Birthdays are a big deal in the Montessori classroom.
Birthday celebrations lay the foundation for a child’s understanding of the passage of time. Children are introduced to the concept of history by learning to tell their personal history of their time on Earth. Birthday celebrations situate the child in his/her time and place in the world.
“I am a child who has lived on planet Earth for 3 years.
I was born on the continent of North America, in the country of Mexico,
and now live in the country of the United States in the State of California.”
Older children are invited to prepare their own story and to tell it on their own.
Birthday celebrations help reveal the underlying concept of the passage of time and (later) the concept of history. In the Montessori classroom, though, we do not celebrate with a party but with a simple ceremony.
The Montessori birthday celebration begins with preparing materials for the celebration. Our celebration takes place around the ellipse. A mat is placed inside the ellipse. On the mat, the birthday child is invited to bring the colored globe, a puzzle piece from one of the puzzle maps representing the child’s birthplace, the flag of the country they were born in, the number rod and sandpaper number denoting their age, and letters from the moveable alphabet writing their name.
The guide brings a candle to represent the sun and lays out the months of the year in the shape of the ‘rays of the sun’. During the celebration, the child is invited to walk around the ellipse holding the colored globe in their hand. This is to give the child the impression of the Earth’s rotation around the sun. The guide begins the celebration by reviewing the materials brought to the ellipse. The child is invited to walk around the ellipse for the first time. As the child walks on the ellipse, the rest of the community sings:
“The Earth goes around the sun, the sun.
The Earth goes around the sun.
It takes 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days.
At the end of the child’s first pass around the ellipse, the guides announce, “The Earth goes around the sun one time; that is what makes a year.” After each turn, the child stops to hear the guide tell the story of each year they were born. This is done with the help of the photographs and notes you send in the packet. The child repeats walking on the ellipse for each year they were born. Once the story of their life has been told, the community sings “Happy Birthday” in both English and Spanish (lyrics at the end).
MISD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION 1
As part of our lunch celebration, we invite the birthday child to bring a small treat to serve and share with his/her classmates. Please remember this should be a healthy treat. We do not do cake, cookies, cupcakes, or popcorn at school. We recommend:
- A Fruit Tray or Fruit Kebabs
- A Tray of Cheeses and Crackers
- Yogurt Parfaits or Fruit Smoothies
You are most welcome to observe the celebration from our window. However, this is our community celebration and we do not permit parents to participate. We are happy to take photographs for you. Also, if your child has siblings in the Children’s House, they will be invited to join the classroom celebration.
Finally, many children enjoy bringing a gift to the classroom to commemorate their special day. This is a gift that would ‘live’ in the P2 community. Common gifts include: a non-fiction book, a plant for the classroom or garden, and art materials (construction paper, colored card-stock, etc.).
We want to thank you in advance for all you do to support our community and to make birthday celebrations special. Please send back the packet on the day of the celebration. This is an important time in your child’s life. Please help us by including milestones and interesting facts that they would be proud to share with their classmates. And, please let us know if you have any questions.
Las Mañanitas
Estas son las mañanitas
que cantaba el rey David
Hoy por ser día de tu santo
te las cantamos aquí.
Despierta, (the name of the child), despierta
Mira que ya amaneció
Ya los pajaritos cantan
La luna ya se metió.