Elementary Program (The Intellectual Period )
(Ages 6 to 9 years)
Cosmic Education:
Maria Montessori called her plan for the elementary child the "Cosmic Curriculum." "Cosmic" in this context means comprehensive, holistic, and purposeful. The goals of Cosmic Education go far beyond the usual goals of skill development and knowledge acquisition to address the development of the whole person. Children who complete the Cosmic Curriculum have a clear understanding of the natural world, of human knowledge, and of themselves. These children are prepared to leave childhood behind and to enter adolescence as independent, confident, responsible, emotionally intelligent individuals, balanced in physical, intellectual and social achievements. They are academically and practically prepared to pursue self-education in many areas; to make responsible decisions and act on them in a responsible way; to recognize limits and give, ask for, and receive help, as needed.
As your child approaches the end of her/his third year in the Primary class, I know that you are giving careful thought as to whether or not to continue with Montessori. Having seen my two children blossomed in Montessori and beyond, I want to encourage you to remember that an investment in a fine education pays the best dividends. In the elementary Montessori program at Noble World Montessori School, your children will have the opportunity to learn absolutely amazing things!
One of the things that you will see when you enter our elementary classroom is joy, excitement and enthusiasm. These are not children who are given workbooks and simplistic assignments to do over and over again. These will normally become deeply engaged in work that they will find interesting, meaningful, and often intriguing.
You will find that the elementary Montessori curriculum is highly enriched and challenging.
It is organized into three streams:
- The first stream is the Mastery of Fundamental Skills and the acquisition of Basic, or Core, Knowledge. During the elementary years, Montessori students study all the basics found in a traditional curriculum, such as the memorization of math facts, spelling lessons, and the study of vocabulary, grammar, sentence analysis, creative and expository writing, and library research skills. But there is so much more to Montessori than the "Basics"! Elementary Montessori students explore the realm of mathematics, science and technology, the world of myth, great literature, history, world geography, civics, economics, anthropology, and the basic organization of human societies.
- In this second stream of the Montessori curriculum are found what we call the "Great Lessons". These are key areas of interconnected studies that are traditionally presented to all elementary Montessori students. They are in inspiring stories and related experiences and inspiring research projects. They include the story of how the world came to be, the development of life on the Earth, the story of humankind, the development of our language and writing, and the development of mathematics and technology. They are intended to give children a "cosmic" perspective of the Earth and humanity's place within the cosmos.
- The third area of the Montessori curriculum is Individually Chosen Research. As their proficiency in reading and composition grows, elementary Montessori students are encouraged to explore every topic that captures their imagination. Students rarely use textbooks. They do a great deal of independent reading and library research. They gather information, assemble reports and portfolios and handmade books of their own, and teach what they have learned to their friends. Their oral presentations and written research reports grow in sophistication and complexity over the years.
At the elementary level, learning will continue to be a hands-on experience, as students learn by trial, error, and discovery.
The old familiar Montessori materials continue to become more sophisticated. For example, in mathematics, the advanced elementary Montessori materials move on to more complex and abstract concepts in mathematics, such as long multiplication and division, operations with simple and decimal fractions, geometry, and pre-algebra.
The learning materials which students work with in the elementary program are very exciting. For example the Timeline of Life tells the story about the history of the Earth beginning with the Big Bang and the formation of the stars, leading down to the geological eras of Earth's history and the emergence of life over the millennia. These Great Lessons engage children and then sends them off to do all kinds of research, which they are allowed to do at their own pace. When students are excited about something and feel connected to it in their environment, that's where real learning takes place, and that's where Montessori shines.
Montessori helps children to be flexible, self-disciplined, independent learners and self-actualized adults. We all want our children to be able to say, "Whatever I have to master or learn, I can figure it out, I can find the information, I can learn it, I can apply it." That is essentially what we strive to nurture in the elementary program.
What is the Elementary Program like?
- Our Elementary curriculum supports academic experience, exploration, and individual progress, while providing for the social and imaginative development so vital to children 6-9 years old.
- With guidance from teachers, students take ownership of their academic journey and play an important role in designing their own educational plan.
- Learning takes place in varied ways, including direct instruction by the teacher, individual and group work with peers, and independent efforts by the students.
- Students use concrete, hands-on math materials to work toward the abstraction of math concepts, naturally formulating rules and formulas themselves.
- Students develop language skills which include research, outlining, report writing, public speaking, and project work.
- Cultural studies offer children a panoramic view of the universe and a sense of humanity across time.
- Spanish, French, art, music, and movement are available to all children on a regular basis. Library and technology resources are also available to each child.
- Age-appropriate time management skills are integrated into the curriculum.
- The value of work is not so much determined by results as by the process the child has used to attain the result; it is the journey, not the destination that matters most.
Who attends the Elementary Program and when?
- Our Elementary Program encompasses one multi-age levels for children 6-9 years old which is equivalent to grades k1-k3
- Upon completion of Elementary program our children are ready to attend any national public or private Middle School.
- Our program hours are 8:30 a.m.–3.00 p.m.
- Noble World offers before and after school programs 7:00a.m.–6:00 p.m.
At Noble World, we value academic, social, and practical skills. While high standards are upheld in all areas, a love of learning for its own sake is essential to our school's philosophy.
- Academic progress is observed according to a specific sequence of skills in each subject area.
- Conferences are held twice per year to discuss your child's progress. Parents are encouraged to schedule times to observe their child's class during the year.
- Teachers will always arrange a time to talk with you if you have any concerns.
- Parent meetings and educational seminars that focus on Montessori education at each level of child development are an integral part of our school's culture.
- At end of the third year all elementary students take nationally recognized standardized tests. We view test results as one assessment tool, to be considered as one piece of the entire body of a student's school work.
What are the results of the Elementary Program?
Our Elementary students…
- become confident, self-respecting individuals who possess a love of learning.
- learn to initiate and complete work independent of constant teacher’s direction.
- progress from concrete experiences to abstract awareness.
- seek real understanding, and study to learn, not just to get good grades.
- tend to be leaders, helpers, and creative thinkers, as well as problem solvers.
- take responsibility for themselves and for each other.
For more information, consult our Elementary Curriculum »