Lower Elementary

Full Day Program                                    8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Extended Day Program                         8:30 AM to 6:00 PM

Early Care is available from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM

The Lower Elementary Classroom

An elementary Montessori classroom is a community. Is a multi-age, stimulating environment with materials that invite exploration and research. Children learn to face challenges with confidence, and begin to find their own place in the world. The elementary teacher provides the child with a prepared environment, the materials, and the information to discover the interconnection of the universe.

 “The elementary child has reached a new level of development. Before he was interested in things. Now he is interested mainly in the how and why…the problem of cause and effect.” 

       – Maria Montessori

Montessori School of Orlando Elementary Program is based on respect for the mind of a child and his/her intellectual independence. Children in the Lower Elementary (ages 6-9) group are starting to realize that the world is a big, interesting place. They are primed to study continents, cultures, scientific concepts, and great literature. The classroom is their second home and the world becomes their classroom. 

Our elementary curriculum is based on the correlation of the Common Cores State Standards and the Montessori “Cosmic Education.”  The carefully developed elementary curriculum guides the child through identifying, classifying, and researching all of the fascinating concepts in each chosen field of study. The areas of Practical Life, Language, Math, Geometry, Botany, Zoology, Geography, and History are represented in the classroom through materials that lead the child to abstraction of the fundamental concepts in each area. 

Elementary children plan and record their work using a weekly work plan. The child has the freedom to choose their own work at their own academic level, as well as the ability to choose to work with another child or in a group.  The children keeping track of their own work helps them take responsibility of their learning and allows the teacher see which presentations have been done and which need to be completed.

Language and Practical Life

The language area includes a comprehensive spelling curriculum, word study (including antonyms, synonyms, homonyms, compounds, and parts of speech), creative writing, and research skills. 

Reading of every kind is highly encouraged as children are introduced to poetry, folk tales, non-fiction, and classic literature. Children are also given many opportunities to read aloud – giving a presentation they have written or dramatizing the work of another author. 

Practical life is integrated with the day-to-day care of the classroom community. Tasks may include the cleanliness of the floors, tables, and shelves, watering of the plants, taking care of  class pets, and preparation of the daily snack. Elementary children dust the shelves, organize and straighten the learning materials, sweep,  vacuum, and keep the classroom neat and clean.

Mathematics

The mathematics area begins with the Golden Bead material to teach beginning math concepts such as place value, quantity/symbol association, concrete addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division. 

The math materials bring a “hands-on” experience to the classroom, with children learning through self-discovery, trial and error, and learning from other children. The materials move the child to an abstraction of math concepts, including problem solving, fractions, borrowing and carrying (exchanging), graphing, measurement, long division, and algebraic equations. Actual wooden shapes are used to master the terminology of all of the plane figures and solids in Geometry. 

Matching cards are used to introduce types and positions of lines, types and positions of angles, and special characteristics of shapes. Experimentation with other materials leads children to their own discoveries of spatial relationships, including congruence, symmetry, and equivalency. 

These are all major concepts that the child will apply in real life situations.

Cultural Studies

The cultural studies include a variety of biological studies such as zoology and botany. 

The use of matching cards helps the children to learn the characteristics of the many living organisms, plants, and animals. Children also work on charts for the different kingdoms. After this first knowledge is gained, children begin to research on their own, using their knowledge of a specific plant or animal species. 

Geography and history lessons include the study of civilizations and countries. Wooden puzzle maps of each continent are studied, with children learning the names, flags, animals, biomes, cultures, and geographic features of different countries. History begins with the study of time, including clocks, calendars, and timelines. As the various fundamental needs of humans are explored, the children research and chart changes in these needs over time and across cultures. 

The integration of other languages and cultures are also part of our studies and research. Spanish is taught and practiced in class. Children get to work with matching cards, sing songs, and write words in Spanish.