Upper Elementary (ages 9–12)

Elementary 2 students continue their studies from the Elementary 1 classroom and build upon that concrete foundation. They often revisit concepts in more detailed studies and begin working on these concepts in the abstract. This is often referred to as the spiral curriculum. Sea Pines Montessori Academy provides a challenging upper elementary environment that utilizes both cooperative learning and independent study.

Language Arts: The language arts curriculum meets the student’s individual level in reading, grammar and word study, creative writing, handwriting, and spelling.

Reading: Children parallel language arts instruction with small group “book clubs” based on classic and contemporary fiction. Students encounter ‘real world’ examples of language studies to foster a love of literature.

Grammar and Word Study: Students use the basic grammar and word study skills introduced in the early elementary level and continue with detailed studies of such concepts as: homophones, antonyms, pronouns, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Students not only identify parts of speech but symbolize the function in a sentence (similar to sentence diagramming.)

Creative Writing: Students explore and experiment with multiple genres of writing including: fiction, nonfiction, reference, biography, essay and poetry. The Sea Pines Montessori Academy writing curriculum is based on the 6+1 Traits of writing. All students take part in a weekly “Writer’s Workshop.”

Penmanship: The students continue to perfect their cursive handwriting and are also introduced to the history of writing tied to the civilizations of man.

Spelling: Each student has an individualized spelling list each week with a quiz on Friday.

Computer skills: Using the computer to express written thoughts has become an important feature in twenty-first century communication. Learning the basics of word processing and keyboarding is important even in the elementary. Most children are very familiar with computer functions through games they have at home. At school, we focus on how the computer serves us as a tool, for writing, reading, and research.

Mathematics: The focus of the upper elementary mathematic curriculum is metacognition. Children revisit traditional elementary mathematic concepts introduced in the concrete in lower elementary. Students are encouraged to put language to mathematical processes through personal discovery. By recognizing and documenting these patterns and relationships, students internalize mathematical concepts with a much deeper level of understanding than the traditional classroom allow. The study of geometry increases and takes on more advanced concepts.

Science: Following the traditional Montessori curriculum in science and social studies, known as the cosmic curriculum, the students engage in detailed scientific study. Starting with the macroscopic study of the universe, they move sequentially to the microscopic study of cells. Students take an active role in study through participation in scientific experimentation utilizing the scientific method. Scientific studies include: Astronomy, Geology, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry.

Cultural Studies: One of the foundations of the cosmic curriculum is the interconnectedness of all life. The cultural curriculum is based on this concept. Children base historical and cultural studies on the fundamental needs of humans to first explore commonalities across culture. Detailed studies follow to highlight characteristics unique to each culture through time and place. In deference to national standards, the Elementary 2 curriculum includes a detailed study of American History.

Advanced Practical Life: Children of elementary age are “societal explorers”. They are finding their place outside of the family. One of the unique characteristics of the Montessori classroom is its sense of community. Each student has an active role in the classroom as a whole, as well as, in his/her own learning path. It is a cooperative environment that encourages time management, problem solving, and critical thinking.

No one brings alive the beauty of the Montessori Method better than the children themselves. Please join us for a Campus Tour to see for yourself.