Montessori is about exploring the natural environment and enriching the child with universal experiences. When learning about the animal kingdom (wild and sea animals) going on a trip to the local zoo is a great way for the child to explore and see the wild and sea animals. This will not only reinforce the child’s knowledge about the names of the different types of wild and sea animals but also learn the habitats these animals live in.
In the Montessori setting, the knowledge and understanding of the world area allow the children to discover the various types of wild and sea animals sorting toy figures of wild and sea animals into their corresponding habitats, puzzles as well as learning the names of the different types of animals in the animal kingdom. An extension activity that can be done at home as well as in the classroom can be creating an aquarium of sea creatures during arts and crafts as well as making paper wild animals that can be seen in the jungle such as lions, tigers, monkeys etc. Singing songs about the animal kingdom, reading books on wild animals and sea creatures and watching short educational documentaries are other forms of activities that can be done with the child to engage them to learn about the Animal Kingdom.
When teaching the child about the animal kingdom, the teacher firstly invites the child to take the animals out of the basket. The child then starts to group the animals into wild and sea animals with help from the teacher if necessary. The teacher will then ask the child if he/ she knows the names of the animals. The child will then choose one animal and the teacher tells the child the name of the wild or sea animal. When the child is finished, he/ she will put the animals back in the basket and return them to the shelf.
Objectives when teaching the child about the animal kingdom (wild animals and sea creatures): 1) To make the child aware of the animals that live in the wild on land and the sea creatures that live in the water 2) To extend the child’s knowledge of the natural environment 3) To extend the child’s powers of observation 4) To expand the child’s vocabulary
“The thing he/she sees are not just remembered, they form a part of his/ her soul.” - Maria Montessori -
