Exploring The World - LePort Montessori Schools

Exploring The World

From botany to zoology, from physics to geography: LePort preschool and private school students love to learn about the world by experiencing it, not by memorizing words. See them in action!

The Montessori geography curriculum starts with the Sandpaper Globe. This three-year-old boy is fascinated as he touches the rough surface of the continents, and discover that the sandpaper indicates where land is on the earth.

The Montessori geography curriculum starts with the Sandpaper Globe. This three-year-old boy is fascinated as he touches the rough surface of the continents, and discover that the sandpaper indicates where land is on the earth.

Flowers are everywhere in our Montessori classrooms. This collection awaits in one of our toddler rooms for a young person to use the flowers in a flower arranging activity.

Flowers are everywhere in our Montessori classrooms. This collection awaits in one of our toddler rooms for a young person to use the flowers in a flower arranging activity.

For toddlers, learning about the world starts by naming the things in it. This toddler is learning the names of farm animals. Note that in Montessori, we always use realistic figures, in contrast, for example, to Waldorf, where materials are stylized to the point of no longer being recognizable.

For toddlers, learning about the world starts by naming the things in it. This toddler is learning the names of farm animals. Note that in Montessori, we always use realistic figures, in contrast, for example, to Waldorf, where materials are stylized to the point of no longer being recognizable.

Outside time is time for discovery. Whether it is a dandelion, or a clover leave, children in Montessori have time to stop, observe, and wonder.

Outside time is time for discovery. Whether it is a dandelion, or a clover leave, children in Montessori have time to stop, observe, and wonder.

The globe map is an easy transition for children who have seen the continents represented on the Montessori globe, in the same colors. Montessori material always progress in a careful sequence, in measured steps that make learning accessible to children.

The globe map is an easy transition for children who have seen the continents represented on the Montessori globe, in the same colors. Montessori material always progress in a careful sequence, in measured steps that make learning accessible to children.

Hands-on materials, often involving many senses, help children acquire advanced scientific vocabulary at an early age, and understand what they learn. This girl is learning about land and waterforms, a peninsula an a chain of lakes, by pouring water around land.

Hands-on materials, often involving many senses, help children acquire advanced scientific vocabulary at an early age, and understand what they learn. This girl is learning about land and waterforms, a peninsula an a chain of lakes, by pouring water around land.

This four-year-old boy is working with a set of Montessori three-part cards to learn the correct anatomical terms for the parts of a fish. Many of our preschool/kindergarten children are strong enough readers to progress from "learning to read" to "reading to learn", many years earlier than their counterparts in traditional schools.

This four-year-old boy is working with a set of Montessori three-part cards to learn the correct anatomical terms for the parts of a fish. Many of our preschool/kindergarten children are strong enough readers to progress from "learning to read" to "reading to learn", many years earlier than their counterparts in traditional schools.

Occasionally, we bring the world to the children. Here, some reptiles came to visit in one of our elementary classrooms.

Occasionally, we bring the world to the children. Here, some reptiles came to visit in one of our elementary classrooms.

Our Montessori preschool classrooms are all about touching and feeling and exploring. Here, a teacher at the Lake campus has put together a set of igneous and sedimentary rock for children to explore and identify.

Our Montessori preschool classrooms are all about touching and feeling and exploring. Here, a teacher at the Lake campus has put together a set of igneous and sedimentary rock for children to explore and identify.

Our elementary science program is a hands-on experience. After studying mammal bones in an anatomy class, these students took apart an owl pellet, and recreated the rodent's skeleton.

Our elementary science program is a hands-on experience. After studying mammal bones in an anatomy class, these students took apart an owl pellet, and recreated the rodent's skeleton.

In our elementary program, we surround students with images of the historical period they study. Here is a classroom during the study of Ancient Rome.

In our elementary program, we surround students with images of the historical period they study. Here is a classroom during the study of Ancient Rome.

This student is holding a sheep's brain in her hand. Hands-on anatomy is so much more meaningful when you can touch, heft, smell the actual organs, rather than just looking at diagrams in a textbook!

This student is holding a sheep's brain in her hand. Hands-on anatomy is so much more meaningful when you can touch, heft, smell the actual organs, rather than just looking at diagrams in a textbook!

Toddlers begin studying the world with simple puzzles like this one that highlights the parts of a flower.

Toddlers begin studying the world with simple puzzles like this one that highlights the parts of a flower.

In our upper elementary classes, the students learn to actually dissect animals--in this case, a frog. It's a great way to apply all they learned in anatomy, and to put to good use the motor skills they may have learned during their Montessori years.

In our upper elementary classes, the students learn to actually dissect animals--in this case, a frog. It's a great way to apply all they learned in anatomy, and to put to good use the motor skills they may have learned during their Montessori years.

Our elementary and junior high students enjoy frequent field trips, during which they apply and discover the use of their classroom studies--whether it is to identify a bug they find in the grass, or name the architectural style of a building they see.

Our elementary and junior high students enjoy frequent field trips, during which they apply and discover the use of their classroom studies--whether it is to identify a bug they find in the grass, or name the architectural style of a building they see.

At most of our schools, children have an opportunity to garden, to plant and harvest vegetables and fruit. Here, the preschoolers are exploring the corn they grew, touching its soft hairs, smelling it, and, afterwards, tasting it, too!

At most of our schools, children have an opportunity to garden, to plant and harvest vegetables and fruit. Here, the preschoolers are exploring the corn they grew, touching its soft hairs, smelling it, and, afterwards, tasting it, too!

Look at the concentration on her face as she traces the outline of Antarctica! When all the senses are engaged, children learn more--which is why we use physical materials, not just worksheets, for most of our explorations.

Look at the concentration on her face as she traces the outline of Antarctica! When all the senses are engaged, children learn more--which is why we use physical materials, not just worksheets, for most of our explorations.

Much learning in Montessori is cross-curricular. Here, a child punched out the shapes of the continents (a great fine motor skill activity); he then glued them together to make his own map (art), all of it, of course, around the topic of geography!

Much learning in Montessori is cross-curricular. Here, a child punched out the shapes of the continents (a great fine motor skill activity); he then glued them together to make his own map (art), all of it, of course, around the topic of geography!

Elementary students learn to do research on areas that interest them, using many rich materials their teachers provide--like this girl, who is studying birds of prey as part of a unit on animals.

Elementary students learn to do research on areas that interest them, using many rich materials their teachers provide--like this girl, who is studying birds of prey as part of a unit on animals.

Many of our Montessori and elementary classrooms have their own simple pets. Here, the preschool girls are fascinated with their classroom fish.

Many of our Montessori and elementary classrooms have their own simple pets. Here, the preschool girls are fascinated with their classroom fish.

Looks like he is enjoying working with this Montessori puzzle of parts of a flower!

Looks like he is enjoying working with this Montessori puzzle of parts of a flower!

Our older preschool students start learning about some advanced topics. This girl is copying notes from a lesson about the sun and earth, writing down why we have night and day on earth.

Our older preschool students start learning about some advanced topics. This girl is copying notes from a lesson about the sun and earth, writing down why we have night and day on earth.

Montessori preschool science emphasizes categorizing materials based on all their attributes, often isolating a specific sense to bring it to the child's closer attention. This girl is paring up matching shapes blindfolded, helping her experience the shells with her sense of touch.

Montessori preschool science emphasizes categorizing materials based on all their attributes, often isolating a specific sense to bring it to the child's closer attention. This girl is paring up matching shapes blindfolded, helping her experience the shells with her sense of touch.

This boy is also working with shells. When this photo was taken, he literally spent half an hour just touching them, lifting them, looking at them. Nature, to preschoolers, is just so fascinating, and they enjoy having unhurried time during our extended work periods to explore to their heart's content!

This boy is also working with shells. When this photo was taken, he literally spent half an hour just touching them, lifting them, looking at them. Nature, to preschoolers, is just so fascinating, and they enjoy having unhurried time during our extended work periods to explore to their heart's content!

Natural objects, beautifully displayed, call children to work with them. Don't you feel like you'd like to be able to touch these pebbles?!

