ELEMENTARY CLASS (ages 6-9+)

The elementary classroom is a continuation of your child's Montessori education. In the elementary classroom, children perfect what they have learned in the primary classroom. The Montessori language, mathematics, botany/zoology, history/geography programs do not use textbooks and workbooks, instead we use materials developed by Maria Montessori and carried on by her son, Mario and his collaborator, Camillo Grazzini. We encourage research work using reference books. We put a strong emphasis on cosmic education which shows the child the interconnectedness of the immediate environment and the world around him.

Most of the elementary materials are hand-made by the administrator, Ditas McHugh, and are one of a kind. These materials were created by her and are copyrighted with the Library of Congress. Our materials capture the elementary child's imagination. 

The elementary child is a person that wants to know everything about everything. He has many interests and hobbies and wants to do well in just about anything that he chooses to do.

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  • MATHEMATICS AND GEOMETRY: The children re-encounter almost all the same materials that they have seen and worked on in the primary classroom. But again, the work proceeds from the simple to the complex. They are presented more advanced materials as the children  grow in the knowledge of mathematics and geometry. 
     
  • LANGUAGE, READING, WRITING: The children expand their knowledge of language and writing. As always, reading is encouraged inside the classroom and at home. The children learn the different parts of the sentence, analyze sentences, are encouraged to write paragraphs and stories, and so much more. The children learn the difference between fiction and non-fiction, different forms of literature from fables to legends and mythologies. The older children learn about different writing styles, such as that of Milton and Shakespeare and up to contemporary American writers. 
     

  • BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY: In this program, the children learn the difference between living and non-living. Under living things the difference between vertebrates, invertebrates, and different plants; under non-living things they learn about rocks and minerals. They also learn the different animals that compose the animal kingdom as well as the different plants that compose the plant kingdom. The children also learn about the evolution of life on Earth and that of Man. In addition, they work on the different systems of the human body. They also learn how to keep themselves healthy by eating the right types of food, exercise, and how to keep safe. 

  • HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY: In this program the children learn how the universe started and the development of Earth, the planet on which we live. We teach the children the historical perspective of how language, art, music, agriculture, industry, and other human activities evolved. We team geography with history which lets the children see how we have come to this point in time. Geography is important because it puts us in a particular location when talking about history. When we teach history and geography it is as if we let the children travel through time and space. They are able to explore history and geography through hands-on materials.