Great Lessons

Each year, work in the elementary class begins with five important stories, called the “Great Lessons”.  These stories dramatize known facts about the universe and the progression of human civilization.  Dramatic stories, experiments, charts timelines, and illustrations center the children’s interests by helping them create a picture of the whole universe at work. From here, the classroom opens up to endless possibilities as students follow their own particular interests with a large measure of freedom.  This unit of study forms the backbone that integrates the daily curriculum.

The Great Lessons are part of what Montessori called “Cosmic Education”. This is the child’s gradual discovery of how all things on earth in the past, present and future are interrelated.  Through this work, the children develop a greater global vision of their world.