Practical Life in Montessori Elementary

The Practical Life curriculum in Montessori Elementary encompasses a wide range of activities that help students connect with the larger world around them. During the Elementary years, Practical Life extends beyond the groundwork established in Early Childhood with a focus on executive function skills, building responsibility, and becoming a contributing part of the community.

Foundations of Practical Life in Montessori Elementary

One of the hallmarks of an authentic Montessori education is the emphasis on Practical Life skills. These skills are designed to help students develop a sense of independence and self-reliance, as well as cultivate social skills and responsibility. Practical Life activities can include everything from packing a lunch to planning a field trip, or even designing a science experiment proposal.

At the Elementary level, Practical Life skills are interwoven throughout the Cosmic Curriculum. Students are expected to care for their classroom and its materials, they also care for all life in and around their classroom, including plants, animals, and gardens. Montessori guides offer Practical Life activities as follow-up work to a student’s academic lessons – following a recipe to bake muffins after a fractions lesson, or weaving a basket following a history lesson, are both activities one might see in a Montessori Elementary environment.

By integrating academic skills with Practical Life activities, students are able to learn in a hands-on, experiential way that is both engaging and effective. Ideally, Practical Life is woven into the rhythm of the school day.

Key Takeaways

Practical Life is a cornerstone of Montessori education that helps students develop independence, self-care, social and personal responsibility, and refines executive function skills.
Montessori education emphasizes the integration of academic skills through Practical Life activities, allowing students to learn in a hands-on, experiential way.
By engaging in Practical Life activities, students connect with the larger world and begin to take part in their community.

Importance of Practical Life

Practical Life activities are an essential part of the Montessori Elementary curriculum. Though perhaps not as visible as it is in Early Childhood, Practical Life in Elementary helps create a strong sense of community as the students and guides work together to create a respectful learning environment.

While continuing to encourage self-care and appropriate social interactions, the focus shifts in Elementary to lessons that foster responsibility. The daily routine is enriched by the incorporation of:

students tools – like work journals or work logs
peer conferencing
teacher-student conferencing
classroom constitution and clear expectations

All of these contribute to the development of organizational and time management skills.

Role of the Educator

Modeling classroom expectations is one of the major roles of an Elementary Guide. Establishing procedures for caring for the classroom environment will be an essential task at the beginning of every school year. Constant modeling and follow through of those expectations will help normalize the students and get the classroom routines running effortlessly.

Building responsibility and developing executive function skills are both foundational goals in Montessori Elementary. The guide will need to be deliberate and intentional with helping each student work towards those goals as an individual. The educator conferences with each student regularly and teaches the student the art of personal reflection, they review how the student spent their time, discuss successes and frustrations, and set goals together.

To learn more about how an Elementary Guide can help their students learn about personal responsibility you can read Balancing Freedom and Responsibility in the Elementary Classroom by Letty Rising.

Practical Life in Montessori Elementary: Students Transitioning from Early Childhood to Elementary

Transition Activities

Having Practical Life activities that are appropriate and engaging for the newest second plane students can make all the difference in their transition to the Elementary classroom. The exercises of Practical Life in Early Childhood are very normalizing for the 3-6 year old, and will continue to have the same affect on the six year old as an Elementary student.

Having a transition shelf full of Practical Life options, especially at the beginning of the school year, is a good way to help younger students ease into the flow of Elementary. Activities like:

Window Washing
Sweeping
Sharpening Pencils
Dusting Shelves
Preparing a Snack
Tying a Knot
Sewing a Button
Stocking Classroom Supplies
Watering Plants
Care of Animals

Functional lessons are ideal because they showcase a real practical need in the classroom and all Elementary students thrive when given work that will benefit the community.

For more ideas on Practical Life activities for the six year old transitioning into Elementary check out What Does Practical Life Look Like for Older Preschoolers Through Elementary Kids? by Deb Chitwood.

Practical Life in Montessori Elementary: Independence and Self-Care

Care of Self

Care of Self continues to build upon the foundation laid during the Early Childhood years well into the Elementary program. For the youngest elementary students this may include taking care of their personal hygiene, such as washing hands, combing hair, or brushing their teeth after lunch. Taking responsibility for personal needs grows and changes with the students but continues to be emphasized. Conversations about social and emotional health will become part of the classroom culture.

Care of the Environment

Students develop independence and responsibility by taking care of the learning environment – this includes:

cleaning up when a lesson or project is over
washing a table after a snack or a meal
Caring for class pets – feeding, cleaning, etc.
contributing to daily maintenance like washing windows or shelving library books
resetting the classroom at the end of each day

At the elementary level, lessons on organization, time management, and internet safety are all incorporated.

Elementary students also learn about the Earth and the impact humans have on it. Gardening, recycling, and how to properly dispose of waste – by learning these skills, students become more aware of their impact on the environment and how we can make a positive difference.

