The primary classroom is an environment prepared for the young child (2 to 6 years); the
furniture, the shelving, the sink, etc. are all built to the child's physical size. The exercises,
cleaning materials, paper, pencils, snack foods, etc. are all within reach and available
without adult assistance.
Preparing the classroom in this way provides the opportunity for the children to do things themselves; thus building independence and self-confidence.
"Help me to help myself."
The exercises and activities in the classroom are designed to satisfy specific developmental needs of the child; needs that are specific to this age. There is the need to move and develop muscular coordination; the need to explore and discover new things about the world; the need to use materials in order to perfect a skill; the need to be independent of the adult and experience that they have control over what happens in their own lives.
The children learn the names of things in their classroom, that names and classifications of animals,
the parts of the body and the sounds of the letters. As they discover the excitement of reading,
they begin to participate in literature's function of passing on man's wealth of knowledge.
The children learn the numbers, and the symbols and quantities for each. They learn about 10's, 100's, and 1000's and how to "put together", to "take away", to "share equally".
The children learn about the continents and the different countries, their flags, their customs, their housing, transportation, food, clothing and the languages of the people who live on our planet.
The Prepared Environment
The young child has definite needs to fulfill in the process of "growing up". The Montessori classroom is specially prepared to meet these needs at each plane of development.The work the children do is real and sensible. The classroom is the children's; they wash a chair when it is dirty, they polish a mirror, they prepare and serve food, they set up and clean up their lunch, they sponge up spills and sweep up dirt.
"The classroom is an extension of the home"
This enriched classroom provides a place where the child can work with specially designed materials that help them fulfill these needs. The children learn about the world and prepare themselves to live as rounded, self-assured citizens of the community.
| Synopsis of Program | |
| General | Development of independence, concentration and self-esteem. |
| Social | Development and refinement of manners, grace and courtesy; sharing; respecting other's rights; respect for authority; development of a sense of one's own rights. |
| Practical Life | Motor coordination; focusing of attention; development of interests; healthy eating and nutrition habits; gross and fine physical control. |
| Sensorial | Development and refinement of sense perceptions; preparation of the mathematical nature of the mind. |
| Language | Enrichment of vocabulary (naming objects of the environment); reading and writing; creative writing of stories; self expression; learning the parts of speech and the function of words. |
| Mathematics | The number, quantity, and symbols of math; the decimal system; reading and doing +, -, x and / with four digit numbers; beginning memorization of + and x combinations. |
| Geography/History | Learning the names of continents, countries, land forms, etc. and the different cultures that inhabit this earth; seeing how man has satisfied his needs in each of these cultures; understanding time. |
| Science | Names and classifications of animals and plants, and all the nomenclature that goes with this study; learning the parts and function of plants and animals; learning the needs of plants and animals. |
| Music/Art | Singing, dance, and self-expression; tone and rhythm in music; movement with music; use of the artists tools and techniques. |
