A favorite practical life event that is eagerly awaited in Montessori elementary classrooms is the “going out.” The premise is fantastic – giving children the opportunity to go out beyond the classroom to learn and explore – usually done in small groups, and often to delve into a topic of interest. The children anticipate this experience from the moment the idea is introduced and learn invaluable life skills along the way.
The children participating in the going out are responsible for arranging transportation and identifying the materials or budget as needed. So many skills are being learned or fostered – from getting up the courage to ask a parent to drive and chaperone, to identifying the business hours and driving directions of the destination, to learning how to stick within a budget if shopping.
Some examples of going outs that our Upper Elementary children have participated in include:
- Visiting the local library to check books out for a research project
- Going grocery shopping to purchase ingredients for a cooking project
- Celebrating birthdays for the month by eating lunch at a local restaurant
In each of these instances, the children participating typically met several times, discussing what needed to be done to make the trip happen. The to-do list would be delegated and each child had a part in making the going out successful. They would check in with teachers to update on planning progress and of course discuss any difficulties, at which point possible solutions would be brainstormed.
On the day of the event, the children would be giddy with excitement. Upon their return, they would be wearing smiles on their faces and eagerly share their experiences with a new-found sense of confidence and independence.
Have you had going outs in your classroom?
Student doing some preliminary research
Other resources on going outs include:
NAMC – Montessori Education: The Importance of Going Out from a Child’s ViewMariaMontessori.com – Elementary
