tearing the paper—this
takes great concentration, eye-hand coordination and focus holding the tool in
a pincer grasp. This is not a simple
quick work to pass the time. Map Making
takes commitment and planning—this work takes lots of concentration and
follow-thru to complete. Finally, after
all of the pieces have been recreated, the child must lay them out to
reconstruct the puzzle and glue them onto a poster. The crème de la crème is to label the map and
know the names of the countries—can your child do that? Have they labeled the countries with little
cut-outs of names or written them in themselves. Can they go over the map and tell you names
of the countries?
The map making
child is a great planner, can work on a large project to completion, is
coordinated enough to pin-prick those tiny holes, and perforate the paper—they
have fine motor control, their spatial
awareness is developed, they are orderly in their work. Your little map maker has been working on
memorizing, handwriting, and general knowledge all while creating a beautiful
work of art. This child is destined to
work on that project, to finish the long math problem, write that twelve page
research paper, speak confidently in front of others and go places in our
world.
Next time your
child proudly carries out a poster board map at dismissal—take time to revel in
the fact that your child has worked hard at school, your child is set up for
great things, your child is proud of his/her work, your child is a Montessori
Child!
Submitted by: Julie Gabrielse
