At Village Montessori School at Bluemont (VMS), "the Elementary Montessori program provides learning experieces and activities that nurture older children's sense of wonder, appeal to their expanding interests, and support the sensitive periods of the elementary child that schools so often ignore.

If the idea of the universe is presented to the child in the right way, it will do more for him than just arouse his interest; it will create in him admiration and wonder, a feeling loftier than any interest and more satisfying.

Elementary Montessori is different in many ways from the experience of the early childhood program. It is designed to meet the changing intellect and personality of children of ages six to twelve. While different, elementary Montessori is built upon the foundation of the earlier years. This is the time when we see Montessori children begin to blossom into joyful scholars."*

"It is self-evident that the possession of and contact with real things brings, above all, a real quantity of knowledge. Instruction becomes a living thing. Instead of being illustrated, it is brought to life. Experience is a key for the instruction given inside the shool.

There is no description, no image in any book that is capable of replacing the sight of real trees, and all of the life to be found around them in a real forest."*
- Dr, Maria Montessori

*Used by permission, from Joyful Scholars: Montessori for the Elementary Years by The Montessori Foundation.

Points of Focus:

"Justice & Morality - Children are extremely concerned about right, wrong and fairness. They love being involved in problem solving and discussions that revolve around rules and fairness in the classroom community. "Class Meetings" provide an important forum for these discussions.

Social Relationships - During the elementary years, children make much deeper friendships and explore relationships. They work and learn, together, to run the class, master new skills, and complete team projects in which they discover each other's ways of contributing to the group.

Her effort was it’s own reward: First year elementary
student tries cursive.

Money & Economic Value - Elementary students begin to study economics and create their own small businesses. They learn how to set goals, earn money, and spend wisely.

Abstract Use of the Imagination - Elementary Montessori students expand their learning through the use of their imaginatioms. They often stage re-enactments of events they have studied, or create imaginary places with limate, plants, animals, shelter, and clothing that would be present there.

Use of Tools & Machines - They may create tools to accomplish necessary tasks, just as people did long ago. The laws of physics are put into practice as children work with pulleys, levers and other types of machines.

History & Time - During the elementary years, children become much better able to understand time. Using their imagination, they are able to explore and understand events.

Human Culture & Membership in the Human Family - Elementary children study other cultures from the perspective of the common needs of humans. they investigate the ways that different people meety their needs for shelder, food, lothing, spiritual development, beauty, and protection.

A Sense of How the World Works - Elementary children are intensely interested in scientific principles. They experiment, using these principles, to find out how the world works, and begin to discover the natural order ot things."*