Class for Grades 1-3
Schedule
Each classroom has its own schedule, which is posted in the classroom. Included in all daily schedules is a two-hour, uninterrupted work cycle in following the standards set by the American Montessori Association. This uninterrupted time allows the students to fully focus on their work.
Sample Classroom Schedule
| Mon. | Tue. | Wed. | Thu. | Fri. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:35 a.m. | Work Cycle | Work Cycle | Work Cycle | Work Cycle | Work Cycle |
| 9:00 a.m. | Physical Education to 9:45 a.m. |
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| 9:30 a.m. | Performing Arts | ||||
| Work Cycle | |||||
| Work Cycle | Physical Education 9:50-10:35 a.m. |
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| 10:00 a.m. | |||||
| to 10:15 a.m. | |||||
| Work Cycle | |||||
| 10:30 a.m. | Earth Education or Art Studies
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Reading Groups 10:45 a.m. |
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| 11:00 a.m. | Spanish | Reading Helper | |||
| 11:30 a.m. | |||||
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch |
| 12:30 p.m. |
Recess |
Recess | Recess | Recess | Recess |
| 1:00 p.m. | Quiet RDJ |
Quiet RDJ |
Work Cycle | Quiet RDJ | Quiet RDJ |
| 1:30 p.m. |
Great Lesson |
Science | Homework Planning | ||
| 2:00 pm. | Work Cycle | Library to 2:45 |
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| Homework Planning | |||||
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Tech |
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| 2:30 p.m. | |||||
| Work Cycle |
A Glimpse Inside the Classroom
When you walk into a Lower Elementary classroom, you’ll notice students spread out across the room working. The students are focused on an activity they’ve chosen from their Work Plan to complete or one the teacher has gently guided them toward. There is a hum in the room and everyone is engaged. Watch this video to get a glimpse in how all this looks in real time.
Lower Elementary Curriculum
Thus, passing from simple objects to objects of ever increasing complexity, he organizes his character by means of internal order which forms itself within, and by the skill which he acquires. ~Maria Montessori, Spontaneous Activity in Education
During Grades 1-3, students learn in a mixed-grade Montessori classroom over three years, exploring a rich, hands-on, multi-layered curriculum through lessons, projects, and peer collaboration. Each student’s learning journey is unique, fostering independence, curiosity, and critical thinking. Students will:
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Take ownership of their learning
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Manage time with Work Plans
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Collaborate across age groups
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Dive deeply into subjects
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Grow as responsible global citizens
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Build community
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Solve problems independently
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Show compassion and empathy
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Technology
- Cosmic
- Physical Education (PE)
- Visual Arts
- Library and Information Literacy
- Earth Education
- Music and Performing Arts
- Spanish
Language Arts
Reading
Literature
Reading
Informational Text
Reading
Foundational Skills
Writing
Speaking
and Listening
Language
Mathematics
Geometry
Place Value
Operations
Facts
Money
Time
Measurement
Fractions
Charts and
Graphs
Science
The Lower Elementary Science Curriculum is on a three-year cycle as noted below.
