💕 Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links at no cost to you. It means I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links. Thank you for your support. Stock Images supplied by Canva
Today I am going to share with you one of the classic Geography lesson setups in the Montessori classroom for preschool children. It is a fun, hands-on Geography lesson that will help the child understand the concept of land, water, and air.
Teaching geography the Montessori way involves a hands-on approach that encourages children to explore and discover the world around them. Montessori educators believe that children learn best when they are given the freedom to explore and make connections on their own. By providing a variety of materials, such as maps, globes, and puzzles, children can learn about different countries, cultures, and climates in a fun and engaging way.
Additionally, Montessori educators encourage children to interact with their environment by going on nature walks, observing the weather, and learning about local flora and fauna. Overall, teaching geography the Montessori way helps children develop a love for learning and a deeper appreciation for our world.

After presenting Sandpaper Globe (1), which helps the child to develop a concept of the shape of the earth, and gain an understanding of the distribution of land and water over the earth, the child is ready to work with Land, Water, and Air activity.
In Montessori education, teaching about land, air, and water is an important part of the curriculum. Children are taught about the different properties of each element and how they interact with one another. For example, they learn that land is solid and provides a surface for plants and animals to live on, while water is a liquid that supports aquatic life and helps to shape the land through erosion.
Air is a gas that surrounds us and is essential for living things to breathe. By learning about these elements in a hands-on way, children develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the natural world around them. Through exploration and observation, they begin to understand the interdependence of land, air, and water, and how vital it is to protect and preserve these resources for future generations.
When presenting this activity to my 3-year-old daughter I offer her a tray with:
- three empty jars,
- small pitcher
- blue food coloring (optional)
- land, water, and air cards

“The child gives us a beautiful lesson – that in order to form and maintain our intelligence, we must use our hands. ” Maria Montessori The 1946 London Lectures
In the beginning, I ask A to put soil in one jar – I love this because it prompts her to activate problem-solving skills. She has to think about where she can find soil and how she can get it. The same happens with water. She is asked to bring water to the pitcher, pour it into a jar, and add a drop of food coloring. The fun part begins when you ask the child to put air in a jar. When presenting it in the classroom some run outside and swing the jar in the air, others blow into it. My kiddo waves her air jar from side to side.

After we have all three jars ready, I demonstrate the sorting of the cards and allow my daughter to finish the rest. Once the sorting process is complete, she can check her work for mistakes. In order for her to do a self-assessment, I put stickers on the back of the cards.

As an extension or additional activity, this is one of my daughter’s favorites.
Other land, water, and Air hands-on activities

Another idea for a similar activity is to sort geographical pictures of water and landscape. You can find my free printable for water and land activity from the Free Resource Library here.


Here a 3-year-old child is building the Earth using green and blue block pieces to distinguish between land and water parts.

Children enjoy building land and water forms using rocks and have a sensory play with toy animals. Here we used two shallow containers, a jug, blue food coloring, rocks & shells, land and water forms posters and sorting cards, and toy animals to create this hands-on exploration.

Earth Preschool Pack – Continents, Land & Water Forms, 3 Part Cards
All about the Earth learning activity pack for preschool children aged 3-6. The earth-themed activity pack contains printables to create a wide range of hands-on experiences for young children.

