The Social Studies Common Core framework and standards encourage students to learn about the world from several perspectives—local to global—in a deliberate and careful sequence and to develop thematic and conceptual understandings based on these perspectives.
"…by offering the child the story of the universe, we give him something a thousand times more infinite and mysterious to reconstruct with this imagination, a drama no fable can reveal." ~ Maria Montessori
Montessori’s approach to the teaching of Geography, History, Arts, and the Sciences is through three-year cultural studies cycles. The lessons go from whole (the globe) to part (continents). This is contrary to a traditional education, which focuses on “my community” and works outward. In this way, students begin to think of themselves as a part of the whole and start to see how each part is interconnected.
Geography
The Montessori Geography curriculum focuses on physical and cultural geography. Physical geography includes the study of seasons, climate, atmosphere and forces that shape the earth's surface. Our physical geography lessons are closely linked with our science curriculum. Cultural geography includes the study of human society such as language, art, and music.
In our primary and lower elementary classrooms, students use Montessori puzzle maps to help build their understanding of continents, countries and oceans. By physically using their hands to assemble these maps, students at this age build links on these topics in their long-term memory. In addition to the Montessori puzzles, students learn about the food, flags, music, traditions, holidays, as well as plants and animals from various regions around the world. They learn about similarities and differences found between their own life and those around the world.
The Great Lessons
A unique feature of the Montessori curriculum is the telling of the Great Lessons, which are stories told each year starting in lower elementary that awaken a child’s natural interests. Students are encouraged to follow up on their own “But Why?” questions. In upper elementary, the lessons continue but focus more on human civilizations and the needs of man. Students start to ask, “Who am I and Where do I fit?" The curriculum helps them answer these questions and develop a sense of stewardship for the world as a global citizen.
1. The Beginning of the Universe and Earth: This story introduces the formation of the universe and earth's development as a planet.
2. Life Comes to Earth: This story provides an introduction to earth’s earliest life forms including their adaptation to earth's changing environment.
3. Humans Come to Earth: This story introduces the earliest appearance of humans on earth.
4. How Writing Began: This story introduces how humans invented written language.
5. How Numbers Began: This story introduces how humans invented numbers and mathematics.
TCI: History Alive! is a student-Centered Middle School Social Studies Curriculum. TCI’s program helps teachers offer interactive, supportive learning environments. With a focus on student-led learning and immersive activities, our middle school social studies curriculum aligns to the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies. TCI helps prepare students to be engaged and thoughtful citizens as they explore social studies through hands-on learning, integrated literacy and active citizenship.
TCI: History Alive! is a student-Centered Middle School Social Studies Curriculum. TCI’s program helps teachers offer interactive, supportive learning environments. With a focus on student-led learning and immersive activities, our middle school social studies curriculum aligns to the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies. TCI helps prepare students to be engaged and thoughtful citizens as they explore social studies through hands-on learning, integrated literacy and active citizenship.