The Panda group is studying botany this summer, growing vegetables in their garden, making art from materials they find in the woods, and learning the names of the parts of each plant. This study is rich in sensory detail - different shapes, colors, smells and tastes! 

While they study botany, though, they are also studying something that is at least as important. They are learning to conduct themselves in the world beyond their families. As adults, we know that grace and courtesy make life better: saying please and thank you, politely offering, accepting or declining invitations, and helping others whenever we can.

Montessori classrooms begin work on these skills in the toddler classrooms, but it is in the  Primary Program that you can really see them bloom. In the Panda group, children serve snack to one another. "Would you like one?" The response is either, "yes, please," or "no, thank you." We wait until everyone has their snack before we say our special poem and begin to eat. 

During the course of each day, there are many opportunities for children to help one another.  If Josh can't open his Play-Doh, a friend can help! If Amy is here for the first time, Annie can show her where her lunch box belongs or where to find a spoon. If Alan struggles to roll up his work mat, he doesn't need a teacher to take care of it. Alice will be happy to help him, to share the skill that she has worked on, herself, for weeks. This not only gives the children practice in positive social interaction but also supports their pride in caring for the classroom and camp environment. 

Teachers and parents know that the ideal environment for children is one that is predictable enough that children feel safe, but offers developmentally-appropriate challenges and novel activities to explore. The Pandas have all that, and more.