Elementary Environment (6 – 10 years) at LPM
Dr. Maria Montessori said, “In this intellectual period, the child’s questions are innumerable. He wants to know everything. His thirst for knowledge is so insatiable that, generally, people are at their wits’ end about it; therefore, they mostly choose the easiest way and simply force the child to be silent, and to learn only what we grownups consider useful for him. But in doing so we also destroy his spontaneous interest. Learning then becomes a tedious and tiresome business… The result is all sorts of deviations in the child’s personality.
It should be realized that genuine interest cannot be forced. Therefore, all methods of education based on centres of interest which have been chosen by adults are wrong.
Moreover, these centres of interest are superfluous, for the child is interested in everything… A global vision of cosmic events fascinates the child, and his interest will soon remain fixed on one particular part, as a starting point for more intensive studies…
As all parts are related, they will be scrutinized sooner or later. Thus, the way leads from the whole via the parts back to the whole.
Thus, the child will develop a kind of philosophy, which teaches him the unity of the universe. This is the very thing to organize his intelligence and to give him a better insight with his own place and task in the world, at the same time presenting a chance for the development of his creative energy.”
– Summary of the lecture by Dr. Maria Montessori, April 11, 1950, International Montessori Conference, University of Amsterdam, Unpublished Conference Proceedings.
Maria Montessori and her son, Mario Montessori understood that when they treated children like equals, the children were more willing to open up and speak their minds. Through these conversations, they realised that the children were often confused and uncertain about how the world functions and why it is necessary to learn some topics when they didn’t get used in daily life (a question many of us have asked as well). The children had questions in them like “how do plants grow when they don’t eat?”, or “why does everything only fall down?”, etc.
They found that some things were hidden realities for the children – facts that the children could not experience sensorially, first hand, either because the ideas were too big or too small, or because these ideas were from periods of time that existed in the past or future. And therefore, they created what is called “Cosmic Education”; a framework that uses specific materials, charts and timelines with which the adults could share factual and imaginative stories that assist the children in thinking about these hidden realities.
Today, in the conventional schooling system, children still face the same problems because of this lack of connection with the hidden realities and the interconnectedness of everything. In the Elementary Montessori classroom children are given lessons in small groups; they are given stories and visual representations that provide keys to research and learn more about something that has sparked their interest.
Children learn a LOT in Montessori. When you compare what children learn in Math, Science, Language, History, etc., the Elementary Montessori children may be about one to three years ahead of their peers in regular schools. The reason Montessori children are able to do that is because Elementary Montessori provides the avenue for a rigorous academic programme that isn’t confined by time or depth of study. When the child learns something, it is supported by physical Montessori materials, observation and co-ordinated group work, research and play.
At the elementary level children become fascinated with the “how” and “why” of everything in the universe from the beginning of time to way forward in the future. They are capable of such diverse thought because of the ability at this age to explore through the imagination, use reason, do extensive research and large-scale work, socialize, learn moral justice and be responsible for the environment as a group.
There are no lectures or demonstrations for the whole classroom. One size doesn’t fit all. Instead, the adult gives the children stories with embedded concepts and material presentations that support those concepts. The stories and presentations are not age specific, but rather depend on the group’s knowledge of pre-requisite concepts, and the adult’s observation of the children’s interest. This allows the adults to customize the rigour in such a way that it piques interest and challenges them to just the right extent. The children then explore the concepts in small mixed-age groups, or sometimes, individually as well. Once the basic concept/material is understood, further exploration can take any direction; the stories given to different groups can lead to explorations in math, economics, science, art, cultural studies, etc.
The way the children study in an Elementary environment – deriving knowledge by themselves and not merely depending on knowledge that is given by an adult – builds a solid foundation. The children don’t have to memorize and reproduce; they do original work from knowledge they have gathered through explorative work and develop further understanding. The depth to which the children’s research takes them is varied and limitless.
