Third Great Lesson: The Coming of Humans

Humans appear in the story of life as a late, extraordinary chapter. The Third Great Lesson narrates this arrival and gives the child the three gifts that distinguish humans: a mind capable of thought, a hand capable of work, and a heart capable of love. Peer discussion and further research surface any misunderstandings in the story.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Cultural Studies
• Learning area: Cosmic Education
• Level: Ages 6-8

Objectives

• Hear the story of early humans and the three great gifts: mind, hand, love
• Feel wonder at the arrival of humanity on Earth
• Open the study of anthropology, prehistory, and history
• Prepare for the Time Line of Humans and the Fundamental Needs

Materials

• Charts depicting the story (the hand with thumb, the brain, a family gathered)
• A long timeline of life with humans appearing at the very end
• Artifacts or replicas: hand axes, bone needles, cave painting images, early beads
• Candle or small fire source (safely managed)

Instructions

1. Gather the children in a circle. 2. Show the Time Line of Life and point to the tiny final band. 3. 'In the last sliver of life's story, something new appeared.' 4. Tell the story of early humans walking upright, learning fire, making tools. 5. Describe how the mind imagined and remembered, and how the heart loved family. 6. Pass around the hand axe replica. 7. Describe cave paintings, music, and storytelling. 8. Name the three gifts: mind, hand, love. 9. Close: 'Over the coming weeks we will study all that humans have done, and wonder what we will do next.'

Educator tip

Tell the story, do not read it. The oral tradition you model is itself part of the lesson — a human gift being passed on.

Assessment

Observe the children's follow-up research into prehistory and their spontaneous use of the three gifts framework.

More from Cultural Studies

• Impressionistic Chart of Ancient Civilizations
• Second Great Lesson: The Coming of Life
• Parts of the Bird
• Time Line of Humans
• Work of Water — Erosion Experiments
• Biomes of the World
• Fourth Great Lesson: The Story of Writing
• Fifth Great Lesson: The Story of Numbers