Continent Rotation Study

At Brookview School, we engage in an integrated three-year continent study that involves all aspects of the study of culture and geography.  Each year, our entire school engages in the study of a couple of continents in depth, such that over the three years a child spends in a program, he will have studied all seven continents and be ready to move on to the next program - and begin the rotation once again.  When children move up from Primary to Lower Elementary, or from Lower Elementary to Upper Elementary, they will engage the seven continents once more - but at a deeper level of understanding.

The continent focus is considered in every aspect of the curriculum.  For example, if the current focus is Asia, the children will not only study the geography and cultures of Asia in their classrooms, but this focus will be considered in each decision for that semester.  

In the planning of art projects, music classes, history presentations, guest speakers, even teacher interns invited to the school for that year, the continent focus is considered.   As one walks through the school, it is clear which is the continent of focus, for the artwork throughout the school is rotated as are the cultural objects on display to represent the continent currently being studied.

When we study different continents and cultures, we emphasize our similarities through the study of fundamental human needs.  Through their work in geography and biomes, children understand that it is natural and obvious for people to meet their needs using the resources available to them, and that this differs based on the geography of the place in which one lives. 

While it is natural and reasonable for someone living in the Amazon Rainforest to live in a raised shelter to protect them from flooding, it would be absurd to expect an Inuit living in the Arctic Circle to have the same type of home.  This understanding takes differences out of the realm of weird or exotic to just making sense.  Children can see that all human beings are really very much alike, and this realization begins to break down feelings of "other."

Respect for all people regardless of our differences leads to peace. Helping people to realize why we look different also helps with understanding differences simply as a reasonable occurrences.  This breaks down prejudice and encourages children to grow up to be peacemakers.  Ultimately, that is our goal: to create peaceful adults.  This idea ties in with our school's pillar of global understanding and with Maria Montessori's philosophy in general.