"When the child goes out, it is the world itself that offers itself to him. Let us take the child out to show him real things instead of making objects which represent ideas and closing them in cupboards."
~Maria Montessori
Imagine if the whole world was your classroom. Within the walls of the school, we have a prepared environment that sets the stage for our students to learn. But for elementary children, who are intensely curious about the world, what is within the classroom is not enough. In fact, many of the materials are left somewhat incomplete, which entices the children to add their own discoveries.
In the elementary years, from the ages of 6 to 12, children become increasingly interested in the reasons for things. They are no longer satisfied with knowing facts and names. The elementary child’s insatiable curiosity about the universe redefines what they need in the classroom. In order to answer their many questions, students in the elementary often need to look to resources beyond the classroom and their families. To satisfy these needs, they can plan a “Going Out,” which is an experience outside of the classroom that is conceived, planned, organized, carried out, and followed up on by a small group of children.
Going Out is an experience outside of the classroom that is just as much a part of the Montessori curriculum as the lesson presentations and the materials. Going Out gives elementary children the opportunity to act independently outside of the classroom and family. Students might aim to get supplies for a project, food for the class pet, or ingredients for cooking. They may visit a museum, interview an expert, see a natural phenomenon, or have another experience related to their classroom learning that takes place outside the school.
While some of the purposes for Going Out are obvious, some are indirect. Going Out gives students opportunities to interact with adults out in the world and to function independently of their usual adults—their parents and teachers. Children get to encounter situations where they are unsure of what to do, but in a relatively safe way—they can make mistakes with relatively small consequences. Some examples of this include not having enough money at the register; showing up and finding that their destination is closed for some reason; or not being sure how to answer a question posed by a cashier or other adult. Being able to go out into society gives children the interactions and experiences they need to explore the world beyond home and school.
Going Out requires a high level of responsibility and independence from the children involved. Starting in the first year of elementary, children prepare for Goings Out through classroom activities and experiences that help them build responsibility and independence.
The experience starts with students deciding, along with the adults in the classroom, that what they are interested in is an opportunity for a Going Out. To start the planning, students go to the Going Out Binder, which is full of checklists and descriptions of what needs to be done. The tasks involve calling the destinations to ask for details, looking up addresses and directions, calling a chaperone, and getting permission slips from their parents. They also have to figure out the costs of their trip, how much money they need to bring with them, and then go through the process of getting petty cash from the office.
During the Going Out, children take as much independence as they can for finding the place they are visiting, and for interacting with the adults there. The chaperoning adults stay a safe distance from the children and allow them to make their own choices and mistakes. When other adults address the chaperone, they defer to the children to answer the questions. These adults have the opportunity to witness magic in action!
After the trip, the children are expected to write thank you notes to all of the adults they interacted with. They then have to figure out how to use the supplies and information they obtained in the work they are doing in schools. The experience offers further opportunities for growth as they are asked to present to the class about the trip, and become guides for other children planning a Going Out in the future.
Something that seems as simple as a shopping trip can be truly transformative!