Menu

Mindfulness: A Key Part of Our Elementary Curriculum

If you visit the Upper Elementary at IMSP on any school day in the late morning, you would hear a gentle bell ring at around 11:20. The students clean-up, and by 11:30, they gather on the classroom carpet and light a candle. A teacher sets a timer. At the sound of a bell, they begin their 5-minute awareness/mindfulness practice.

This is just one of the activities that the Upper and Lower Elementary participate in as a foundational part of fulfilling Maria Montessori’s Peace Curriculum as an extension of Grace and Courtesy – stillness, quiet, awareness, inner-peace, and focus. Like the traditional Montessori Silence Game, our daily awareness/mindfulness practices help students to take a moment to check in with themselves, to relax and reflect, and to transition into the second half of the day.

Mindfullness as a part of Montessori curiculum

Below are some of the other activities the Elementary classrooms practice to foster peace and awareness:

Upper Elementary

Monday Formal Tea Ceremony

Each week on Monday mornings, the students and teachers sit and share tea and quiet music during Meeting Circle. The activity helps provide students with an opportunity to transition into the new week smoothly, share their experiences of the weekend, and to practice grace and courtesy skills while serving tea, listening attentively, and waiting their turn.

"You can calm down. I think of everything I did in the morning and then I put it aside. then I can flow into the next thing we do." / Jakub Tamas – Mindful Minutes with the candle

Weekly Forest Walk/Observation

Tuesday mornings the class takes a brief forest walk that includes a silent five-minute written nature observation. We also visit the tree we planted last year and check its health and growth.

"It makes us more aware when we listen for sounds, so we know what's going on around us and we notice more things.” / Andrej Maric – Nature walk and observation

Gardening and Composting

Students spend a few minutes outside Thursday mornings checking on our winter garden and turning compost, contemplative exercises into which the teachers weave science and cultural lessons.

Upper and Lower Elementary

Soft Feet/Silent Walking

Both the Lower and Upper Elementary students participate in lining up silently, and in “soft feet,” using mindfulness to be aware of how much noise and distraction we are making when just moving around, helping the children learn practical skills for the classroom environment.

Gratitude Before Lunches

As we begin our lunch each day, both groups of children collect their food and sit at their tables quietly. Each student waits to begin eating until all have been served, and then we ring a gentle bell and begin several minutes of gratitude when we contemplate the many hands that worked to bring it to us our meal. After our gratitude minutes, the students are free to chat with their friends communally.

Silent Worktime

For thirty minutes each day, after our meeting circles, each classroom practices thirty minutes of silent work time when students begin their self-planned academic work quietly, with focus and independence.

These are practices you can replicate at home. Give it a try; we’ve found that the students not only like many of them but that it really works in creating a calmer, more focused environment!

by Greg McCracken

Want to learn more? Read our next article:

MINDFUL WALKS AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN ELEMENTARY

Další články

Future of Education

Radka Dohnalova, a parent of three IMSP children, has been researching the future of education in this world. She has summarized her findings in the article below, which was also recently published. Radka wanted to share the results with the IMSP community when her research revealed how Montessori education aligns with where the future of education is heading.

Read more

Top 3 Winter Activities for Toddlers

We know that when schools are closed and children are at home for the holidays, it can sometimes be a challenge to come up with new, interesting ideas of things to do with your toddler. Here we have compiled a list of our three favorite winter-themed activities that consist of simple steps and only require materials that you probably already have around the house.

Read more

Dealing with Emotions Through Art

“Social and emotional learning(SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.”

Read more

IMSP Podcast: Meet Alumna Karolína Muchová

This week, our host Mariana Bečková chats with IMSP alumna Karolína Muchová. Born and raised in Prague, Karolína always knew she wanted to pursue her university education abroad. Press play to learn how IMSP prepared her for a rigorous high school experience and eventually, her choice to enroll at the University of Chicago in the United States. Between authentic one-on-one support and a personalized curriculum designed by IMSP teachers, Karolína shares how her experience with Montessori set her up for success as she spread her wings around the globe. 

Read more

IMSP Podcast: Meet Alumnus Caleb Miller

Introducing our first guest on the IMSP podcast series: Caleb Miller. After graduating from IMSP, he moved back to the United States, finishing his university degree. Caleb and our host, Mariana, chat about independence in childhood, the benefits of multi-age classrooms, and what advice he has for current IMSP Elementary students. While reflecting on his time at IMSP, Caleb looks towards the future as he pursues a career with a global focus. “That's one thing that Montessori, our school, planted in me,” Caleb tells us, “the desire to engage with the world”.

Read more
20.11.2021
Join us for an Interactive Open House Register for
Baby & Me
Register for
Toddler & Me
Virtual tour