AMS Montessori Elementary Program:

Before entering the Elementary program, the student should have attended a Casa Montessori program for three years. The six year old student, who has attended a Montessori program for at least three years, has the advantage of knowing how to read and write, count, add, subtract, multiply and divide and has developed an interest in science, geography and history. In special circumstances, consideration will be given to a student who has completed less time in a recognized Casa Montessori program, once a consultation with the parent and the student has been conducted.

The years that a student spends at the “Casa” level (ages 2½ to 6) give the student keys to the world.  The Elementary environment gives keys to the universe, time and space. The skills of writing and reading become invaluable tools for researching all that pertains to humanity. The skills of “practical life” gained during the Casa years will help the student to achieve an orderly exploration of life, through books and the community environment.

ELEMENTARY MONTESSORI CURRICULUM OUTLINE

Language

Grammar, spelling, word study, handwriting and creative writing are studied and developed. The Language program will help to further develop confidence in reading and self-expression which will, in turn, help a student with all aspects of learning in every other subject and at every level.

Mathematics

The foundation for number work is laid at the Casa level. The student at the Elementary level works with materials that will illustrate more complex mathematical concepts and operations. The students learn more advanced addition, subtraction, multiplication and division equations. They also learn fractions, decimal fractions, metric measurement, graphing, time-lines, and how to solve word problems. By working with the hands-on Montessori materials, the student is able to grasp very complex ideas. Through practice and reinforcement, the learning process progresses toward a more abstract level, where the student is capable of solving problems with only a pencil and paper.

Geometry

The geometric solids, triangles, angles and the relationship between figures and shapes are all studied throughout the Elementary Montessori program. Students work with both plane and three-dimensional geometric shapes. They learn the properties and characteristics of shapes, work with lines and angles and construct for themselves an understanding of advanced geometric principles.

Science – Botany and Zoology

The Elementary students are very interested in the world and its inhabitants and they have a thirst to find out why things behave the way that they do. The Elementary Montessori Science curriculum includes a detailed study of the plant kingdom: the parts of the plants and their function, classification and genealogy. Real plants are brought into the classroom for experiments
and dissection to help the students answer the questions of “how and why”.
The students also study the animal kingdom in great depth. The classification of animals, a comparison of the vital functions and the genealogy of different animals are all of great interest to the elementary student. Through their work, the students discover that humans are only a very small part of the living world. They also see how humans relate to the living world and the effect that they have upon it. The students have access to modern scientific apparatus in our fully equipped laboratory.

Geography

The universe, the solar system and the earth are studied throughout the Elementary Geography program. The students enjoy learning about the laws of gravity, inertia and friction, the forces of attraction, and the elements of matter. Various charts and hands-on experiments are used to enhance and clarify the lessons. Students study the movement of the earth and its relation to the sun. This leads to knowledge of the season, climatic differences and changes throughout the world, latitude and longitude and the various time zones. As part of the study of the earth, the children learn about the formation of the earth, the layers, rocks and minerals, mountains, the atmosphere, winds, clouds, the oceans and the water currents, water and the laws of nature, erosion by water, ice and wind, the river, glaciers and the water cycle. The students also learn about human geography and they discover how climate and vegetation effect the way of life. The students gain knowledge of the world around them and understand how vast our universe is.

History

In History, the students first learn about and develop a concept of time (past, present, future), the clock and the calendar. They look at their own life from birth to present. They begin a thorough study of the history of the earth and humankind by working with the Time Line of Life (the development of life from the beginning of time), the Time Line of Humankind I (the development of man), the Time Line of Humankind II (human development in detail), and the Time Line of the Progress of Civilization. Through the study of other civilizations, the students discover a common link and develop a sense of unity. The various time lines help the students to understand how much humankind has accomplished in a relatively short amount of time and our potential for the future.

In the Montessori Elementary program, all subject areas are linked. This allows the student to understand the “togetherness” or “unity” of the universe and how we as humans are intertwined. 

The student discovers that we all strive for the same things – unity and peace.