The primary classroom is peaceful and highly structured; it is designed to nurture the learning and development of the 3-6 year old child. Using self-correcting, sequenced, Montessori materials, each child is allowed to develop at their own pace under the guidance of the classroom teacher. The classroom is divided into five major sections. These sections contain activities related to Practical Life, Sensorial Exploration, Mathematics, Language and Culture. Art, Music, Cooking and Gardening are an integrated part of the classroom curriculum.
The Montessori primary classroom is built on the understanding that children at this stage of development:
- Have a tremendous capacity to take in culture, language and values through the exploration of their environment;
- Need to explore their environment and understand it;
- Need order and routine to help them orient to their environment;
- Learn through observing and interacting with their environment through touching, feeling, looking, listening and manipulating objects;
- Are learning to function independently;
- Are mastering and perfecting their movements;
- Are learning to use language to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
All primary children attend school five days a week from 8:30 am to 4:00pm. Around six years of age children transition to the elementary program.