Extended Curriculum
White Rock Montessori believes in helping children find their passion in life by exposing them to a variety of specialized educational opportunities.
“He does it with his hands, by experience, first in play and then through work. The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
- Dr. Maria Montessori
Gardening and Outdoor Integration
Student curiosity is elevated with this hands-on, integrative approach while comprehension is deepened through exploration. Incorporating the whole environment, including the outdoors, students can experience and truly understand not just science but all subjects.
Students in Upper and Lower Elementary take part in Outdoor Integration with Ms. Holly during the work cycle, in which they are able to complete lessons and works outside related to nature and natural sciences.
White Rock Montessori is excited to offer students the opportunity to take Gardening, beginning in Lower Elementary. Here, they work and care for the plants, ducks, chickens, and goats in our beautiful Discovery Garden. This practical life skill continues to be a valued cornerstone of the White Rock Montessori experience.
Music
Students at White Rock Montessori attend Music class weekly. Lessons are based on principles from the Orff, Kodaly and Dalcroze methods of teaching music where students engage in singing, dancing, playing and creating. Younger students
learn musical basics such as keeping a steady beat, singing a variety of songs, playing classroom instruments, and
reading and writing simple musical notation, while older students build on these basics to enhance their music
reading and composition skills. Students also have the option of joining one WRM’s choirs or instrument
ensembles; these classes are held before or after school.
Primary students play outdoors under the supervision of their teachers once each morning and afternoon. Play for these 3-6 year olds is creative, spirited, energetic, and frequently involves running and fantasy games, riding tricycles, playing on the play structures, digging in the sand, and working in the garden.
Children alternate between the preschool playground and the Natural Playground, where they have access to the woods and the goat pens.
Beginning in first grade, students have two physical education classes with a specialist each week. The curriculum is built around the development of balance, coordination, and basic game skills and always begins with stretching followed by an aerobic activity. On non-P.E. days, self-directed outdoor play period is supervised by the classroom teacher.
Preschool classes concentrate on ear training through songs and games. Children begin to learn the Spanish words for common nouns, such as articles of clothing, members of the family, fruits and vegetables, etc.
Elementary children learn to understand, read, and write Spanish words and phrases. Gradually their weekly classes are conducted mostly in Spanish and include the study of grammar, and eventually translation.
Materials are available in every classroom for daily exploration. Spanish is taught weekly from age 3 through 8th grade. Students who have attended throughout their entire lower school years are eligible to complete the equivalent of first-year Spanish in Middle School.
Primary aged students experience the visual arts as practical life and sensorial lessons, strengthening their independence, creativity, and motor skills.
Elementary and Middle School students attend weekly art lessons guided by a visual arts specialist.
In art classes, students experience art in a choice-based environment where they learn to design their own projects and are given lessons on materials care and technical skills in all media including: drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, sculpture, and fiber arts. Students are exposed to a wide variety of high quality art materials within each art area.
Every spring, WRM invites the community to share in a student showcase, where students prepare and display their best works, from science, math, language, and art, in a gallery-like setting to celebrate their dedicated work.
Where every child discovers the
highest version of themselves.
