Landmarks are iconic structures that enrich our lives by providing us with a sense of place and history. They can also be used to teach children about different cultures and perspectives. Learning about landmarks can also help children in other content areas, such as social studies, geography, and science. Landmarks are often a reflection of the culture in which they are located. For example, the Taj Mahal is a symbol of Indian culture, while the Great Wall of China is a symbol of Chinese culture. You can use the “Landmarks of the World” material to teach children about different cultures by discussing the landmarks from different countries and regions.
Our Montessori material, “Landmarks of the World,” is a great way to introduce elementary learners to some of the most famous landmarks in the world. The material consists of two large charts, 88 movable pictures, and 88 research cards, which provide information about each landmark.
The set of research cards is divided into seven sections that can be nestled in our 2 compartment tray (sold separately):
- 6 cards representing 6 landmarks in Antarctica: Dome A, Cape Denison, Blood Falls, Ridge A, Airdewronsix icefalls, Lake Bonney
- 6 cards representing 6 landmarks in Australia: The Great Barrier Reef, Uluru (Ayers Rock), The Harbour Bridge, The National Carillon, The Twelve Apostles…
- 9 cards representing 9 landmarks in Africa: The Great Pyramids, The Sahara Desert, The Great Sphinx, Aswan Dam, The Nile River, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park…
- 15 cards representing 15 landmarks in Europe: The Colosseum, Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, The Grand Canal, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Stonehenge, Sistine Chapel, Arc de Triumph…
- 16 cards representing 16 landmarks in South America: The Temple of Inscriptions, Chichen Itza, Plaza de la Constitucion, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe…
- 18 cards representing 18 landmarks in North America: The Space Needle, Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore, Niagara Falls, Independence Hall, The Gateway Arch, the Grand Canyon…
- 18 cards representing 18 landmarks in Asia: Forbidden City, Petra, Ka’Bah, Taj Mahal, Hagia Sophia, The Western Wall, Mount Everest, Mount Fuji, The Blue Mosque…
How to Introduce the Materials
First, organize the research cards and picture cards per continent to facilitate the learning experience.
- Begin with the continent on which you live. Place the control chart before you and lay the research cards on a mat as well as the corresponding picture cards.
- Invite children to observe the map and ask what landforms they already know on their continent.
- After naming a few, take a corresponding research card and read it aloud.
- Invite a child to superimpose the picture card corresponding to the research card and place it on the map. This way, your learner will learn to place picture cards on the map using the mute chart. Continue engaging your learners by reading each card corresponding to the studied continent.
- Next, place the two charts side by side, and have the children transfer the small picture cards from the inform chart to the mute chart.
- Another day, introduce another continent. You may also invite your learners to continue working independently on the continent you have already covered.
Based on the level of reading and comprehension of your learners, you may want to let them continue the learning process independently, or you may want to continue covering all the continents together. Remind your learners to practice reading the research cards and placing the picture on the mute chart at any time. As a follow-up, your learners can conduct research on a particular research card and write a report or create a poster to present to the class. For more Montessori-aligned materials, visit our website at www.alisonsmontessori.com.
