Montessori Practical Life – Deep Dan Ghee Stick (Ghee Lamp Thulasi Stick)

“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.”  – Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind book.

I am delighted to share another exercise of Practical Life which is deeply rooted in the ancient Vedic tradition. Vedic tradition which is linked to the current nation called India, previously Bharata-Varsa, transcends time, places and science. Children who practise the Vedic eternal spiritual routine are able to see their parents or grandparents offering light, in the form of a lamp, to the object of worship in their home. Many homes also use dried Thulasi twigs, cotton and ghee/oil as an offering because Thulasi plant is considered sacred and worshipable.

This exercise provides a great opportunity for children to get to know the plants in their environment and how else can the plants be used even after their life span is over.

Some children may celebrate their identity and culture through this work, while others gain more awareness of other people’s cultures and cultivate a sense of respect for the diversity of human experience.

Placing this activity at the Practical Life area will definitely capture a child’s curiosity, and lead him/her to strengthen and fine-tune his small hand muscles, finger dexterity and even pincer grip.

Hopefully holding the twigs carefully will instill a sense of gentleness in his movement and eventually, character!

*Vedic= Sanskrit word, related to the ancient holy scriptures.

*Thulasi = a name of a plant.

—>I am a Montessori educator who teaches basic Mandarin, occasionally a Malay and Mathematics teacher. I am looking forward to write the first page of book of my life in 2024. <—