The children begin to realize that they are capable of and love to learn by themselves.
What we call as subjects in regular schools do come into cosmic education as well because these subjects comprise the totality of the cosmos. However, in the elementary Montessori classroom we don’t treat them as individual subjects; we treat them as part of a whole.
Cosmic Education presents all subjects through the interconnected narrative of the universe, fostering a holistic understanding of how everything is connected. It uses the 5 Great Stories—stories about the origin of the universe, the coming of life, the coming of humans, language and numbers—as a starting point to inspire curiosity and help children not just understand the universe and world around them, but also understand their role within this grand system. This pedagogy integrates subjects like math, science, geography, language, economics, history, civics, etc. into a cohesive whole. It cultivates a sense of wonder, responsibility, and purpose.
Children use their imagination and reasoning mind to work with the materials, timelines, charts and books, and they even go out of the classroom environment when it is necessary for their learning and to accomplish big work.
- Materials: Give hands-on experiences using resources like globes, maps, and models to help children visualize concepts.
- Timelines: Help in visual representations of Earth’s history, human evolution, and cultural developments.
- Charts: Act as graphic organizers showing relationships between concepts, processes, ecosystems, or systems.
BIG WORK
In the Elementary classroom we can witness big work. This big work refers to long-term, complex, self-initiated projects that allow children to deeply explore subjects. A big work is not confined to a subject, but in fact, can integrate multiple areas such as science, language and art in the same work. Big work may be done individually, in pairs or as a group. The children collaborate, plan, and each one takes up responsibilities and provide inputs that contribute to the end result. The work fosters teamwork, independence, research, and creativity beyond simple worksheets, and often involve large-scale creations like dioramas, timelines, or models, plays, etc. and culminate in class presentations. It is a hallmark of the Elementary Montessori classroom where we see the children move from repetition to elaboration by using their learned knowledge and imagination.
GOING OUT
Going out in a Montessori Elementary classroom refers to student-driven, real-world excursions like visiting a museum or library, to contribute to social/environmental initiatives, or even buying supplies. These trips are planned to deepen classroom studies, fostering independence, research skills, and social competence in the real world (unlike adult-planned field trips which are adult-driven). Children who are working together in small groups figure out where they need to go, the purpose, make a plan and create a proposal with detailed logistics (transport, budget, supervision), and execute these outings. The adult chaperone will merely be there for the purpose of transportation and safety, and not as a guide who can overlook the work and provide assistance. It is an altogether enriching experience that boosts confidence to explore new learning.
There are 3 main tools that are used in the Elementary classroom that develop the child’s responsibility in his learning – curriculum, work journal, individual conference.
1. CURRICULUM
In the LPM Elementary Montessori classroom, children enjoy significant freedom to choose activities based on what interests them, allowing for deep exploration. But this freedom isn’t absolute—it comes with essential limits. Specifically, while a child can choose their work, this freedom is balanced by the mandatory requirements of the curriculum, which the child must ultimately meet. The teacher’s role is crucial: they interpret the curriculum for the students, helping them understand what they must learn, observe their progress and discuss with the child, and support them in any way that the child needs in order to learn. This approach teaches children responsibility and time management, as they must balance personal interests with academic requirements.
Ultimately, following a recognized curriculum provides security to children and reassures both parents and teachers that the children will gain the necessary knowledge within the years they are in the Elementary classroom. However, if we limit or direct the children only through the contents of the curriculum, we will limit their development. In contrast, the Montessori way of exploring with Cosmic Education, and engaging in “big work” will sow many seeds of integrated knowledge that will emerge and be utilised not only in the Elementary years but in the years after as well.
2. WORK LOG
Another tool to help the child develop responsibility while being free within the environment is the work log. It is a record of what the child does every day (including breaks) and helps the child self-evaluate. These logs are used solely for tracking completed work; they are not used for planning work ahead.
