Caretakers versus Exploiters: Impacting Biodiversity in the Age of Humans

Rationale and School Profile

The Montessori Method takes a different approach to teaching science and social studies that integrates the philosophy of Cosmic Education. Cosmic Education is introduced to the students to help them have an admiration of and respect for the world and their place in it. This unit invites the student to undertake the study of the continent of Africa according to the biota that live there. It also incorporates the study of indigenous cultures that meet their needs within their biome.⁵ This approach encourages an integration of various disciplines. The zoological and botanical species that inhabit the African continent are interconnected with the geography of that specific continent. Human culture is also influenced by the biome and its characteristics. In order to meet their fundamental needs, humans can either adapt and live in harmony as indigenous cultures have historically done or, as modern cultures, exploit resources and modify the biome in which they live. This approach encourages the students to see how they themselves relate to the world. By studying the various biomes of Africa, the students will develop an understanding of how plant, animal, and human life adapt to different conditions found within the biome.

The focus of the unit will incorporate teaching Lower Elementary students their connection to other living things and how they can be caretakers of the planet. The students will be introduced to many aspects of nature in Africa including plants, animals, and humans. Montessori believed that students should be taught to respect nature. This will allow them to obtain an understanding of the natural world, and therefore themselves.

Pittsburgh Montessori is a public Montessori Magnet School in the Pittsburgh Public School District that serves children 36 months in age through early adolescence. It is the only fully public Montessori school in the state of Pennsylvania and one of the few in the country. The vision at Pittsburgh Montessori PreK-5th grade is to embrace the entire school community to acquire measurable growth in the development of the whole child utilizing the Montessori philosophy. Pittsburgh Montessori utilizes Montessori materials and philosophies to enhance the Pittsburgh Public School District’s standards aligned curriculum. Part of the work is to foster independence and empower students to be lifelong learners. Through our multi age classrooms we are able to foster an academic culture of personalized learning in the development of the whole child.⁶ This unit was created for a Lower Elementary Classroom comprised of first, second, and third grade students. In each Lower Elementary class, we have 7-10 students in each grade level.

In Montessori classrooms, we have the benefit of a mixed age grouping where we have the same children for a three-year cycle. This means that we do not have to study the entire globe in one year. We have the luxury of studying one continent and its biomes during a semester before moving on to a different continent the next semester. As the students grow each year, they will use acquired skills to dig deeper and will be able to share their knowledge base with the first-year students.