science - ami usa · exploring the pathways of culture session 6 ami/usa refresher course 2016 1...

Exploring the Pathways of Culture Session 6

AMI/USA Refresher Course 2016 1

Science

A love for the natural world Refined skills of observation Language as a means for expression Mathematics as a means for exact expression Patience and Perseverance Precision and Accuracy Confidence, willingness to take risks Controlled and refined movement The capacity for logical, ordered thought Discovery Patterns and finding relationships Empathy, respect and consideration for people, things and actions Creativity

Curiosity

science = the state of knowing



Science is an important part of culture

• Science defines what we understand to be natural as well as what

we understand to be rational.

• The scientific values of any culture are found in what are sought

out as facts and produced as artifacts, what are designed as

processes and products, what weapons are created and what are

revered as wonders.

• Science is culturally expressed through creative expression such as

music, film, art and literature.

• Scientific values become embodied and naturalized in our

concepts, techniques, research priorities, inventions, politics and

advertising.

• Science is culturally expressed through creative expression such as

music, film, art and literature.

$800 Billion

$70 Billion

$8 Billion



Science is the process of developing and testing

mental models of how the world works,

be it the physical, biological or social world…

a process of observing events, recognizing

patterns, testing hypotheses and making causal

connections between observed events.

Gregory Feist

scientist extraordinaire



A love for the natural world Refined skills of observation Language as a means for expression Mathematics as a means for exact expression Patience and Perseverance Precision and Accuracy Confidence, willingness to take risks Controlled and refined movement The capacity for logical, ordered thought Discovery Patterns and finding relationships Empathy, respect and consideration for people, things and actions Creativity Curiosity

Supporting the development of the Scientific Mind

a love of the natural world



refined skills of observation

language as a means of expression



math ability to express exactness

patience and perseverance



develops precision

and accuracy

confidence and

a willingnes

s to take

risks



refined and controlled movements

capacity for logical, ordered thinking



discovering patterns and relationships

promote empathy and respect for people, things and actions



creativity

stimulate curiosity and a love of learning



Science in the Children’s House

m

m

Non-living / Inorganic

Matter

Living / Organic Biology



Biology

Biology is the science that studies life in all its aspects:

• How living things live

• What they need for nourishment

• What conditions foster growth

• Life Cycles

• Interdependence of living things



Purposes of Biology in the Children’s House:

• To guide the child’s natural exploration

• To foster an appreciation of life and an awareness of the

interdependence and inter-relatedness of nature

• To guide the child’s observation of nature

• To help the child establish a framework in which he may

begin to relate his experiences

Nature Walks



The foot is noble.

To walk is noble.

Thanks to the feet,

the child who already walks

can expect of the outdoors

certain answers to his secret questions.

Maria Montessori

Outdoor Environment



Botany

Living / Organic Biology

Non-living / Inorganic

Animals Zoology

Plants Botany

Matter



• Caring for plants in the environment

• Planting seeds, inside and outside

• Harvesting

• Arranging flowers

• Aromatic flowers used for smelling jars

• Raking leaves

• Hoeing, weeding

• Potting or repotting plants as needed

• Composting

Botany Activities in the Children’s House – Practical Life



• The Leaf Cabinet used with real leaves

Botany Activities in the Children’s House

cordate

lanceolate

acerose

lanceolate

obcordate



• The Leaf Cabinet used with real leaves

• Classified sets of pictures

• Give the names of the plants in the classroom

• Identify plants, bushes and trees in the outdoor

environment

• Give the names of the parts of plants, flowers and

leaves using real specimens

• Use of art medium to express knowledge of plants

• True stories, poems, songs, books, pictures on the

wall

• Cultural folder of the natural world

Botany Activities in the Children’s House

• Reading Classification

• Labels for the plants in the environment

• Plant care booklet for the plants in the

environment

• Three-part Botany Cards

• Definitions Booklets for Botany Cards

• Books and poetry about plants, trees, flowers,

biomes…

Botany Activities in the Children’s House – Reading



This is a delicate task, for it we follow the traditional

practice of describing flowers and plants, they become

distasteful to children because they have to make an

effort to understand the details. We thus stifle in

children the possibility of eventually observing flowers

and plants. If instead, we give them the principles

which will enable them to observe these flowers; they

will stop to observe with wonder all the particulars

relative to these flowers and experience great joy.

If we know how to cultivate this tendency, this thirst

which gives them the delight of being a discoverer, then

it is enough to put children in contact with nature for

them to observe. This very different criterion in our

method consists only of a special educational

technique, which tends to prepare children to enjoy

nature.

Maria Montessori



dis·cov·er

dəˈskəvər/

Verb

find (something or someone) unexpectedly or

in the course of a search

Zoology



animal visitors

Hurt no living thing:

Ladybird, nor butterfly,

Nor moth with dusty wing,

Nor cricket chirping cheerily,

Nor grasshopper so light of leap,

Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat,

Nor harmless worms that creep.

Christina Georgina

Rossetti



Vertebrates

Invertebrates

Animals

Mammals

Fish

Birds

Reptiles

Amphibians

Coelenterates

Annelids

Echinoderms

Mollusks

Arthropods

• Caring for animals in the environment

• Caring for animals outside

• Identify animals in the outdoor environment

• Give the names of the parts of animals from experience

with real animals

• Use of art medium to express knowledge of animals

• True Stories, poems, songs, books, pictures on the wall

• Cultural folder of the natural world

• Observe a variety of animal life

Zoology Activities in the Children’s House



• Classified sets of pictures

• Classified sets of pictures that show a life cycle

• Classified sets of pictures for external parts

• Telling true stories about living/non-living,

classifications of vertebrates, etc. as well reading

realistic books about animals help the children to

order what they know about the animal kingdom

Zoology Activities in the Children’s House

• Reading Classification

• Booklets with definitions and descriptions previously

elicited from the children

• Booklets the children make

• Riddles: Who am I? Make these for known animals

The child names and matches the label to the picture

• Word Study: male-female-young, animals and their

homes, collective names for animals

Zoology Activities in the Children’s House –Reading



By respect for life we

become religious in a way

that is elementary,

profound and alive.

Albert Schweitzer

science - ami usa · exploring the pathways of culture session 6 ami/usa refresher course 2016 1...

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