Montessori Preschool Curriculum

Preschool students at Hilltop Montessori study practical life skills, sensorial skills, language skills, math, science, and history. After lunch, students are regrouped by age. While many three and four year olds go home at 12 or 1, kindergarten students remain for additional studies.

Preschool Science includes the study of zoology, botany, ecology, physical science, astronomy, earth science, and the human body.

Specific Objectives for Preschool Science

Zoology
1.00 Distinguishes between living and non-living
2.00 Distinguishes between plants and animals
     2.10 Describes basic characteristics of plants and animals
     2.20 Groups animals: forest, farm, common birds, ocean life, by biome
3.00 Identifies two characteristics of invertebrates:
       insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and annelids
4.00 Identifies two characteristics of five classes of vertebrates:
       fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals
5.00 Anatomy
     5.10 Identifies external characteristics of animals (fur, hair, skin, scales)
     5.20 Identifies external parts of animals (dorsal fin, lateral line, eye etc.)
     5.30 Introduced to internal anatomy (heart, skeleton, etc.)
6.00 Understands basic needs of animals
     6.10 Habitat
     6.20 Food supply
          6.20.1 Differentiates between food chains, webs, and pyramids
     6.30 Adaptation to environment
     6.40 Cares for classroom pets
7.00 Distinguishes between herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore
8.00 Identifies prehistoric animals
     8.10 Dinosaurs
     8.20 Mammoths

Botany

1.00 Identifies plants by size, shape, type
     1.10 Native flowers and trees
     1.20 Basic plants in each biome
     1.30 Parts of plant, flower, tree
     1.40 Introduction to basic leaf shapes
2.00 Understands plant life cycle
     2.10 Function of light energy for green plants
          2.10.1 Photosynthesis
          2.10.2 Function of leaves
     2.20 Understands the relationship between soil and plant
     2.30 Uses of plants: foods, shelter, clothing
     2.40 Cares for indoor and outdoor plants
3.00 Outdoor Experiences
     3.10 Gardening
          3.10.1 Plants seed
          3.10.2 Cares for plant in garden
          3.10.3 Harvests a plant
          3.10.4 Weeds
     3.20 Composting
          3.20.1 Vermiculture
          3.20.2 Introduction to process of composting/waste recycling
     3.30 Explores nature through Nature Walks

Ecology

1.00 Introduced to ecological problems
     1.10 Air pollution
     1.20 Water pollution
     1.30 Deforestation
     1.40 Landfills
     1.50 Global warming
     1.60 Acid rain
     1.70 Ozone and greenhouse effect
2.00 Introduced to ecological problem solutions
     2.10 Recycling: Why and how
     2.20 Energy efficiency and conservation
     2.30 Conservation of natural resources
     2.40 Defines and lists some endangered animals

Physical Science

1.00 Introduced to scientific equipment:
       scales, hand lens, microscope, batteries, gauges, thermometers
2.00 Explores properties & principles through senses, jobs, and demonstrations     2.10 Simple machines, simple technology
     2.20 Heat, electricity, magnetism
     2.30 Light & Sound
         2.30.1 Prisms and rainbows
         2.30.2 Shadows
         2.30.3 Sound waves
     2.40 Solid/liquid/gas
         2.40.1 Recognizes physical changes: melting, freezing, etc.
         2.40.2 Recognizes cause and effect
     2.50 Weight, gravity

Astronomy

1.00 Identifies major elements of our solar system: sun, stars, planets, moons     1.10 Orders planets
2.00 Introduced to relationship between earth and sun
     2.10 Seasons
     2.20 Day and night
3.00 Introduced to relationship between the earth and moon: months

Earth Sciences

1.00 Introduced to basic landforms:
2.00 Characteristics of a volcano
3.00 Introduction to earthquakes
4.00 Rock/Minerals
     4.10 Basic classification: Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
     4.20 Fossils
5.00 Weather
     5.10 Basic cloud types: Stratus, cumulonimbus, cirrus
     5.20 Introduced to weather systems:
            rain, thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes blizzards
     5.30 Knows the difference between climate and weather

Human Body

1.00 Anatomy
     1.10 Introduction to External parts
     1.20 Introduction to Internal organs
     1.30 Introduction to Systems
     1.40 Introduction to Five Senses
2.00 Health, Food, and Nutrition
     2.10 Understands and demonstrates good hygiene
          2.10.1 Germ prevention and disease
          2.10.2 Oral hygiene
          2.10.3 Preventing spread of germs: cover mouth, wash hands, etc.
     2.20 Introduced to relationship between health, fitness, exercise, & nutrition3.00 Food
     3.10 Purpose of food for life and growth
     3.20 Understands that food has nutrients
     3.30 Introduced to food groups and nutrition pyramid
     3.40 Begins to make good food choices: snack and lunchtime