Page 5 - 2019 Observations ~ The Montessori School
P. 5
I I followed our experienced apiarist as the
grew up in rural Connecticut, on a
farm in the woods, on a dirt road,
bees hummed and buzzed but moved
with horses, cats, dogs, and cows. My
with purpose and intention into their
mother was a gardener and we grew
Absorbing all that I can through
our own food all summer long. My love carefully constructed hive.
and connection with animals and nature reading and watching and doing, I share
is innate and reflects who I am, what I the bees with the children. As with every-
gral part of learning and curriculum. The The collect pollen and are pollinators, and the
thing, we begin with the basics. How they
believe, and how I teach.
Dr. Montessori believed in nature
being part of the classroom and an inte-
importance of this cycle to the survival of
Montessori School has beautiful outdoor the ecosystem. This leads to discussion
on all the pollinator creatures. We look
spaces. We have extended patios for each Buzz at how the hive works. We learn the dif-
classroom that are a natural bridge to the ferent roles—the drones (male bees) stay
outdoors, with large windows for an ex- in the hive, the worker bees (female), and
pansive view and the warmth of natural the queen—and how they work together.
sunlight. Each day the children go out About We learn the parts of the hive and look
into the woods and play, discover, ob- at the honeycomb and discuss the dif-
serve and explore freely. Children need to ferences between a manmade hive and
experience the importance of nature. It is a natural hive. The sweetest lesson of all
essential for them to grow wholly and de- the is experiencing the honey! We take some
velop a spiritual connection to the earth. honey but we know we must leave some
Our School consciously and thought- for the bees, as they survive off the honey
fully tends our grounds with purpose and they have made and stored.
care. This year, on the warmer, sunny- Bees… In our little corner of Wilton we
side of our 7-acre property, in a carefully make a difference by providing a home
selected spot, we reestablished a hive for the honey bees. We talk about nature
with thousands of Italian bees. My natu- and animals and share pictures, but the
ral curiosity and thirst for knowledge and real lesson is in seeing our School build
nature pushed my hand up to volunteer a hive and making learning tangible. We
as the onsite beekeeper with the help and bring the real world into the classroom
guidance of an experienced parent in our and the classroom out into the world.
community. I am fascinated, in awe, and The children watch and respect the bees,
inspired by the complexity, organization, see and taste the beautiful golden, sticky-
and intelligence of the hive. I studied its sweet honey and begin to understanding
hierarchy, jobs, productivity, and health the purpose and role and importance of
as I observed the bees firsthand. So on bees in our lives and in nature, and that
a spring day in April, carefully timed to all living things are connected, have a job
the rhythm of the bees, we suited up and and a purpose, and play a role in the care
moved them into their new home. Exhil- and survival of our world.
arated, but remaining calm and focused, —Jennie Paragarino, Primary Lead Teacher
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