by Hidayah | Sep 1, 2022 | Montessori 101, Montessori Learning, Nature exploration, Sensorial
Smelling bottles are standard material in the Sensorial area of a Montessori classroom. The smelling bottles are a part of the early childhood Montessori Sensorial lesson sequence, focusing on the olfactory sense.
Children and adults alike can have fun with the smelling jars, and they’re easily adaptable for different spices and leaves. The purpose is for the child to develop their sense of smell. The process is simple – the child sniffs their way through the bottles trying to match two identical scents.
Making the smelling bottles is pretty straightforward and can be done with items we already have around our school compound – betel leaves, pandan leaves, curry leaves, and kaffir leaves.

by Hidayah | Aug 3, 2022 | Culture, Montessori 101, Montessori Learning, Nature exploration
SNAIL NATURE STUDY.
“Education is not something a teacher does, but it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being. It is not acquired by listening to words but in virtue of experiences in which the child acts on his environment.” – The Absorbent Mind.

by Hidayah | Jul 19, 2022 | Culture, Montessori Learning, Nature exploration
On a shining day, the playground was filled with waves of laughter and joy. Children were wandering in the playground.
At a corner where children were not wandering. They were looking at the snail quietly. They started to observe the movements and appearance of the snail. While observing, one child gave the snail way as she saw the snail was getting near her foot.
“Why does this snail look different from other snails?”
“Why is it small and light?”
“The shell look-alike triangle.”
They started to discuss the snail…until it was time to return to their classroom.
It’s such an honour to observe what children are observing.

by Hidayah | Jun 2, 2022 | Culture, Montessori Learning, Nature exploration
Children walk in the river and have fun in the water outdoors.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” – a Chinese proverb.

by Hidayah | May 9, 2022 | Culture, Montessori 5 areas, Nature exploration
“There is no description, no image in any book that can replace the sight of real trees and all the life around them in a natural forest. Something emanates from those trees which speak to the soul, something no book, no museum is capable of giving.
There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature, to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in nature… so that the child may better understand and participate in the marvellous things which civilisation creates.” – Maria Montessori.

by Hidayah | Apr 12, 2022 | Culture, Montessori Learning, Nature exploration, Reflection
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Encouraging children to spend more time outdoors and away from technology aids their physical well-being and helps them improve their emotional and intellectual health,
… feeding the fish at the river.