Science Year 1
Science Year 2
Science Year 3
Technology
Keyboard Wizard
Laptop
Word Document
Web-Based
Typing Programs
Online
Cosmic
Beginning of the Universe:
Astronomy, Physics, and Chemistry
Beginning of Life: Botany, Zoology, Biology, Geology, Geography, Paleontology, Archeology, and Chronology
Coming of Humans: Biology, History, Neurology, Anatomy, Archeology, and Anthropology
Coming of Language:
Etymology and Linguistics
Coming
of Math
Physical Education (PE)
Cooperative Games
Locomoter Skills
Throwing Skills
Catching Skills
Striking Skills
Dribbling Skills
Kicking Skills
Sportsmanship
Visual Arts
Introduction to
Art History
Stone Age/Prehistoric
Aboriginal
Ancient Roman
Ancient Greek
Ancient Chinese
Islamic
Ancient Egyptian
Pacific Northwest
Native American
Medieval
Mesopotamian
El Día de Los Muertos
Early Renaissance
High Renaissance
Mannerism
Baroque
Rococo
Realism
Impressionism
Post Impressionism
Nouveau
Fauvism
Abstract
Expressionism
Surrealism
Dadaism
Cubism
Pop
Kinetic
De Stijl
Photorealism
Library and Information Literacy
Class as Practice
Class as Experience,
Discovery, and
Intellectual Growth
Earth Education
Agriculture, Desertification,
Habitat Loss, Climate Change,
and the Health of Gaia
King County
Green Schools
Earth Anatomy and
the Organs of Gaia
Cosmic Cycles (Cosmology, Astronomy, and the Cycles of Nature)
Awareness Expansion, Biomimicry, Deep Observation, and Natural Empathy
Earth Care (Kingdom Animalia, Fauna and Consumers)
Earth Care (Kingdom Animalia, Fauna and Consumers)
Earth Care (Kingdom Plantae, Flora, Producers)
Earth Care (Kingdome of Fungi and Decomposers)
Cross-Level Collaborations
Music and Performing Arts
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Discipline |
Concept |
Skill |
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Music and Movement
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Form
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Music mapping: music listening, visualizing, sequencing |
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Explore the structure ballads and folk songs: verse and chorus |
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Explore music theory concepts such as leitmotif and movements of a symphony |
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Music Notation
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Music Mapping |
Visualizing rhythm and pattern |
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Rhythm v. Beat |
Using body percussion, clap/tap rhythm and beat |
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Gain understanding of rhythm v. beat |
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Recognize simple rhythmic notation in rhythmic patterns |
Quarter/Eighth note notation |
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Quarter rest notation |
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Half/Whole note notation |
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Half/Whole rest notation |
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Write/read rhythmic notation to a song or score |
Composition of simple rhythmic pattern |
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Using Orff instruments, read and play simple rhythmic patterns |
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Play Musical Instruments |
Learn and play rhythm sticks, egg shakers, bells. |
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Learn and play Orff instruments including: drums, temple blocks, xylophones |
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Pitch and Melody
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Singing and recognizing simple melodic patterns in song |
Antiphony |
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Recognize similar melodic patterns in song |
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Solfeggio and recognizing changes in pitch, melodic direction, melodic chunks |
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Choral Performance
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Sing and perform as a choir |
Sing and perform songs in unison |
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Sing songs in two parts |
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World Music
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Cultural/Celebratory Music |
Hispanic Heritage/Lunar New Year/Hanukkah/Christmas/Halloween |
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Folk Music |
Folk dance, games, and movement |
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Elements of Theatre
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Character |
Identify and describe changes within a character throughout a scene/play |
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Identify and describe main and minor characters |
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Plot |
Identify and describe elements of plot and theme |
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Setting |
Identify and describe setting from story context and clues |
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Improv/story creation |
Creative drama |
Create characters, explore dramatic environments, and develop literacy, collaboration, and social skills through solving an imaginary problem as an ensemble |
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Acting Performance
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Character development |
Create and establish convincing character for performance project |
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Develop the skills for ensemble work such as collaboration, flexibility, and creative problem solving |
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C.R.O.W. Developing understanding of character through: Character, Relationships, Objectives, Setting (when/where)
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Identify character motivation, given circumstances, objectives to better understand how to share the inner life of a character outwardly |
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Theatre Performance |
Engage and explore different performance styles |
Musical theatre choreography and dance performance in major production |
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Musical theatre solo and ensemble vocal performance in major production |
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Theatre Vocabulary |
Build understanding of basic theatrical terms, stage areas and equipment, design and technical elements |
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Apply theatre art concept, vocabulary, and skills through performance process |
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Production Process |
Gain an understanding of the rehearsal process: read thru/blocking/music and dance rehearsal/working rehearsal/tech rehearsal/dress rehearsal |
Spanish
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Basic Concepts |
Numbers 1 - 100 |
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Colors |
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Shapes |
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Parts of the Body |
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Things around the classroom |
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Family members |
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Days of the week / Months of the year |
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Weather |
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Clothing |
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Foods |
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Means of transportation |
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Places in the community |
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Free time activities |
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Verbal Skills |
Greetings |
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Introduction (name, last name, hobbies) |
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Singing |
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Describing things in the classroom |
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Describing things around the school |
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Describing and naming places in the house |
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Describing and naming places around the neighborhood |
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Describing date/ weather/time |
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Describing clothing you are wearing |
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Describing what you like to eat |
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Counting |
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Interacting with group Games |
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Ask and answer questions |