Kelly Johnson created a wonderful online course all about gardening with elementary aged students. To learn more visit: School Gardens: Integrating Gardening Throughout the Elementary Curriculum

Time Management

Check out this video from Montessori Guide for a look inside a functioning Montessori Elementary Classroom – make note of the language that the teachers use as they speak with the students about the work they are choosing.

Students in Montessori Elementary classrooms learn to manage their time very early on. This isn’t a skill that comes easily for every student and most students need explicit instruction from the Guide. Learning to follow directions and how to set goals for oneself are at the foundation of good time management skills.

Montessori is known for the freedom of choice it offers students. However, that freedom is always coupled with responsibility. Students use a work log or work journal to record the lessons they are working on. This log provides a visual map to the student of what work needs to be accomplished for the given day or week.

The student and the teacher meet regularly to look over the student’s progress as recorded in the work journal. They look for patterns of complete and incomplete assignments and are then able to set goals for the student to work towards, based on interest and need.

For a more comprehensive look at using work journals in the classroom you can check Dr. Luz Casquejo Johnston’s video “Completing a Work Plan” in the P2P [6-12] Library. (See Month 9) Learn more about Principles to Practice (P2P) for Elementary and join here.

A Montessori Elementary learning community doesn’t focus solely on academics, but also on developing social skills and a sense of social responsibility. This is achieved through various activities and lessons that focus on Grace and Courtesy, Community Responsibilities, and Going Out.

Grace and Courtesy

Montessori Elementary emphasizes the importance of good manners and polite behavior. Students, and their teacher guides, are encouraged to greet people and offer a handshake, to say “please” and “thank you” when asking for or receiving something. The classroom forms a joyful community where everyone concentrates on their tasks, finding delight in their work. They engage in activities such as inventing, exploring, experimenting, conferring, creating, preparing snacks, and immersing themselves in learning about the things that interest them most.

Students moving into the Elementary program are moving away from the ‘parallel play’ style of their Early Childhood years and into developing the social skills that will help them build lasting friendships. It’s an important time of growth for children in building social skills. As children grow older, and into their adolescence, they develop a stronger sense of self and begin to relate with their peers in new and different ways.

One of the benefits of a Montessori Education is flexibility and having time allotted to help students work on social skills. Students and teachers alike can take the time needed to discuss any social issues as they arise. If there was a conflict on the playground during recess, there is always time to hold a community meeting to work it out. With a focus on solutions (rather than a finger pointing attitude) students are taught strategies for peaceful resolution.

What Does Building Relationships with an Elementary-Aged Child Look Like? by Letty Rising is a thought provoking look at what teachers can do to support relationships within their classrooms.

Community Responsibilities

Montessori Elementary students are part of a community, and have certain responsibilities towards it. They learn to take care of the classroom, keep it clean and tidy, and put things back where they belong. Students also learn to respect others’ belongings and to ask for permission before using them. Students are active participants in creating the expected code of conduct within their learning community – every student has a voice and each voice matters.

Going Out

This is an insightful video produced by Montessori Guide all about going out with Elementary students. You can click here to visit their site: Going Out: Preparing the Elementary Child for the Future

Going out is an important part of the Montessori Elementary curriculum. It involves leaving the classroom and exploring the world outside. Before going out, students learn how to plan, prepare, and budget for the trip, and even have discussions on how to behave in public places. Learning to be aware of your surroundings and to respect the people and the environment around you become invaluable lessons learned during going out opportunities. The second plane child gains confidence by mastering real-life skills, creating a transformative and empowering experience.

These experiences are often tied to classroom lessons. After a Spanish lesson, students may visit a local specialty grocery store to purchase the ingredients for a cultural dish they learned about. Or while learning about water ways, students may want to tour a local dam. Going out activities are driven by student interest and are planned and carried out by the students involved.

Practical Life in Montessori Elementary: Integrating Academic Skills

Cosmic Education

Cosmic Education aims to help children develop a sense of interconnectedness and awareness of their place in the world. Practical Life activities play a role in connecting students with a broader understanding of the universe. These activities become not just about skill development but also serve as a means for children to understand their roles as contributing members of their communities and the world at large. For example:

a gardening activity may be connected to lessons about ecosystems, seasons, and the interdependence of living organisms
children may learn about environmental conservation, sustainable practices, and their roles in creating a positive impact on the planet
students may participate in community-based activities that benefit local charities, fostering a sense of social responsibility and awareness

Geography and Science experiments are probably the most similar in set up to a Practical Life shelf in a 3-6 classroom, with a few key differences that address the needs of the Elementary child. Just like Practical Life in the Early Childhood classroom, children are pouring, transferring, and sorting objects and materials. However, in the Elementary classroom, the materials are organized on the shelf into categories (e.g. beakers in one area, test tubes in another area, mixers in another area, etc.) and the student gathers what they need. The lessons aren’t contained on a tray for them, as in the 3-6 environment, but are gathered by the child. This gathering of the materials helps build their executive functioning skills as they identify what they need, collect the required materials, and organize them so they are ready to perform the experiment.

