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Casa class work areas (ages 3 - 5 years)
The Montessori “prepared environment” is organized into distinct areas. There are two Casa Classrooms at The Academy that are designed to enable and enhance the continuation of the child’s development and learning from the Nido Class.
All the furniture and materials are child-sized and age appropriate.
Practical Life: Young children have a natural urge to partake in the activities of daily living and be a participating member of family life. Practical life activities help children develop and coordinate movement, awareness of the environment, orderly thought patterns, independent work habits, and responsibility.
Sensorial: The materials and activities in this area allow children to pursue their natural tendency to classify sensorial impressions and sort by size, shape, color, touch, sound, and weight.
Math: These activities make the abstract concepts of mathematics concrete for hands on learning. Through the use of manipulative materials the child examines the concept of number, quantity, shape and measurements.
Language: Children are immersed in language the moment they enter the classroom. Spoken language is encouraged as children communicate with each other individually, in small groups, and in large groups. The area includes books, stories, songs and rhymes, sequencing and matching activities and vocabulary development work. Handwriting is practiced through tracing shapes, sandpaper letters, and using chalkboards and moveable alphabet letters are used for writing words.
Science: Sensorial exploration and experimentation are key as children learn about the natural world. For example, water allows for individual concepts such as sink and float, magnets and botany. The Montessori approach to science indulges the child’s natural fascination with his surroundings, community and natural world.
Geography: These materials help the child learn about the facts of the material world. Hands on activities introduce children to the names and types of landmasses, bodies of water, continents and countries.
Music: Informal and formal music education occurs through singing, listening to music, introduction of instruments, introduction of musical notation, and exploration of sound.
At the Academy each Casa class has a music session once a week with a specialist teacher.
Art: Children are provided with varied media to help develop their creativity. Through art explorations children will make discoveries and create original and meaningful work.
Physical Development: Care of the body is equally as important as challenging the mind. Movement is built into all Montessori activities allowing the child to develop gross motor as well as fine motor skills through activities that include running, jumping, swinging, ball play, group games, and exercises.
Casa classes have gym classes with a specialist teacher twice a week.
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