The document discusses how a Montessori environment cultivates a child's mind and prepares them to receive information about the world. It explains that a child's mind is like a field that is receptive to impressions. Through practical life, sensorial, and academic activities, the Montessori method allows children to develop skills that build their cultural understanding of the world in a way that fits their level of development. All experiences in a child's environment help prepare their mind for later growth.

1. Copyright © 2015, Montessori Centre International

3. Planting the SeedsPlanting the Seeds
Teacher and child –Teacher and child –
our link to the Universeour link to the Universe

4. the childthe child’s mind’s mind
the impressions it receives fall upon itthe impressions it receives fall upon it
and become embedded thereand become embedded there
like a large fieldlike a large field
is open and receptiveis open and receptive

5. the childthe child’s mind’s mind
through the sensesthrough the senses
capacitycapacity
for storagefor storage
has very greathas very great
absorptionabsorption
powerspowers
of languageof language
&& sensory impressionssensory impressions
&&

6. cultivating the mind of the childcultivating the mind of the child
is like preparing the fieldis like preparing the field
for impressions and informationfor impressions and information
about the world to be received,about the world to be received,
ready to take root and growready to take root and grow

7. What is the worldWhat is the world
for the childfor the child
It is everything that is presented to theIt is everything that is presented to the
childchild’s mind and senses at its level of’s mind and senses at its level of
comprehension at that timecomprehension at that time
??

8. no limits can be setno limits can be set
on the capacity of the mindon the capacity of the mind
or intelligence in formative years -or intelligence in formative years -
soso
present the big picture firstpresent the big picture first
so that the parts will fit into place.so that the parts will fit into place.
What is OUR understandingWhat is OUR understanding
of the big picture and the parts?of the big picture and the parts?

9. universeuniverse
galaxiesgalaxies
starsstars
spacespace
planetsplanets
solar systemssolar systems
moonsmoons
meteors & meteoritesmeteors & meteorites

10. laws of naturelaws of nature
soundsound
gravitygravity
elementselements
lightlight
space, air, fire, water, earthspace, air, fire, water, earth

11. our worldour world
seasseas
landland && waterwater climatesclimates
physical characteristicsphysical characteristics
riversrivers lakeslakes
plainsplains
oceansoceansmountainsmountains
junglesjungles
desertsdeserts
forestsforests

12. plantplant
family/realmfamily/realm
animalanimal
family/realmfamily/realm
humankindhumankind
Human Beings/Human Beings/
Mankind/peopleMankind/people
mineralmineral
family/realmfamily/realm
mammalsmammals
birdsbirds
reptilesreptiles
insectsinsects
fishfish
amphibiansamphibians

13. humankindhumankind
(Mankind, people)(Mankind, people)
their own creationtheir own creation
&&

14. explorationexploration
continentscontinents
&& countriescountries societiessocieties &&
communitiescommunities
buildingsbuildings &&
structuresstructures
customscustoms && beliefsbeliefs
medicinemedicine
artart
dancedance
musicmusic
inventionsinventions
sportsport && gamesgames
sciencescience
historyhistory

15. Montessori used the Italian wordMontessori used the Italian word
‘cultura’‘cultura’
which in English iswhich in English is
‘culture’‘culture’
originally Latin, its meaning wasoriginally Latin, its meaning was
‘worship’‘worship’
oror
‘preparing the field for sowing’‘preparing the field for sowing’

16. ‘‘to cultivate’to cultivate’
meansmeans
‘to bestow labour and attention upon’‘to bestow labour and attention upon’
oror
‘to improve and develop‘to improve and develop
by education and training’by education and training’

17. aa ‘cultured’ or ‘cultivated’ person‘cultured’ or ‘cultivated’ person
is familiar with the customs, arts and sciencesis familiar with the customs, arts and sciences
of their societyof their society
has a disciplined and ordered mindhas a disciplined and ordered mind
can articulate and receive thoughts and ideascan articulate and receive thoughts and ideas
participates in rituals and recreationparticipates in rituals and recreation
with understanding, purpose and skillwith understanding, purpose and skill
plays a responsible part in societyplays a responsible part in society

18. All activity and objectsAll activity and objects
in the childin the child’s environment,’s environment,
perceived by the senses andperceived by the senses and
experienced by the body and emotions,experienced by the body and emotions,
prepare the child’s mindprepare the child’s mind
for later development and growthfor later development and growth..

19. This is the childThis is the child’s’s
cultural discovery & understanding!cultural discovery & understanding!
In a prepared environment, each area of activityIn a prepared environment, each area of activity
allows the child to develop skillsallows the child to develop skills
which will help him to acquire and build onwhich will help him to acquire and build on
his cultural knowledgehis cultural knowledge

20. practical life activitiespractical life activities
prepare the mind for focused attention,prepare the mind for focused attention,
develop the hand and eye for precisedevelop the hand and eye for precise
and creative operationand creative operation
to express the intentions of the mind,to express the intentions of the mind,
and develop social awareness and skillsand develop social awareness and skills
for participation in community lifefor participation in community life
number worknumber work
builds on the precision andbuilds on the precision and
oorderrder
of the sensorial activities,of the sensorial activities,
allows the child toallows the child to
understandunderstand
measure and calculationmeasure and calculation
sensorial activitiessensorial activities
order sensorial impressions,order sensorial impressions,
develop accuracy of perceptiondevelop accuracy of perception
and relation, build descriptiveand relation, build descriptive
vocabulary and lay the groundvocabulary and lay the ground
for mathematical, scientific andfor mathematical, scientific and
literary skillsliterary skills

21. Knowledge and UnderstadningKnowledge and Understadning
of the World activitiesof the World activities
introduce the child sensorially and intellectuallyintroduce the child sensorially and intellectually
to aspects of the world, to general knowledgeto aspects of the world, to general knowledge
about the planet and life on it, to human societyabout the planet and life on it, to human society
at home and in other places, to music, artat home and in other places, to music, art
and the laws of nature, and to the concept ofand the laws of nature, and to the concept of
the passage of time as relevant to himthe passage of time as relevant to him
and to all things in creation.and to all things in creation.

22. Prepared at Auburn House
Montessori School Cape Town
for Sibanye 2009
Southern African Montessori Association
Conference

23. Copyright © 2015, Montessori Centre International