Montessori Lab: Exploring Nature

Chiara Piroddi is a psychologist and expert in Neuropsychology, specialising in Cognitive-Evolutionary Psychotherapy. She graduated in Psychology at the University of Pavia in 2007. She completed her practical training at the Niguarda Hospital and she has written several books for White Star Kids.

• EDUCATING WITH NATURE 8THE MONTESSORI METHOD IN EDUCATION 11MARIA MONTESSORI AND A REVOLUTION IN TEACHING 11THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE MONTESSORI METHOD 12APPLYING THE MONTESSORI TEACHING METHOD 14A KEY PRINCIPLE OF THE MONTESSORI METHOD: SENSITIVE PERIODS 15THE ROLE OF NATURE IN EDUCATION 20MANKIND AND NATURE 21NATURE FROM A MONTESSORI PERSPECTIVE 24LIVING NATURALLY 26FEELING FOR NATURE AND COSMIC EDUCATION 29NATURE IN MONTESSORI SCHOOL EDUCATION 31NATURE IN EVERYDAY LIFE 3455 ACTIVITIES FOR BEING IN CONTACT WITH NATURE 36GROUND RULES: RESPECTING NATURE 38EXPERIENCING NATURE 40NATURE’S COLORS 42MAKING DESIGNS USING STONES 44HUNTING FOR SMELLS 46A BOX OF SMELLS 48GATHERING MOSS AND OBSERVING IT UNDER A MICROSCOPE 50MAKING SEED AND BERRY NECKLACES 52MAKING A DAISY NECKLACE 54SHUCKING A CORNCOB 56LOOKING FOR STONES AND COLORING THEM WITH WATERCOLORS 58CONSTRUCTING FIGURES WITH CHESTNUTS 60DEPICTING A FLOWER FROM LIFE 62MAKING SIMPLE STENCILS AND STAMPS FROM NATURE 64CREATING A STARRY SKY WITH POTATO STAMPS 66BUILD A TRAY FOR OBSERVING THINGS WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS 68BUILD A MOBILE WITH OBJECTS FROM NATURE TO DECORATE YOUR HOME 70PAINTING WITH DANDELIONS 72BUILDING TOWERS WITH POLISHED STONES OF DIFFERENT SIZES 74PLAYING WITH FINE MOTOR SKILLS BY SEPARATING SEEDS 76MAKING A MANDALA WITH COLORED CHALK AND FLOWER PETALS 78COLORING SNOW 80CREATING MOSAICS FROM PICTURES USING DRIED FRUIT AND GRAINS 82CREATING DESIGNS FROM LEAVES 84CREATING BIRDS FROM BEANS 86MAKING FIGURES WITH PIECES OF WOOD 88MOVING IN NATURE 90JUMPING INTO PUDDLES AFTER A THUNDERSTORM 92JUMPING FROM A ROCK 94KEEPING BALANCE WHILE WALKING 96DOING SOMERSAULTS ON THE LAWN 98WALKING BAREFOOT: A PATH FOR THE SENSES 100AN OUTDOOR SCAVENGER HUNT 102SEARCHING FOR THE SEASONS 104BIRDWATCHING 108TAKING CARE OF LIVING THINGS 110SPROUTING A BEAN IN A GLASS JAR 112GROWING SEEDS INSIDE OF SMALL PUMPKINS 114LOOKING FOR SNAILS AFTER IT RAINS 116PREPARING A HOME FOR SMALL BIRDS 118GROWING SALAD GREENS 120MAKING A SMALL VEGETABLE GARDEN ON A BALCONY 122TAKING CARE OF A HOUSEPLANT 124MAKING BAGS OF SEED FOR BIRDS 126OBSERVING SMALL INSECTS OUTDOORS,USING A MAGNIFYING GLASS 128CREATING AND MAINTAINING A SMALL ZEN GARDEN 130NATURE AND DISCOVERY 132IDENTIFYING NORTH AND SOUTH WHILE OUTDOORS 134COLLECTING TRASH LEFT ON THE BEACH 136LEARNING TO RECYCLE 138LARGE/SMALL: COMPARING SIZESUSING FRUIT PITS AND SEEDS 140HEAVY/LIGHT: COMPARING THE WEIGHT OF FRUITS AND NUTS 142THICK/THIN: COMPARING THICKNESSUSING FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PEELS 144ROUGH/SMOOTH: COMPARING DIFFERENT SURFACE TEXTURESWHEN TOUCHING NATURAL OBJECTS 146CONSTRUCTING A LIFE CYCLE 148OBSERVING THE SUN’S EFFECT ON A POOL OF WATER 150GETTING TO KNOW AND PICKING FRUIT IN AN ORCHARD 152GOING OUT IN THE EVENING: DISCOVERING THE NATURAL WORLD AT NIGHT 154OBSERVING THE STARS AND MOON OUTDOORS WITH A TELESCOPE 156WATCHING THE SUN RISE AND SET 158BIOGRAPHY AND PHOTO CREDITS 160