The Sun Looks Upon Water, Air And Rocks
A cosmic tale that stays before any animal appears: the sun, and the water, air and rock it works on. In Montessori's great lessons the first story is the coming of the universe and the earth, and this booklet is the reading a child can do afterwards, while the question of what the earth was made of before anything lived on it is still open. Written in English. The other titles in the series are separate items.
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.'”
The Sun Looks Upon Water, Air And Rocks poster introduces Earth's fundamental elements through carefully selected photographic images, meeting the young child's need to understand their physical world.
- Recognition of water, air, and rock formations in natural environments
- Understanding of how sunlight interacts with different Earth elements
- Development of observational skills through detailed photographic study
- Building vocabulary related to natural phenomena and Earth sciences
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This large-format visual display presents water, air, and rocks as they appear in nature, illuminated by sunlight in various settings. The poster's photographic approach respects the child's developing ability to distinguish reality from abstraction during the 3-6 year period. Each element shown in The Sun Looks Upon Water, Air And Rocks exists in the child's daily experience, yet the poster organizes these familiar sights into a coherent study of Earth's composition. By displaying how sunlight interacts with water surfaces, atmospheric conditions, and rock formations, this educational material connects the child's sensorial experiences with scientific concepts. The poster format allows children to examine these elemental relationships at their own pace, returning repeatedly to observe details they may have overlooked in outdoor encounters.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Mount the poster at children's eye level in the cultural area. Place a small mat or cushion nearby for comfortable viewing. Have magnifying glasses available for closer examination.
- 1
Invite a child to examine the poster, starting with identifying familiar elements
Begin with elements the child has experienced directly, like water from rain or rocks from the garden - 2
Guide observation of how sunlight appears differently on water versus rock surfaces
Use descriptive language: 'sparkles,' 'reflects,' 'shadows' to enrich vocabulary - 3
Discuss where each photographed scene might exist in nature
Connect to local geography when possible - nearby lakes, mountains, or skies - 4
Encourage the child to find similar elements during outdoor time
Provide a small notebook for sketching observations of water, air effects, and rocks
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
Brands used by
schools worldwide
European brands
AMI
Endorsed
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