Sometime after her sixth birthday, the child begins to exhibit physical, social and intellectual changes signaling readiness to transition into the Elementary class. The Montessori Elementary program builds upon the experiences gather during the Primary years while growing to meet the changing development needs of the older child.
Cosmic Education is the term Dr. Montessori used for the elementary curriculum, as the subjects in the Montessori Elementary classroom encompass the Universe and everything within.
A series of five Great Lessons are stories that appeal to the imagination of the Elementary-age child while serving as a springboard into the vast curriculum of the Montessori Elementary program. The
Creation of the Universe story leads to explorations into political, economic and physical
Geography. Through the
Coming of Life story children begin delving into
Life Science and the study of zoology, botany and ecology. The
Coming of Humans story introduces the subject of
History following human culture and civilizations from the Paleolithic era through current events.
Language is introduced by the story of
Communication in Signs, as the children learn about literature, grammar, creative and expository writing.
Communication in Symbols leads the children into
Mathematics and Geometry with the Montessori materials offering a deep and concrete understanding of abstract concepts. With the integration of art and music into the daily work of the classroom, the learning environment reflects the interrelatedness of all things, animate and inanimate, in the Universe.
Through hands-on work with the Montessori Materials, student-generated research project and “Going Out” experiences, the Elementary-aged child becomes as active member of her community and an increasingly global thinker.
Everything invented by man, physical or mental, is the fruit of someone’s imagination. In the study of history and geography we are helpless without imagination, and when we propose to introduce the universe to the child, what but imagination can be of use to us? Maria Montessori