Digital Object NAMTA Journal 38/2 05 The Significance of the Hand for the Elementary Years The use of the hand is a physiological sequence. The prehensile nature of the human hand is an evolutionary feature as is the freeing of the hands due to bipedalism. Kay Baker outlines of the human hand's significance to the mind as found in chapter 14 of the…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 38/2 04 Practical Life for the Older Children in the Casa Polli Soholt writes about advanced practical life and demonstrates that adding more challenge and complexity for older children leads to more social cooperation. Activities such as washing dishes, polishing, sewing, and food preparation take the child beyond…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 38/2 03 Practical Life: The Keystone of Life, Culture, and Community Uma Ramani's characterization of practical life is philosophical and anthropological, suggesting that "human history is the story of the evolution of our practical life activities." Practical life is a collaborative activity that creates community and culture…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 38/2 02 Movement and Character, Lecture, London, 1946 Dr. Montessori's words from the 1946 London Lectures describe principles of intelligence and character, the work of the hand, and movement with a purpose as being integral to self-construction. The perfection of movement is spiritual, says Dr. Montessori…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 38/2 01 Exercises of Practical Life: Introduction and List Albert Joosten wrote this article in 1968, and it is still the most comprehensive article on practical life to date. He develops his thesis beginning with "daily activities" leading to "developmental and creative activities." At the same time, Mr. Joosten…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 38/1 29 Everything I Need to Know I Learned in the Forest A lyrical storyteller, Vandana Shiva begins from the roots of the Chipko movement in India, under the canopy of the Himalayan forests while listening to the teachings of the forest. Her evolution of ideas, first based in the history of science and then in the…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 38/1 30 Epilogue: The Child and the Environment Molly wrote this article thirteen years ago. It is a fitting counterpart to the preface of this publicaton because it predicts the role of nature across the planes of education even before the Erdkinder was tested. The article combines contemporary…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 38/1 27 Creating Planet Earth Every generation of new ecologists addresses the need for playscapes to match the landscapes while engendering wonder and beauty into a child's everyday world. Keeler's playground style imitates nature with designs of innovative path finding, inventive…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 38/1 28 You Are Brilliant, and the Earth Is Hiring Paul Hawken's commencement address presents a picture of the deterioration that is being wrought by human activity and motivates college graduates to join the invisible, ordinary masses who are already saving the planet with everyday processes. In a call to…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 38/1 26 Fifth Lecture We include the ninth chapter of "Education and Peace" by Maria Montessori (1949) to draw attention to the relationship between peace and sustainability. Nature is an integral part of peace studies. [Reprinted from "Education and Peace," pages 66-70, copyright…
