September, the beginning of a new school for many children, offers several special days to celebrate in Montessori environments. Community celebrations in September offer an ideal opportunity to teach children about the changing of the seasons, respect and consideration of others and traditional values.
In a Montessori classroom, meaningful special day activities can be incorporated into every celebration. During the month of September Montessori classrooms celebrate National Grandparent’s Day, the International Day of Peace and the First Day of Fall.
Children Honor Elders on National Grandparent’s Day
Grandparent’s Day is officially the first Sunday after Labor Day, however most Montessori schools choose to celebrate in late September or early October, once a stable classroom routine is set. In 1978, the United States Congress established National Grandparent’s Day as a way to honor grandparents, and to help children become aware of the wisdom, guidance and love that older people can offer.
In a Montessori environment, special activities are often not planned for Grandparent’s Day; it is simply a day for grandparent’s to join a child at school for a portion of her day. Some classrooms choose to celebrate a special week of grandparents, in order to limit the number adults in a classroom at any one time.
Children practice the Montessori ideals of grace and courtesy when a grandparent joins for a school day; offering to hang up her coat, introducing her to the teacher and fellow classmates, and inviting her to join her as she works in the classroom. Grandparents are often impressed at a grandchild’s abilities as she works, cooks, creates and interacts in a Montessori classroom.
For children whose grandparents cannot attend, another important adult in the child’s life is invited. After Grandparent’s Day is over, children have the opportunity to send a thank you note or picture showing gratitude and respect for the special visitor.
Children Promote Peace on the International Day of Peace
Established by a United Nations resolution in 1981, September 21 marks the International Day of Peace as a global holiday in which millions of people from all around the world participate in various events to end personal, political and planetary conflicts and promote peace.
Montessori schools all over the world celebrate this holiday in different ways; however all share the common goal of educating children about living a peaceful life. Maria Montessori, the founder of the Montessori philosophy and two-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize believed that worldwide peace could be achieved through the education of children.
The International Day of Peace is a whole community event. Parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends and neighbors are invited to join in the celebration. As a group the children help to decide how it will be celebrated, thus creating a meaningful experience. Every Montessori school will celebrate in a way that is meaningful to the community as a whole, and usually choose an event that requires active participation by all. Peace events can include, singing a song about peace, marching in a peace parade, planting seeds in a community peace garden, helping to create a community art mural, creating a physical circle of peace, or collecting items for a charitable organization.
By celebrating the International Day of Peace at the beginning of the school year, a child learns that peace is valued and important and will be a priority for the entire school year. Peace is seen, not just as an abstract concept, but a meaningful way to live everyday.
Children Observe the Changing of the Seasons on the First Day of Fall
The first day of fall is on September 22 and marks the Autumnal Equinox in the northern hemisphere. The Autumnal Equinox occurs when the position of the earth to the sun is such that the lengths of daylight and darkness are nearly equal. In Montessori environments, children learn about the changing of the seasons with hands-on experiences every day, but have a special day to celebrate the first day of autumn.
In a Montessori classroom, a young child will experience the changing of the seasons in an observational way. This approach provides the basis for understanding the actual science behind later. A child may notice that with a change in season the outdoor temperature changes, plant life grows or dies, clothing needs differ, and the foods growing in the garden varies. Calling attention to these differences and honoring them is the basis for an Autumnal Equinox celebration.
Just as all Montessori environments celebrate the International Day of Peace in a way that is meaningful to all members of the school community, Autumnal Equinox celebrations vary depending on the location of the school. Celebrations can include a fall garden clean up day, an autumnal harvest feast, a whole school nature hike or a seasonal gratitude ceremony. The first day of fall is the perfect time to celebrate the autumn season before Halloween and Thanksgiving events overshadow this wonderful celebration of nature.
September Montessori holiday celebrations encourage meaningful outdoor whole community events, an opportunity to set character building priorities for the school year and the ability to call attention the wonder of the natural world.
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