Pre Primary  Montessori Program

Everyday living activities are central to the Montessori classroom and prepare the child for all other areas. Every day living exercises give children the opportunity to refine their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, hand strength, balance, concentration and ability to do things for themselves. Through the repetition of Everyday living activities, children develop practical skills that will serve them all their lives. Some of the Primary Everyday Living exercises include Pouring, Lacing, Scooping, Flower Arranging, Food Preparation and Serving, and Table Washing.

In our classrooms, children and adults take care to be gracious toward and courteous of one another. This area of the curriculum encourages respect for oneself, for other members of the community, for the living things in the classroom, and for the environment. Carrying things carefully, returning them to their place so others may use them, moving gracefully and carefully, using polite and respectful language, showing consideration to others, good table manners, properly introducing oneself, and interrupting politely are all part of the lessons in Grace and Courtesy.

Sensorial materials are designed to help children learn about qualities like color, size, shape, length, texture, and sound. 3-6 year olds are increasingly able to make finer and finer discriminations of the many stimuli all around them. Sensorial activities assist children in refining this skill and becoming good observers of the world. Montessori saw the importance of the manipulation of objects to aid the child in better understanding his environment. Through the child’s work with Sensorial material, the child is helped to make abstractions, he is helped in making distinctions in his environment, and the child is given the knowledge not through word of mouth, but through his own experiences. Sensorial materials in the Primary classroom include Knobbed Cylinders for practice with dimension, Color Tablets, Rough and Smooth Boards, Geometric Solids, the Pink Tower, and the Binomial cubes and many more.

Math curriculum uses concrete materials to introduce mathematical concepts in the Montessori classroom. Children build their abstract mathematical reasoning skills on these early concrete experiences. They learn how a numeral represents an amount. They manipulate objects to see concretely operations like addition and subtraction. These exercises cater to children’s developing sense of order, sequence, one-to-one correspondence and directionality. Primary Math activities include Sandpaper Numerals, the Spindle Box for counting, Numerals and Counters, the Hundred Board, Bead Chains, and Golden Beads to introduce the decimal system. Children get familiar and even work on fractions, squaring and cubing with appropriate Montessori Math Materials.

Language establishes its significance almost everywhere in the Montessori classroom and crosses all curriculum areas. The young child is introduced to the names of things, and phonics/sounds and letters, while the older child may be beginning to read. Language materials are often tactile, taking advantage of the 3 and 4 year olds sensitivity to learning through touch. Writing often comes early to the Montessori child through the use of concrete materials, like the pre-cut letters of the Moveable Alphabet, that allow the child to express his/her knowledge without needing precise control of a pencil. Language Materials include Sandpaper Letters, Language Objects for initial sounds practice, word and picture Matching Cards, vocabulary building activities and Early Reader books.Children are provided with possibilities to read much advanced readers as well.

Children are introduced to many science and nature topics and learn to make predictions in their Science and Nature activities. The land and water work, introducing the concepts of Lake and Island, is closely connected to the Geography curriculum. Children learn about volcanoes, the layers of the Earth and the solar system. They go on nature walks and then research the leaves, seeds or flowers they have found. They learn to classify things, predict the results of experiments and test their predictions. The Science and Nature curriculum is designed not only to help children discover facts, but to honor the sense of wonder they have about the world. Activities include Sink or Float, Living or Non-Living, Magnetic or Non-Magnetic, Land and Water Forms, the Structure of the Earth and Botany.

Geography and cultural studies is an important part of the Montessori curriculum. The curriculum begins with the two hemispheres of Earth and becomes more and more detailed as children learn about continents, and then countries. The very young child will use the wooden puzzle maps as puzzles, but the older child can use the pieces as a guide as he makes his own maps, labeled with his own handwriting when he/she is ready.this curriculum introduces each continent/country each month and children get to explore the cultural importance (food / clothing etc) of each geographical area.

In our Montessori environment for 3-6-year-olds, art activities are designed to foster creativity, fine motor skills, and independent thinking. Children engage in a variety of hands-on activities like drawing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking, using natural materials and tools to explore different textures, shapes, and colors. These artistic experiences are integrated with science-based art, such as exploring color mixing, studying the properties of light and shadow, or creating art inspired by nature’s patterns and structures. Additionally, children are introduced to famous artists each month, learning about their styles and techniques. This combination of creative expression, scientific exploration, and art history helps children understand the world around them while nurturing their creativity and appreciation for diverse artistic traditions.

In our Montessori classroom for 3-6-year-olds, music is a vital part of the curriculum, enriching children’s cognitive, emotional, and social development. Music activities are designed to be hands-on and sensory-rich, allowing children to explore rhythm, melody, and sound through instruments, singing, and movement. Montessori music encourages independence, with children having access to child-sized instruments like xylophones, drums, and maracas, which they can use freely to experiment with sound. Activities also include simple songs and chants that promote language development, as well as listening exercises that help sharpen auditory discrimination. The Montessori approach fosters a deep appreciation for music by integrating it naturally into daily routines, promoting creativity, concentration, and an understanding of musical patterns and harmony.

In our Montessori classroom for 3-6-year-olds, theater activities foster creativity, language development, and social-emotional growth. Children begin by reading stories and internalizing characters, which helps them understand different perspectives and emotions. They learn dialogues, use props, and work collaboratively to stage simple plays, gaining confidence in self-expression and teamwork. Puppetry and charades are also incorporated to engage children in imaginative play, where they can act out different roles and experiment with gestures and expressions. These activities not only enhance verbal communication and fine motor skills but also encourage empathy, problem-solving, and an appreciation for the arts.

At BMA, gardening is a hands-on activity that connects children to nature and teaches them responsibility, patience, and a sense of accomplishment. We have raised vegetable beds that we begin cultivating in April and maintain until October. Both indoor and outdoor vegetable gardens are incorporated into the curriculum, allowing children to plant seeds, water, and care for the plants as they grow. They learn about the lifecycle of plants, the importance of healthy soil, and how different plants require different care. As the garden flourishes, children also participate in harvesting, which reinforces their understanding of cause and effect, as well as the value of hard work. Gardening fosters a sense of independence, environmental stewardship, and an appreciation for where food comes from.

In our Montessori environment, cookery is an engaging and practical activity that enhances children’s fine motor skills, independence, and cultural awareness. At BMA, children bring in produce from our garden to prepare fresh meals, giving them a direct connection to the food they grow. Cooking activities also incorporate food preparation as part of everyday living, where children practice skills like peeling, chopping, stirring, and measuring. In our 3-6 year old classrooms, we explore country-based cooking tied to the continents we study, allowing children to learn about global cuisine, cultural traditions, and diverse ingredients. These activities not only teach children about healthy eating and nutrition but also offer opportunities for sensory exploration, teamwork, and celebrating the joy of preparing food together.

Toddlers, Pre-Primary and Kindergarten children benefit from movement, cooperative games, teamwork, and athletic skills. Each child has an opportunity to grow and excel as an individual and as a member of a group through a variety of games and athletic activities.

Toddler, Pre-Primary, and Kindergarten friends are exposed to the sounds and rhythms of international languages through games, songs, and activities. Lessons include counting, colors, fruits, vegetables, and basic vocabulary. We have a diverse group of staff and parents who share languages like Hindi, Mandarin, and Spanish, enriching the learning experience.

We serve the community by doing a food drive twice a year and we also gift wrap and donate gifts to the children at Detroit Medical Center in December.