elementary curriculum overview 2012 2013

1 November 2012

The Kingsley Montessori Specialists’ Curriculum

*1 November 2012 Lower Elementary Curriculum Overview

Visual Arts: Areas of Study■Critique

● How to observe, synthesize, and speak respectfully about art pieces, using precise language, asking effective questions

■Aesthetics● Philosophy dealing with Art, Music, Beauty. ● What is Art, Why Make Art, Who decides what is considered beautiful?

■Art History● Introduction to Art Movements, Artists and their historical context● Art-making and Art careers today

■Technique● Building confidence in technical skills● Learning to draw, paint, compose, sculpt, print, and experiment with

new media


Visual Arts in Kindergarten and Lower Elementary■Safety and independence

● Using scissors, paintbrushes, and clay tools with minimal to no support● Learning where to find materials and knowing how to choose the next appropriate step in a lesson

■Foundation in Techniques and Styles● Practice in many mediums, with both

experimentation and guided steps● Repetition for important skills highlighting

art vocabulary■Talking about Artwork

● Taken Response System● Reciprocal respect● Critique as a model for student interactions and self-editing


Performing Arts■Program Goals

● To foster a love and appreciation of the arts of all cultures● To promote creative and critical thinking processes, both individually and collaboratively

● To provide and practice tools and techniques for positive self-expression and communication

■Implementation● Child-centered and developmentally appropriate lessons within a

spiraling curriculum● Studies of performing arts history on a global scale● Emphasis on student interpretation and synthesis of ideas through

original compositions


Performing Arts: Main Areas of Study■Vocal Exploration

● Students can sing independently and in group settings, on pitch and in rhythm, with attention paid to utilizing the proper technique and expression.

■Instrumental Studies● Students are introduced to progressively more difficult instruments,

culminating with the recorder in the third year and a formal study of treble clef notation.

■Dramatic Storytelling● Students perform improvisational activities, multicultural folktales, and

classic children’s stories to experience storytelling from around the world, create an understanding of the human voice and to foster personal confidence.


Health and Physical Education


Technology■3rd graders

● Skills: typing, word processing, file structure, menu structure, shortcuts

● Understandings: learning new programs/web tools, communicating ideas to audience

■Classroom● Supplementary resources● Class projects


Science ■Doing Science! ■Growing leadership■Activities■Curriculum■Spiraling■Adapting■Science Fairs


Spanish■Please see handout.

1 November 2012

The Kingsley Montessori Elementary Curriculum

The Kingsley approach to cultural studies, language, and mathematics.


Elements of the Cultural Curriculum■The Cultural Curriculum is the foundation of the Montessori Elementary Curriculum. It covers both Social and Natural Sciences and highlight the interconnectivity of all subject areas. Children are at the stage of development where they are curious about the world around them. Cultural studies are designed to spark children’s imagination and encourage them to answer their own questions of “Why?” ■In the classroom, we use a variety of materials to encourage cultural exploration. Materials include:

■ Timelines■ 3 part matching cards■ Hands-on objects and experiments■ Reference tools (materials, books, magazines, internet, etc.)

■Whenever possible students are given the opportunity to see things as they actually are. Field trips, demonstrations and cultural enrichment presentations help make cultural studies “real”.

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The Great Lessons■The Creation of the Universe■The Timeline of Life■The Timeline of Early Humans■The History of Numbers■The History of Writing

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History■Long Black Strip■Clock of Eras■Time■Fundamental Needs

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Geography■Land and Water Forms■Globes and the Compass Rose■Puzzle Maps■Pin Maps■Outline Maps■Flag and Country Studies■Economic Geography

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Science■Kingdoms of Life

■ Classification and Taxonomy■ Biological Studies

■Solar System and the Universe■ Astronomy■ Studies of Matter and Energy

■Study of the Earth■ Geology and the Layers of the Earth■ Water Cycle

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Elements of the Language Curriculum■Oral Language■Handwriting■Reading■Writing■Grammar■Word Study


First Year Language Curriculum■Oral Language - speaking in a group, sounds, complete sentences■Handwriting - perfecting print handwriting■Reading

■ Oral - decoding accurately (phonetic reading), phrasing, expression■ Comprehension - predicting, retelling with beginning, middle, and end,

elements of fiction■Writing - complete sentence (capital and end mark), expression■Grammar - learning the Montessori grammar symbols for the parts of speech■Word Study - compound words, synonyms, antonyms (sensorial approach)


Writing in the First GradeEarly Writing Sample Late Writing Sample


Second Year Language Curriculum■Oral Language - speaking in a group, expressing feelings and thoughts■Handwriting - perfecting print handwriting and transition into cursive■Reading

■ Oral - decoding fluently, phrasing, expression■ Comprehension - predicting, summarizing and including important

details, elements of fiction■Writing - detailed sentences, expand knowledge of punctuation, expanding genres, beginning paragraph work■Grammar - applying the Montessori grammar symbols for the parts of speech in an isolated context■Word Study - synonyms, antonyms (abstract approach), suffix, homophones, dictionary skills


Writing in the Second GradeEarly Writing Sample Late Writing Sample


Third Year Language Curriculum■Oral Language - oral presentation■Handwriting - transition into cursive■Reading

■ Oral - expression, intonation, fluency ■ Comprehension - summarizing and including important details

(independently), elements of fiction, inferring, relating to the real world ■Writing - detailed sentences, further expand knowledge of punctuation, expanding genres, types of paragraph work, multiple paragraphs■Grammar - subject, predicate, direct object (sentence analysis)■Word Study - prefixes, analogies, research skills, vocabulary building, fine tuning the rules of punctuation and writing mechanics


Writing in the Third GradeEarly Writing Sample Late Writing Sample

** 1 November 2012 Lower Elementary Curriculum Overview

Mathematics■Place Value, Operations, and Memorization■Number Sense■Geometry■Data Collection■Measurement

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Place Value, Operations, & Memorization■Place value to the millions■Operations with whole numbers, fractions and decimals

■ Addition■ Subtraction■ Multiplication■ Division

■Concrete to abstract■Material based learning■Memorization with materials


Number Sense■Patterns■Estimation■Rounding■Comparing numbers■Problem solving

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Geometry■Introducing shapes impressionistically■Point, line, surface, solid■Lines and their relationships■Angles■Plane figure studies■Three dimensional solids■Congruency, equivalency, similarity

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Data Collection■Tally marks■Graphing■Plotting points■Probability

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Measurement■Time■Money■Metric and U.S. customary measurement

■ Distance■ Weight■ Volume

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elementary curriculum overview 2012 2013

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