Science, Botony and Zoology

Biology is the study of life. It is the science of living organisms; whereas, geography is the study of non-living organisms. There is, however, a relationship between the biotic and the abiotic that we explore: the living and the non-living have laws that they follow that have formed the world, as we know it today. Montessori offers a four-prong approach to the study of biology:

Science: (Latin scire, to know) is the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of natural phenomena. We offer real specimens of plants and animals for the children to experience and observe. We give language and structure to their observations.

Biology (Greek bios, life and logos – reckoning) is the science of living organisms and life processes, including the study of structure, functioning, growth, origin, evolution and distribution of living organisms. We present the story of living organisms’ appearance on the earth and the infinite variety of forms. We offer the children the language and structure to give substance to their study of biology.

Botany (Greek botanikos, a plant) is derived as the science that deals with plants, their life, structure, growth, and classification. A plant is defined as an organism of the vegetable kingdom, characteristically having cellulose cell walls, growing by synthesis of inorganic substances, and lacking the power of locomotion. We offer the function of the plants parts, the nomenclature of the parts, and prepare them for preliminary classification work.

Zoology (Greek zoion, animal) is defined as the science that deals with animals, their life, structure, growth, and classification. An animal is defined as an organism of the kingdom Animalia, distinguished from plants by certain typical characteristics such as the power of locomotion, fixed structure and limited growth, and non-photosynthetic metabolism. We offer the prerequisite characteristics that allow for the children to begin to understand the animal kingdom.

THE MONTESSORI SYLLABUS FOR BIOLOGY

THE APPEARANCE OF LIFE ON EARTH

The Story of the Coming of Life

First Timeline of Life

Introduction to Botany

Major elements to the botany presentations

Sequence of presentations

Prepared environment for the study of botany

The Plant

The Plants’ Story

Needs of the Plant

Water, Light, Heat

Further Needs of the Plant – Minerals

The Plant and Its Vegetative Parts

The Leaf

Leaf As A Food Factory

Plants Grow Toward the Sun

Leaves of A Plant Arrange Themselves to Get the Light

Leaves of Plants Sometimes Need Help To Reach the Light

Plant Release Oxygen (By-Product of Photosynthesis)

The Roots

Roots Take Up Water for the Plant

Roots Secure Plants To the Ground

Roots Keep Soil in Place

Leaves and Plants Shape Help the Roots

Leaves Get Rid Of Extra Water

The Stem

Stems Carry Water from the Roots and Food from the Leaves

Stems Hold the Leaves Up To the Light

Stems Extend Into the Leaves as Veins

Geotropism/Heliotropism/Hydrotropism

The Flower

Function Of the Flower – The Story

Parts Of the Flower (Sepal, Petal, Stamen, Pistil)

The Flower—More Names (Calyx, Corolla, Perianth,

Inflorescence, Ovary Position

The Fruit

Function Of the Fruit

Parts Of the Fruit (Pericarp, Exocarp, Mesocarp, Endocarp)

The Seed

Function Of the Seed and Seed Dispersal

Parts Of the Seed (Testa, Cotyledon, Embryo, Radicle, Plumule)

Botany Activity Cards

Purpose: independent work of child (repeat the demonstrations and experiments)

Sample Activity Card (The stem carries water up to the leaves)

Simple Classification of Plants

The Leaf

Arrangement of leaves on the stem(alternate, opposite, whorled)

Attachment of leaf to the stem (petiolate, sessile)

Leaf type (simple, compound)

Leaf Margin (entire, toothed, lobed)

Leaf shape (elliptical, oblong, ovate, obovate)

Leaf size (less than inch/cm, inches/cm, feet/meters)

Leaf veniation (parallel, netted, dichotomous)

Leaf modification The Root

Kinds of roots (primary, secondary, adventitious)

Types of root systems (tap, fibrous/fascicled)

Forms of root systems (shallow, deep)

Root modification

The Stem

Bud Arrangement on stem (alternate/spiral, opposite, whorled)

Kinds of stems (aerial, subterranean)

Types of aerial stems (herbaceous, woody)

Direction of aerial stems (erect, climbing, procumbent, creeping)

Stem modification

The Flower

Presence/absence of floral parts

(complete, incomplete, perfect, imperfect)

Presence/absence of flowers having stamens or pistils

(monoecious, dioecious)

Numerical base plan of floral parts

Fusion of floral parts (adnate, connate)

Attachment and arrangement of floral parts

(hypogynous, perigynous, epigynous)

Symmetry of perianth (radial, bilateral)

Inflorescence (solitary, flower clusters)

Additional information

The Fruit

Based on the ovary (simple, aggregate, multiple, accessory)

Based on the pericarp (fleshy, dry)

Additional information

Fruit – aid for dispersal

The Seed

Monocotyledon

Dicotyledon

Botany Classified Nomenclature

General Purpose – to learn the names, to be used later for classification

Index (listed by booklet by terms) (sample)

Description of materials

Description of activities with nomenclature material

Plant Classification

Nature walk (take children on a walk to note observable classification)

Notes on material

Classification scheme

Introduction to the classification system with branches and circles

Introduction to text/picture cards

Classification of plants

With folders

Using a key

ZOOLOGY

Introduction to Zoology

Major elements of the zoology presentations

Sequencing of presentations’

Prepared environment for study of zoology

Story Card Material for Animals

Introduction to the animals of child’s environment

Food Cards: What do these animals eat?

Simple Classification for animals

Question/answer game

By what means do they move themselves?

What do they eat?

How do they reproduce?

How do they care for their offspring?

Body Functions of Vertebrates

Introduction to the five classes of vertebrates

Learning the characteristics of each class

Comparing the classes

Naming the functions

Naming vertebrates

Animal Classification

Introduction to the animal classification scheme

Introduction to the text and picture cards

Classification of animals using folders and circles

THE HUMAN BODY

Story of the Great River : Introduction to the systems of the human body

The Human Body

The human being is a mammal

Human body systems

Cells

Respiratory System

The Sensory System

The Skeletal System

The Digestive System

The Reproduction System and Heredity

Physical Education

ECOLOGY

Notes on Ecology

The Ocean Ecology

Chart of Interdependencies (supranatura)