Learn

Schoolhouse Montessori Elementary Curriculum — Learning through Real-Life Experiences

“Our aim is not only to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his innermost core.” – Maria Montessori

Schoolhouse Montessori elementary children explore a rich curriculum that integrates subjects through meaningful, real-life projects. Individualized and classroom instruction begins in the concrete and moves to the abstract. Since class materials are always available, children return to them until lessons are mastered. Students fine-tune their social skills through discussions of dignity, self-respect and conflict resolution. We promote a peaceful atmosphere, where some children are working alone, while others are in small groups — and it changes throughout the day. While an overall calmness is evident, so, too, is the lively sound of children actively engaged in learning.

Cosmic Education

Dr. Montessori’s Five Great Lessons allow children to understand the societies of the world and how civilizations have evolved. We study the Story of the Universe, Story of Life on Earth, Story of Man, Story of Numbers, and the Story of Language. These lessons guide our curriculum in science, culture, geography and history, with children creating their own monthly presentations as a culmination of their learning.

Language Arts

Reading, writing, speaking and listening are keystones of our elementary curriculum. As students become fluent readers, they move to comprehension and critical analysis. Students learn advanced writing skills, mastering not only penmanship, but also the craft of excellent writing and research.

Math

Our elementary students move away from sensorial materials once they understand how addition, subtraction, multiplication and division operations are performed. Then, they begin to do math on paper, learning fractions, decimals, geometry, money and measurement.

Science

Geology, botany, zoology, weather, anatomy, and astronomy come alive through projects and experiments. For example, after students master botany cards and know the parts of trees and leaves, they visit a park to investigate living specimens. Children learn scientific methods through hands-on applications and then discuss how and why experiments turn out the way they do.

Practical Life

Practical life skills emerge through real-life projects. Students learn about home economics, plan menus with foods grown in the school garden, and do sewing and cooking projects. They also work with tools and make simple repairs. Parents are vital to this aspect of the curriculum, volunteering their time to help students learn new skills.

Enrichment Courses

Students experience music, art and drama, participate daily in physical education and creative movement, and have opportunities for foreign language lessons. Technology is integrated into all subjects, with students learning keyboarding, word processing and use of the Internet for research.

Geography/Cultural Studies

Students begin learning the names of the countries and capitals, and expand to study cultures of the past and present, including customs and traditions. Students study land and water forms, and climate and weather patterns.

History

Elementary students begin to understand abstract concepts like the passage of time. Students learn about the past through concrete materials, scientific demonstrations and experiments about how life on earth began and how plants and animals evolved. Students study family history and pursue special family projects, while also learning local and Michigan history.

“There is in the soul of a child an impenetrable secret that is gradually revealed as it develops.” – Maria Montessori