Lower Elementary

The Lower Elementary curriculum builds on the academic foundation and  skills established in the primary program. The classroom is a carefully prepared environment, designed to facilitate abstract learning for students in first through third grade. Each student is encouraged to work to the level of their personal best and challenge themselves to pursue independent work and study.  Students continue to experience the advantage of working together in a multi - age environment. The teacher guides the student’s intellectual growth with the aid of the Montessori didactic materials, which are available to the students for their continued use. The curriculum includes four key areas – language, math, cultural studies and the arts.

The key areas of lessons are language, math, history/geography, science, the arts and physical education.

  • The language area develops reading skills and reading comprehension strategies. The curriculum includes literature discussion groups, vocabulary development and the study of grammar and spelling. Writing skills are developed through the teaching and use of the writing process. Students are introduced to cursive writing. The study of Spanish is an important part of the language program.

  • The study of math focuses on building a strong foundation in mathematical  processes of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.  Word problems are an integral part of the math program. Didactic materials continue to be used in the teaching of mathematical concepts. These promote a deep understanding of each idea so that students are well prepared to think and reason.

  • Cultural studies include the disciplines of science, geography and history. Science topics are always accompanied with laboratory experiments to allow students hands on experiences.  Areas of study include our earth, air, water, the development of life and an introduction to botany, biology, chemistry, physics and zoology. The geography curriculum includes the study of each continent, its countries, regions, physical geography, language, culture, economy, government and history. The area of history includes a broad study of the history of man on earth with a concentration on each major human civilization. American history is a particular area of focus.

  • The creative arts are both integrated into the student’s classroom work as well as offered by teachers, expert in their field of specialty. Instruction includes exposure to the principles of drawing, painting, sculpture, clay work, as well as the study of particular artists. Physical education is planned in segments and includes off site programming such as skating, hockey, soccer, and baseball.  The Academy's music and theater arts program includes voice lessons, chorus, theatre and music history.   There are two yearly theater productions, a fall monologue presentation and a spring main stage performance.