Following on from the story of the universe and our planet, the children from Elementary I SUN and Elementary I MOON classes continued their journey of discovery. The Second Great Montessori Story took us to the beginnings of life on Earth and its gradual evolution into the incredible diversity we know today.
Throughout its long history, the Earth transformed and conditions gradually arose that allowed life to flourish. The first simple organisms appeared in the ancient oceans. The story helped the children understand how life developed, changed and colonised new environments over vast periods of time.
During the narration, the children followed a timeline of life, which helped them visualise the distant past of our planet. They learned about the diverse forms of organisms, the development of life in the seas and its expansion onto land. They encountered plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. At the very end of this long journey, humans also appeared, their presence on Earth representing just a tiny section of the entire history of life.
The Second Great Story also introduces the theme of interrelationships in nature. It shows that organisms influence their environment and each other, and that life on our planet forms a connected whole. This leads children to an interest in nature, respect for its diversity and thinking about our own place in the world.
Just like the first story, this narration is the beginning of further learning. It awakens questions about plants and animals, their way of life, changes and the environment in which they live. The children can then return to individual topics and explore in more detail what interests them most.
