Cultural Studies in a Montessori Classroom
One of the most valued and unique facets of Montessori education is cultural competence and developing respect for all cultures around the globe. Students at every age level study geography, botany, zoology, and the traditions of countries across the world. In the Montessori curriculum, the Cultural area covers all of the sciences: natural and social sciences.
Each classroom is filled with activities that broaden your child’s understanding of the world around them. Some popular tools are Puzzle Maps, botany nature cards, and the Land and Water Continent Globe.
The Value of Cultural Studies
Maria Montessori believed that helping children form a more complete worldview was a stepping stone to promoting global understanding and international peace. Each culture is approached with detail, care, and respect as students engage with lessons on different climates, types of homes, clothing, food, family structures, and customs.
Teachers are intentional about filling their classrooms with multicultural posters, books, and media. Parents from all cultural backgrounds visit the classroom (this year, virtually) to teach traditions, read books, share food, or guide special art projects.
Montessori schools are nonsectarian, but that does not mean we do not celebrate any religions or holidays; instead, we celebrate as many as we can! Eid, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Chinese New Year, Diwali, Christmas, and other celebrations are honored each year.
Our Upper Elementary class also takes part in the annual Montessori Model United Nations where Montessori students from all over the world come together to learn more about global governing, deepen their cultural understanding of world issues, and suggest solutions to make changes for a better world.
Hudson Montessori School takes our students’ Cultural Studies curriculum one step further with our annual Social Studies Fair. Each year, we select a school-wide theme that each classroom evaluates through a different geographical lens. For the 2020-2021 school year, our students studied Indigenous People of the World.
Each classroom spent the year studying the rich cultures of indigenous people groups across the globe through studying artifacts, listening to guest speakers on the topic, creating written reports, and immersive art work like dioramas and paintings.
The Montessori in a Minute Series
Most Montessori schools like Hudson Montessori School have at least five key areas of learning in the Montessori environment, including Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Culture.
This Montessori in a Minute series regularly explores the unique benefits of fundamental materials and areas of the classroom.
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 in Jersey City age 2 to sixth grade, sign up for an open house tour most Tuesdays at 9 a.m.