Within the Montessori geography curriculum, there are twelve distinct land and water forms taught to the children. The geographical formations are taught in pairs, to demonstrate the opposites. These are the general definitions usually associated with each pair.
Definitions of Continent and Ocean
Continent and ocean are the first two land and water forms taught to children. First, they are simply distinguished as land and water, through use of the land and water globe. A continent is the largest body of land. An ocean is the largest body of water. Some choose to include the fact that the oceans consist of saltwater.
Definitions of Island and Lake
Island and lake are, in a sense, smaller versions of the continent and ocean. An island is a body of land, completely surrounded by water. A lake is a body of water, completely surrounded by land. Children practice these with the land and water forms work.
Definitions of Peninsula and Gulf
A peninsula is a body of land, surrounded on all but one side with water. It is larger than a cape. A gulf is a body of water, surrounded on all but one side with land. It is larger than a bay. These two forms are also explored with the land and water trays.
Definitions of Cape and Bay
A cape is a body of land, surrounded on all but one side with water. It is smaller than a peninsula. A bay is a body of water, surrounded on all bout one side with land. It is smaller than a gulf. Children can compare the shapes of these to peninsula and gulf with the land and water forms work.
Definitions of Isthmus and Strait
An isthmus is a narrow body of land that connects two larger bodies of land. A strait is a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water. These are the final trays found in the land and water forms works.
Definitions of Archipelago and System of Lakes
Some choose to also include archipelago and system of lakes into their geographical formation studies. An archipelago is a group of islands. A system of lakes is a group of lakes.
Use these definitions when presenting the land and water forms to students. Present the formations in pairs, so that children can see the opposites. Use the land and water globe for an early presentation, followed by use of the land and water form trays. Supplement the work with clay and paper activities, as well as searching for them on maps of the world. Montessori land and water forms are taught in early childhood through elementary years.
Andrea Coventry - Andrea Coventry is a Montessori child, now Montessori educator, with 25 years' experience with children, publishing online since 2007.
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