Last month I attended a
Montessori Leadership Conference. One of the workshop topics was Cosmic
Education, a core philosophical aspect of Montessori education. The
general approach is that we talk about the big picture prior to introducing the
parts. By beginning with the whole, we provide a framework of
understanding. In that way when they learn the specifics, they understand
the larger context. Children learn to appreciate the work of those who
came before them and think about the ways that they might contribute. In
each level, from Primary to Middle School, children learn the interconnectedness
of all things. Cosmic Education introduces the idea that we each have a “cosmic
task,” to better the world for future generations. We want our students to
develop an awareness that the universe is an evolving force that is impacted by
our actions and we each have a responsibility to be stewards for the future.
As an example, one of the
Montessori great lessons is the Story of Communication. It talks about
how humans first may have used language to communicate, using cave paintings,
and then using symbols, like cuneiform and hieroglyphics. Papyrus with
Egyptian hieroglyphics and clay tablets are shown, and word origins are
discussed. Reasons for communication and how communication evolved are
examined. Social media, computers, and typewriters are also a part
of this series of lessons! Looking at communication as part of a whole
history of humans helps us understand that humans have always had the need to
communicate. We share the need to communicate, but the many languages we speak
and the way we communicate differentiates our cultures. Depending on supplies,
resources, and needs, humans have changed the way we communicate. This
initial lesson launches us into many other studies in language.
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