The "Montessori story" typically refers to one of three things: the life of its founder, Maria Montessori; the "Five Great Lessons" that form the heart of the elementary curriculum; or the interactive storybooks used for early childhood development. 1. The Origin Story: Maria Montessori

In Montessori elementary education (ages 6–12), the "Great Lessons" are bold, impressionistic stories told at the beginning of the year to spark a child's imagination and provide a "Big Picture" of the universe. Montessori - an Origin Story

: While observing a three-year-old girl repeatedly placing wooden cylinders into a block, Montessori noticed a state of "deep concentration" that transformed the child's behaviour.

The story begins with , one of Italy's first female physicians. In 1907, she opened the first Casa dei Bambini (Children's House) in a low-income district of Rome.

: She realized that if children are given a prepared environment with specialized materials, they will teach themselves through spontaneous activity and repetition. 2. The Five Great Lessons (Elementary Curriculum)