Exploring Botany in Children’s House

This term, the students in Dolphins, one of our Children's House classes at our Rockingham campus, have started exploring botany! We kicked off our project by planting a variety of seeds and creating our very own Plant Observation Books.

The children made predictions about what their plants might look like by the end of term. Each week, we will be watching them grow and recording what we notice through detailed observational drawings.

Connecting Botany Across the Montessori Curriculum

It has been valuable to connect this hands-on work with our broader Montessori curriculum:

• Culture: The children have been learning about the botanical names and functions of different plant parts, including flowers, leaves, stems and roots.

• Practical Life: Taking real responsibility for looking after our class plants—watering, wiping leaves, and ensuring adequate sunlight—gives the children purposeful work that builds coordination and independence.

• Language & Literacy: Creating prediction journals and recording observations encourages early scientific reasoning and builds rich vocabulary.

Fostering Care and Responsibility

In Montessori, plant care is far more than an activity, it is a foundation for grace, courtesy, and environmental stewardship. Watching a seed transform through daily care teaches patience, cause-and-effect, and respect for living things.

It has been wonderful to see the children developing such a keen interest in the natural world, taking genuine pride in nurturing their plants as they grow.