Students have begun exploring measuring weight by using the 2-pan balance. This balance uses gram weights. Students have learned to balance and read the scale and used this information to weigh various classroom items.
Prayer
Students are encouraged to offer Zuhr prayer each day. Students independently do wudu and then return to the classroom to offer prayers. Ms. Samia sits near the prayer area to guide students through any aspects of prayer that they may need assistance with. On Fridays we attend Jummah in the main prayer hall.
The Ant Farm
Ants were our first classroom pet this year. The ant farm sits on a shelf in the classroom where the students can view them at any time. We have several age-appropriate texts that supply the students with a lot of information about ants. Students have also made many connections between the life cycles and body [...]
Fire Safety
Both classes spent a week learning about fire safety. At the end of the week, local firefighters visited our school to talk about fire safety and to show us their equipment. Ms. Sara participated by putting on the fire suit. Lower Elementary students prepared by writing questions on index cards and asking them to the [...]
Metamorphosis of a Frog
The frog was the first individual animal we learned about this year. Students used Montessori 3-part cards, puzzles, booklets, posters, and books to learn about the metamorphosis of a frog. The entire class worked together to create a hallway display that describes the life cycle of a frog.
Multiplication
All of our second year students have been introduced to multiplication through the Bead Board. This allows students to understand the process of multiplication as repeated addition. Now students are working at individual levels to focus on certain groups of times tables (ex. 2x, 3x, 4x, etc). Students also use the fraction wheels, fraction working [...]
Solar System
During our unit on the solar system, students used several different activities to explore the planets, stars, sun, and moon. First year students used charts, flashcards, and models to learn the order of the celestial bodies in our solar system. Second year students used additional models to represent the earth, sun, and moon. With these [...]
States
Second year students used several maps, puzzles, lists, books, and name slips to practice memorizing the 50 US states. Students assemble the US States puzzle several times to learn the placement of the states. Students then label the blank map with the name slips to quiz themselves and independently check and record their progress with [...]
Fractions
Students use fraction pieces, skittles, and insets to study fractions. Students learn to name, compare, add, subtract, and simply fractions. Older students also use the pieces to change mixed numbers to improper fractions and the reverse. They have also been introduced to the concept of least-common-multiple in order to add factions with different denominators.
Golden Beads
Golden Beads are used to represent place value and numbers up to four digits. Golden Beads are used with the Place-Value board and Place-Value wooden numbers to represent numbers. Each place value is represented with a color that is used on the board and wooden numbers.