Cosmic Education
COSMIC EDUCATION
INDEX Page
1. Introducton 3
2. Montessori's View of Cosmic Education 7
3. The Keystone of Montessori Philosophy 25
4. The Five Great Lessons of the Elementary Curriculum 28
5. First Great Lesson - Coming of the Universe and the Earth 29
6. Second Great Lesson - Coming of Life 31
7. Third Great Lesson - Coming of Human Beings 32
8. Fourth Great Lesson - Communication in Signs 33
9. Fifth Great Lesson - The Story of Numbers 34
10. The Purpose of the Five Great Lessons 35
11. Conclusion 36
INTRODUCTION
Cosmic Education
The Greek word cosmic, means "order and harmony" in the world, and on a more broad level, the universe. Opposite to "cosmic" would be "chaos". Cosmic presupposes the concept that all of the universe is collaborating in the still, evolving creation of everything that is. So, merely by its existence, every element of nature performs a task in maintaining a balance in the universe.
That task is two-fold; its first task is survival and its instinctual need to exist.
Second, and usually unconsciously, is its cosmic task to contribute to the total harmony of the universe. For example; a bee collects nectar for its nourishment, but at the same time pollinates the flower for the proliferation of its role, or plants that through the process of making their own food, take in the carbon dioxide we give off and provide the oxygen we need for our survival.
Humanity is its own universal energy and has its own part to play in the Cosmic
Drama, along with the water, wind, rocks, and other living things. As humans, we have for the most part, consciously fulfilled our needs for survival and continue to seek the best conditions for ourselves. Instinctively, we are driven to improve our surroundings in order to continue to exist. Early humans were more dependent upon
INDEX Page
1. Introducton 3
2. Montessori's View of Cosmic Education 7
3. The Keystone of Montessori Philosophy 25
4. The Five Great Lessons of the Elementary Curriculum 28
5. First Great Lesson - Coming of the Universe and the Earth 29
6. Second Great Lesson - Coming of Life 31
7. Third Great Lesson - Coming of Human Beings 32
8. Fourth Great Lesson - Communication in Signs 33
9. Fifth Great Lesson - The Story of Numbers 34
10. The Purpose of the Five Great Lessons 35
11. Conclusion 36
INTRODUCTION
Cosmic Education
The Greek word cosmic, means "order and harmony" in the world, and on a more broad level, the universe. Opposite to "cosmic" would be "chaos". Cosmic presupposes the concept that all of the universe is collaborating in the still, evolving creation of everything that is. So, merely by its existence, every element of nature performs a task in maintaining a balance in the universe.
That task is two-fold; its first task is survival and its instinctual need to exist.
Second, and usually unconsciously, is its cosmic task to contribute to the total harmony of the universe. For example; a bee collects nectar for its nourishment, but at the same time pollinates the flower for the proliferation of its role, or plants that through the process of making their own food, take in the carbon dioxide we give off and provide the oxygen we need for our survival.
Humanity is its own universal energy and has its own part to play in the Cosmic
Drama, along with the water, wind, rocks, and other living things. As humans, we have for the most part, consciously fulfilled our needs for survival and continue to seek the best conditions for ourselves. Instinctively, we are driven to improve our surroundings in order to continue to exist. Early humans were more dependent upon