The child, who is the greatest spontaneous observer of Nature, undoubtedly needs to have placed at his disposal material on which to work. The opportunity to explore the great outdoors is instrumental to a quality Montessori program. There is born within children set upon watering plants, feeding animals and tending a garden the desire to give further help.
Children are profoundly content in a natural setting if they can act, make discoveries, explore.
Conversely, youngsters removed from nature, as is typical in the modern world, can easily develop ambivalence towards living things or worse abhorrent behaviors such as cruelty to animals or a blatant disregard for the environment. It is through connection to nature that caring for the planet is nurtured. Here at Community Montessori our classroom gardens are a vital part of our school. Our outdoor environments serve as classrooms without walls where students and adults alike can reconnect to the natural world. Our outdoor spaces are dynamic and ripe with potential for learning opportunities.