Curriculum
Grace & Courtesy
Grace and Courtesy education is essential to our curriculum. These lessons build a foundation of basic social and communication skills. During this stage of development children are learning to form friendships and social connections. We encourage positive interactions by helping to navigate conflict resolutions and problem solving techniques. With these practices, children will become independently successful when working through conflict while learning kindness, respect, and compassion.
Practical Life
Practical Life materials and activities develop order, coordination, fine and gross motor skills. These materials provide meaningful tasks and ‘real world’ experiences to a child’s day. Distinctive groups of Practical Life exercises develop a deep joy to care for themselves, others, and the environment.
*Care of the Person: These activities guide children to develop personal independence. Activities include: hand washing, zipping, fastening buttons, tying, and getting dressed independently.
*Care of the Environment: The Montessori classroom is well organized and tidy. Children take pride in the responsibility to care for their classroom space. Care of environment activities include: window washing, dusting, plant care, flower arranging, sweeping and mopping.
*Snack and Food Preparation: Our classroom has a designated snack area. The teachers prepare the snack for the morning work period and organize the area in a way so children can serve themselves independently. We have a variety of food preparation skills presented throughout the year such as: banana peeling and slicing, spreading, measuring ingredients, making apple sauce, soups and exploring different types of recipes.
Sensorial
Dr. Montessori said, “The senses…open the way to knowledge. Our apparatus for educating the senses offers the child a key to guide his explorations of the world”.
-The Absorbent Mind.
The Sensorial shelves are colorful, beautiful and inviting. The sensorial materials are mathematically precise, selfcorrecting and designed to refine a child’s senses through exploration of: size, shape, color, weight, smell, pitch and texture. These materials help a child compare, order, organize and classify things based on how they feel, look, smell, sound and taste. Children love the Sensorial area and will choose materials from these shelves repeatedly.
Language
Building a strong language foundation is key to a successful journey toward reading and writing. Language lessons begin by developing and enhancing oral language skills through fun experiences such as: stories, songs, poems and conversations with peers. Letters are presented sensorially and taught phonetically. Reading lessons will quickly follow and progress as the child becomes an emergent reader.
Many Montessori materials indirectly prepares a child for writing by building a strong pincer grip and control of the hand. A variety of writing materials are always available and accessible.
Geography-Cultural Studies
“Maria Montessori believed it was important to study what humans have in common to instill in the child a greater sense of belonging to the universe. By examining the similarities and differences of humans around the globe, we build a sense of connection to all human beings.” –The Montessori School
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We provide lessons of cultural appreciation. We explore different traditions, customs, music and foods from all around the world. We explore different habitats and animal life. Map puzzles and globes identify places around the world. These lessons provide a deep appreciation for the Earth and compassion for all life.
Math
Mathematics in the primary classroom move from concrete to abstract mathematical concepts. Materials in the math area provide a Sensorial experience. For example: the child can see the small and large groupings of quantities and feel the differences of weight when comparing different quantities. Children explore one to one correspondence and label numbers with the appropriate numeric symbol. Children learn of combining numbers to make teens, tens, hundreds and thousands and with those lessons; children move toward addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions.
Science
The science curriculum in the Montessori classroom is designed to develop a child’s natural sense of wonder and curiosity. Botany, zoology, biology and life cycles are explored through sensorial experiences. In our classroom, the science materials relate to a theme or topic the class is exploring.
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Music Enrichment
The music curriculum is incorporated into many opportunities throughout our days with the children. The ukulele, guitar or piano is played by a teacher to accompany the songs during circle gathering. Our class will joyfully learn songs to reflect transition times such as: cleaning up, lining up and thankful lunch time songs. We have a variety of musical instruments the class will explore throughout the year. We take time to learn the history of each instrument, how they are made and how they are played. We will take time to listen to different genres of music and find appreciation for music from all around the world. We will even explore different types of dances and, most excitedly, host classroom dance parties!
Art Appreciation
The Art Area will provide different types of art exploration, projects and independent creative materials. Our art shelves will be prepared with different styles of art techniques to practice. An easel and painting materials will always be provided and ready for a child to use. We will discover different artists and their methods of art throughout the year.
