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Elementary
At Sunny Hollow we are blessed with a wonderful outdoor
environment. The children regularly make use of the
scenic overlooks of the Mississippi River Road for
nature exploration.
At six there is a great transformation in the child,
like a new birth. The child wants to explore society
and the world, to learn what is right and wrong, to
think about meaningful roles in society. She wants
to know how everything came to be, the history of
the universe, the world, humans and why they behave
the way they do. He asks the BIG questions and wants
answers.
This is the time to use the mind to explore all the
areas of knowledge, to learn how to carry out research,
and to develop creative ways of processing exploring
and expressing this knowledge. A Montessori elementary
teacher gives lessons in all academic areas and guides
the children in direction and methods of their own
research.
The Montessori curriculum is built around the five
great lessons given at the beginning of each year
for the new students to introduce: creation of earth,
coming of plants and animals, the arrival of humans,
language, math and invention.
Earth – Physical Sciences
As in all areas of the elementary curriculum, Earth
Sciences—physics, chemistry, etc., begin with
the overview and progress to details. The child learns
the functioning of the galaxies, the universe, then
solar systems, the formation of Earth, seasons, natural
wonders, the weather, rocks and minerals, etc. As
he learns about the discoveries in the past he participates
in present discovery by means of experiments in all
areas.
Plants and Animals – Life Sciences
In the elementary class, for children from age six
to twelve, the study of biology has three main focuses:
(1) Experiments and observation of plants and animals
to discover the amazing variety and needs of plants
and animals.
(2) Evolution of plants and animals.
(3) Classification of plants and animals.
Geography, History, Biography – Social Sciences
History, geography, and biography—the history
of a people cannot be separated from the possibilities
of the environment in which it develops, and the leadership
of its great men and women. In the beginning of each
year the children are introduced to the study of humankind
with stories, beautiful books, maps, posters, timelines
and other research inspirations.
The Arts – Art and Music
All of the academic work in the elementary class is
connected with, and expressed by means of, the arts.
Instead of private, scheduled, art and music lessons
the techniques of creating in all areas (art, music,
drama, dance, etc.) are introduced by the teacher,
who guides the students to find mentors following
a need or interest. There might be a play acting out
the process of photosynthesis or the population of
the world, a quilt made with squares of leaf shapes
as a school fundraiser, or a series of beautiful watercolors
demonstrating the principles of geometry. Just as
in all areas, the teacher is in charge of teaching
the tools and the students of designing and executing
the work.
Math – Geometry, Math, Measurement
Invention, geometry, and math, are languages used
to explore and manipulate, to create and measure,
real objects in a real world. At this age children
continue to enjoy exploring math and geometry concepts
if they are related to real life, and if they are
presented with materials which can be handled, manipulated,
used to create.
In the elementary class stories are told and experiments
carried out to show children how humans used their
imaginations in the past, and how they are using them
today, to solve problems and come up with great inventions—the
use of fire, measuring the earth, compasses, boats,
and many others. They see how inventions, geometry
and math came about as the result of human progress,
to meet specific needs.
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