Natural objects, beautifully displayed, call children to work with them. Don't you feel like you'd like to be able to touch these pebbles?!

Three part cards are a key activity in Montessori: children read labels or descriptions, and match them to pictures. A control card with both label and picture helps them self-check their work.

Three part cards are a key activity in Montessori: children read labels or descriptions, and match them to pictures. A control card with both label and picture helps them self-check their work.

These preschoolers are enjoying the visit of a big snake--part of our series of in-house field trips.

These preschoolers are enjoying the visit of a big snake--part of our series of in-house field trips.

Elementary Montessori students don't do boring worksheets. Instead, they do a lot of drawing and writing, as this board of science work illustrates. It's much more engaging than connecting dots or filling in blanks, and students simultaneously learn about science and language arts!

Elementary Montessori students don't do boring worksheets. Instead, they do a lot of drawing and writing, as this board of science work illustrates. It's much more engaging than connecting dots or filling in blanks, and students simultaneously learn about science and language arts!

This Montessori preschool girl is working with the Montessori Botany Cabinet. She's learning the names of leaf shapes as she traces the cut-out shape with a pointer, then traces the leaf with both a pointer and her fingers. (Do you know the names of these shapes? No? She's four, and she does!)

This Montessori preschool girl is working with the Montessori Botany Cabinet. She's learning the names of leaf shapes as she traces the cut-out shape with a pointer, then traces the leaf with both a pointer and her fingers. (Do you know the names of these shapes? No? She's four, and she does!)

Younger preschoolers learn scientific terms orally; older ones learn to read them as well, like this girl who labels the Botany Cabinet leaf shapes with their names.

Younger preschoolers learn scientific terms orally; older ones learn to read them as well, like this girl who labels the Botany Cabinet leaf shapes with their names.

Applied science is big in Montessori preschool. This boy is sorting common object by their buoyancy: will they sink or float? He may, later, draw the objects and label them with their names, sorted by whether they sink or float.

Applied science is big in Montessori preschool. This boy is sorting common object by their buoyancy: will they sink or float? He may, later, draw the objects and label them with their names, sorted by whether they sink or float.

This boy is receiving a lesson in taking care of a plant. The teacher shows him how to cut off dead leaves and water the plant. In the process, he receives a biology lesson, learning the names and functions of roots, stems and leaves.

This boy is receiving a lesson in taking care of a plant. The teacher shows him how to cut off dead leaves and water the plant. In the process, he receives a biology lesson, learning the names and functions of roots, stems and leaves.

Older Montessori preschool children progress beyond just labeling parts of plants and animals, to learning about the functions of the different parts. They are able to do this because they often have excellent early reading skills!

Older Montessori preschool children progress beyond just labeling parts of plants and animals, to learning about the functions of the different parts. They are able to do this because they often have excellent early reading skills!

Our Montessori preschool students have access to many non-fiction books, and plenty of time to look at pictures and read the books.

Our Montessori preschool students have access to many non-fiction books, and plenty of time to look at pictures and read the books.

While we don't have "sharing time" like play-based preschool programs, we do invite children to share special trips, like this child who is sharing photos from a recent trip to Hawaii.

While we don't have "sharing time" like play-based preschool programs, we do invite children to share special trips, like this child who is sharing photos from a recent trip to Hawaii.

This preschool boy at the Irvine Montessori school near Woodbridge is receiving a geography lesson in land and water forms. He's learning that a strait is a narrow band of water between two bodies of land, and an isthmus is a narrow band of land between water. (Did you remember the meaning of those terms?)

This preschool boy at the Irvine Montessori school near Woodbridge is receiving a geography lesson in land and water forms. He's learning that a strait is a narrow band of water between two bodies of land, and an isthmus is a narrow band of land between water. (Did you remember the meaning of those terms?)

This four-year-old girl is making her own map of the world. First, she punched out the continents (a great exercise for her pencil grip and concentration!), and now she is gluing the map together. She may also label it. This hands-on experience enables her to remember a lot more of what she learned than if she had just completed worksheets-and it's so much more fun!

This four-year-old girl is making her own map of the world. First, she punched out the continents (a great exercise for her pencil grip and concentration!), and now she is gluing the map together. She may also label it. This hands-on experience enables her to remember a lot more of what she learned than if she had just completed worksheets-and it's so much more fun!

In a good Montessori preschool class of 24 or 30 students, you'll always see someone working with the puzzle maps. By the time he graduates from the third (=kindergarten) year of the Montessori primary cycle, he'll have learned many of the names of the countries of the world!

In a good Montessori preschool class of 24 or 30 students, you'll always see someone working with the puzzle maps. By the time he graduates from the third (=kindergarten) year of the Montessori primary cycle, he'll have learned many of the names of the countries of the world!

This lesson combines zoology with geography, as the Montessori child arranges animals by the continents they live in.

This lesson combines zoology with geography, as the Montessori child arranges animals by the continents they live in.

Working with water to see what floats or sinks is fun!

Working with water to see what floats or sinks is fun!

Something adults often notice about our LePort students is how observant they are! Whether it is noticing a caterpillar, or bringing a hurt bird or a strange rock to their science teacher, our students view the world as a fascinating place they love to discover!

Something adults often notice about our LePort students is how observant they are! Whether it is noticing a caterpillar, or bringing a hurt bird or a strange rock to their science teacher, our students view the world as a fascinating place they love to discover!

Having real specimens, like this sea star, in the classroom really engages preschool children's sense of wonder and curiosity.

Having real specimens, like this sea star, in the classroom really engages preschool children's sense of wonder and curiosity.

These Montessori elementary students are excited to share their play about Egypt with their preschool friends.

These Montessori elementary students are excited to share their play about Egypt with their preschool friends.

In the Montessori elementary program, children continue their study of political geography. They not only learn the names of countries, but also their flags and capitals, with materials like this Montessori Pinmap of North America.

In the Montessori elementary program, children continue their study of political geography. They not only learn the names of countries, but also their flags and capitals, with materials like this Montessori Pinmap of North America.

It's wonderful to see our Montessori students curled up with books--including many about science!

It's wonderful to see our Montessori students curled up with books--including many about science!

Our Upper Elementary science teachers are naturalists at heart! They love to share the real world with their students, like here, where a teacher dissects a squid for his class.

Our Upper Elementary science teachers are naturalists at heart! They love to share the real world with their students, like here, where a teacher dissects a squid for his class.

We often take our science experiments outside, especially when they can get smelly or messy!

We often take our science experiments outside, especially when they can get smelly or messy!

Hands-on materials, like this Montessori Puzzle Map of the United States, help our preschool children learn much geography. By the end of the primary cycle, she'll know all of the US states, and will be able to find them on the map--a level of skill that eludes many high school students.

Hands-on materials, like this Montessori Puzzle Map of the United States, help our preschool children learn much geography. By the end of the primary cycle, she'll know all of the US states, and will be able to find them on the map--a level of skill that eludes many high school students.

No caption needed!

No caption needed!

This girl is exploring pine cones, using a magnifying glass to study their texture and colors.

This girl is exploring pine cones, using a magnifying glass to study their texture and colors.

Bubble science is fun! This is one of our many regular in-house field trips, which get children very excited about our Montessori summer camp program.

Bubble science is fun! This is one of our many regular in-house field trips, which get children very excited about our Montessori summer camp program.

These preschoolers at our Huntington Pier campus were fascinated by the way the bubbles bunched together in this bubble science presentation during Montessori summer camp.

These preschoolers at our Huntington Pier campus were fascinated by the way the bubbles bunched together in this bubble science presentation during Montessori summer camp.

This preschool student at our Irvine Woodbridge area Montessori campus is working on a Montessori puzzle of the parts of a frog.

This preschool student at our Irvine Woodbridge area Montessori campus is working on a Montessori puzzle of the parts of a frog.

Magnification adds to interest: the bug looks fascinating!

Magnification adds to interest: the bug looks fascinating!

The Montessori birthday celebration is a great way of making real what a year passed mean. The child carries the earth (the Montessori globe) around the sun (a candle), once for each year he has been alive.

