Curriculum

Practical Life Area

The Practical Life area of a Montessori classroom allows the child to learn to take care of themself and of their physical surroundings. The child learns how to set the table, prepare their own snacks, clear and clean the table, wash dishes, tie their shoes, zip and hang jackets, and clean up after themselves. A child in this age group desires to be independent and learn how to do these things for themself. This section of the classroom was designed with the specific purpose of helping the child gain the independence they so much desire. The environment is safe and conducive to exploring, helping them grow in self-confidence.

Sensorial Area

In the Primary classroom, the child will learn to assimilate, understand, classify and comprehend the world that surrounds them. The sensorial area materials uses all the senses: Smell, sound, taste, sight and touch to put the student in direct contact with their environment, and to transform abstract concepts into concrete realities. The manipulatives found in the sensorial area are the foundation for the future development of skill.

Language Area

The materials in the language area provide a full range of language-acquisition opportunities, which include sight words, linguistic materials, hands-on learning experiences such as sandpaper letters, and phonics. The materials approach language acquisition from a variety of angles, such as visual, auditory and kinesthetic, which make learning language attractive to the different learning styles of the child.

Mathematics Area

The mathematics area offers the child the opportunity to physically “experience” math through manipulative materials. The Mathematics area includes concrete materials such as the counting beads for counting to 1,000, the concepts of place value, beginning addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fraction materials, as well as basic problem solving exercises. They start with concrete mathematics and this gives the child the foundation to progress to more abstract concepts later in their educational life.

Science and Geography

Cultural Studies is a key element of the Primary classroom, and it is here that the child covers material such as basic geography, physics, botany, anatomy and zoology. In this section of the classroom, the child will learn about the solar system and earth, the animals and plants that live on earth, as well as the different cultures of the world. This is done through puzzle maps, music, food, song, and flags for different countries as part of the learning of Cultural Studies.