Dear Parents,

We are excited to share with you some insights into how we celebrate seasons, holidays, and special events in the Primary Studio, aligning with our educational approach that fosters understanding and appreciation for history and diverse cultures. In this post, we will also take a look at the ongoing activity in the classroom sparked from Montessori materials, student curiosity, and teaching moments. So let’s get started!

Festive Learning: Exploring History and Holidays in the Montessori Environment

Our aim is to introduce historic topics to our students, aged 2.5 to 5.5, in ways that are engaging, informative, and sensitive to their developmental stage. By exploring the positive aspects of history, diverse cultures, and everyday life experiences over time, we lay a foundation for a more complex understanding as they mature.

For example, when celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we highlight his inspiring life—his childhood, his passion for education, his dedication to equality, and his powerful speeches that won the hearts of many. We also find joy in bringing history to life by discussing and sharing pictures of his visits to our own city of Durham, making his story resonate more personally with the children. All in all, we focus on the positive, offering subtle details with careful wording around the hard parts of history and generally steering away from the more tragic aspects. We shared a couple of photos of ‘friendly protests’ and some real images of segregated restaurants as a gentle introduction to the unfairness and how nonsensical these rules were, followed by focusing on the impactful legacy of MLK, Jr. We aim to foster the hope and optimism that children at this age can appreciate and understand. Rest assured, as our students grow and their education progresses, they will encounter the full breadth of history’s complexities. By that time, our goal is for their empathy, kindness, and understanding to be well-rooted, guiding them to approach difficult truths with a strong and compassionate perspective. With all this in mind, we believe there’s ample reason to maintain a gentle approach to learning at this tender age.

Above: Ms. Angelique sharing an image of Martin Luther King, Jr., speaking at Durham’s Jack Tar Hotel (now known as Unscripted) on November 13th, 1964.

In our classroom, we extend these discussions into activities that promote peace and equality. We create peace signs, participate in the egg diversity exercise, and collaborate on peace-themed art projects. These activities are more than just fun; they teach valuable lessons about community and unity.

Above: Ms. Tina, giving the Egg Diversity Lesson

We encourage open dialogue and occasionally provide more detailed explanations to older children who express curiosity, always within the bounds of a safe and nurturing environment. We will encourage them to speak with you, the parents, when questions arise that might align with your own beliefs. Our ultimate goal is to instill a sense of gratitude and respect for the legacies that shape our world, laying the groundwork for a deeper comprehension in the future.

In the spirit of celebration, we reflect on holidays like Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day with a unified theme of love and kindness. We thoughtfully explore the stories of St. Valentine, known for his timeless message of love, and St. Patrick, who showed kindness and the importance of strong beliefs through his work in Ireland.

Above: Ms. Angelique showcases the vibrant greens of Ireland, known as the Emerald Isle, a land where St. Patrick left his mark and made history.

Above: Ms. Angelique presents Emperor Claudius II, The Emperor who wasn’t a fan of Valentine! Legend has it, he thought being single made better soldiers, so he and Saint Valentine didn’t quite see eye to eye...

Above: Ms. Caroline assisting students at the art table, dedicated to Valentine’s Day themed collages, sewing activities, stamps and cards.

Embracing a festive spirit, we also touch base on vibrant celebrations like Dia de Los Muertos and Mardi Gras. We explore Irish folklore and the storytelling that enriches St. Patrick’s Day, while also appreciating the colorful artistry of sugar skulls from Dia de Los Muertos and the lively masks worn during Mardi Gras parades. These activities are woven into our curriculum to illustrate the richness of cultural expression and the shared joy found in cultural festivities.

Above: Ms. Tina sharing the finished product from the communal art table. Everyone added their personal touch to the Mardi Gras masquerade masterpiece!

Looking back on the year, we see how holidays and seasonal events have become a vibrant part of our work cycle and daily lessons. We hope the following photos illustrate how we integrate these special occasions into various subject areas during the work cycles.

MLK, Jr. Related Activities around Peace

Valentine’s Day Activities around Love

St. Patty’s Day Communal Art Table

Mardi Gras Communal Art Table & Activities

A couple more examples of seasonal and holiday fun…

Everyday Montessori Fundamentals: Explorations & Lessons Throughout the Year

As the seasons change and holidays pass, the heart of our Montessori classroom remains constant. The staple materials that form the core of our method are always present, fostering a consistent learning environment throughout the year. We seamlessly integrate new learning experiences, catering to the children’s growing academic interests, social skills, creative thinking skills, life skills, and their natural spark of curiosity. The materials are hands-on and interactive, with teachers trained to present them through a step-by-step process with attention to small details. Through their lessons, teachers emphasize useful vocabulary and approaches that students can apply in their everyday lives. We hope you are noticing the positive changes in your child’s vocabulary, practical life skills, and communication skills at home, as they share some fun new facts and techniques with you all.

Ms. Caroline presenting the Montessori Classic, “Sink and Float” Science Lesson

There’s so much more we could say about each lesson and activity, but we think you get the idea! Chat with your children about the following photos and see what stories they remember from their work cycles and lessons. This should give you a sense of how our students engage in daily activities and circle times, discovering the joy of learning in the Montessori environment.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our approach to holidays, seasons, and everyday activities. We always enjoy hearing from you—this is the perfect place to leave a comment if you have any thoughts or feedback on the activities we’ve shared. Feel free to discuss with each other in the comments below! We appreciate your involvement and look forward to seeing you at next week’s parent-teacher conferences.