Science, Geography and History: Ages Birth to Three

Children from birth are interested in the world around them. They observe the natural world and absorb the culture of the society into which they are born. Children are fascinated by the way the world works, by the life of plants and animals, by the features of the places they find themselves in and by the customs and stories of the people around them. 

In later educational contexts these interests are taken up formally in the study of science, geography and history. In the Montessori Early Years Learning Programme they are integrated across the curriculum. Often children pursue their interest in science, geography or history as an extension of the exercises of the senses because it is through the senses that children first perceive, observe and explore phenomena related to these fields of study. 

In the Nido and Infant Communities, children experience nature informally through sensory experiences inside and outside the classroom. Many experiences happen spontaneously in the garden, for example:  

• planting seeds 

• watering plants 

• cleaning leaves 

• raking leaves 

• arranging flowers  

• observing animals