|
Welcome to the Lower Elementary
Class
“The elementary child has reached a new level
of development. Before, he was interested in things:
working with his hands, learning their names. Now he
is interested mainly in the how and why…the problem
of cause and effect”
Dr. Maria Montessori
 Our
class is a working community of children and adults.
The environment spans three age levels of six to nine
years (grades 1 – 3). Younger children are continuously
inspired by the older students’ work, while older
students revise and enhance their skills as they mentor
younger students. The multi-aged group setting also
provides for individual differences. The elementary
class provides diverse opportunities for social growth,
while challenging growing imaginations.
The elementary program emphasizes critical thinking,
problem solving and research skill development. Students
expand their knowledge in a wide range of academic subjects;
building on the skills and social abilities that they
developed in the primary classrooms. Their interests
now soar into all areas of learning, and our classroom
reflects this exciting new stage of development.
Throughout the elementary years, students are guided
from concrete learning, through the use of manipulative
concrete materials, to reasoning, questioning and thinking
abstractly. The materials engage the children visually,
auditorially and kinesthetically. Students are given
a great deal of free choice in determining their educational
paths, with supportive limits.
Academic subjects are integrated into a comprehensive
program designed not to teach, but to allow children
to learn at their own pace. The elementary curriculum
includes the following areas:
Each year, our work in the elementary class begins
with five important stories, called the “Great
Lessons”. These stories dramatize known facts
about the universe and the progression of human civilization.
Through dramatic stories, experiments, charts timelines,
and illustrations we center the children’s interests
by helping them create a picture of the whole universe
at work. From here, our classroom opens up to endless
possibilities as students follow their own particular
interests with a large measure of freedom. This unit
of study forms the backbone that integrates our daily
curriculum.
The Great Lessons are part of what Montessori called
“ cosmic education”. This is the child’s
gradual discovery of how all things on earth in the
past, present and future, are interrelated. Through
this work, the children develop a greater global vision
of their world.
The elementary language curriculum emphasizes creative
and expository writing, interpretive reading of literature
and poetry. We focus on word study, spelling, grammar,
punctuation, penmanship and capitalization. Research
skills are introduced, practiced through individual
project work and refined as students work with a wide
range of research materials. Students practice and use
their reading and writing skills throughout the curriculum.
Students further enhance their reading, critical thinking,
and writing skills through participation in the Junior
Great Books reading program.
Click
here for the Great Books Homepage
The mathematics curriculum is presented with concrete
materials, which reveal arithmetic, geometric, and algebraic
connections. Work with the Montessori mathematics materials
ensure that mathematics is not simply memorized, but
understood.
We extend the children’s knowledge of decimal
system as they explore its quantities & qualities.
Students practice operations of addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division. We study number hierarchy,
fractions, decimals, negative numbers, squaring &
cubing. Throughout math work, we are continuously applying
what we learn to how it relates in daily situations.
Elementary students continue exploring geometry on
a sensorial level. Students gain a strong understanding
of fundamental geometric concepts through consecutive
lessons with Montessori materials. Students begin with
a study of congruency, similarity & equivalence,
preparing them for later area and theorem work. We introduce
the study of lines, measurement of angles and the construction
of geometric figures.
History work in the elementary class begins with the
development of the solar system, and early life on earth.
Students study aspects of early civilizations, the development
of humankind, and recorded history. Students learn how
the contributions of humankind throughout history have
brought us to where we are today.
Elementary students extend their knowledge of continents
and countries with further research about the people,
language and culture of different lands. Map work continues
with the study of geographical features and landforms.
In this area, the children's natural curiosity is
stimulated through discovery projects and experiments,
from which they draw their own conclusions. The first
science experiments are designed to give the children
basic knowledge, which will help them to understand
the development of the solar system, the earth and its
configurations, life on earth and the needs of plants
and animals.
 Specialists
in Spanish, music, and physical education also instruct
all elementary students on a weekly basis.
Elementary students learn to trust their own initiative
and abilities, take responsibility for their work, and
become self-motivated learners. By gaining respect for
themselves, others, and the environment, children develop
the desire and ability to continue learning throughout
their lives.
"Within the child lies
the fate of the future."
|
