When Dr. Montessori first opened the original Casa dei Bambini she was intent on creating an environment that would meet all the needs of her students in a classroom setting that closely approximated the warmth and comfort of home. Children were given the responsibility of caring for this environment so that they would find pride in ownership and be fully invested in the community. One of the many approaches she instituted was the area we call practical life. Children as young as three years old were taught to sweep, cook, serve meals, clean up, and generally care for themselves as independently as possible. Each day they tended the garden, prepared their own meals, served them to each other and cleaned up after themselves. Astonished adults came from all over the world to witness the incredible achievements of the first Montessori children. Over the years, her method has continued, but many of the original ideas have been substantially diluted. It has always been a source of major discussion among the various groups that claim the Montessori name.
Montessori philosophy does not limit itself to academic concerns only. Dr. Montessori is often quoted for her belief that education is for life. Life, as we all know, does not contain itself to the cognitive. Our reality flowers in the human complex, which is at once, physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual. Therefore, as a school, we have the obligation to address all the facets of our humanity. We are concerned about the child’s life in each of these areas. Just as parents are responsible for the growth and development of their children, we take seriously our responsibility to create and maintain the best possible environment for children so that they may grow into full and complete human beings. To ignore any area of development would be offering an incomplete educational experience.
In 1998, we instituted a fuller use of the practical life area in the elementary class by allowing the children to prepare their lunch at school each day. We have worked as a community for a long time and the children are accustomed to classroom jobs. Food preparation, set up, and clean up became part of this daily activity. A simple lunch consists of fruit, homemade bread, cheese, peanut butter, and a soup, stew, casserole, or chili. The children prepare the menu and agreements are made by consensus of the group. At the Preprimary level the children prepare fresh fruits and vegetables and sandwiches and the parent from a specific list of choices determines the menu. The parents at each level provide the basic ingredients on a rotating basis. Parents are asked to supply the groceries generally for a week at a time. They are sorted and stacked by the children who do the inventory. As a result of our work together the children have enjoyed all the physical and spiritual benefits that come from working cooperatively, eating well and sharing meals in community.
In response to the many needs of our families and children today, we have developed a comprehensive program that speaks to the body, mind, and spirit of the child.
Program goals
- Community Building and Celebration
- Developing Independence and Self-confidence
- Developing Good Nutritional Habits, Physical Wellness, and Consumer Awareness
- Developing and Applying Practical Life Skills
- Developing Good Table Manners and Grace and Courtesy
- Reducing Waste and Connection to Environmental Studies
Elementary children make the bread in bread machines first thing in the morning. The main meal consisting of a:
- Soup
- Stew
- Chili or
- Casserole
is prepared in an electric pot or on the stove.
Children get to practice peeling, cutting, chopping, grating, and sautéing thus expanding their practical life skills and learning the rudiments of basic cooking. They learn to measure, and calculate. They use their imagination and creativity as well. It is the tangible application of practical life skills.
At the Preprimary level the children are guided by the classroom assistant to prepare the vegetables and fruit and make the sandwiches.
Set Up:
Twenty minutes before lunch time the elementary set-up crew or supervisor:
- Sets the tables with plates, cups, napkins, and tableware
- Makes the drinks and puts out the pitchers
- Puts out the peanut butter and cheese on each table
- Prepares and puts out the salad or fruit and vegetable trays
Clean up
- When tables are called the elementary children bring their dishes to the common area for rinsing and loading into the dishwasher. Preprimary children wash their dishes at the dishwashing table.
- Table ?captains? or designated supervisor clears and wipes the tables and sweeps the floor. Preprimary children are responsible for their own spot.
- Teachers assist as needed.
- Children who are finished wait quietly with a book before everyone is dismissed to go outside.
Jobs and duties are organized and displayed in classroom charts. Sometimes seating is
also rotated on a chart.
Parent responsibilities
- Class coordinator formulate the schedule for bringing groceries.
- Each parent generally has no more than two weeks a year.
- Parents are encouraged to come as our guests.
- A parent helper sometimes assists with unloading and storing groceries and
keeping inventory at the lower elementary level.
Outcomes include:
- Better Eating Habits
- Children expand their food choices and experience different kind of foods.
- Better attendance, less sickness
- Children become more independent and confident.
- They learn to be confident creative cooks and carry it home.
- Children practice their academic skills.
- Pleasant lunchtime atmosphere.
- Relationships enhanced between children and their peers and children and their teachers.
- By working together from start to finish real community is practiced every day.
- Staff gets lunch as well.
- Children, parents, and staff learn cooking skills.
- Less Waste and trash
- Gardening and composting are an extension in order to teach the full cycle.
Everyone benefits! What could be more archetypal than coming together to break bread with each other each and every day? We invite you to join us for lunch any day.
