Pincushion Hill Montessori School
Why Is Nature Important In Montessori?
Alison Petersen • Apr 12, 2024

“The land is where our roots are, the children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the Earth.”

-Dr. Maria Montessori

Spending time in nature is a fully integrated sensory experience. Watching the sunlight bounce off of trees as they sway in the wind, smelling the plants and flowers around you, hearing the leaves crunch under your feet, feeling the cold dirt in your hands, and sometimes even tasting the fresh vegetables or herbs from a garden. Engaging with nature grounds us and reminds us of our connection to the environment. Nature provides a powerful tool for nurturing young minds. 


Nature and natural materials are central to Montessori education, rooted in the principle of caring for the environment. There is an inherent order, harmony, and beauty in nature that is reflected in the Montessori philosophy. A primary way Montessori integrates nature is through the use of natural materials. This includes wooden materials, natural fabrics, wicker baskets, metal utensils, and glass vessels to name a few. Not only do these natural materials provide children with an integrated sensorial experience, but they also encourage a connection to the environment by putting children in touch with the real world in their everyday activities. 


In addition to prioritizing natural materials in the classroom, Montessori also emphasizes the value of teaching children to care for plants and animals. All of our Montessori classrooms include houseplants in which the children care for. Our community at Pincushion Hill Montessori School features a vegetable and flower garden which is a special outdoor space where the children come together to plant, tend, and reap the benefits of their hard work.


The children are responsible for watering the garden, weeding, planting seeds and and composting. Through the experience of caring for the plants and animals in the garden, children learn the connection between the earth and their food as well as respect for the smallest of creatures. Waiting for a garden to grow instills patience and responsibility in young children who are eager to see their seeds transform into food. You may be surprised to find the variety of tasks children are both excited to and capable of performing when it comes to caring for the natural world.


Whether at home or in the classroom, there are numerous benefits to integrating nature into your child’s day. Here are a few of our favorite ways:

  • Take a nature walk, with the intention of noticing or collecting elements like leaves, rocks, flowers, and other things that catch your child’s attention
  • Give your child a small houseplant to care for, teaching them the responsibility of checking on the leaves and soil to ensure the plant has enough light and water
  • Add a bird feeder to your outdoor space and invite your child to participate in filling the seed and watching for different types of birds to visit
  • Visit a botanical garden or zoo to explore plants and animals that you do not regularly see at home
  • Teach your child how to keep a nature journal where they draw pictures of what they notice in nature


Interested in seeing our outdoor gardens? Call today to schedule a visit.

Montessori Myths Explained

By Alison Petersen • 03 May, 2024
MYTH: Montessori Schools are all pretty standard Actually, since the Montessori name is not trademarked, there can be a wide variety of approaches within schools that call themselves Montessori. It is important to look for a school’s level of accreditation. The two primary accrediting bodies in the U.S. are Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), and American Montessori Society (AMS). Accrediting bodies offer varying levels of recognition in their membership for schools based on their adherence to Montessori principles. There are more important differences even between AMI and AMS oriented schools, so we highly recommend touring various Montessori schools to see the differences for yourself and find your own Montessori style. MYTH: Montessori students do whatever they please This myth derives from a misunderstanding of the term child-centered learning . It is true that Primary students enjoy freedom in what pieces of work they choose. This enables the child to choose the challenges about which they are most excited by, and to take advantage of “sensitive periods” in their learning, wherein they are driven to master a certain skill by repeating it again and again. The teachers are well trained, though, to spot the differences between a child mastering a skill through repetition and a child that wants to repeat tasks out of boredom or for lack of knowing what to do next. Students do not have the freedom to, say, eat snack all day or do nothing but talk to friends for two hours. Montessori teachers are called “guides” for a reason – they allow students the freedom of choosing their direction while ensuring they still reach the final destination. MYTH: Montessori students have to be quiet all the time We have heard other people repeat this myth, but since we’ve never seen an all-quiet Montessori classroom, we’re not sure where this myth comes from! While we do help children understand appropriate volume levels for different conversations and different environments as part of our grace and courtesy lessons, our classrooms are always buzzing with activity and conversation. MYTH: Montessori is all work and no play In her years working with children, Maria Montessori noticed that children developed a sense of peace and happiness when they were engaged in purposeful work. Of course, children do enjoy laughing, running, playing, and making friends. Luckily, we arrange our days to allow for all of those activities in addition to work time. The true test is to ask a Montessori child how they feel about school. Our students love to come to school and get to work. MYTH: Montessori is a style that is only useful for preschool aged children Our Primary graduates who move to first grade often find that they are well ahead of peers from traditional environments, in academics and maturity. However, Montessori benefits don’t stop at age 6. Our Elementary program fosters academic prowess, love of learning, responsibility, independence, and leadership. Elementary graduates excel at self-management, creative problem solving, critical thinking, and interpersonal communication skills.  MYTH: Montessori kids struggle to adapt to the structure of traditional schools Entering a traditional schooling environment where students sit still at desks and work on one subject at a time, as a full class, requires a brief transition period for Montessori children. Our alumni families report, however, that the transition is typically brief and is managed with great composure by our students. They have learned self-management skills and personal responsibility, so they are able to adapt well to new circumstances and different learning environments.
Montessori preschool classroom

