What Are Montessori Continent Boxes?

Montessori continent boxes are boxes full of items related to each of the continents.  They are designed for hands-on, interactive learning.  That’s about all there is to it.  There are no set activities to be included, or formal “rules” for use.  You just take out a box at a time and let the student interact with the items in whatever way he chooses.  (Or so I understand.)

What Can I Put in My Continent Boxes?

Anything that relates to the continent!  (Well, anything safe that relates to the continent.  I wouldn’t recommend firecrackers or anything. 😉 )  There are various printables available online that you will find if you do a search.  I just ordered Rand McNally’s World Facts & Landmarks cards to put in ours.  (Unfortunately, these have been discontinued, but you can still find them used.)  Safari, Ltd. makes some Toobs that are great for continent boxes.  (See my review for more information.)

Toothpick world flags would be a good option, too.  If you don’t want to buy them, you could probably print out some small flag images and glue them to toothpicks yourself.  (For an in-between option, try flag stickers with blank flags.)

Dover sells some mini-books of ethnic paper dolls.  Or, if you’re not as concerned about the realism of them, you could print the Making Friends paper dolls.

Currency is a good choice, too.  I’m still trying to decide whether I trust my children not to lose something so difficult for me to replace, but I might include a Japanese coin, Jamaican currency, etc. that I happen to have collected.

Country-by-Country

Apart from general options, think through what countries are on each of the continents.  What characterizes them?  Can you include chopsticks or henna tattoos for Asia?  Cotton bolls for North America?  Kente cloth for Africa?  Russian nesting dolls for Europe?

If your children have made craft projects as part of a country study (straw ornaments from Sweden, for instance), you can include those.  Smaller pieces of traditional costumes would be fun additions.  (Unless your boxes are very large, you probably can’t fit things like dresses or pants, but maybe you can squeeze in a hat or something.)

If you have other ideas, I’d love to hear them, as we’ve just started filling our boxes.