Celebrating Holidays – The Montessori Way

Holiday celebrations – The Montessori Way

Our Montessori classroom transformation

Children in a Montessori classroom embrace celebrations of the seasons in a cross-curricular, more involved, and less obtrusive way.  In the weeks prior to a holiday of importance, the Practical Life shelves may reflect the colors and symbols of the season in the pouring, sorting, or transferring works.  The Language area and circle time activities will most certainly incorporate stories and songs related to the seasonal celebrations.  Math works may use counting items that correlate with holiday themes.  Art supplies change to stimulate the children’s unique artistic expression using materials inspired by the time of year.  And perhaps the best part of the classroom to share information about specific holidays is the Cultural area, where the children may find continent boxes filled with photographs, artifacts, and items associated with various holidays and the cultures from which they originated.

Keeping our routine while learning about the holidays

The beauty of celebrating in this way is that the security and predictability of the child’s school day remains intact.  Children rely on this type of schedule.  They thrive and perform best in an environment where they understand the expectations and where they feel they have some control over their day.  The season of celebrations unfolds slowly.  The children learn about the history, discover the traditions, and find delight in celebrating a variety of holidays over the course of time and within the parameters of how their school environment is already set up for them.  To enhance this learning and make it even more meaningful, parents, relatives, and special guests join us to share their personal experiences with special celebrations, giving the students great insights into and an appreciation for other cultures and the people within their community.

Keeping the commercial noise OUT

In a Montessori classroom, the commercial ‘noise’ of the holidays is silenced as children are provided with age-appropriate information about the people, places, foods, and traditions surrounding the holidays.  Celebrating holidays – the Montessori way – provides children with the opportunity to engage in meaningful activities that teach them so much more than about just one day on the calendar.  By learning about holidays, they learn about other cultures.  They also gain an awareness of what is different and what is similar among people worldwide.  They learn tolerance and acceptance.  They learn about what brings joy to people around the globe.  The Montessori approach to celebrating special days is a gift to children as it expands their minds, their hearts, and their worlds.

Wishing you and your extended family and friends a very Happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Your SpringStone family