“Such experience is not just play…. It is work children must do in order to grow up.” – Maria Montessori
Hands-on experiences are a big part of a New School Montessori education because they inspire learners to discover and explore their world.
Students are encouraged in and outside the classroom to apply knowledge and make real-world connects rather than simply accumulating facts.
Examples of on-campus discovery experiences
- Songwriting workshop led by popular children’s singer Justin Roberts
- Bird blind in the preprimary woods for ongoing bird study
- Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park theatrical performances
- Beehive observation
- Children’s authors share about the writing experience
- Constella strings concert presentations
- Visits from the Cincinnati Zoo
- Visiting opera performances
- Visits from School House Symphony
Examples of off-campus experiences
- Visits to Burnet Woods to observe habitats throughout the seasons
- Fossil exploration at Caesar’s Creek
- Findlay Market where children planned their menu, budgeted their funds, negotiated prices with vendors, and prepared a meal together.
- Observed and reported on bonobo behavior at the Cincinnati Zoo
- Annual elementary overnight to Camp Ernst
- Cincinnati Observatory
- Gorman Heritage Farm to learn about composting and other aspects of farm life
- Cincinnati Ballet where kindergartners received a backstage tour and lesson
- Cincinnati Shakespeare Company performances
- Krohn Conservatory
- Renaissance Festival
- Underground Railroad bus tour.
Examples of real-world travel experiences
The children study and prepare before each trip—learning about the city’s monuments, history and attractions, and getting familiar with maps and public transportation.
- Biennial visit to Columbus, OH – This overnight field trip for 4th and 5th grade students involves sightseeing and cultural experiences.
- Biennial visit to Marengo Caves in Crawford County, IN – This overnight field trip for 4th and 5th grade students involves sightseeing and cultural experiences.
- Annual Washington, D.C.Trip – All 6th graders fly together to the nation’s capitol for a 5-day trip. During the excursion, students assist in navigation and manage their individual meal budgets and tips.