Walk into The Montessori Academy Edison Lakes on any given day and you will see something quietly magical: children caring for living creatures as part of their daily work cycle. It is not an extra in Montessori education. It is the curriculum.
In our Toddler environment, young children help feed and observe their classroom fish. This simple routine nurtures concentration, gentleness, responsibility, and early scientific curiosity. Toddlers learn that living beings depend on them, a powerful lesson in empathy that begins long before they can read.
Lower Elementary students take this a step further with their classroom rabbit. Caring for a warm, responsive animal deepens students’ understanding of biology, routines, and stewardship. Cleaning habitats, preparing food, and observing behavior all become meaningful Practical Life work. The rabbit offers comfort, connection, and countless opportunities for children to practice care for the natural world.
In Upper Elementary, visiting dogs have become beloved guests. Students engage in calm, respectful interactions, learning nonverbal communication, emotional regulation, and real world applications of grace and courtesy. For many children, the presence of a dog brings peace, joy, and a sense of community that reinforces the social emotional foundation of Montessori education.
Research and Montessori schools worldwide affirm what we see daily at TMA: animals invite children to slow down, observe closely, act with purpose, and care deeply. They enrich cosmic education by reminding students that all living things are interconnected and that we share responsibility for our environment.
At TMA, our classroom animals are not just pets. They are teachers, patient and wordless guides helping children grow into empathetic, grounded, responsible human beings.