Plants
It is important for a child to spend some time
in the outdoors experiencing nature every day-
in all kinds of weather and during all seasons.
Flower-arranging is an important part of
the ritual of beginning the day in many
classrooms and can be done in the home.
A selection of interesting tiny vases of
different sizes and shapes is important.
Also a selection of handmade cotton doilies
makes this ritual very special. Having these
flower arrangements on the kitchen, living room,
or classroom tables, even if they consist of
only one small flower of fern in a vase, brings
the child's attention to the beauty and
variety of nature as he goes through the day.
If you are planning an outdoor environment
for children at home or at school, be sure
to include a space for wild specimens.
Some of the best of biological examples
of leaf shapes and attachments, and
so forth, can be found on wild plants.
The young child wants to know exact names
of everything. Grass, leaves, wildflowers,
or cultivated flowers all make ideal art
materials when they have been
preserved in a flower press.
Providing garden tools and a small wheelbarrow
for the child so that she can help to carry grass
cutting or anything else which needs to be
transported is an excellent way to involve
the child with the yard work.
Even one pot, inside or outside, with one plant,
is better than nothing when there is no garden.
Whenever the adult is sensitive to the child's
natural need for order, there is a place for
every tool and children are shown how to clean
and put away the tools, giving a great feeling
of satisfaction, independence, completion.
Beautiful pictures of plants and flowers
can be hung on the child's wall and you may
be surprised at a child's preference for
nonfiction books about nature when she
has been kept in touch with nature.
Pinegreenwoods Montessori
Montessori Inspired (3-6)
