Elementary Program

Age Group: 6 to 12 years

“Help me to think by myself ”

The Elementary child is different from a Primary child and so the environment supporting his development has to be dynamic. This is a child who is so invested in understanding the happenings around him and acquiring knowledge, always with questions of how/why/when/where. The child has a vivid imagination and is keen on exploring morality and social dynamics. Keeping in mind the holistic development of the child, the program caters to all aspects of intelligence – moral, emotional, social, physical and academic.

The Elementary Program maximises exploration, creativity and independent/group learning while keeping up with the child’s busy and active body and mind. Concepts and interlinked ideas of the cosmos and the part each component plays in the intricate web of life is offered as stories that propel the child to exploration. 

This exploration is then supported with resources in the classroom and also beyond the four walls. Children learn through observations, experiments, discussions, research and presentations as they work in small groups. The adult steps in to guide them in finding the answers to their insatiable need to know. Children have the freedom to pursue their interests, wherever it takes them. When we follow the child, learning becomes readily accepted, internalized, and mastered rather than being a chore.This affirms the child’s efforts, celebrates their progress and achievements, and helps them to learn from their mistakes and setbacks in a better fashion. They are thus empowered to persevere, self evaluate, problem solve and get to their goals.

The mixed age classroom allows for collaboration as the children work in groups. They learn to appreciate and accept each other’s skills and acknowledge each one’s contribution. There are opportunities to lead and follow, for listening to different perspectives and coming to a consensus that is fair to all, sharing resources and working towards common objectives. There is a culture of taking ownership of the space and being responsible for the community and its functioning. This is in the form of making sure everything is ready for use for others, setting up for meals, taking stock of supplies and winding up. Such a development of social and emotional intelligence helps in keeping the child motivated, happy and well-adjusted.

The different subjects of Biology, Geography, Geometry, History, Language and Mathematics and all presented in an interwoven fashion. There is history in every field of knowledge, of how it began and how it has evolved. This is offered to the children for them to be aware of all the work of unsung heroes behind every aspect of our life. Be it how Geometry evolved in Egypt or how our writing evolved from drawing pictures on stones!

While children explore relationships of the sun and the earth, air and water and how it affects our everyday life, they also wonder how early humans survived with sparse resources. Classifications begin with Biology where children having had ample experiences with pants and animals begin to take note of different characteristics and group them. Language takes them through detailed work in analysis of parts of speech and sentence formation, while Geometry and Mathematics explores relationships of shapes and numbers with scientifically designed materials.

Experiences in the natural world as well as hands-on work with conceptualised materials, lay a deep rooted foundation to their knowledge. It allows for independent and creative thought and work and application of concepts in the real world.

“Education between the ages of six to twelve is not a direct continuation of that which has gone before, though it is built upon that basis. Psychologically there is a decided change in personality, and we recognize that nature has made this a period for the acquisition of culture, just as the former was for the absorption of the environment.”

- Dr. Maria Montessori

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