玛利亚·蒙特梭利在《发现儿童》一书中这样写道：“孩子们是自然最伟大的自发的观察家，无疑他们需要拥有对其采取行动的物质。对生物热枕的关心能满足儿童心灵中的一种最活跃的本能。”在童年时期，孩子需要从自然中获取力量以发展其身心。

'Children are the greatest spontaneous observers of nature, and undoubtedly they need the materials to act on it. The warm and sincere concern for the biology can satisfy one of the most active instincts of the child's mind.' Maria Montessori wrote this in Discovering Children.  During childhood, child need strength from nature to develop his mind and body.

作为人类，我们的生活自古就与自然关联，不仅是物质需要，也有对美的追求。自然是神奇的，有生命的生物、山川、湖泊、空气、地势、气候、季节等条件构成了它多变的景象。自然用丰富的形状，缤纷的色彩，向我们传递着生命或活泼或热烈或死亡或生机或温暖……的信息，世界最美的景象都在自然中展现，它们是孩子最初的审美教育。

As human beings, our life has been connecting with nature since ancient times, not only for material needs, but also for the pursuit of beauty. Nature is magical, its changeable scenes are made up of living creatures, mountains, lakes, air, terrains, climates, seasons and other conditions. Nature uses its rich shapes and colors to pass on messages of vividness,enthusiasm,death, warmth etc. The world's most beautiful scenes are displayed in nature, they are the children's initial aesthetic education.

说到自然，让我们回忆与它拥抱时的感觉，是否会有一种由心底生出的舒适和敬畏，惊叹大自然的鬼斧神工，好奇着它的成长，自然犹如巨大的宝箱，等着我们去发现探索。孩子更是如此，亲近自然是与身俱来的天性，每一次的发现仿佛能带给他们更多探索的欲望。他们有着十分的好奇去探索周围的一草一木，发现雨后草丛里的那小小蜗牛；亲近盛开的向日葵；认识失去生命的小蜜蜂；享受柚子剥开时成熟的芳香……探索中的孩子永远是精力满满的。

Speaking of nature, let us recall the feeling when we embrace it, do you have a kind of inner comfort and awe? We are amazed at the extraordinary works of nature and curious about its growth. Nature is like a huge treasure box, waiting for us to discover and explore.

This is even more so for children, they have inborn instinct of closeness to nature. Every discovery seems to bring them the desire to explore more. They are very curious to explore everything of surroundings: the small snails in the grass after the rain; the blooming sunflowers; the little bee that lost her life; the ripe aroma of pomelo when it is peeled...Children are always full of energy when they are discovering.

在蒙特梭利的教室中，植物作为大自然的缩影，是幼儿认识自然的重要伙伴。

在进行照顾类工作过程中（例如，给动物喂食、清洗植物叶子······），孩子们会观察小动物进食的过程，欣赏叶片那干净的活力······从照顾自己成长为能照顾动物与植物，这种成长是心智的成长，引导孩子从思想中理解自然。

在通识区认识与探究自然现象、动植物、天文地理等，进而去了解更广阔的宇宙。比如：了解一株植物，包括它的根、茎、叶、花、果实等；

总之，蒙特梭利教师不断的丰富着教具，以帮助孩子由浅入深的了解自然的神奇。

当然，自然不会只局限于教室，我们仍向往着在自然中奔跑，享受被自然包裹的感觉，感受大自然与人的连接。

In Montessori classrooms, plants as the epitome of nature, which are important partners for children to understand nature .In the process of caring works (for example: feeding animals, cleaning plant leaves...), children will observe the process of animals eating, and appreciate the clean vitality of leaves. They learn how to take care of animals and plants from taking care of themselves. This is the growth of the mind, leading children to understand the nature from the mind.

In the general learning area, we recognize and explore natural phenomena, flora and fauna, astronomy and geography, etc. and then to understand the wider universe. For example: understand a plant, including its roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, etc.

In short, Montessori teachers continue to enrich the teaching materials to help children understand the wonders of nature from the simple to the deep.Of course, nature is not limited to the classroom, we still yearn to run in nature, enjoy the feeling of being wrapped by nature, experience the connection between nature and human.

在蒙氏教育里，自然是不可缺失的存在。我们期望和引导着，孩子在接受自然给予的同时，能够从中感受生命的不易，没有破坏，而是学会珍惜和爱护。这也应该是每一位蒙特梭利追随者一直的责任与追求。

In Montessori education, nature is indispensable. We adults expect and guide, children can feel life is not easy in the acceptance of nature simultaneously . Children learn to cherish and love. This should also be the responsibility of every Montessori follower.