Songlines – Farm School
Through the Montessori method, we offer children under 12 years of age an environment that allows them autonomy and learning that is spontaneous and experiential. We see in the children independence, self-direction, making choices, arriving at their own learning and living in a community. How do we offer the next developmental stage ie. the 12 to 18 year olds, the same opportunity to a fuller extent than we are now able to do?
Dr. Montessori left us with a recommendation for the adolescent to create an environment on a farm for this age group. Keeping this in mind Abacus acquired 30 acres of farmland in March 2014 and an environment is created for the adolescent suitable to their needs and the times in which they live.
Farm School is a metaphor for all activities that connect the school community to its natural and social environment. The earth-centric curriculum for the Farm School has its roots in an agricultural program offered at the school farm – Songlines – to children 12-15 years of age. It is based on Montessori’s recommendation of creating an environment for adolescents that would suit their unique developmental needs by:
– providing opportunities for them to engage deeply in their search for identity,
– helping them answer questions such as who am I, where do I fit, how can I be of use to others,
– nurturing independence and self-sufficiency, and
– supporting the development of conscience through wider social interactions.
After observing children’s experience at the farm and its influence on their perceptions when they interacted with the natural environment and within their own social group, a nature program was introduced for younger children – in Primary and Elementary – as well in order to integrate the outdoors into the classroom in a natural and seamless way. The younger children are helped to find their connection with nature all around them whether indoors or outdoors through nature walks within and outside the school campus.
Children from Older Elementary to Class 12 make regular visits to the school farm – Songlines – and engage in farming activities related to a variety of crops through the annual agricultural cycle. They also take up related nature observation work to understand farming as an activity within the larger ecosystem of other organisms, soil and water.
Children sell some of the produce from the school farm at a Farm Shop run by them in the school. They also run a Kids Kitchen where farm produce is further used by them to try out delicious recipes which they then package and sell in the Farm Shop.
Older children from Class 9 onwards also begin to explore broader areas and questions related to peoples, environment and sustainability. Currently, children in Classes 11-12 are learning natural building using rammed earth as part of the farm program.
Farm School is an integral part of the educational program of the school.
Here is a short film about Songlines.