Leadership, collaboration and teamwork are staple features in the Montessori education journey.
Children as young as 2 years of age are given leadership opportunities within their community – like these children from our toddler program, who are leading an afternoon singing activity with Emma, their guide.
In our Montessori toddler program, young children develop early notions of community, collaboration and teamwork in everyday activities. For example, children tasked with setting tables for the group’s daily meal, work as a team. Leadership and collaboration are evident as children form a line on their daily walk to feed the school’s chickens. Feeding the chickens itself is an act of teamwork; collecting the food, looking for eggs, feeding the animals.
It’s easy to forget that children in our Toddler community are between the ages of 2 and 3 years old because they are so capable. They achieve this level of independence because their educators prepare an environment that intentionally supports their growth.
Practical manifestations of teamwork and leadership continue in the Montessori Children’s House (preschool children aged 3-6).
Here, our mixed-age classrooms shine, as older children (aged 4 or 5) begin to lead and assist younger children with class tasks and activities. Students in preschool classes often explore materials and spaces alone or with their educators but come together for various activities. The upcoming end of year performance is a good example of our very young students collaborating on purposeful work.
By the time children reach the Montessori primary school program (ages 6-9), they are confident leading and working with students in their class, mostly 1:1 or in small groups.
They are comfortable sharing their work and ideas with teachers and peers, and become more interested in teamwork and collaboration, which is available in abundance.
Students in 6-9 (lower primary) can begin self-lead projects that may be solo but are often collaborative. These require not only working as a team but creating the team. Children need to identify leaders for various tasks, to organise themselves, allocate jobs and work together to produce their work. That’s a feat for a group of these ages!
This kind of work brings an enormous sense of ability and autonomy to the developing child and is a great foundation for building confidence and capability.
The mixed age 6-9 classroom continues to provide greater opportunities for children to lead, sharing their knowledge and growing abilities with younger classmates.
By 9-12, upper primary school at FMS, students are well experienced in all the above.
As the school’s seniors, they have ample opportunities to assist younger students, collaborate on in-class projects and work as team to organise school-wide and external events.
At FMS, we offer 9-12 students extra opportunities to strengthen these skills. The annual 9-12 camp is one way we foster ongoing leadership and personal growth for our older students.
FMS 9-12 students recently returned from their camp adventure, this year held at the AGH South West Sydney Camp in Douglas Park.
During camp, students enjoyed a range of activities that challenged them personally (physically and mentally) with group activities that develop collaborative skills.
The children thoroughly enjoyed some truly fun (and some truly hair-raising) activities, including:
- Dangling duo
- Gorge swing
- Maxi zips
- Archery
- Bushwalking
- Raft building
- Canoeing
- High ropes
- Quick drop
These activities encouraged the children to challenge themselves and go beyond their comfort zones to find out how far they can go. We all know the experience of breaking through our comfort zones; the caution, the brave decision to try, and the sense of joy, relief, accomplishment and newfound confidence that follows.
Camp activities such as these are designed for children to experience this with guidance from trusted adults and encouragement from their peers. It was a pleasure to watch and a credit to our 9-12 cohort to see their support of one another.
Our students formed closer bonds through teamwork and by encouraging each other as they went through the activities.
The children were fully engaged during the activities, as well as cheering and encouraging their friends. Building trust and working as a team was required for activities such as raft building, canoeing, and Dangling Duo. On a more personal level, students enjoyed pushing themselves past their comfort zones with the gorge swing, high ropes and quick drop.
Our annual 9-12 camp helps children to strengthen their relationships with each other and to learn more about themselves.
Here are some ‘camp favourites’ from the students:
“At camp, we had really good food… we did tons of fun stuff like quick drop, canoeing, maxi zips, high ropes, gorge swing, bushwalking, raft building, and archery.”
Reuel, FMS 9-12 student
“Our first activity was the dangling duo. It was something you had to do as a team. Two people at a time would climb up and everyone would need to help from below.”
Aliya, FMS 9-12 student
“My top three favourite activities were canoeing, the gorge swing, and the maxi zips. I would like to go back one day!”
Harlem, FMS 9-12 student
We thank all the teachers and students who made 9-12 Camp 2024 so successful.
A Montessori education is preparation for life. We will continuously look for ways to offer meaningful leadership and collaborative opportunities for all FMS students in the coming years. Stay tuned!
