The following curricula comprises only a part of the total Montessori program and pertains more specifically to the preschool, kindergarten, and primary grades. For a more thorough understanding of the basic Montessori philosophy and materials of practical life, sensorial, math, and language, parents must attend the Open House. For the preschool the Open House will be on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. This Open House is mandatory for all new parents.

A separate and mandatory Open House is also planned for all parents whose children are in the K-1 class. This Open House will be on Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

September: Grace and courtesy, manners, rules, and routines. Beginning introductions of Montessori materials in practical life, sensorial, language, and math. Beginning introduction to a year long concentration on geometric shapes. Cultural: Introduction to the universe, stars, galaxies, constellations, and sun. Study of the seasons. Art: sponge paint or rubber stamp art, solar leaf prints, spiral galaxies, outer space crayon resist. Art Appreciation: Vincent van Gogh - Starry Night. Music/Movement: "Mr. Sun," One Light, One Sun "It's a Small World," "Estrallita Brillaras." Cooking: Cheese stars, Sunshine Salad, Solar Toast, Cinnamon Applesauce. Show'n'Tell: star item, sun item, an item representing fall, a circle item. Spanish.

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October: Continue with grace and courtesy and introduction to Montessori materials. Cultural: History-continue with calendar work, Christopher Columbus, Halloween traditions. Geography/Science-Comets, solar system, planets (esp. earth) globes (sandpaper and continent), directions (north, south, west, east), hemispheres (western and eastern) and the seven continents. Art: Columbus art, scissor cutting ghosts, paper pulp art, and other Halloween art. Art Appreciation: William Blake- The Ancient of Days. Music/Movement: "The Planets," "The Planets Go Spinning," "Interplanet Janet," "Hello to All the Children of the World," "Columbus." Cooking: Moon Cookies, Columbus' Ship, Bologna Cheese Rolls or Ham 'n' Cheese Bites, Biscuit Ghosts or Ghosts on Broomsticks, Jack-o-Lantern pizzas. Show'n'Tell: solar system item, an earth item, a square item, a Halloween item. Spanish.

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November: Grace and courtesy and further introductions to Montessori materials. Cultural: Geography/History- Introduction to North American Continent with special emphasis on Native Americans, pioneers, Canadians, and Mexicans. Thanksgiving traditions. Art: pricked paper designs (colonial), weaving, Indian crafts, Thanksgiving art. Art Appreciation: Whistler - Portrait of the Artist's Mother or Mary Cassatt - Girl Arranging Her Hair. Music/Movement "Going Over the Sea (Canada)", "I Like It Here," "Albuquerque Turkey," "Paddling My Canoe," "Hokey Pokey." Cooking: Moose Cookies, Biscuits with Blackberry Jam (Native American), Cornbread, Wobble Gobble Cookies. Show'n'Tell: North American Animal, item from the Native American culture, antique item from American culture, a triangle item. Spanish.

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December: Continue in sequence of Montessori materials. Cultural: History-continue calendar work, Christmas traditions. Geography-Mexico, introduction to world map, learning names of N. Amer. Countries. Art Appreciation: Diego Rivera - People of Mexico or Pieter Bruegel - Hunters in the Snow Art: Mexican pottery art or paper mache art, Mexican yarn art (ojo de dios) Christmas art. Music/Movement: Dance- (N. Amer.) Mexican Hat Dance, "The Panama Canal,"or` "Mucho Gusto," Christmas Songs. Cooking: Mexi Mix (Mexico), Taco Scoopers, North Pole Peppermint Float. Cookies. Show'n'Tell: Christmas or holiday item from N. American Culture, Christmas or holiday item from another culture, Christmas Party. Spanish.

