The Practical Life Curriculum Area in a Montessori classroom defines the education for the skills required in everyday life. The reason Maria Montessori introduced this curriculum area in the education of young children was that her method aimed at preparing children for life rather than school. Thus she considered it very important to assist development in young children according to their respective stage (physiological and mental) as they come through what she referred to as sensitive periods. According to the Montessori method the activities in the Practical Life Area should be real activities which meet the needs of the child in the respective stage of his growth, normalize him, and lead him to independence from the adult. The basic components of this curriculum area are the following: Care of the Self, Care of the Environment, Discipline and Deportment, Grace and Courtesy. As they are meant to normalize the child for a Montessori environment, as well as for life at large, these exercises and activities should be introduced to the child in the beginning, as soon as he comes in a Montessori classroom. In the child's natural effort towards independence and success the Practical Life Curriculum Area has four directed aims: ORDER in time and space (meets the need of the child in the sensitive period between 2-4 years of age); CONCENTRATION (helps the child to be focused on a purposeful activity): COORDINATION (refers to a coordinated large and small muscle movement as well as hand-eye coordination that reflect the respective development of child's mental lile); INDEPENDENCE ("The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one's self." Maria Montessori - The Absorbent Mind, ch.14, Intelligence and the Hand).
In a Montessori classroom and school (Children's House) the child moves about in an environment made upon his size, yet all things being real and not make-believe.
Materials in this area should be attractive, child-size and breakable (glass, porcelain, pottery,etc.) Among practical basic skills like spooning, pouring, cutting, folding, the Practical Life activities develop a sense for social relations, grace and courtesy. |
