What Is Cosmic Education?
Cosmic education is a pillar of Montessori philosophy that teaches children about the interconnectedness of all things. Dr. Maria Montessori based the curriculum on the idea that a child’s education does not occur in a vacuum. For students to understand the world around them and their place in it, they are taught the history, science, and culture that brought humanity to this point.
In the First Plane of Development (age 0-6), Cosmic Education allows children to explore the natural world through their senses. The Second Plane of Development (age 6-12) helps students recognize patterns that occur in the world and shows them how each particle, substance, species, and event develops together, interdependently. The foundational lessons of the curriculum for the Second Plane are called “The Great Lessons”: The Coming of Life on Earth, The Study of Early Humans, The History of Writing, and The History of Mathematics.
The Importance of Cosmic Education
The Montessori curriculum teaches that the world is a place of purpose. Catastrophes like war, poverty, and injustice are major signs that the global community has strayed from our overall purpose. Dr. Montessori sought to avoid those tragedies by teaching children about the world, their history, and the interconnectedness of the world. The greatest hope is for students to grow into responsible global citizens, furthering human progress and world peace.
Over the coming weeks, the Montessori in a Minute series will focus on each of the Great Lessons, what they teach, and how they impact our students.
The Montessori in a Minute Series
Montessori schools center around five key areas of learning in the Montessori environment: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Culture. This Montessori In A Minute series regularly explores the unique benefits of Montessori philosophy, its fundamental materials, and areas of the classroom. For all parents at Hudson Montessori School (Jersey City, New Jersey), the school hosts several Parent Education Nights a year to learn all about the Montessori method and how the students learn curriculum components using a Montessori framework.
To learn more about Hudson Montessori School’s interdisciplinary, theme-based learning approach to education, the Montessori philosophy and methodology, or how the school fosters the love of learning for children age 2 to fifth grade, sign up for virtual school tour or for more details about our Middle School, attend a Middle School Information Session.
