Upper Elementary

“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.” —Maria Montessori

Students in Upper Elementary are in the second half of the developmental stage known as the second plane of development. As in Lower Elementary, this is an age when children become more aware of and interested in the world around them, and have an intense hunger for knowledge. Children at this age often experience an increase in self-discipline and in their sense of morality. The movement from concrete to abstract thinking continues to progress as the child’s mental powers expand. Logic, reasoning, and imagination advance. Upper Elementary students are eager to use these newly discovered powers to explore the world beyond the classroom, and you will often see them working with our chickens, planting in the garden, and building community in their “forts.”

  • Age Range: 9 to 12 years
  • Class Size: Up to 34 students
  • Number of classrooms: 1
  • Number of years in classroom: 3 years
  • Guides: 4 guides

Our Curriculum

Each year Lower Elementary begins with the First Great Lesson:  The Coming of the Universe and the Earth.  It is a story that ignites the imagination and students love to hear it over and over.  This story, along with The Coming of Life and The Coming of Human Beings, sparks the imaginations of Lower Elementary students. The Great Lessons are the foundation on which to build, and students can begin to explore new subjects, such as astronomy, geology, the history of early humans, and the classification of animals.

Montessori’s Math and Language curriculum provide the academic foundation of Lower Elementary education.   In addition, students in Lower Elementary have time in their three-year cycle to delve deeply into subjects such as atoms, matter, space, astronomy, plate tectonics, geology, fossils, the human body, animal classification, the water cycle, botany, simple machines, physics, magnetism, and electricity.

Students also participate in the ongoing study of geography, including maps and continent studies.  Each year brings new continents to research, focusing on both cultural and physical characteristics.  Environmental studies are also an important focus for the Lower Elementary Community.  Recycling, conservation, and composting are an ongoing and everyday part of Lower Elementary life.

Lower Elementary students enjoy an enriched and stimulating environment, participating actively in class activities. Through our twice-weekly community meetings they have a voice in solving problems or expressing opinions. The students busily gather foundational knowledge and learn how to organize their time and work toward becoming productive, organized, and cooperative members of their community.

The Lower Elementary Community continues to enrich itself through studies in Music, Visual Arts, and Spanish.

© Copyright – Nature’s Way Montessori School | Photography by Nancy Belden.