Also, I like getting to know the chaperones that go shopping and cook with us. When asked about their favorite part of the Community Lunch program, one student shared, “My favorite part of Community Lunch is writing letters to other classes inviting them to eat with us. It can be frustrating when the berries spill or the baguettes are overpriced, but the outcome is always great.” We learn about unit prices and cooking and you wouldn’t believe how much teamwork can come in handy when it turns out someone has been holding the map upside down! Community Lunch is equal parts fun and educational. One student mentioned, “Community Lunch is an excellent learning experience for us students. The students who eat the lunch practice social skills, learn about new foods, and strengthen their community.”ĬMS Upper Elementary students relish the opportunity to bring the school community together, recognizing the immense benefits of this unique experience. CMS Upper Elementary teachers note, “The students who host the lunch get meaningful practice in math, nutrition, non-fiction reading, writing, presentation, cooking, map reading, and executive function skills. Students write and deliver personal invitations to other students, making it a highly anticipated event.įollowing the meal, the Community Lunch Hosts stay behind (“and sometimes miss recess,” according to CMS Upper Elementary students) to help wash the dishes and clean the environment.Ĭommunity Lunch is an engaging and enriching experience for all participants. The adult helpers are invited to join the meal, as are other school community members on a rotating basis. Prior to sharing the meal together, the group gives a short oral presentation on the ingredients they researched. On the day of the meal, students spend all morning cooking. They also reach out to adult helpers to request their assistance the following week with shopping and cooking.ĭuring the second week, the hosts prepare a shopping list and make a trip to the store to purchase all of the necessary ingredients. They choose one ingredient from the meal to research. They begin by developing a menu, ensuring it includes fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains. During the work cycle, they engage in planning and preparation for the community lunch. The Upper Elementary teachers note, “This cross-level sharing has been embraced by many and we often get requests for invitations to our next lunch.”Ĭommunity Lunch provides CMS’s Upper Elementary students with the Practical Life experience of planning and preparing to host a meal for invited guests.Įvery two weeks, groups of three or four students serve as Community Lunch Hosts. Originating from a desire to reunite the Elementary community following the pandemic, Community Lunch offered the opportunity for students, families, and staff members to enjoy shared mealtimes together in a way that supported the development of a Going Out and Inviting In program being introduced in the Upper Elementary classroom.Ĭommunity Lunch began with a focus on community building within the Elementary student and parent community and then quickly expanded to include other school members as small groups of students from other levels and staff members were invited to share in these communal experiences. Elementary-aged children thrive when given the opportunity to engage in Practical Life activities that allow them to connect with others and the world around them.ĪMS-accredited member school, Cambridge Montessori School (CMS), in Cambridge, MA, has developed an innovative example of Montessori Practical Life in action, the Upper Elementary Community Lunch Program. For the second plane child, these experiences should introduce and provide support for students’ blossoming independence. Practical Life activities help children learn everyday skills.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |