What defines the curriculum at Montessori Arts and Sciences School and how is it different from other schools? To answer this question one must step back and think of the curriculum as the gears that rotate through the materials and equipment that are in the prepared environment. The student's energy propels the wheels. The cogs mesh and all three connect to experience 'blocks' of learning that are of particular interest to the child at pertinent times in the development of the complete self. In The Formation of Man, Maria Montessori discussed how essential it is for each individual to go through the stages that humans have passed to reach civilization as it is today. By actively participating in processing important lessons that affected our culture and body of knowledge, a person will have peace and wisdom. There will be an affinity with science and technology, an empathy with all cultures, and a respect for the natural world. The individual, who has participated through childhood, in valuable lessons by hands-on experiences, will be a leader in the next stages of the evolvement of present civilization.

Here, there is a tendency to term the different years of Montessori elementary curriculum by levels or years rather than the traditional term "grade" used in traditional schools. Often the levels do relate to grades, but each student is different depending on background and interest. A child could be studying in different levels for different Montessori core subject areas.

Students are prepared well to succeed at any academic choice available for secondary education. Traditional workbooks are issued: Zaner-Bloser Spelling Connections; Modern Curriculum Press, Mathematics; Palmer Handwriting; Educational Publishing vocabulary, language, reading; Junior Great Books; Keys to Geometry; Mortensen Math and others.

Field trips to important exhibits, concerts, collections and historical sites, Astrocamp and Catalina Island Marine Institute are important elements of the curriculum. We believe that children are sensitive and can absorb valuable insights when exposed to master artists and scientists who interact with them. Research, reading and exposure to historic perspective is presented prior to trips; and follow-up writing, projects or artwork is processed after the trips or assemblies.

General Montessori Elementary Flow Chart
"Core Subjects"