 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Our Curriculum
The Primary Class for preschool students provides a prepared environment to
meet the needs of each child. Children work individually and cooperatively
with materials that engage their curiosity through the senses. Each child has
the freedom to explore and to observe. Our aim is to develop in the child a
love of work and a joy in learning.
The variety and progression of experiences gained through working with the
Montessori materials enable the child to refine and classify his or her already
existing sensory impressions. The manipulative materials engage the child
with numbers and language, writing and reading, art and music; these are tools
of abstract reasoning and communication and are the basis of self-directed
learning and creative imagination. In addition to Montessori lessons, our
program also incorporates thematic units and exposure to the computer.
Children receive instruction in the following areas:
1. Practical life- Exercises include care of self, care of environment,
development of social relations, and movement activities. These exercises
promote independence and pride, and they link home and school. In addition
to being appealing to the child, these activities help in the development of
concentration, large and small muscle groups, and logical and orderly thinking.
Many exercises indirectly prepare the child for later work in reading and
writing.
2. Sensorial- Materials are designed to encourage sensory exploration of the
world by helping the child isolate, refine, compare, and classify perceptions of
sounds, smells, colors, textures, sizes, and shapes. Sensory exercises help the
child develop cognitive skills and progress naturally to a variety of activities,
such as art, music, geography, mathematics, language, the sciences, and plant
and animal studies.
3. Language- The prepared environment provides opportunities to develop
oral language and vocabulary, the foundation of language study. Phonetically
taught lessons gradually encompass all forms of language and are designed to
develop clarity of thought and speech. These lessons include letter sounds
and formation, written expression, reading, punctuation, elements of grammar,
spelling, children's literature, and dramatization. Many obstacles to reading
and writing have been isolated and addressed through earlier work in the
Practical Life and Sensorial areas.
4. Mathematics- The Montessori approach to teaching mathematics is a
basic one; concepts are built on each other and no concept is taught in
isolation. Through sensorial based Montessori manipulatives, we begin by
introducing the child to concrete objects The child then naturally progresses
to incorporating symbols and understanding more abstract ideas. The
curriculum goes from learning quantities to learning the decimal system, and
then continues on to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The
curriculum also introduces the child to measurement, geometry, fractions, and
telling time. Through curiosity and exploration of numerical and geometric
relationships, the child discovers that most everything in mathematics is
related.
5. History, Geography, and Culture- Children learn about the continents of
the world, the countries of these continents, and the different cultures around
the world. Children are indirectly exposed to history through discussion and
to stories of famous persons and places. Many concepts are discussed in the
context of language study.
6. Physical and Life Sciences- Science experiments and observations are
done daily. Children study botany, zoology, and astronomy inside the
classroom and outdoors through nature walks, animal and insect study,
observation, and gardening.
7. Music, Art, and Movement- Music and art are a part of our everyday
curriculum. Children sing, learn rhythm and movement, play instruments, and
learn cultural music throughout the day. Large and small motor groups are
exercised and coordination is learned through a variety of activities, including
outdoor play, ball play, yoga, walking on the line, and music/movement
activities and marches. Music study includes an introduction to famous
composers and their works, and also includes an introduction to notes and to
the scale through the bells. Creative art is offered as part of daily classroom
activity. Children are exposed to different artists, art history, and a variety of
art techniques. Our goal is to focus on the process, not on the product.
Children regularly take part in cooking activities.
8. Grace and Courtesy- Grace and courtesy activities are designed to
promote harmony between the child's mind and body, and are designed to
promote an awareness of self and others. Lessons are presented so that
children can learn how to carry themselves and communicate. Drama is used
as a teaching tool to demonstrate positive ways of relating to others. Children
learn to establish and maintain social relations and a peaceful working
atmosphere.
The Primary Class for preschool students provides a prepared environment to
meet the needs of each child. Children work individually and cooperatively
with materials that engage their curiosity through the senses. Each child has
the freedom to explore and to observe. Our aim is to develop in the child a
love of work and a joy in learning.
