The Elementary Montessori classroom for children ages 6-9 is simple, beautiful, and ordered to meet children's needs. Montessori teachers create an environment that fosters independence, self-discipline, and concentration.
The Elementary Montessori classroom invites the children into what Montessori called Cosmic Education: "...the fundamental principle in education is correlation of all subjects, and their centralization in the cosmic plan.".
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Language
The exploration of communication begins in elementary. The child has begun purposeful writing, speech and is now capable of reading. The focus is now on grammar, word study and writing. A variety of stories, both old and new, spark the imagination and propel the student toward expression. Grammar boxes which focus on noun, verb and other parts of grammar allow for concrete exploration of language. The children record words and their meanings through the study of synonyms and antonyms, compound words and word families. Sentence analysis helps the children to see how the parts of grammar fit together. The language rich environment allows the child constant engaging context to the world through reading and writing of stories, group work, singing, poetry, listening, and speaking.
Mathematics
The elementary child is now ready to explore the largeness of the world. They love to explore in extremes! Concrete exploration of the number system and the hierarchy of numbers into the millions, are shown through Golden Beads. Further exploration with operations occurs as the child manipulates materials such as the stamp game, bead frame and checkerboard to prove addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems. Fractions are introduced through metal insets that provide concrete representations of a whole through a tenth. Measurement, time, and space are all studied by a combination of story and material. The Elementary classroom allows the child to journey from the concrete quantity to the abstract algorithm.
History
Through the Great Stories the children journey from the creation of the Universe to modern man. Timelines are introduced as a method of measurement. They demonstrate the passage of vast ages from the beginning of Creation through the modern age. This includes the study of Dinosaurs! Correlation of one event in time to another begins as they research topics of their interest. Presentations of their topics of research instruct all of the children in a variety of subjects. A key aspect of history is the appreciation for those who came before us! Thus the children are introduced to the idea of Needs of Man. What did they do and how did they do it? The classroom cannot contain all of the answers, therefore “Going Out” or “Coming In” gives a child the opportunity to explore the world to find answers to their questions.
Biology
Geology, Botany and Zoology are presented and studied as purposeful and beautiful gifts from God. Through observation and study, inside and out of the classroom, children are encouraged to explore their world. They learn to categorize and classify plants, animals and rocks. How was the Earth formed? What is the impact of the Elements upon it? Observation of plants leads to exploration of the parts and their functions. Animals are classified, their parts are named and the children realize the amazing characteristics through research and observation. Language, Math, Geometry and History are all intertwined into the investigation of Biology
Geography
The study of the Earth and its formation piggybacks with the study of History and Biology. Stories ignite their curiosity and produce questions that are in need of answers. The children are presented with a variety of experiments that allow them to see first hand how the various formations began. Volcanoes come alive! Concrete examples of mountain formation or ocean currents allow the child to see and manipulate a vast concept!
Geometry
The measurement of the Earth (“Geo” and “metron”) is presented with concrete materials to explore very abstract concepts. Through stories, the children hear how humans created solutions to their very real problems. Geometry is all around them! Children are given concrete materials in 2 and 3 Dimensional examples to explore. Lines, angles, polygons and circles are presented to the children through concept, story and material. Nomenclature, measurement and relationship are presented in a variety of ways to the child to capture the idea of the very vital role they play in our world.
Music
Music is a need that God has put on Man’s heart to soothe, and to stir, the soul. Singing daily connects the children to their Faith as well as History. Language, through song, allows for manipulation of words and sound. Children are connected to music and it becomes a part of them! By listening to and creating music children are forming concrete relationships with each other. It is the fabric which brings cultures together! Study of various types of music, of the nomenclature of the parts, of genres of music and their composers, children are able to dive into a deep and beautiful subject.
Art
Another Pillar of our culture and need of Man is beauty. Artistic study through genre, artist, or by exploration of material happens in the elementary classroom. The children are given a vast menagerie of artistic materials to discover the ways in which humans create art. Beginning with early humans the children see how Man needed art to communicate. This was one aspect of Man’s first Language! From Cave drawings to Monet the children are given various encounters with the creation of art.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
The elementary child is now focused on justice, morality and “right or wrong”. In Catechesis of the Good Shepherd the Second Plane Child is given ways to follow The Good Shepherd through Maxims. The twelve short sayings from Jesus such as “Love one another” are food for thought and prayer. The children will copy them using calligraphy, illustrate and even memorize them. Some of the presentations in Level II are History of the Kingdom of God, Prayer, the Mystery of the Incarnation, the Mystery of the Kingdom of God Parables, the Paschal Mystery, the Holy Bible, the Sacraments of Eucharist and Baptism.