Students will practice phonics, building and recognizing teen numbers, cutting, push pinning, identifying continents, lands, and water forms, widening their vocabulary, learning about characteristics of the earth, practice developing logical thinking, learning about moon phases and layers of the earth, and so much more.
The printable features realistic clipart and photographs.
Here is what’s included:
- Instructions and activity variations
- Phonics – initial sound sorting cards (five cards for each letter, feature photographs)
- Land and water mats – fine motor activity with building blocks
- Seasons – sorting cards (six cards for each category, feature photographs)
- Land, water, air – sorting cards (seven cards for each category, feature photographs)
- Land and Water Forms – playdough mats and sorting cards (feature clipart and photographs)
- Land and Water Forms – 3 part cards, definition cards, and student booklet (feature clipart and photographs, backline clipart)
- Land and water forms included in the printable: lake, island, cape, bay, peninsula, gulf, strait, isthmus, system of lakes, and archipelago.
- Teen number cards and backline booklet – counting, identifying, and matching quantity and symbols
- Continents of the world (Montessori color-code) – different styles included – eastern and western hemispheres, different world map styles, outlines and color versions of continent outlines, world maps with labels (including oceans) and without labels
- Continents of the world 3 part cards and backline booklet
- Continents of the world – cards for
- push pinning
- Continent cutting strips
- Layers of the Earth chart and playdough mat
- Storytelling with visual prompt
- Phases of the Moon – (southern and northern hemispheres) charts, 3 part cards, student backline booklet
PURCHASE THIS RESOURCE HERE OR
find it on Teachers Pay Teachers
Earth Day - Children's Books and Learning Resources
Natural Wonders of the Continents Montessori Sorting Cards
Calendar Mobile for Children in Watercolor with Moon Phases Montessori
The Continents 3 Part Cards World Maps Blackline Masters Montessori
Land and Water Forms 3 Part Cards Playdough Mats Land Air Water Sort Montessori
All About the Earth Pack Continents Land & Water Forms Montessori
Earthworm Life Cycle and Parts of the Earthworm
Animals That Help Humans Survive
Seven Natural Wonders Of The World
Peace Around the World - Multicultural Printable
Montessori Printable for Preschool Children Colours in Nature
Eco Learning Preschool and Kindergarten Activities
Helpful for the Earth Vs. Harmful for the Earth - Sort
Earth Has the Things We Need to Live - Montessori Nature Printable
Layers of the Earth 3 Part Cards Poster Student Booklet
Earth Day Vocabulary Cards

The Earth Loves Me
This book honors the wonderful natural elements of Earth, from tall mountains to low valleys, from oceans to fields of flowers and the animals that live here too. The child in this book marvels at the gifts nature offers her and the fun she can have in it: the wind whispers secrets, the grass tickles her feet, and the flowers remind her that life is sweet. Terrill Martinez’s poetic words about the Earth we love, and that loves us back, come to life in the beautiful and colorful illustrations from talented artist and illustrator Elsa Escoto.

Worm Weather (Penguin Core Concepts)
Join in the rainy-day fun, as kids splash through the puddles, affecting another weather enthusiast, a nearby worm. An imaginative and playful story, readers will love seeing the worm delight in the weather just as much as the kids.

This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the World (Easy Reader Books, Children Around the World Books, Preschool Prep Books)
In Japan, Kei plays Freeze Tag, while in Uganda, Daphine likes to jump rope. While the way they play may differ, the shared rhythm of their days—and this one world we all share—unites them.
This genuine exchange provides a window into traditions that may be different from our own as well as mirrors reflecting our common experiences. Inspired by his own travels, Matt Lamonthe transports readers across the globe and back with this luminous and thoughtful picture book.

Earth and Space Science Grade 2: 5-Book Set (Science Readers)
Give students an understanding of important Earth and space science topics with this 5-book set! These nonfiction books will introduce second-grade students to scientific concepts such as the water cycle, landforms, erosion, and more! Each book provides a "Let's Do Science" hands-on activity that is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and supports STEM Education. These books include easy-to-read informational text, vibrant images, and text features, such as a glossary and an index, to keep readers engaged as they develop science content-area literacy. Titles in this set include: Landforms, Water Bodies, Rocks and Minerals, Weathering and Erosion, and Water Cycle.

Hello, World! Planet Earth
Toddlers love to learn about the solar system. Here's a book all about our amazing planet Earth, with easy-to-understand facts about countries, continents, oceans, landforms, habitats, and Earth's place in space.
Hello, World! is a series designed to introduce first nonfiction concepts to babies and toddlers. Told in clear and easy terms ("Light from the sun makes the moon shine") and featuring bright, cheerful illustrations, Hello, World! makes learning fun for young children. And each page offers helpful prompts for engaging with your child. It's a perfect way to bring science and nature into the busy world of a toddler, where learning never stops.