Elementary experiments help students with the refinement of their fine motor skills, and also aid in developing their powers of concentration. They have the added benefit of helping students learn to hypothesize, record observations, analyze data, and follow multi-step instructions. These are all invaluable practical life skills that will benefit them throughout the Elementary years, and into Adolescence and beyond.

Mathematics and Logical Thinking

In Elementary, Practical Life activities are not only about teaching students basic life skills but are also integrated into academic lessons. These activities aim to develop creative problem solving, focus, and concentration, as well as sequential and logical thinking.

Practical Life activities provide an opportunity to integrate mathematics into everyday life and are embedded across the elementary curriculum:

Going out activities give students the opportunity to create a budget, manage time, and design travel plans
Cooking and baking present lessons in measurement and the importance of precision
Science experiments give students the opportunity to collect and read data

All of these activities create excitement for elementary students and offer hands on learning experiences that will stick with them for life.

Make sure to register for the free webinar Science Experiments: Maria Montessori’s Vision for Science as Practical Life by Zoe and Letty Rising all about how the process of experimentation relates to Practical Life and supports executive functioning skills.

Language and Reading Skills

Practical Life activities also help in developing language and reading skills. Activities that involve understanding and following sequential steps, like reading a recipe, writing a classroom constitution, or following a bus route map, present new vocabulary and sentence structures. Writing a thank you note helps students refine their penmanship and create a sense of kindness and dignity within the community. All of these activities serve a real purpose within the learning community and will intrigue the elementary aged child.

Practical Life in Montessori Elementary: Creative Activities

Creative activities can enhance these Practical Life skills further by engaging students in hands-on experiences that promote imagination, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Here are a few examples of how you can enhance Practical Life with creative activities:

Arts and Craftsmanship

Arts and craftsmanship activities can help students develop their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity. These activities can also help students learn to follow instructions, and to plan and execute a project from start to finish. Activities include:

sewing
weaving
painting
drawing
origami
building
woodworking

Practical craftsmanship activities are extremely appealing to the elementary aged child and foster creativity and a sense of accomplishment. From sewing an apron, to making a quilt, to building a birdhouse, these activities engage the students’ imagination and enhance their problem solving skills.

For a deeper discussion about the importance of creative handwork in elementary you can read Why Handwork is an Essential Element of Cosmic Education by Carol Palmer.

Carol also created an enlightening course for Montessori Guides to learn how to incorporate handwork experiences into the Cosmic Curriculum called Making Tools.

Cooking and Nutrition

Cooking and nutrition activities help students develop an understanding of healthy eating habits and basic cooking skills. Students can learn to make simple dishes such as fruit salad, vegetable soup, or even homemade pizza. Even better if they grew the ingredients themselves. Cooking activities can be used to teach students about measurements, fractions, and even chemistry, as well as the nutritional value of ingredients.

These activities also present students with opportunities to learn about different cultures and traditions through food. Families should be involved in these activities, and inviting them to do so will build a greater sense of community and cultural awareness within the classroom.

Playing Games

Children who play games with their teachers and classmates have low-risk opportunities to develop creativity, focus, concentration, and memory skills, and these skills transfer to other curricular areas. Games help children to develop problem-solving skills, which can be applied to many academic subjects, particularly in the areas of math and science experimentation. Games also foster a sense of camaraderie and connection, they support the development of positive experiences, which lead to positive relationships and a more peaceful and harmonious classroom.

Structured games are those that have set rules, goals, and objectives and a specific way to win or lose. Examples of structured games include board games, sports, and tag games. These games teach students specific skills, such as strategy and teamwork, and can be a fun way for children to spend their time.

It is also important for children to have time to engage in unstructured play because it allows them to develop creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills. It also allows them to develop social skills, such as negotiation, cooperation, and leadership. Unstructured play can also help students to develop a sense of autonomy and self-direction, which can be important for their self-esteem and self-confidence.

Conclusion

Although Practical Life at the Elementary level isn’t as visible as it is in the Early Childhood classroom, it continues to be a foundational element of the Montessori experience. Montessori students build an important foundation for the real world skills necessary to function and to be successful in society. Practical Life is found across the entire elementary curriculum and is embedded in the daily routines.

Kindness, respect and generosity are all built-in ideals as students learn to take personal responsibility and refine their executive function skills. Montessori classrooms are joyful learning communities because of the emphasis placed on Practical Life.

If you are searching for more Practical Life ideas that will work in your Montessori Elementary classroom, you could take a look at “Elevating Elementary Practical Life” with Kelly Johnson in our P2P library. (See Month 13) Learn more about Principles to Practice (P2P) for Elementary and join here.

Madeline Walk

Madeline has been a Montessori educator for 16 years, with experience in both Children's House and Elementary levels. Her favorite Montessori lessons to give are the Grammar lessons. Madeline lives in Virginia and loves to travel with her family and trying out new recipes at home!