We begin with the end goal in mind – young adults who eagerly tackle academic and personal challenges, who are compassionate collaborators, who engage in thoughtful research and critical thinking to actively solve problems, and who thrive as life-long learners.
The Acton primary community is designed specially for the child, and the entire environment is created to facilitate the primary child's learning process. Maria Montessori observed that children learn by doing and wrote that the "hand was the instrument of the mind". Independence, coordination, order, self-discipline and concentration are developed. Children work individually and cooperatively with materials that engage their curiosity.
The Acton primary program includes activities for practical life, refinement of the senses, language and mathematics. Geography, history, physical science, and life science are presented to the child through various language and manipulative activities. Movement, music and art form part of the day-to-day activities.
Primary Curriculum
Practical life activities enhance the development of control and movement, sequencing and concentration through inviting and purposeful work.
Sensorial materials enable the child to order, classify and describe sense experiences such as dimension, color, texture, sound and sight.
Language includes oral language development, written expression, reading, elements of grammar, and literature.
Mathematics makes use of manipulative materials to help the child gain and understanding of the concepts of number, symbol, sequence, operations, and memorization of basic facts.
Music and art are vehicles for self-expression as well as areas around which to build appreciation for other modes of communication.