The variety and progression of experiences gained through working with the
Montessori materials enable the child to refine and classify his or her already
existing sensory impressions. The manipulative materials engage the child
with numbers and language, writing and reading, art and music; these are tools
of abstract reasoning and communication and are the basis of self-directed
learning and creative imagination. In addition to Montessori lessons, our
program also incorporates thematic units and exposure to the computer.
Children receive instruction in the following areas:
1. Practical life- Exercises include care of self, care of environment,
development of social relations, and movement activities. These exercises
promote independence and pride, and they link home and school. In addition
to being appealing to the child, these activities help in the development of
concentration, large and small muscle groups, and logical and orderly thinking.
Many exercises indirectly prepare the child for later work in reading and
writing.
2. Sensorial- Materials are designed to encourage sensory exploration of the
world by helping the child isolate, refine, compare, and classify perceptions of
sounds, smells, colors, textures, sizes, and shapes. Sensory exercises help the
child develop cognitive skills and progress naturally to a variety of activities,
such as art, music, geography, mathematics, language, the sciences, and plant
and animal studies.
3. Language- The prepared environment provides opportunities to develop
oral language and vocabulary, the foundation of language study. Phonetically
taught lessons gradually encompass all forms of language and are designed to
develop clarity of thought and speech. These lessons include letter sounds
and formation, written expression, reading, punctuation, elements of grammar,
spelling, children's literature, and dramatization. Many obstacles to reading
and writing have been isolated and addressed through earlier work in the
Practical Life and Sensorial areas.
4. Mathematics- The Montessori approach to teaching mathematics is a
basic one; concepts are built on each other and no concept is taught in
isolation. Through sensorial based Montessori manipulatives, we begin by
introducing the child to concrete objects The child then naturally progresses
to incorporating symbols and understanding more abstract ideas. The
curriculum goes from learning quantities to learning the decimal system, and
then continues on to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The
curriculum also introduces the child to measurement, geometry, fractions, and
telling time. Through curiosity and exploration of numerical and geometric
relationships, the child discovers that most everything in mathematics is
related.
5. History, Geography, and Culture- Children learn about the continents of
the world, the countries of these continents, and the different cultures around
the world. Children are indirectly exposed to history through discussion and
to stories of famous persons and places. Many concepts are discussed in the
context of language study.
6. Physical and Life Sciences- Science experiments and observations are
done daily. Children study botany, zoology, and astronomy inside the
classroom and outdoors through nature walks, animal and insect study,
observation, and gardening.
7. Music, Art, and Movement- Music and art are a part of our everyday
curriculum. Children sing, learn rhythm and movement, play instruments, and
learn cultural music throughout the day. Large and small motor groups are
exercised and coordination is learned through a variety of activities, including
outdoor play, ball play, yoga, walking on the line, and music/movement
activities and marches. Music study includes an introduction to famous
composers and their works, and also includes an introduction to notes and to
the scale through the bells. Creative art is offered as part of daily classroom
activity. Children are exposed to different artists, art history, and a variety of
art techniques. Our goal is to focus on the process, not on the product.
Children regularly take part in cooking activities.
8. Grace and Courtesy- Grace and courtesy activities are designed to
promote harmony between the child's mind and body, and are designed to
promote an awareness of self and others. Lessons are presented so that
children can learn how to carry themselves and communicate. Drama is used
as a teaching tool to demonstrate positive ways of relating to others. Children
learn to establish and maintain social relations and a peaceful working
atmosphere.
| "The child has one intuitive aim: self development. He wants to do and see and learn for himself, through his senses and not through the eyes of an adult. The child who accomplishes this becomes a full person. He is educated." -Maria Montessori |
| Please email Sonia Kelly at SKelly@BlueRiverMontessori.org or call (781) 834-4480 for more information. |
| Blue River Montessori School Duxbury, Massachusetts |
