Lower Elementary – To Strike the Child’s Imagination

The Montessori approach to educating the child is constantly building upon itself to meet the changing developmental needs of the child. Dr. Montessori wrote, “The successive levels of education must conform to the successive personalities of the child.” As the child matures and moves from concrete (Primary) to more abstract thinking, he or she can begin to imagine the vast universe, the minute creatures of the sea, ancient civilizations, etc. and the magnificence of all God has created. The Elementary child begins to wonder about and ponder on the great questions of life. Through the use of stories or great lessons about the universe, the coming of life and the coming of humans, the stories of language and of numbers, the subjects we study are tied together in an interrelationship that creates within the child a great sense of excitement to learn and order in the connectedness of all things. At GSMS, that order is complete with the knowledge and understanding that, “In the beginning, God created…” (Genesis 1:1).

Core Subjects of the Lower Elementary

Earth Sciences
Botany and Zoology studies are key to the experience of the elementary child. What 6 year old doesn’t love plants and animals? What 8 year old doesn’t enjoy dissecting a flower to find all its parts, planting the seeds found there in our garden or a pot and watching the sprout break through the earth a short time later? The research and classification of plants and animals gives the child order to all the random information he or she has acquired during the Primary years.

In-depth studies of physical geography and political geography not only give the child information about the landforms and development of the earth but also, the people, flora, and fauna of a particular region. The biome and climatic study helps the child understand why a region has developed the way that it has. Simple science experiments connected to the great lessons which the child is able to do independently help illustrate the creation of the solar system, the cooling of the earth, and many other aspects of the coming of life on earth.

History
The Lower Elementary child develops a concept of the passage of time through the use of timelines such as days of the week, months of the year, the 24 hour timeline and moves on to more advanced ones such as the B.C.-A.D. timeline. With the concept of time refining itself in the child, the exciting work of exploring the fundamental needs of humans begins. Through the use of the B.C.-A.D. timeline, the child can explore any civilization, how they met their basic needs such as clothing, shelter, nutrition as well as transportation, religion, art, and others. The peoples of the past as well as those living today in far away places come alive for the children through the timelines and their own imagination. Even money and the clock are considered history works rather than math works.

Good Shepherd
The Lower Elementary lessons are built around the theme of the Parable of the True Vine from John 15 in which we are told to abide or remain in the vine. “I am the vine, you are the branches.” The child thinks what that could mean and how we live that in our lives. Each year we revisit the events of Jesus’ earthly life and how He instructed us while here. Among the many lessons are 2 timelines, The History of the Kingdom of God (creation story) and The Gifts of God, which never fail to delight and inspire awe in the children.

Mathematics
The story of numbers presents the child with the grandeur and vastness of mathematics rather than the smallness of 2+3. As a result, GSMS children never say they don’t like math. The math, geometry, and fraction areas of the classroom are filled with concrete materials for the mastery of basic facts as well as the large numbers of the operations area. The manipulative materials provide a concrete way to experience an abstract concept and usually, at a much younger age than normally studied and mastered. The geometry cabinet, geometry triangles, and geometry nomenclature with sticks once again bring inspiration and order to the child’s mind for the study of shapes and designs. Through the use of fraction circles, the child begins work on equivalency of fractions, and addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions. This work extends into the Upper El and Middle School with ever increasing levels of difficulty.

Language
We think of the language area as all the subjects of handwriting, reading, grammar, reading analysis, word study, spelling, and creative writing. While most of the children come into Elementary reading books and writing well, we continue to work on fluency, comprehension, and oral presentation in the decoding aspect of reading. While a physical skill, handwriting is considered part of the language area and is worked on through the use of metal inset line designs, small chalkboards and special lined paper. Cursive is introduced early in the Elementary years. The grammar and reading analysis materials use symbols and visual patterns to help the child discover parts of speech and analyze the structure, style, and logic of sentences. In addition, all the other fascinating subjects in the room build and strengthen the language skills as the child studies the things he/she is most fascinated with at this age.

The Practical Life exercises of the Primary give way to the practical everyday skills of caring for the environment. Each child has one or more jobs in the room and around the building which helps the Lower El run smoothly. For example, setting up daily food preparation, straightening the library, dusting shelves, feeding the animals, are all important tasks which give the child real personal responsibility and a sense of satisfaction. Physical Activity & the Arts are incorporated into all aspects of daily work. In addition, formal art class is scheduled once a week and P.E. class 3 times each week. Wednesdays bring Music class & Chapel, a time the children truly love. Each Lower Elementary classroom has its own laptop Computer which is available for research with teacher assistance.

Opportunities for Classroom Leadership, Social Interaction, and Personal Responsibility are all hallmarks of a GSMS classroom with its 3 year age levels, freedom of movement, and children who know they are trusted by adults to do the right thing whether anyone is watching or not. Children are responsible for their own actions and guided and taught in the areas of grace and courtesy. The qualities of self-motivation, concentration, self-discipline, and self-direction established in the Primary are valued and further nurtured in the Elementary.

Conclusion
The Lower Elementary of Good Shepherd Montessori School is a loving, caring, and happy place full of learning and creativity for every child. Each child is an individual with God-given talents and exceptional skills and is treated as such.