Substantiated Knowledge

on the Great Lessons and

Key Lessons
 DR. Montessori quoted
“Our teaching must only answer the mental
needs of the child, never dictate them”.
The mental needs and the mental activity
of the elementary-aged child hinge upon the
newly evolving faculties of imagination and
reason.
Remember at this stage of development
the powers of the human intellect are most
keen. The child’s mind is sharp and energetic. It
is ready for meaningful exploration and
discovery
The framework for Dr. Montessori’s plan of education
for the second plane child is cosmic education.
Each of the Great Lessons is an independent story, but after he
first, each elaborates upon a theme set in the previous.
>GOD WITH NO HANDS:
-It is the story of the creation of the universe with
particular attention given t our sun and our planet.
 > COMING OF LIFE:
This Story follows within a week of the
first. This story focuses on the development
and refinement of earth’s flora and fauna.

> THE COMING OF HUMAN BEINGS:

The human being enters the scene with very special

attributes of reason and will- intelligence and love- with
an ability to work with the hand in ways unknown to
other animals and with the possibility of choice.
 Human beings have used their intelligence, love,
and hands to continue their own story. Two of their
major accomplishments, literacy and numeration, re
introduced in the next two Great Lessons.
COMMUNICATION IN SIGNS: It takes the child on the
journey through the development of our alphabet. Another
week or two later, comes the fifth Great Lesson.
NUMBERS: This theory traces the history of the numerals we
use
 GREAT LESSONS reveal to the
child the importance of order and
laws and directives within the
cosmos and within the creationsnof
human beings, for example the
conventions of writing and
arithmetic.
REMEMBER THAT WE OFFER
A COLORFUL OVERVIEW, NOT
EXHAUSTIVE INFORMATION.
Invite all the children to
the GREAT LESSONS.
The Lessons in the albums that are
no Great Lessons or games or
extensions are key lessons.
-Mario Montessori defined KEY
LESSONS as lessons which “take
up the detail item by item.
Key lessons are those which
are absolutely necessary for
the child’s understanding –
the (AMI) albums are filled
with key lessons.
 The albums are filled with key lessons and each
album has a root in a Great Lesson. Each album
takes up the details and clarifies or elaborates upon
them.
 Key lessons are guideposts along
the path of learning within cosmic
education.
Key lessons do not open up new
areas , but provide touch-points for
discussions, deeper understanding
and encouragement of further
learning.