These days, it’s essential that children learn to excel in STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Our world is increasingly dependent on these fields, and strengthening young people in what it takes to master STEM means teaching scientific concepts early.
Authentic Montessori schools (like ours!) excel in teaching academics and invites scientific discovery into every aspect of learning—establishing a foundation of knowledge that children can build on as they grow. Here’s how students approach science in our Montessori classrooms.
What Science Looks Like in Montessori Education
Montessori is a perfect method to promote the study of essential academics like science—as it is designed to foster education in ways that children can delight in, even as they’re gaining the building blocks for lifelong success in school and life.
A Sense of Wonder that Invites Exploration and Discovery
Watch young children for a while, and you are sure to see them exploring their world. They crave information—and they are learning machines! They love finding out how things work, and Montessori teaching leans into this passion by inviting discovery at every opportunity. Questions about the world—all those “why” questions that children love to ask—are encouraged and appreciated in our classes, because they are the driving force of science!
Testing of Scientific Concepts
Many activities in the Montessori classroom center around learning about basic scientific facts that toddlers through kindergarteners can learn the rudiments of. They have opportunities to explore how magnets work, how thermometers take temperature, how friction causes heat when they rub their hands together, how static electricity can cause a balloon to “stick” to their hair, what makes an object likely to float or sink, and so much more. They enjoy the fun of discovery and the reward that curiosity brings—underpinnings of success in science later in life.
Encouragement of Observational Skills
Science depends on keen skills in observing, theorizing, and experimenting—all of which the Montessori method encourages in students. Rather than memorizing facts, children are invited to notice the world around them. They have time to stop and smell the roses (literally!) as they explore outdoors, and they learn to pay attention to details, which is beneficial in science. They also absorb terms and language to help them describe what they’re observing.
Pattern Recognition, Categorizing, and Classification
The sorting, stacking, and characterizing of objects like blocks that your son or daughter engage in during class are not just practical skills. They’re not just fun play either. As children recognize how things are similar and different, they discover how to classify things by type, features, and other traits—a skill that forms the foundation for sciences like biology and chemistry. They learn to identify animals, leaves, flowers, the life cycle of butterflies, and other facts that form the basis for botany and other earth sciences.
Cause and Effect Relationships
There are many ways that students can discover the causal relationships that drive a deep understanding of science. Experiments like mixing borax with water and glue—which results in a form of silly putty—reveal that elements can change when combined. They are encouraged to notice what happens as seasons change, and how life is affected by factors such as sun, warmth, water, cold, and more.
The Interconnected Nature of All Learning
Ultimately, Montessori techniques center around the idea that all learning is related and interconnected. Concepts that a child learns in one area can apply to many others. So, rather than using rote memorization that divorces science from other subjects, we infuse science throughout the day. Coloring can invite discussions of why leaves are green in spring and turn brown in winter. Appreciating art can include counting, analysis of shapes, and more. The possibilities are endless—and the door is always open to seeing how ideas connect.
Discover the Joys of a Well-Rounded Early Education for Your Child with Montessori
A Montessori education is a powerful way to prepare your child for success in academics and in life. The love of learning that arises as they explore their world and discover how it works will serve them well as they investigate higher realms of science, math, technology, engineering, and more.
At Primary Montessori Day School, we take great joy in bringing an authentic Montessori experience that equips our students to thrive. Read what families have to say about our classrooms—and envision how our approach to education can benefit your son or daughter.