Specialty subject areas are taught during the afternoon, after the 3-hour morning work block. Elementary students participate in a wide variety of activities, both on campus and at our Land Laboratory in Pompey.
Music
Music in the Upper Elementary program builds on the skills students mastered in 1st – 3rd grade. Students enjoy singing, music theory and ear training, instruments, composition, and performance (choral/instrumental).
After having mastered the ukulele and Orff instruments, Upper Elementary students have the opportunity to add the recorder to their repertoire. Students begin with the soprano recorder and may move on to the alto, treble, bass or sopranino. They will continue to develop compositions and arrangements of their own, as well as learning songs and instrumental pieces from around the world, and presenting a spring recital each year.
World Languages
Students in the Upper Elementary classroom have been studying French since they were in the 3-6 classroom. At this level, students will begin to focus on grammar, verb conjugations, masculine and feminine, and continue with conversational French. Students learn about the various regions of France and about other French-speaking countries. When possible, at the end of the year, students enjoy making crepes in class or eating lunch at a local French speaking venue, where they will communicate entirely in French with the servers. To prepare for this experience, students study the menu and learn basic restaurant vocabulary, such as “may I have a napkin, please?” or “I would like the chocolate mousse, please.” These skills will come in handy when they visit Montreal as sixth graders!
Fitness
The fitness program includes opportunities for both individual physical fitness and group play to encourage the development of abilities to work as a part of a larger team. The students have exposure to traditional sports such as basketball, soccer, football, volleyball, and track & field, as well as instruction in dance, rock climbing, movement, gymnastics, yoga, and cooperative games. All these combine to allow the child to develop a positive relationship with physical activity and wellness.
Art
The art program at MSS takes a choice-based approach, encouraging our students to explore various materials and develop their fine motor skills. Art class serves as a nurturing environment for social and emotional learning, where students can freely express their emotions, build self-confidence, and develop empathy through creative exploration. This program places emphasis on individual artistic exploration where students are given the freedom to experiment with different mediums, fostering creativity and allowing them to discover their unique artistic abilities. Students work on a variety of media including drawing, painting, ceramics, weaving, felting, textiles, woodworking, illustration, nature-based art, and sculpture. The students actively participate in projects that promote empathy, social responsibility, and community building, using their artistic talents to create meaningful contributions extending beyond the walls of our school.
Tech Lab
Tech Lab is a special for the 9-12 students that gives them an introduction to computers and a chance to learn and practice programming skills. The students begin the year learning about the different parts that make up a computer, what computers do, how they work, and what software is. Then they build their own computer, learning about how computers work and the function of each component.
In the course of the school year, students learn to code, create art and music, and study the application of computational thinking using the Scratch coding curriculum developed at MIT. Students will work individually and in teams on projects, and will record ideas and discoveries in a journal throughout the year.
Maria Montessori’s thoughts on the written language align with the belief that coding is ‘the language necessary to the culture of our times’. By giving each 9-12 student the chance to create and program their own computer, we hope to equip our students with the skills they will need to navigate our increasingly technological world.
Library
Nona’s Corner is the main lending library at the Montessori School of Syracuse and is available to students and their parents. Its primary goal is to provide up-to-date, high quality materials, both fiction and nonfiction, for our students to borrow. Elementary students have weekly visits to the library and the opportunity to borrow books. By maintaining Nona’s Corner, the Montessori School of Syracuse hopes to welcome children into the world of libraries and reading; to provide enticing and suitable materials which will foster a love of learning and excitement about the process of book selection and discovery.
If you are looking for a wonderful way to celebrate your student’s birthday or other special occasion, consider donating a book to our school library, Nona’s Corner. A book plate in the front of each book will recognize your student and the librarian will recognize them during a library class with the new book. Your donation will help build our collection as well as increase your student’s pride and ownership in their school library. Click here to see the MSS Wish List.