The Upper Elementary curriculum is a dynamic continuation of the work and studies from the previous levels. This next level of education guides the students as they move away from more concrete, fact-based learning, into an age of abstraction and reason. Fueled by exceptional strong imaginations and a desire to understand how things work, the Upper Elementary Students are well prepare for a curriculum that challenges them with advanced ideas in literature, history, science, mathematics, and language.
As the students continue through what Dr. Montessori called the Intellectual Period, they develop intellectually, socially and morally, as active participants in their classroom communities and their own learning. Hands-on learning, coupled with more abstract work, discussions, and experiential education, create a balance of learning experiences for the active minds and bodies of the Upper Elementary student.
Group work is highlighted throughout the curriculum, to create a productive and positive outlet for their very social students. Ongoing independent work is also vital, and allows students to challenge themselves, hone organizational skills and build a solid foundation of academic skills.
Peace, Grace and Courtesy, Service Learning
The peaceful resolution of conflicts continues to be a goal in the Elementary classroom. The older the students become, the better they are able to resolve disputes on their own. Teachers are available to facilitate discussions between students, but props like a “talking stone” can aid students in resolving conflicts independently.
Acting with grace and courtesy toward others is modeled by the adults, and courteous behavior and consideration for others is expected of Elementary students. Children can help one another remember to use polite language and that their actions affect others. Elementary students participate in a number of community service efforts over the course of the year, such as a Thanksgiving Food Pantry, “Read to Feed” for Heifer International, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. All students are taught to be responsible to their peers and community through their words, actions, and deeds.
Practical Life
Elementary students engage in building practical skills such as cooking, gardening, taking care of environment, managing their materials and time, and organizing activities. Each student is accountable for completing class work in the time allotted and confers with teachers weekly to chart progress. As children move forward, they are given increasing responsibility in planning and executing their weekly tasks. In Upper Elementary, students’ practical life lessons include technology, and they learn and practice on-line research, keyboarding, email, and internet safety.
Language
Language is the foundation upon which we build all other elementary studies. We present the child with the practical tools for encoding and decoding words, sentences, and paragraphs, yet it is never seen as an isolated exercise. With a more sophisticated level of language comes greater refinement in its use. While students continue to benefit from concrete experience with concepts in grammar and mechanics, they explore the study of language as an on-going creative process of research, ideas, and imagination.
Math
As students transition from Lower to Upper Elementary, they will experience a sense of familiarity with most of the manipulative, and be introduced to new ones. Once they internalize a specific math concept, they can then move on to abstract problem solving. In addition to the manipulative, we use Montessori Made Manageable, which is a sequential set of worksheets that cover the elementary program math curriculum. They are used for both class work and homework in a supplementary nature, along with various textbooks and workbooks that compliment specific concepts and skills.
The use of mathematics arose thousands of years ago as a tool to meet a fundamental need for order and as a practical aid in daily life situations. Only later were rules applied. Students use materials to work toward the abstraction of math concepts, naturally formulating rules and formulas themselves. Traditionally, the study of mathematics starts with the rules and the drills follow. According to the Montessori method, the rules are points of arrival, not departure. Through the student's own effort, internalization of abstract concepts is achieved.
Geometry
Traditionally, the study of geometry is undertaken in later years as an abstract series of rules, theorems, and propositions. Maria Montessori saw geometry as firmly rooted in reality, and built a curriculum for lower elementary students that uses concrete, sensorial experimentation, leading students to concepts through their own creative research. Although sophisticated in content, geometry at the upper elementary level continues to be well grounded in concrete experiences with manipulative materials. In this way, etymology is discovered, relationships and concepts are explored and researched, and the child's conclusions serve as a basis for theorems, proofs, and formulas.
Science
The Upper Elementary Science curriculum is based on the Full Optic Science System. FOSS is a hands-on approach to science that is compatible with the Montessori philosophy and motivates and stimulates curiosity.
Students are introduced to many ideas and topics in science over the course of the Elementary years. Some introductory topics include chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology, and meteorology. More advanced study includes the scientific method, the periodic table of elements, atomic structure, biochemistry, photosynthesis, mechanics, electricity, and human biophysics. Topics in biology include the comparative study of vertebrates, botany, classification, microbiology, evolutionary biology, and human biology.
