Elementary (age 6-12)

Cosmic Education

Cosmic Education is the name of the Montessori elementary curriculum. The universe is presented to the children through stories accompanied by timelines, impressionistic charts, and science demonstrations that embrace the imaginative mind of the 6 to 12-year-old child. 

 

The curriculum is individually-paced and interdisciplinary, emphasizing hands-on learning experiences that guide the child toward independently abstracting ideas.

 

All Elementary teachers are trained to present the entire 6-12 curriculum and can do this regardless of which class a child is in. In a mixed age class, children expect that everyone will be at a different place in their learning and teachers and children alike support the children’s learning at an individualized pace.

 

Just as in the Early Childhood program, each day of school begins with a 3-hour morning work cycle. During this time, children receive small group lessons, freely choose work related to the many lessons they have received, practice instruments, and take care of classroom responsibilities which may include caring for class pets and plants, doing the laundry, or meeting with a committee. Each child keeps a record of how they spend their time in their Work Journal. In the afternoons, there is a shorter work-cycle and on one afternoon each week the children have enrichment classes (Art, Music, and PE). 

 

During a child’s 3-year cycle in Lower Elementary and 3-year cycle in Upper Elementary, they experience different roles in the classroom while forming close bonds with their classmates and teachers.

 

Lower Elementary (Ages 6-9)

In Lower Elementary, the formation of earth is the starting point for branching into geology; the relative scale of the age of the universe, earth, and humans; and the evolution of life. Children are guided to mentally situate themselves in the universe and appreciate the creations of the human mind. Stories about the development of writing and numbers lead into the child’s own writing, reading, math, and geometry work, and the children see how they are part of the continuum of humanity. Through this learning, children gain a sense of gratitude for the ingenuity and hard work of unknown people of the past.

 

Six to 9-year-old children are enthusiastic about learning facts and are unabashedly proud of their new knowledge. They work together to research topics and then present their findings to the class. 

 

The Lower Elementary math and geometry program is rich with hands-on learning through the use of Montessori materials. Teachers guide the children incrementally through materials that present concepts such as place value, fraction equivalence, and long multiplication. Repetition with the materials leads the children to form their own understanding and Montessori teachers are trained to give just the “keys to understanding”. 

 

Elementary children are eager to move beyond the classroom for their learning and the environment at MST allows children to make use of outdoor gardens on both campuses for planting, experiments, and even jumping rope. Elementary children are also eager visitors to our MST library where they go for research, book recommendations, a new novel, and a cozy nook to read in. 

 

Upper Elementary (Ages 9-12)

In Upper Elementary, the themes of Cosmic Education and its interdisciplinary nature continue as the children extend their learning in all areas. Nine to 12-year-olds are able to read fluently and use reading as a tool to find out about the world. Children read avidly about what they are curious about and show a hunger to figure out the adult world. Popular topics include politics, money, the stock market, famous historical figures, Greek mythology, black holes, Japanese trains, and samurai.

 

As they get older, they become more eager to debate current events and book themes and create group activities that require coordination (such as economic simulations, music concerts, and plays). 

 

Children in the Upper Elementary class continue to use hands-on Montessori materials to explore math and geometry concepts and through the repeated use of these materials they discover connections and algorithms. The connections and discoveries that children make on their own give them a deep understanding of the concepts and an ability to think creatively in math. 

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The bustling Upper Elementary community at MST has many lessons and projects going throughout the year. There are weekly Book Groups to explore literature, student council meetings to decide on guidelines for the class, student-led special events such as plays, concerts and festivals, an annual science fair, cooking, pet care, and tending our vegetable garden.

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For a more detailed look at our curriculum: