The areas within the Preprimary Montessori Classroom include:
Sensorial. This area is designed to help refine the senses of your child. Use of the sensorial materials encourages each child to make comparisons and form judgments about qualities present in objects. Specific language is given to help identify, classify and categorize.
Everyday Living. This area is set up to provide each child with a wide variety of activities that will enhance concentration, coordination, order and independence. The activities promote self-help skills, eye-hand coordination, among other proficiencies.
Language. This area provides a well-designed approach to help develop and refine skills necessary for reading. The students receive a strong foundation in phonics. Language and vocabulary development are encouraged.
Mathematics. This area gives each child the opportunity to learn the meaning of numerals. The concrete, manipulative materials provide a solid foundation in the otherwise abstract world of numbers.
Art. Daily opportunities are provided to the children to express themselves creatively at the easel or through the use of other art materials.
Geography. The children are introduced to their world through the use of concrete materials such as globes, puzzle maps and flags. Through our parent-volunteers, cultural presentations are made to the children which help create an awareness of the diversity of the cultures represented within our environment. This is further enhanced with exposure to music and art from other countries and cultures.
Science. The students are exposed to a variety of fundamental scientific concepts through physical science experiments, the studies of zoology, botany and our solar system.
Music. Daily activities provide both group and individual experiences such as singing, instrument playing, bell matching and listening stations.
Gross Motor. Opportunities are provided daily – either in our spacious outdoor play space or inside our special activities room – at the end of class time.
Other Activities. We host special guests and presentations at the school each year: School House Symphony visits three times each year and Mother’s Nature makes special educational presentations that focus on topics that have been addressed within the classroom (e.g. Native Americans, Johnny Appleseed, Spiders, Insects, Human Body, Sea Life, Reptiles, Birds)
We also go out! We take at least two field trips each year with the entire preprimary population. We typically visit a Pumpkin Farm and another Farm (animal or dairy). Kindergarteners take several more field trips together as a group during the school year. These are educationally based and are considered a special privilege for this group.