Dr. Montessori urged us to “give children the Universe” through elementary Cosmic Education. This is the integration of content such as history, geography, biology, and physical science. They are into interwoven, connected stories about the Universe in our elementary classrooms. In some settings, children learn about their world in gradually increasing concentric circles (my home, my neighborhood, my town, my state…). However, Montessori begins with theories about the creation of the Universe and moves forward in time, ending with the child standing before us. This orients children in a completely different way. The concentric circle model has two primary limitations:
- It is a long time before children learn about people or places that are very different than them
- It orients each child as the center of the Universe
In the Montessori approach, a larger context is given upon which all learning can be built. Montessori hoped this framework would instill in children a belief that they are each a small but important part of an interconnected Universe.
In social science, this type of “big picture,” connected thinking is called transcendent thinking. It is shown to increase engagement and passion for learning. This is yet another modern area of study that reinforces Dr. Montessori’s methods.
Whether it’s making connections between their learning and their personal lives, societal norms, or community needs, seeing the world as a connected ecosystem develops lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and inspired minds.
Learn more about transcendent thinking in this podcast episode of Hidden Brain, “How Our Brains Learn.”
