The Montessori Curriculum

​

The foundations for the child's future development are set during his/her first three years of life. Montessori calls this period the one of a "spiritual embryo", in which the child does in the psychological sphere what the embryo did in the physical sphere. This process is achieved thanks to the child's "absorbent mind", which incorporates experiences, relations, emotions, images, language and culture through his/her senses and by the simple fact of living. These life experiences shape his/her brain, forming networks of neurons that have the potential of staying with the person for all his/her life. In this period from birth to 3 years old, the Montessori education concentrates on the development of speaking, coordinated movement and independence, which gives the child confidence and allows him/her to discover his/her own potential and his/her place within a community.

​

From 3 to 6 years old

The classroom curriculum for children from 3 to 6 years old is divided into four working areas:

​

Practical Life 

​

These are activities that aim to the care of

the person, of others and of the physical

an environment where they live. These

activities include tasks that are familiar to

the child: washing, polishing, setting the

table, arranging flowers, etc. They also

include activities of "grace and courtesy",

which are part of all civilized people. 

Through these and other activities, children

achieve coordination and control of

movement and exploration of his/her 

surroundings. Children learn to complete 

a task from beginning to end, they develop 

their will, self-discipline, the capacity of 

concentration and self-confidence.

​

​

Sensorial (Five Senses) 

 

Children at this age learn through senses more than through their intellect. The sensorial materials are tools for children to refine each of their senses. Each material isolates a specific quality: smell, size, weight, texture, flavor, color, etc. In this preschool age, when children are "bombarded" with sensorial information, these materials allow them to find order and meaning to the world, raising his/her capacity of perception, favoring observation and a sense of admiration for everything that surrounds him/her.

 

 

Language 

​

When the child enters an environment at age 3, they enrich the language that they had already acquired. They are capable of using it intelligently with precision and beauty, slowly realizing its properties.  They learn to write, starting with their senses (hearing and touching), and as a natural consequence, they learn to read. As an extension of language activities,  children learn about geography, history, art, and music. These areas help the child to know his/her surroundings and to realize the place the child occupies in this world. They teach him to respect and love for his/her environment, and they create a sense of solidarity with all humanity and his/her habitat.

​

Mathematics  

​

The materials help the child to learn and

understand mathematical concepts when

working with concrete materials that lead

him/her intuitively to abstract concepts.

They offer him/her sensorial impressions

of the numbers and set the foundations

for algebra and geometry.