Primary Curriculum
Practical Life
The Practical Life curriculum is designed to foster self-control, independence, confidence, and self-esteem in children. These exercises include Care of Self, Care of Environment, Control of Movement and Grace and Courtesy. The child performs exercises such as hand washing, buttoning, pouring, watering plants, preparing snacks, sweeping, saying please and thank you, and much more. These Practical Life exercises give children sense of order and attention to detail. By repeating these exercises, children develop concentration, hand eye coordination and fine motor skills. Practical life exercises are the foundation of future learning.
Sensorial
Sensorial activities focus on the development of sensory perception. Materials are designed to isolate one defining quality such as color, weight, shape, texture, size, smell, and sound. For example, the activity the Pink Tower compares the visual quantities of large and small. Concepts include: Geometric Solids (shapes), Red Rods (size), Knobbed and Knobbles Cylinders (gradation), Pink Tower (gradation), Color Box 3 (color intensities) Thermic Bottles (hot /cold) Mystery Bag, and Sound Cylinder.
Sensorial materials also equip the child with the ability to comprehend abstract mathematical concepts like geometry and algebra.
Language
Language development starts at a very early age. Dr. Montessori emphasized that children from birth to age six are in the age of the absorbent mind. During this time, children are able to learn language simply by living around others who are using language. Montessori classrooms incorporate both spoken and written language into the environment to further enrich this early learning.
In our Montessori classroom, we sing songs and poems so children hear and experience language in a fun way. Language activities starts with sound games, naming objects, and learning the sounds of letters. Once children have an understanding of basic sounds, they begin to use a material called the Movable Alphabet in which they blend the sounds to make words and sentences. We have many books where children can practice reading and comprehension. Children are encouraged to use the books to get answers to their questions, whether they are about insects, dinosaurs, or planet earth.
Mathematics
In Montessori classrooms children learn abstract mathematical concepts like addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication using hands-on materials. For example, Number Rods correspond to numbers and gradually increase in length unit by unit. Children learn odd and even concept by using materials called Cards and Counter. Other lesson series introduce and further develop math concepts and skills. These Montessori materials are necessary for laying the foundation for counting and arithmetical operations. Our classroom is equipped with age appropriate materials for children to understand and practice.
Geography and Science
Geography in a Montessori classroom is introduced initially as a sensorial manipulation. For example, children use maps as a puzzle map, and later they build on that by learning the names of the each continent. Geography lessons begin with what the child already knows, and gradually move towards the unknown. At Sprout Montessori children are given opportunities to explore the materials and study in depth about continents, countries, language, food, clothes, etc. We may invite guest speaker to talk about different cultures and traditions.
Music and Movement
Music and Movement are an integral part of our curriculum. The children learn to sing songs, rhyme, finger play, clap with the steady beat, and so on. Music is a form of self-expression and it is also a way to link different parts of the curriculum (for example, combining music with a geography lesson). Children are given the opportunity to practice musical instruments like maracas, hand bells, tambourines, and rhythm sticks.