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January: Continue sequence of Montessori materials. Cultural: History-Martin Luther King Jr., Geography-Introduction to South America, Animals of S. America, learning country names, flags, and landforms. Art Appreciation: Edvard Munch - The Scream. Art: easel painting, raised line design (Columbia), make guiros(S. Amer.), winter art,. Music/Movement: "We Shall Overcome," "Once There Was a Man Named King," "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing," "Los Pollitos (Little Chicks), Cooking: Nachos (Venezuela), Guava Cream Cheese (Brazil), Guacamole or Tomato Salsa, Choc.Pudding or Hot Cocoa. Show'n'Tell: something miniature (Bolivian Festival-Alacitas), something made out of rubber (Brazil), something made out of coffee or cocoa. Spanish.

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February: Further Montessori materials. Cultural: History-continue calendar awareness, Geography-introduction to continent of Africa. Animals of Africa, maps, matching cards, flag making. Art Appreciation: Gilbert Stuart - George Washington. Art: Valentine Art, African art. Music/Movement: "Ram Sam Sam" (Morocco), "Come to Egypt," "Che, Che Kole" and/or "Tue, Tue," (Ghana), "The Crocodile," "Kumbaya," "My Aunt Came Back." Cooking, Banana Smoothie (Kenya), Valentine Cookies, Patriotic Parfait, Fresh Fruit and Coconut Dip (Ghana)or Frosty Choco-Banana Snacks. Show'n'Tell: an African animal, a Valentine item, item from African culture, an elliptical or an oval item. Spanish.

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March: Harder Montessori materials. Cultural: Geography-introduction to continent and culture of Europe, animals of Europe, learning country names, flags, and St. Patrick's Day, Roller Skating Field Trip. Art Appreciation: Thomas Gainsborough - The Blue Boy. Art: St. Patrick's Day and Easter art. Rubbings (England), paste papers (Germany). Music/Movement: "Frere Jacques", "Alouette", (France), "Ach De Lieber Augustin" (Germany), "Funiculi, Funicula", (Italy), "Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, (Ireland)". Cooking: Trifle (England), Pot of Gold (Ireland), Crepes (France), Pizzas (Italy). Show'n'Tell: N. European Cultural item (Scotland, England, Norway, Sweden, or Finland), cultural item from Ireland, Western European cultural item: (France, Spain, Germany, Italy, or Switzerland), Eastern European cultural item (Poland, Czech Rep. Russia, Ukraine, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Turkey, Greece, etc.) Spanish.

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April: Cultural: Introduction to Asian continent and culture, animals of Asia-panda, tiger, yak, learning country names, further work with maps and flags, and Easter Traditions. Art Appreciation: Hiroshige or Hokusai. Art: Chinese symbols, origami (Japan), Japanese windsock, multi-national paper doll chain, mosaics (Iran). Music/Movement: "China," "Shalom," "Zum Gali Gali" (Israel), "It's a Small World," "There Are Many Flags," "They Sing in Singapore," and "I Like It Here." Cooking: Bagels and Cream Cheese (Israel), Fried Rice and Pot Stickers (China), Cinnamon Puffs. Show'n'Tell: Asian Animal, Item from Mid East or India, Pakistan, Thailand, etc., item from China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, or Vietnam. Spanish.

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May: Cultural: Introduction to continents of Australia and Antarctica and the culture of Australia and New Zealand, learning country names, making maps and flags. Art: paint on stone and/or bark (aboriginal), Spring art, calendar art using different mediums. Music/Movement: "Kookaburro," "Waltzing Matilda," "Marsupial Sue," "Tie Me Kangaroo." Cooking: May flower, Kiwi and Strawberries, Trail Mix for Antarctic Explorers, Teacher's Choice. Show'n'Tell: Australian or Antarctic animals, item from Australia or New Zealand, a pentagon or a hexagon. Spanish.

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Summer 2009: Montessori materials, grace, courtesy, walking field trips. Art: Paper pulp and paper making art activities, marbled and textured paper. Painting. Sewing: sewing machine projects. Summer science: Study of Plant Kingdom, molds, dehydration, and rehydration of foods, chemistry, electricity. Woodworking-Children make a wooden box. Field trips to Blackjack Creek, Plant nursery, Art Museum. Cooking: Quick Breads, yeast breads (children grind their own wheat.) Sports-baseball, soccer, tennis or others. Music.

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