Our elementary program is built around small group learning, hands-on work, and a carefully prepared environment. Children engage in academic study, collaborative projects, and meaningful responsibilities that connect learning to real life. Our curriculum includes:
Practical Life: In the elementary environment, practical life is engrained into the daily rhythm of the classroom. Children care for plants, materials and the learning space. Cooking, lunch and snack prep take place in our classroom kitchenette.
Language: Montessori language materials support reading, writing, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and written expression. Students work with hands-on materials including the movable alphabet, tactile letter work, miniature environments, and grammar materials, while exploring literature, poetry, and a variety of genres. Daily read-alouds further support comprehension, vocabulary, discussion, and a love of literature.
Math: Montessori math materials support the progression from concrete understanding to abstraction, with work in operations, fractions, geometry, measurement, problem solving, and other increasingly complex concepts.
Cultural Studies: The Great Lessons provide a foundation for integrated studies in science, history, and geography, sparking further exploration through experiments, research, cartography, timelines, and long-term studies of people, animals, plants, and places.
Art, Music, Drama and Dance/Movement: The arts are woven into the classroom through hands-on creative work, music, movement, and ongoing study of artists and composers. Each month, students are introduced to an Artist of the Month and Composer of the Month, with opportunities to view artwork, listen to music, and respond through their own creative work and daily classroom experiences. Students also benefit from partnerships with local professionals and studios within walking distance of Meridian. Families may arrange individual piano lessons with our community partner, Piano Sensei, with students accompanied to lessons after the school day, and additional art opportunities are available through Studio Beechmont.
Field Trips/Going-Out: Our community-based field trips and Going-Out experiences extend cultural studies into the wider community, giving students opportunities to connect their classroom learning with real people, places, and experiences. Our walkable location allows students to regularly access the local library, community makerspace, restaurants, and other nearby destinations as part of the school day. Special outings may take students farther into the city, including through the use of public transportation. Students also learn from visiting experts and community members through hands-on experiences, demonstrations, and workshops
Peace Education, Character Development and Mindfulness: Peace education and social-emotional development are woven throughout the classroom and daily routines. Students have access to a dedicated peace shelf with materials such as affirmations, mindfulness prompts, and yoga cards, alongside ongoing opportunities to practice reflection, conflict resolution, self-regulation, and care for the classroom community.
Outdoor Learning: Outdoor learning is a regular part of the elementary week, with a daily Nature Hour that typically gives students at least an hour outdoors. Students spend time in our community garden nature journaling, observing seasonal changes, planting, tending, and harvesting, and make regular visits to the creek. In most weather, children spend Nature Hour exploring our community garden or nearby Stanbery Park, which was recently voted one of the nation’s best parks for kid-friendly hikes by Travel + Leisure.
Technology: Technology is used selectively and with purpose. We use digital tools to document lessons, practice, and student progress and to support communication with families. Classroom technology may also be used to share videos or other resources connected to current studies. Upper elementary students have access to a classroom device for occasional research and lesson extensions.
Extended Enrichment: Our extended enrichment offerings provide additional time for students to engage in meaningful, hands-on experiences beyond the core school day. These opportunities vary throughout the year and include projects such as handcrafts, literature-based studies, and creative work connected to the season and the classroom community.
Elementary students collaborate with guides to develop weekly or monthly work plans. Children are also given the freedom to choose works that appeal to their interests and development. We present both individual and small group lessons as determined by readiness and mastery of previous works, as well as opportunities to engage in short- and long-term projects with the small group or individually.
Rather than relying on traditional testing, we use observation and student portfolios to document growth. Each semester culminates in an authentic demonstration of learning, which may include presentations, performances, service projects, creative exhibitions, or other community contributions shaped by student interests and developmental readiness.