At Montessori Otumoetai, our deep respect for the living world inspires daily exploration.
Tamariki engage with nature through books, discovering snails, studying leaf shapes, and caring for our garden.
This joy in observing and nurturing life has led us to welcome our own classroom pets. We were gifted a fish tank, along with several fish, and created a peaceful indoor space for them.
Our class now cares for a pleco, which helps keep the tank clean, and we were fortunate to also receive a male and female Polar Blue Parrot fish. These beautiful fish recently laid eggs, and tamariki have been fascinated as they watch the parents care for their babies.
Through Montessori practical life experiences, such as feeding the fish, observing their behaviour, and helping maintain their environment supports children in developing empathy, responsibility, and concentration. Their curiosity naturally leads to forming working theories and deepening their understanding of the life cycle of animals.
As they watch the fish swim, they build a meaningful connection to living things and strengthen their sense of wonder. This interest has also enriched communication and language, as tamariki excitedly share their observations with kaiako and one another.
To extend this learning, we offer Montessori materials such as “Parts of the Animal,” which support vocabulary development and helps children understand how fish live and survive each day. At Montessori Otumoetai, these rich experiences nurture not only knowledge but also compassion, independence, and a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.