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What are the Great Stories? What makes them so great? #skeptical
Sep 20, 2021
Hello, Skeptical!
Cosmic education, Great Stories, bead chains, checkerboards? What are those children doing all day, anyways? I’m so glad you asked. The Great Stories are, in fact, pretty great.
At the beginning of the school year, our Elementary classrooms start off with The Five Great Stories, an important and unique part of the Montessori curriculum. These stories are exciting, dramatic, and involve various demonstrations and representations of physical phenomena and history, as well as impressionistic charts and timelines. They are designed to awaken a child's imagination and curiosity. We intend for children to be struck with the wonder of creation, thrilled with new ideas, and awed by the inventiveness and innovation that is part of the human spirit.
The Five Great Stories are presented in both lower and upper elementary, and are given every year so that children see them more than one time and build on their knowledge each year. Unlike the 3-6 environment, where children are introduced to "small" ideas first, that gradually widen into larger concepts, elementary children are introduced to large concepts right away - the largest of all being the beginning of the universe. After that, subsequent lessons are like smaller ideas that fit into this larger framework. In this way, we intend the Great Stories to give children a sense of orientation in their work.
Traditionally, there are Five Great Stories that are used to paint a broad picture before moving to more specific study. They consist of:
First Great Story - The Coming of the Universe and the Earth
Second Great Story - The Coming of Life
Third Great Story - The Coming of Human Beings
Fourth Great Story - Communication in Signs (written language)
Fifth Great Story - The Story of Numbers
(Thank you, “Montessori for Everyone”)
The Great Stories are a stepping off point to more areas of study and follow-up work. Each story corresponds to and opens study in a subject area - geography, biology, history, language, and mathematics, respectively.
Montessori education at the Elementary level always strives to give children a picture of “the whole”, because children of this age are striving to understand connections between everything they experience. Starting with the Great Story of the universe gives the biggest “whole” we know of!
"Let us give [the child] a vision of the whole universe. The universe is an imposing reality, and an answer to all questions. We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe, and are connected with each other to form one whole unity. This idea helps the mind of the child to become fixed, to stop wandering in an aimless quest for knowledge. He is satisfied, having found the universal centre of himself with all things.”
-Maria Montessori, To Educate the Human Potential (a great read to find out more about considering cosmology & education!)
Dear Maria, What's with the tape on the floor in the hallway?
Dear Maria, How can we support math learning at home? Sincerely, 2 + 2 = 4
Dear Maria, Can you tell me more about what independence might look like in the classroom? Sincerely, Curious
Dear Maria, What are transitions? Sincerely, In the Dark
Dear Maria, Last week you shared with us some current blogs on soil and our health. Can you tell us more about your thoughts on interdependence and interrelationships?
Dear Maria, Have you heard about sustainable agriculture? Sincerely, A CSA member
Dear Maria, We are making plans for next school year. What does Montessori offer students who stay for 6th year and middle school? Sincerely, Planning Ahead
Dear Maria, What is the Cedar Mural and why are students involved in this? Sincerely, A Cascadia Parent Dear Cascadia parent, The Cedar Mural has quite a history! I asked a former parent to help me out with this one. Thank you, Pat! Read about how this project offers adolescents a chance to give to their community and have a positive impact on the neighborhood. Part of the Montessori adolescent programs is helping students find their place in the greater adult world. The mural project gives students the sense that they matter and can implement positive change.
Dear Maria, How do science camps fit into Cosmic Education? Sincerely, Cascadia Parent
Dear Maria, I love Cascadia Montessori school! I wish every child could have access to such a great school! What’s being done to get Montessori to more children? Sincerely, Spread the Love