At the beginning of the year, the adult will teach the children how to use their work log. The top of the page will have the date, and each entry in the log will have the start and end time, name of the work and maybe a phrase describing specifics of the work. Keeping in mind that 6-year-olds might not yet have the ability to read a clock and tell time, and some may not be used to regular writing with clarity, they will be given lessons that address these gaps.
The younger children will be given repeated reminders to log their work throughout the day until it becomes a habit. Sometimes, peers are enlisted to help each other in the task – such as helping them write unknown titles, correctly recording the time, or giving timely reminders to log the task. This way they also gain valuable opportunities for service and leadership.
3. INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCE
This meeting is a one-on-one conference between the teacher and an individual child, focusing on the child’s academic progress and social-emotional well-being.
The child comes prepared with their work log and a collection of finished and unfinished work. The teacher and child use this material as the basis for a focused discussion.
The primary goal of the meeting is to analyse together and discuss the child’s independent work habits, including: work choices, organisation and time taken for the work, completion of chosen work, quality of work, works that have been avoided / neglected, and any pertinent behavioural / interpersonal issues that were observed.
This conference serves to establish consistent work patterns, and subsequently guide the child toward necessary improvements and progressing to the next work.
Yes! There is method to this madness. There is a framework of progression that is brought about through the use of the 3 tools mentioned above (work log, curriculum and individual conference). It may seem unbelievable that such small children can take on such great responsibility. However, this Elementary age (between 6 and 12 years) is when children push themselves to their maximum ability physically and mentally. In fact, they will not only cover a much larger area of study than what they will learn in adult-led learning like in conventional schools, they also become a lot more capable individuals with interpersonal skills that will benefit them throughout life. They are aided in their development in this phase by a logical, reasoning mind that can use imagination to a great extent. So, children are able to figure out what/where the problem is, reason it out through thought (logical and imaginative), discussion and action, utilise the freedom of trial and error, and find various outcomes; with minimal interference from an adult.
Apart from the 3 tools (work log, curriculum, individual conference), the children also develop responsibility personally and as a group because they are being given the opportunities to take up roles that help maintain their school environment, and seek out what is necessary for their learning through the planned “going out” work.
The Elementary Montessori environment is intentionally structured to meet the fundamental social needs of the 6-to-12-year-old child. At this age, the characteristics of the child shifts from individual focus to a social focus with a need for collaboration and interconnectedness. The mixed age classroom, the self-administered rules and consequences in the school, shared projects, going out, assigned group responsibilities for the care of the environment, etc. provide purposeful social scenarios for the children.
As always, there will be extra-curricular activities at LPM where children can have different dynamic interactions with each other.
Apart from this, LPM also hopes to have blended programmes with other Elementary Montessori schools during the year. This way the children can interact and see the environments of other schools, and perhaps even do a project together.
We assess every child’s learning in 4 steps.
First, when the adult gives the lesson, she observes how the child/children receive the concept through conversation, sees the work that they are doing in the learning process, and determine whether they have understood the concept.
Then, the children work independently on the concept. At this time, the adult observes their work to see the extent to which the concept is internalised with practice.
After that, the children bring the concept learnt in that lesson together with other lessons they have learnt before to create “big work”, i.e., projects that execute original ideas (that they came up with by themselves), thus reinforcing what they have learnt.
Lastly, they can also opt to take standardised tests, and attempt open school exams from around 9- or 10-years age.
We wholeheartedly welcome children (and their parents) who are new to Montessori into our Elementary classroom.
This is possible because the Montessori Elementary curriculum is specifically designed to meet the child where they are. The Montessori pedagogy has been planned and executed based on a deep understanding of the transition in the characteristics of the child at the end of the first plane of development (c. 6 years) and the nature and abilities of the child in the second plane (c. 6- to 12-years). Learning at this stage doesn’t rely solely on prior academic knowledge. Instead, it leverages the child’s newly awakened imagination and reasoning mind within an environment that balances freedom with responsibility (supported by clear guidelines).
