We are located up the stairs from
the library and down the hall to the right.
We have a peaceful learning environment that balances spontaneity,
academics, and the arts. The children know over forty songs and sing at
least twice a day, accompanied by the electric piano.
Like each of the elementary classes, there is healthy balance of freely
chosen student work and assignments for which each child is
responsible.
The main themes of the first part of the year are laid out
in what Maria Montessori called the “Great Lessons.”
They are:
1. How the World Began, including astronomy, geology, and the beginning
principles of physics. Seeing a model volcano erupt is always a
highlight of this Great Lesson.
2. How Life On Earth Changed, including simple paleontology. We take a
field trip to find our own fossils of animals that lived in Minnesota
450 million years ago.
3. How Prehistoric People Met Their Basic Needs for food, shelter,
clothing, protection, etc. Children do creative writing projects about
how prehistoric discoveries might have occurred.
4. How Written Language Evolved from picture writing to hieroglyphs to
alphabetic writing. Children love secret codes and these old forms of
writing are like secret codes for them to learn.
5. How People Learned to Count,Write Numerals, and Calculate. Children
learn about the history of numeration, including how Arabs brought the
invention of the zero from India to Europe hundreds of years ago.
On the shelves of each of the Montessori elementary classes, you’ll see
many hands-on math materials that enable each child to see and feel the
math concepts they are learning.
Montessori language materials help each child “explode the code”,
learning how to write and read accurately, fluently, and joyfully. When
children work independently, they can go as far and as fast as
possible.
We hope you can visit us so you can see in person how this works. Give
our office a call at 651-293-8720 to make an appointment. Thursdays are
the best.
We hope to see you soon! - Peter Hanson