The Montessori birthday celebration is a great way of making real what a year passed mean. The child carries the earth (the Montessori globe) around the sun (a candle), once for each year he has been alive.

Montessori Puzzle Maps cover all the continents of the world (here: Europe).

Montessori Puzzle Maps cover all the continents of the world (here: Europe).

This cute display of a miniature hay stack lives in the toddler room at our Irvine San Marino preschool in the Irvine Westpark area. It's just one example of the many personal touches our teachers bring into their classrooms.

This cute display of a miniature hay stack lives in the toddler room at our Irvine San Marino preschool in the Irvine Westpark area. It's just one example of the many personal touches our teachers bring into their classrooms.

Some of our classrooms have pets, either as permanent community members or temporary visitors.

Some of our classrooms have pets, either as permanent community members or temporary visitors.

This is a big work! This five-year-old Montessori preschooler punched out all the US states, and assembled them into her very own map. She's now adding state names, which she wrote, to each state. Do you think she'll remember?!

This is a big work! This five-year-old Montessori preschooler punched out all the US states, and assembled them into her very own map. She's now adding state names, which she wrote, to each state. Do you think she'll remember?!

Tracing the Montessori Parts of a Flower Puzzle helps her learn more about botany. It also is a satisfying piece of art, which helps her develop a strong pencil grip. We love three-fers like this in Montessori!

Tracing the Montessori Parts of a Flower Puzzle helps her learn more about botany. It also is a satisfying piece of art, which helps her develop a strong pencil grip. We love three-fers like this in Montessori!

This third-year primary girl is making a booklet about the parts of a flower. As students progress from just assembling puzzles, to tracing and coloring them, to making booklets, they really absorb scientific terminology at an early age.

This third-year primary girl is making a booklet about the parts of a flower. As students progress from just assembling puzzles, to tracing and coloring them, to making booklets, they really absorb scientific terminology at an early age.

Look how neatly this parts of a flower picture is drawn! The Montessori preschooler traced the parts, then colored them in, then labeled them.

Look how neatly this parts of a flower picture is drawn! The Montessori preschooler traced the parts, then colored them in, then labeled them.

Here is another activity for parts of the flower. This time, it's from one of our Spanish immersion Montessori classrooms, so all the labels are in Spanish!

Here is another activity for parts of the flower. This time, it's from one of our Spanish immersion Montessori classrooms, so all the labels are in Spanish!

This boy at our Irvine preschool campus near Westpark is making his own booklet of the parts of a fish.

This boy at our Irvine preschool campus near Westpark is making his own booklet of the parts of a fish.

Collections of interesting items, like this plate with rocks and shells, enable children to explore with all their senses, and, over time, to learn many advanced vocabulary terms.

Collections of interesting items, like this plate with rocks and shells, enable children to explore with all their senses, and, over time, to learn many advanced vocabulary terms.

Look at the space she has to work with her Montessori continents puzzle map! An open, spacious, unhurried environment is key for children to joyfully explore with all their senses.

Look at the space she has to work with her Montessori continents puzzle map! An open, spacious, unhurried environment is key for children to joyfully explore with all their senses.

This boy at our Irvine preschool campus in the Woodbridge area is working with a Montessori puzzle map on the parts of a horse.

This boy at our Irvine preschool campus in the Woodbridge area is working with a Montessori puzzle map on the parts of a horse.

Here, a Montessori preschool girl in Irvine is working with a puzzle map of South America.

Here, a Montessori preschool girl in Irvine is working with a puzzle map of South America.

This Montessori student in our preschool program in the Irvine Spectrum area is learning about human anatomy, using Montessori three-part nomenclature cards.

This Montessori student in our preschool program in the Irvine Spectrum area is learning about human anatomy, using Montessori three-part nomenclature cards.

When materials, like these Montessori nomenclature cards, are this beautifully displayed, they call to the children!

When materials, like these Montessori nomenclature cards, are this beautifully displayed, they call to the children!

Working with water is fun! Here, it has a meaningful purpose, as this boy is learning about a lake and an island.

Working with water is fun! Here, it has a meaningful purpose, as this boy is learning about a lake and an island.