Montessori vs. Daycare: What Is The Difference?

By Alison Petersen • 26 Apr, 2024
Many families rely on childcare while their children are young. Figuring out the best place to drop your little one off every day is a big decision. Parents want to ensure their child spends their days safe, comfortable, and happy, and under the watchful eye of well-trained and competent adults. Daycare is the obvious choice for many folks…that is, until they become aware of other options. If you’re reading this article, it’s likely you are one of those parents who is trying to figure out the best possible placement for your child. Allow us to highlight five key differences between a typical daycare center and a Montessori school. An Emphasis on Education Montessori goes beyond the reaches of a typical daycare facility. While daycares focus on watching and caring for children, Montessori schools do this and more by creating an environment focused on children’s learning. We believe education starts at birth. Children’s days should be filled with play, as that is how they learn, but we create space for them to play in ways that enrich their development. We don’t fill our classroom with whatever toys look fun; we carefully prepare an environment with materials that have been developed after careful scientific observation and used for over 100 successful years. These materials are still games and toys from the perspective of the child, but they tend to have much different effects on them from a learning perspective. A Natural Environment Most daycare environments are filled with bright colors, plastic toys, and maybe even a cartoon character or two. Montessori environments eschew any type of commercialism or characters. They utilize natural materials like wood, plant fibers, and even glass. Natural tones are favored over bright and loud colors, and soft and natural lighting is evident. Montessori classrooms intentionally bring the natural world inside, with plants, found objects, and pets. Children are directly involved with the care of living things in the classroom. Montessori Trained Educators The training of a Montessori educator goes far beyond the training of a typical daycare worker. To care for young children, both must meet certain requirements such as first aid training, passing a background check, and some knowledge of working with children. Montessori educators, however, continue far beyond the basics. Most have college degrees, with many obtaining advanced degrees. They have completed rigorous Montessori credential training, which includes comprehensive instruction on child development, intensive lessons to help them present Montessori materials correctly, work in Montessori philosophy, and so much more. We encourage you to ask your local daycare facility about their teacher training requirements and compare them to Montessori requirements while you explore your options. A Sense of Community When your child is enrolled at a Montessori school, it’s so much more than a place to drop them off each morning. The whole family is welcomed as a part of the school community, and special events and traditions work to solidify this sense of community. Montessori parents are often eager to connect with one another; we all seem to have a sense that a strong community contributes greatly to the wellbeing of our children. It’s helpful to have other parents to ask questions, hear about experiences, and even socialize with. Montessori schools are also unique in that we welcome parents into the classroom. In fact, we encourage regular observation. The children are used to adults sitting quietly in a corner of the room, so the practice is unobtrusive, and really gives adults a clear picture of the type of work we do. Many parents walk away from observations in awe of the engagement of the children and the depth of the work/play they show. Interested in seeing a Montessori classroom in action? Call us to set up an appointment today. We welcome you to observe the uniqueness of Montessori.
Share by: