Montessori Bloggers Network is happy to host Disha from Lotus Montessori Extensions. She shares inspiring words and picture of Japan. Enjoy her wonderful insight and visit her site when you get a free minute!
Cosmic Education is the mere foundation of understanding the purpose of “ME” in the universe. Children learn incidentally the big concept of the universe, cultural diversity, and the similarities/differences among every living things in the world. Thus, the Montessori teacher minutely observes her classroom to develop a rich and dynamic cosmic curriculum. One of the best ways to teach the cosmic concept in the primary classroom is by incorporating various unit studies. Dr. Montessori talks about the absorbent mind and the way children learn in the primary classroom is through exposure in their environment. Therefore, unit studies help to raise a peaceful child by bringing awareness of the world into their consciousness and by implementing gratitude to this awareness. Montessorians believe in the vision of the unified world and the peace all around the world. What better way to instill reverence towards different cultures than by exposing children to these cultures in the early childhood classroom? At this age, children are free from the judgments of previous generations and their innocent minds lovingly accept the world as one. Children are not yet divided by the man-made lines that adults have drawn among different cultures in their hearts. Thus, cultural unit studies are my favorite and I learn so much with the children.
Each year, I have done extravagant unit studies to give children rich exposure to geography, science, botany, zoology, astronomy, and cultural studies. In the school where I work, we study one continent each year as a part of our whole school cosmic curriculum. This year we are studying the continent of Asia. Since October, I’ve been doing a unit study each month of the different countries in Asia. We started with Russia in October, followed by Turkey in November, Japan in December, and India in January. Today I would like to share the pictures of the lessons from my Japan unit study. Japan is a land of sushi, origami, suminagashi, and cherry blossoms. Our art projects for this unit study were the most fun for the children. We explored making sushi for our food preparation project and made kimonos out of shawls for our Multicultural Festival. By incorporating art, food, dressing, and artifacts we truly give children a peek into the world outside of their own country.
Pictures of Japan Unit
About Disha
Disha Patel has been teaching in a Public Montessori School for years. She holds a MACTE accredited Early Childhood Montessori Certificate from the Center of Guided Montessori Studies and completing her Master’s degree in Montessori Education from Plymouth State University.
Prior to becoming a Montessori teacher, Disha Patel was an ESE teacher for years. She has a lot of experience working with special needs children and loves to explore innovative ways to help her students.
Disha is also the Founder and Writer at the Lotus Montessori Extensions. Lotus Montessori Extensions offers products to compliment, support, and enhance the way children learn Montessori lessons. We make beautiful Montessori mats to foster independence. These mats are proven to minimize errors for the students. For more information on the Lotus Montessori Extensions, please visit her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
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