Why Should I Recycle? (Why Should I? Books)
Part of every child's development involves asking questions. Today, some of the most important questions kids ask are related to the natural environment. The enlightening and entertaining four-book Why Should I? series demonstrates the importance of protecting nature. Books present brief, entertaining stories that answer children's questions and feature amusing color illustrations on every page. A note at the back of each book is for parents and teachers, suggesting ways to use these books most effectively.

Heal the Earth (Julian Lennon White Feather Flier Adventure)
Jump aboard the White Feather Flier, a magical plane that can go wherever you want. This time, Lennon’s full-color interactive book immerses children in a fun and unique journey where they can:
Bring medicine to people in need!
Dive below the ocean to bleached coral reefs!
Visit the city to cultivate green spaces!
Help the rain forest return and give its animals a home!
Explore the planet, meet new people, and help make the world a better place!

Planet Earth for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Water, Air, and Life in Our Ecosphere
Have you ever wondered what makes the weather change? Or how mountains, rivers, and valleys get their shapes? Answer these questions and more with Planet Earth for Kids! You’ll explore how our planet became the perfect home for all its plants and animals and how our air, sun, water, and dirt make planet Earth unique.

Earth Day Coloring Book for Kids: An Awesome Collection of Images of the Earth and Nature to Celebrate Earth Day!
Do you love the Earth and caring for it? Do you wish you had an awesome and unique coloring book? Are you looking for a coloring book for Earth Day! Well, look no further, this is the book you need!
Our brand new 'Earth Day Coloring Book for Kids' has been expertly created to provide children with an exciting coloring experience for the special day, filled with awesome images of the Earth and nature you are sure to have an absolute blast!

GLINGLONG Life Cycle Kit Toy Montessori - Realistic Figurine Toys, Kids Figure Animal Match Set with Frog, Ladybug, & More - Includes 6-Piece Animals, Educational & Fun Matching Game for Children 3+
Life Cycle Matching Card Set: Contains 6 sets of plastic animals including Chicken, Frog, Ladybug, Bee, Butterfly, and Turtle! It helps demonstrate the life cycle of animals with beautiful 3D designs that entice kids to learn!

Save the Ocean (Save the Earth Book 1)
From exciting and adventurous to educational and captivating, Bethany Stahl's immersive stories express heartfelt messages while engaging parents and children. With beautiful and charming illustrations, as well as a lovable sea turtle named Agwe, this is a book adults will love reading over and over again with their kids. Save the Ocean has a heartwarming lesson of recycling and conservation that will stay with the reader for a lifetime.

Trees Make Perfect Pets: A Story About Nature, Plants And Gardening For Kids
An endearing and environmentally friendly story about a girl's unlikely best friend...a tree!
Abigail is determined to get the perfect pet.
So shechooses Fido. He keeps her cool from the sun, stays where she tells him, and even gives her air to breathe. That's because Fido is a tree!
But not everyone thinks having a tree as a pet is a good idea, though, especially when Fido starts to grow. Will Abigail be able to keep her perfect pet?

Earth Day: An Alphabet Book
Children and adults will delight in Earth Day, a litany of gratitude that celebrates earth's diverse species, from apricots to groundhogs to junebugs, from quahogs to zinnias, zucchini and zebras with bright and whimsical illustrations. In alphabetical order, the wonders of nature arise from the page, reminding readers that every day is a reason to give thanks and that miracles are as simple as ABC.

The Earth And I (Rise and Shine)
This story celebrates friendship that one child has with the Earth. They play together, listen to each other, and nourish each other. But when the Earth is sad, the child is sad--so he finds a way to make his friend, the Earth, happy.

