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| Upper Primary (Ages 5-7) |
The Upper Primary classrooms provide strong academics in a stimulating environment. The Montessori based curriculum encourages individualized learning, challenging each child to recognize and begin to achieve his/her full potential. The Montessori method nurtures the child’s unique independent spirit, and allows them to develop the skills of personal responsibility. At Manhattan Academy, the Upper Primary community offers the opportunity for children to continue their Montessori education at an academic level appropriate for their maturity. The major subject areas of language and math are learned individually, so each child is working at a level that is challenging for him/her. The cultural/science subjects are studied as a group, fostering enthusiastic exploration and the sense of community learning. The Montessori materials and lessons are complemented with carefully selected instructional materials and lessons from traditional educational methods. The integration of these educational components builds the foundation of a lifelong love of learning.
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Language:
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The study of language is central to the Upper Primary classroom. The mastery of independent reading and beginning writing are the primary goals for each Upper Primary student. In addition, children work on spelling, alphabetizing, oral presentations, and literature study. More advanced readers begin word an sentence analysis, grammar and dictionary work.
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Math:
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The Montessori math curriculum provides a sequence of hands-on materials that give a concrete base for math concepts. As the child understands the concept through the use of materials, he moves on to master abstract work with the same concept. He also then begins use of the next step of concrete materials with more advanced math concepts. This cyclical sequence beings in the Primary community and continues in Upper Primary. Children work independently through place value concepts, single and multiple digits addition and subtraction, beginning multiplication, geometry, fractions, and math patterns. We also do group lessons with applied math: measurement, telling time, money and graphing.
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Cultural/Science:
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The Upper Primary child has reached the point of maturity when his imagination and curiosity expands beyond the immediate environment and out into the world. The Montessori curriculum for this age seeks to satisfy this developmental need with cultural/science lessons that construct a comprehensive foundation upon which the child can build an understanding of the world. These lessons also provide a solid foundation for future knowledge.
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The subjects being with lessons that explain our place in space and time. They move on to a comprehensive explanation of the Earth and life upon it.
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The cultural topics focus on three continents: North America, South America, and Europe. These studies include the political and physical geography, flags, cultural traditions, and animals of each continent. The study of Europe includes lessons on prehistoric people and ancient civilizations.
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The children also use the yearly cycle of holidays to begin an understanding of history and biography.
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Science studies give an overview of the physical phenomena and biological existence on Earth. They include gravity, states of matter, magnetism, and the water cycle as well as characteristics of plants and animals, life and environmental studies, and animal classification.
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In addition to the Montessori lessons, the children also use an outstanding traditional curriculum. The units include Living Things, Five Senses, the Sky, Pushes and Pulls, and Body Parts.
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The cultural/science studies are supported by monthly fieldtrips, each focusing on a particular area of study. The integration of the cultural and science curriculum provides and exciting year of exploration and an excellent departure point for further study.
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