The Montessori elementary course of study is an integrated view of interrelated disciplines offered in three-year cycles, which starts with the global and historical perspective, then moves forward to current and local events. This approach differs from the traditional model in which the curriculum is compartmentalized into separate subjects, with given topics limited by grade level.  In the Montessori approach, lessons are introduced simply and concretely, in the context of history in the early lessons and are reintroduced several times during the following years at increasing degrees of abstraction and complexity. The curriculum from the primary through the elementary program is engineered to meet and capitalize on the changing developmental stages of the child. This is a very key foundation of the Montessori Method. The major developmental change for a child of elementary age is gaining the ability to reason and to imagine, and these skills are used in the classroom.

This course of study is an integrated thematic approach where major concepts are introduced through the Great lessons, which challenge the imagination and provide a framework which ties separate disciplines of the curriculum together into studies of the physical universe, the world of nature, and the human experience.  Mathematics, science, literature, the arts, history, social issues, government, philosophy, economics, art, and the study of technology all complement one another in our curriculum.

Children learn about other disciplines by starting at the beginning; the origins of the universe; the formation of the stars, planets, the sun and the earth.  Time lines, charts and research cards on the advancement of civilizations help children study areas of interest – geology, biology, geography and history.  Different periods of history are explored broadly, and students pursue many areas in depth.

Geography & Earth Science	The first of Montessori's Great Lessons covers many exciting things and is an introduction to Geography within the context of History, Earth Science, Chemistry and Physics. It gives an idea of how long it took the Earth to form, how far away the stars are, how fast light travels, the States of Matter (solid, liquid, gas) and the effect of temperature.   All of these areas are studied in increasing levels of complexity, including: ·      Physical Geography:  the solar system and earth’s position in the universe; Earth’s unique atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere; gravity, seasons & climatic zones, magnetic poles, geology and mineralogy; meteorology; astronomy and cosmology; Physics: light, electricity, magnetic fields, mass water cycle; Rivers (their role in urban development); Introduction to chemistry: the three states of matter; atomic theory; elements and compounds; Mendelov's table of the elements; building atomic models; physical and chemical changes; introduction to chemistry lab experiments ·       Cultural and economic geography ·       Preparing and analyzing graphs and data displays
·          Formation of the Universe
·          Geographic Nomenclature
·          Maps
·          The Universe and its Laws
·          Composition of the Earth
·          Sun and Earth
·          Work of Air
·          Work of Water
·          Life on Land
·          Human Beings on Earth
·          Cultural Geography
·          Economic Geography