Our Planet! There's No Place Like Earth (Our Universe Book 6)
From writer Stacy McAnulty and illustrator David Litchfield, Our Planet! There's No Place Like Earth is a nonfiction picture book about the Earth, told from the perspective of Earth herself.
Meet Earth. Planet Awesome! And your awesome home! Actually, Earth is home to all the plants and all the animals in the solar system, including nearly eight billion people. Humans have accidentally moved Earth's climate change into the fast lane, and she need your help to put on the brakes. Earthlings need Earth, and Earth needs Earthlings, so let’s save Earth together!

The Fascinating Science Book for Kids: 500 Amazing Facts! (Fascinating Facts)
Do you love dinosaurs and dolphins, mountains and meteors? The Fascinating Science Book for Kids has it all! This fun facts book for kids includes 500 stupendous science facts that offer hours of learning for ages 9 to 12. Alongside full-color pictures on every page, you’ll find weird and wonderful facts about topics like prehistoric life, the deep sea, weather, minerals, the human body, the solar system―and even your own backyard!

What Does It Mean to Be Green?: A Picture Book about Making Eco Friendly Choices and Saving the Planet! (Earth Day Books, Recycling Books for Kids)
Discover all the ways that children can help protect the Earth and its precious resources in this brand new edition of the empowering and award-winning What Does It Mean to Be Green! Features all new artwork and updated facts, tips, and more
What does it really mean to be green? The answers might surprise you! From turning off the water while you brush your teeth to walking to the park instead of driving, and even recycling or reusing old artwork, there are all kinds of things kids can do to help keep the earth clean and healthy!

One Earth
Celebrate our planet and discover easy ways to take care of it with this picture book that's perfect for budding environmentalists and nature lovers.
Kids can count reasons to love the planet and ways to protect it in the pages of this conservation-themed book. Gentle verse reminds the reader of Earth's beauties--starting with "one wide sweeping sky, two honey bees" and continuing all the way to "ten fields to plow." The text then starts counting backwards, listing simple ways children can help, such as reducing waste and reusing items.

My Friend Earth: (Earth Day Books with Environmentalism Message for Kids, Saving Planet Earth, Our Planet Book)
Celebrate Earth Day with this valentine to our wonderful planet from the Newbery Award–winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall.
Our friend Earth does so many wonderful things! She tends to animals large and small. She pours down summer rain and autumn leaves. She sprinkles whisper-white snow and protects the tiny seeds waiting for spring.

Earth Day Every Day (Cloverleaf Books ™ ― Planet Protectors)
On Earth Day, we find ways to help the Earth. Trina plants trees with her class. She forms an Earth Day club with her friends. What can you do to make every day Earth Day? Do your part to be a planet protector! Discover how to reduce, reuse, recycle, and more with Tyler and Trina in the Planet Protectors series, part of the Cloverleaf Books™ collection. These nonfiction picture books feature kid-friendly text and illustrations to make learning fun!

Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth
Teach kids to compost and help them develop life-long habits to protect the Earth. From apple cores to zinnia heads, readers will discover the best ingredients for a successful compost pile in this fun picture book perfect for Earth Day!
Kids everywhere are seeking knowledge about the environment and climate change. Not only is composting becoming more common in households and residential gardens, but many school gardens feature compost piles, too.

Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years (Our Universe, 1)
Prepare to learn all about Earth from the point-of-view of Earth herself! In this funny yet informative book, filled to the brim with kid-friendly facts, readers will discover key moments in Earth’s life, from her childhood more than four billion years ago all the way up to present day. Beloved children's book author Stacy McAnulty helps Earth tell her story, and award-winning illustrator David Litchfield brings the words to life. The book includes back matter with even more interesting tidbits.

This Class Can Save the Planet
This Class Can Save the Planet shows students they can have an incredible impact on the environment when they work together. It offers easy ideas kids can implement right away in their own schools and classrooms. This book is perfect for educators and schools because it gives simple, straightforward advice on how to be more sustainable in daily classroom life. It's a perfect book for Earth Day, Earth Month, or any other time of the year to help kids establish good habits.
thank you for posting this interesting post, i really like your post