Grades 4-6

The upper elementary curriculum is built upon the foundation laid in the primary and lower elementary classrooms. New materials are introduced as the child moves from concrete to abstract thinking. The curriculum is integrated, individualized, academically challenging and meets the developmental needs of each child, intellectually, socially, physically and emotionally. The students experience individual, small and large group lessons and projects.

Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Science uses the North American Montessori Center curriculum that is aligned to common core state standards.

Subject areas include:

  • Language Arts (penmanship, spelling, grammar, reading, study of words, creative writing, sentence analysis and diagramming of sentences)
  • Math (arithmetic, geometry, algebra)
  • Geography (physical, political, economical)
  • History
  • Science (botany, human anatomy, zoology, astronomy, chemistry, physics)
  • Practical Life (cooking, sewing, cleaning, community service)

Children build time lines, record science experiments, research and present written reports and projects and learn computer skills. Field trips that relate to areas of study are scheduled to enhance the child’s learning experience.

Organizational skills and independence are developed through the use of classroom work plans, homework planners and weekly schedules. Class meetings encourage cooperative efforts as questions of right and wrong lead to discussions on fairness, rules and procedures. Also, literature circles serve as a venue for discussions about character development, responsibility and accountability in our personal lives.