Students learn to think scientifically by investigating, experimenting, gathering data, organizing results, and drawing conclusions based on their actions and observations. Follow-up questions to weekly experiments motivate students to think about new ideas and help them realize connections to other areas of study. Recall questions get them to remember information. Integrating questions get them to process information. Open-ended questions get them to infer, create, and solve problems. Thematic questions help them realize connections between scientific ideas and processes.
In addition to these FOSS modules, students study both environmental and ecological science in preparation for a three-day overnight trip to Nature's Classroom.
Geography, History, Social Studies
Students continue to study geography in more detail. The structure of the Earth, physical geography, political geography, and mapping are included in the Elementary curriculum. The history and social studies curriculum strives to introduce ideas that students can really ponder. The origin of the universe, the formation of Earth, the fundamental needs of human beings, the history of writing, the measurement of time, early and modern humans, ancient civilizations, and American history are all introduced and studied.
World Languages: Spanish
All Upper Elementary students take Spanish. The Spanish program is designed to enable students to speak and write their basic thoughts and questions in a second language. The curriculum utilizes a combination of speaking, writing, and activities that are often based on music, art or total physical response. Students learn to express themselves in a second language environment that promotes confidence and creativity.
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts program seeks to foster creativity, problem solving, and self-expression as it relates to each child's level of development from early childhood to middle school. Art lessons use a variety of auditory, kinesthetic, and visual components. Students are encouraged to experience the art process as each concept is presented utilizing a variety of 2-D and 3-D materials to help them truly absorb and understand the lesson's objectives. Lessons include drawing, painting, sculpture, collage making, and print making.
Music
Elementary students study concepts such as beat, meter, rhythm, tempo, and pitch recognition and develop the ability to listen to, discover, and understand rhythmic and harmonic elements. Students regularly demonstrate their performance skills for the entire school community at School’s Celebrations and the End of the Year Concert.
Movement Arts
The ultimate goal of the Movement Arts program is to assist all children along the path to lifetime physical fitness, which aligns with our holistic mission. The benefits of this journey are many: health, longevity, positive body image, improved overall self-esteem, and increased energy and concentration in all areas. All students from early childhood to middle school participate regularly in movement arts classes and activities.
Athletics
All sports curriculum units include stretching, running, basic movements, and games. Students participate in skill building games focusing on developing team building, learning individual strengths and areas for development, self-discipline, coordination, balance, endurance, sportsmanship, overall fitness and skill building for specific sports.
Students are introduced to a variety of games and exercise, throwing and catching, relay races, obstacle courses, and drills. They also learn the fundamentals of soccer, basketball, and flag football building to the ability to scrimmage and play games.
Theater Arts
Theater Arts expands the abilities of Elementary students to understand others and communicate through language and action. Theater activities require students to take risks, make decisions, and develop a focused awareness of whom and what is around them. Dance, music, visual art through improvisation, storytelling, mime, playmaking and playwriting, directing, management, design, and technical theater are all used to enrich the classroom experience. Elementary students showcase their talents at the School’s Performance.
Library and Technology
The Library supports the curriculum and educational programs of our Elementary students, helping them expand their knowledge base and providing meaningful lessons in the use and practices of a library. Students learn to locate resources and conduct research to deepen their understanding of particular topics.
Research on the Internet must be preceded by research in other books so the student can become familiar with the concept of key words, related subjects, etc. Computers are most useful in the middle school and upper elementary class at the present time. At the upper elementary level, students can use computers to publish reports and stories and to pursue subjects of interest.
Field Trips
Montessori Pathways Elementary students enjoy a variety of off-campus experiences, traveling to places such as the various museums, Chicago Botanic Garden, Challenger Center, Nature Center, City Hall, Raue Center for the Arts, Ice Rink, Yoga Place, Martial Arts Studio.
Montessori Elementary students learn to trust their own initiative and abilities, take responsibility for their work, and become self-motivated learners. By gaining respect for themselves, others, and the environment, children develop the desire and ability to continue learning throughout their lives.
"Within the child lies the fate of the future."
