Lower Elementary Curriculum Overview
When a child reaches the age six, they have begun to understand the world in which they live. They become more conscious and aware of things, than before. The Montessori environment is designed to build skills in all areas of learning. What is unconsciously absorbed, become conscious. The love of learning is cultivated, and more research based learning is encouraged. Children will have a clear understanding of the natural world. Montessori education, will not only help the child’s skill building, but, go beyond to developing the whole person.
Children are presented with Dr. Maria Montessori’s five Great lessons, in sequence, from the beginning of time, through the modern days. The lessons are as follows:
- The story of the universe
- The timeline of life
- The story of language
- The story of numbers
- The timeline of civilization
The lessons are presented in sequence. It becomes logical to children that each event that took place in the Universe, happened for a purpose, and how everything that happened, contributed to the modern day.
Traditional approach is to teach the facts in all subject areas. In a Montessori, reading, writing and comprehension skills are based on researching information and writing about your research.
Mathematics in Montessori education, is based on the math skills, children acquired, from learning with the usage of Montessori Didactics. They have built their skills by learning concepts and not through memorization. Montessori Didactics are presented in a manner that will help the child with concrete visualization of Algebraic and Geometric operations .Children are able to think abstractly when moving to upper grades. The materials used for basic Arithmetic in the primary grade, are reinterpreted to learn Algebra in upper elementary.
Numerical quantities, numerical symbols, place value, odd/even, concept of zero, rounding, larger than and less than.
Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division concepts and operations, math facts, exploration of numerical patterns.
Concepts of fractions, naming/vocabulary, equivalence, study operations with alike denominations, intro to mixed numbers.
Linear, time, money,( value, adding and subtracting, shopping) temperature, weight
Shapes,(lines, angles ,planes ,figures.) Solids, polygons, congruency, similarity, equivalence.
Word problems and critical thinking, estimating, graphing, patterns and relationships.
Time ( calendar, clock, timelines). Creation myths, evolution, prehistory.
The big bang theory, Origin of the Universe .Three states of matter. Energy, laws of attraction and gravity, sun and the solar system, The five kingdoms of life, external and internal parts of the body functions of plants and animals. Classification and nomenclature.
Continents and Land and water forms. Countries and capitals. Flags and map markings.