For example: Learning to ride a motorbike doesn’t depend entirely on having mastered a bicycle. With the proper guidance, support, and freedom to practice, a person can successfully master the motorbike.
Writing is very interesting in the Elementary classroom because it isn’t forced and allows the children to record all that they learn in a way that they like. They do not have to conform to writing only in notebooks and papers, and in a certain way as expected by the school.
Right at the beginning the adults in the classroom assess every child’s writing ability. This will be done as part of one of the initial, essential presentations and activities. Without interrupting or correcting what the children write, the adults will make mental and physical notes. Based on that observation, appropriate presentations will be given. This way every child is met at their level and supported in their writing.
Almost all activities in the Elementary classroom involve writing in some form or other. The classroom is always equipped with a variety of stationery that make it enticing for the children to work and create individually or in pairs, or a group. All kinds of writing opportunities are explored when children do big work; they may make posters about etymology, or booklets about seeds and how they germinate, write dialogues for a skit about the solar system that they can enact, and even research different civilizations used different mediums for writing on such as leaves, clay tablets, cloth, etc.
Although we don’t send homework for children to do, there may be some work that the children may themselves take home to do as a part/continuation of the work they are doing at school. These are not mandatory, but we also don’t want to discourage what the child wants to do.
Montessori children are fully capable of taking exams. While Cosmic Education is followed in the environment, the skills of test-taking will not be abandoned entirely. We will not conduct tests regularly like in conventional schools; however, we will give children access to test questions which can pique their interest when they have knowledge of lessons covered in that paper, and even encourage them to try answering them. As this happens naturally, as part of regular school hours, there is no anxiety for “studying” required at home for this.
If parents are interested in having their children attempt open-school exams, and let us know well ahead of time, we can help children understand why it is done, how to prepare and what to expect. However, we ask that this is not done at least till the child completes lower elementary at the age of 9 years.
As always, we will have Parent-Teacher meetings bi-annually to give you a thorough update on your child’s academic, social, and emotional progress.
At home, parents will also notice progress through the children’s speech, thought processes and the kind of work they want to do at home. These could be connected with what they do at school, or may be entirely new ideas/projects they may take up on their own. Please remember, however, that no matter what the children may be working on at home, it is essential for them to have the freedom with clear boundaries.
The children will be given lessons in Tamil and/or Hindi in the Montessori way. It will be on par with conventional school.
The children will have their usual physical activities such as yoga and age/ability appropriate physical training regularly with a coach.
During school hours the children will have Creative writing and Indian Folk art & craft as part of their week.
After school hours, we are in the process of arranging for some classes such as Dance, Music – Vocal/Instrumental, Chess, Kalaripayattu, Silambam, Carpentry, etc.
Computer science is not taught as a subject. The children will be taught the basic skills that are required for them to do their research on various topics that are beyond the information available in the library at school and if there is no opportunity for “going out” to research/learn about what they need. However, computers and the internet will not be the go-to resource. The children will learn to research from books and physical experiences first.
There will be appropriate security measures taken in terms of computer and internet accessibility, as well as limits on time and frequency of usage. Just as with the “going out” process, children will need to put forth a proposal before computer usage, and will have an adult chaperone.
We hope to have the children involved in the planning and making of the lunch every day. Each week, a new group will be in charge of the kitchen fully – meal planning, buying ingredients, cooking, cleaning, maintaining stock, etc.
However, for this to happen in rotation, the Elementary classroom requires a minimum of 12-15 children. Little Peepal Montessori’s Elementary environment is not there yet, and so we will require children to bring lunch till then.
Arrival: 8:00 to 8:10 am
Lunch: 12:10 to 12:40 pm
End time: 2:15 pm
Short break: 2:15 to 2:30 pm
Afterschool activities: 2:30 to 3:30 pm