Elementary Program

The Elementary Experience

The elementary program offers a continuum built on the Primary experience. The environment reflects the needs of children in the Second Plane of development and offers what Dr. Montessori refers to as Cosmic Education, which is the tool designed to meet these needs. The objective of Cosmic Education is to spread humanity’s knowledge before the child and the method provides the whole first with the parts, or details following thereafter. Cosmic Education helps the child learn how they fit within the universe by finding answers to big questions, such as “How do I relate to living and nonliving things?” At this level, the Montessori philosophy, methods, and lessons are designed to show the child their responsibility towards the world we inhabit.  

The philosophy of Cosmic Education is enacted at the start of each academic year with the Five Great Story Lessons: The Creation Story, The Coming of Life, The Coming of Human Beings, The Story of Language, and The Story of Numbers.

Studies are integrated not only in subject matter but also in the manipulative materials. The role of the Elementary guide is to facilitate an interdisciplinary elementary program where no subject is taught in isolation. Our elementary program is a six-year plan with a course of studies that includes life and physical sciences, history, geography, English language, mathematics, geometry, art, music, and Spanish.

Classroom work is enhanced through “Going Outs,” which are trips outside the school to local museums, nature centers, libraries, and theaters in search of further enhancements to the curriculum or the child’s personal study. Throughout these years, students increasingly learn how to manage their own studies and time, having been given opportunities to make choices and act independently during these important formative years.

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The Elementary Program is a 5-day a week, full day program from 8:30 am - 3:15 pm