One of my favorite lessons at my Montessori schools is nature walks.
Our children enjoy a stroll exploring the wetlands behind the schools.
We admire the weeping willow trees. The children squeal with delight to see a tree frog land from one branch to the other and yes, to listen to the breeze rustling through the maple trees is heavenly. The singing of song birds, quacking of the water fowl, the tapping of the word pecker, and little tadpoles swimming in a puddle bring so much joy.
The children use their vivid imagination and one child is convinced he saw a leprechaun with a pot of gold leaping from tree to tree. We see dinosaurs, imagine transformers, and all sort of characters hiding behind the trees covered in Spanish Moss.
Our goal is to bring our beautiful children close to nature, cherish our earth, and to create naturalist intelligence in our Montessorians.
Turn off the TV, and take time to smell the flowers.
About Rohini Rustogi