6-14 years
Lower Elementary 1st grade – 3rd grade
Upper Elementary 4th grade – 8th grade
In an exciting research style of learning, elementary children work in small groups on a variety of projects which spark the imagination and engage the intellect. Lessons given by trained Montessori teachers direct the children toward activities which help them to develop reasoning abilities and life skills. The appetite of children at this age, to understand the universe and their place in it, directs the elementary work toward all aspects of culture. Elementary studies include geography, biology, history, language, mathematics in all its branches, science, music and art. Exploration of each area is encouraged through trips outside the classroom to community resources, such as a library, planetarium, botanical garden, science center, factory or hospital. This inclusive approach to education fosters a feeling of connectedness to all humanity, and encourages their natural desire to make contributions to the world.
The Upper Elementary class serves as a transition from the MIS environment to the world of high school. Adolescents in this class have the opportunity to develop independence, study skills, discipline, and to strengthen their academic abilities. All of the sensorial and reasoning exploration that takes place in the primary and elementary environments leads to abstraction of concepts in the Upper Elementary class.