Children entering the Elementary level of their Montessori education have already had fairly unlimited access to basic Practical Life activities. As these children mature, the teacher plays a more active role in selecting certain tasks, which may suit a particular child or situation. The children do not have as much "free" unstructured time in which to select any activity they choose but rather are guided to hone the skills needed for success in later subjects and life in general. The activities taught in the Advanced Practical Life portion of the curriculum are simpler versions of many of those that the adults in their lives engage in. The module encompasses topics such as cooking, gardening, sewing, and basic etiquette that will help a child develop a high level of concentration and improve fine motor skills while evoking a sense of respect for others and the environment.

These subjects are intended to serve as a valuable resource for the Montessori educator to build imaginative, artistic projects into their curriculum and to inspire children to explore their own creativity as a means of expression. Our world needs to continue to encourage creative problem-solvers and craftspeople who strive for a harmonious balance between progress and beauty. Dive in, have fun with the children, and see the spark of imagination and artistry ignite!

Plants are one of the key components that sustain animal life on earth. In our Botany manual we teach plant anatomy, plant physiology, plant geography, plant industries, and horticulture.

The Five Great Lessons are detailed in a series of stories and lessons that are designed to provide an understanding of the history of the universe with a focus on humankind's place in that continuing story. The Lessons are divided into five unique parts:

A. Story of the Universe;

B. Life Comes to Earth;

C. The Coming of Humans;

D. The Story of Writing (or Language);

E. The Story of Numbers (Mathematics).

Cosmic education in the Montessori curriculum sets the stage to develop more caring and peaceful citizens. Throughout all subjects, a Montessori teacher has the opportunity to instil in the students a sense of being connected to all things in the universe.

This cosmic view, especially the view that the Earth must be respected and preserved, leads humankind in our search for meaning and purpose. The answer is the cosmic task - to help our children become adults who strive to achieve a peaceful coexistence in a sustainable environment.

Man has always been curious about the past. In our History manual we review the origin of the universe, explore the concept of time and visit in capsule form how ancient civilizations evolved. Intertwined with this is a study of the common needs of people, and how they apply in each time period.

As part of "Cosmic Education", Maria Montessori believed that a healthy mind, body and spirit are essential elements for success on the universal path of progress and development. With these, a human being has a better chance of making positive contributions to the world than one who does not take care of his physical, mental, and emotional development. The Montessori teacher can play a key role helping children discover that good health is a pleasure they can enjoy from childhood into old age.

We all appreciate how fundamental language is to communication. For children, the ability to speak opens doors; the ability to read, opens minds. Our Language Arts program builds on the foundation laid in preschool, which sets the stage for the children to master tasks such as: Reading, Writing, Spelling, Dictionary Skills, Poetry, Novel Studies, Penmanship & Handwriting, and Parts of Speech. Each skill builds on another and forms a solid base, which leads to ease of integration with other subjects. Writing a research project on whales or explaining how a maths equation is worked out is easily achieved as a result. In addition the children learn to value reading for pleasure as is evidenced by how much they enjoy the Bookmarks books and the Junior Great Books.

There is nothing in our world that does not in some way relate to mathematics. Being able to apply mathematics skills in other areas, such as language arts and music is most beneficial. The four operations are taught in detail, building on skills learned in preschool. A fair portion of the curriculum is devoted to Geometry and related lessons including use of the Geometry Cabinet, Constructive Triangles, Geometry Sticks and Cards. Rounding it off with the introduction to Fractions and Factors & Multiples.

Supernovas, stars, asteroids, meteors, satellites and galaxies! Students discover the wonder and power of a tiny atom, and all its potential. This comprehensive curriculum provides plenty of activities to explore the mysteries of the universe, to discover many answers to why and how things exist and behave, and to seek further answers to questions that inevitably arise.

The Earth is our home, but what do we really know about it? We look at the formation of the Earth, its place in the solar system, its atmosphere, weather and seasons, and its various land and water features. We also explore ways of representing these features through the use of maps - finding our way with lines of longitude and latitude and a compass. Students study the continents, countries of the world, their capital cities, their unique traditions and cultures, and their people.

Animals have inhabited the Earth for millions of years, growing from simple one-celled organisms to the diverse variety we see today. Our Zoology manual encompasses an overview of the animal kingdom and classification suitable for the Elementary classroom. We also explore animal needs and how they are met.