LESSON GUIDE the Continent Song

LESSON GUIDE The Continent Song

The Continent Song is a Montessori classic. There are many versions. Here’s a quick guide for the version we teach on CDIR. The Continent Song Lyrics

Tell me the continents. Tell me the continents. Tell me if you can. North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Don't forget Australia. Don't forget Antarctica. Tell me the continents, tell me the continents, tell me if you can.

Click here to hear the tune.

The Continents Lesson

The three period lesson, a staple of Montessori education, is a method for teaching the names of things. Here’s how to use it to teach the continents. You’ll need a map or globe.

1. While pointing to North America on your map, say “This is North America.” 2. Next, ask the child to point to North America on the map. 3. To check for recall, point to North America again and ask the child “What is this?”

Repeat the process for each of the continents.

If the child answers correctly, that's great! And if not, don't worry! Just keep talking about the continents in a no-pressure way. Above all, have fun and be patient even if the child doesn't seem to remember the names for a while.

A few other tips: ● When just starting out with the lesson, use only three continents. ● When you look at each continent, talk about the animals that live there or how far away it is in relation to you. ● Make mudpies in the shapes of the continents.