Character education is one of the most important aspects of the Montessori curriculum across all ages.
One of our greatest resources for helping children develop a strong moral character is the Bible. It is full of great truths and lessons about being a good person and making God happy when we do the things he has asked us to do. During our Primary Chapel time, we take the great truths that we all need to know and break them into bite-sized morsels that a very young child can grasp and grow on.
Each week our primary students share a Scripture verse that teaches them how God wants them to behave. The verse is introduced at Tuesday morning chapel through story and song and then revisited in the classroom during the week.
Last week, the children learned that “God delights in those who keep their promises” from Proverbs 12:22.
The children learned that a promise means that you will do (or not do) what you say.
For example:
- Johnny made a promise to his mother that if he could watch a movie for ten minutes before he went to bed, as soon as the ten minutes were up he would get ready for bed.
Do you think he did?
Yes! As soon as the timer went off he turned off the TV, went to put on his PJ’s, brushed his teeth, and was already in bed when Mommy came to say goodnight. So the next night he got to watch TV again because his Mommy knew she could trust him to keep his promise.
2. On the other hand, Mary made a promise to her father that if she could have one cookie while she was waiting for dinner to be ready she would eat all her dinner.
Do you think she did?
No…she was so full from the cookie she could not eat her dinner. So the next night she did not get a cookie…
The children also learned that it’s important to keep our promises because if we don’t our friends may not trust us. They may not want to play with us or we may not get to do some of the things that we really want to do because our parents think we may not be safe.
The children enjoyed the example of making a promise being like carrying an egg with you all day. We have to take constant care of it so it does not break.
While we remind the children that they shouldn’t make promises if they don’t mean to keep them, if they do break them they can always say sorry and ask to be forgiven. Friends, parents and, most importantly, God will forgive us.
This week our Scripture verse is “Be patient and you will finally win” from Proverbs 25:15.
Ask your child what he learned today in Primary Chapel!