3 year old doing yoga

The Fine Arts

Music, and all fine arts, are as integral to the Montessori curriculum as math or any other subject.  The children, at all ages, regularly receive lessons on music theory, music history, pitch and composition.  Elementary and Middle School students attend the Opera, Symphony, the Theatre, and Museums.  Art is studied in the same way - regular lessons are given that highlight particular artists and techniques in a multi-media approach.  We currently feature local artists’ work in our lobby and invite them to participate in our fall art festival and to share their technique with our elementary and middle school students.

Spanish

Spanish is taught in formal lessons at all levels.  Audio and manipulative materials are available for use throughout the day.  Children start with vocabulary and move into conversational Spanish.  Practical applications are important.  At the Elementary and Middle School levels, the children write and perform plays entirely in Spanish.  They take outings in which speaking Spanish is required.  The Middle School students are planning a trip to Costa Rica in the spring of 2008 with Spanish immersion as one goal of study in this outing.

Art, Music and Spanish work can be done any time during the day.

Physical Education

At the Primary level, children have opportunities every day, both indoors and out, to move their bodies and develop strength and coordination.  Indoors, many of the Montessori activities require the children to lift, carry, and carefully place materials on the work rugs and back on the shelves.  Carrying a tray and walking on the line are examples of indoor gross motor (large muscle) actions.  Outdoors, teachers help the children’s development while running, climbing, throwing and catching balls, and playing group games.  Skipping, hopping, standing on one foot, and other physical skills are supported in this way.

Younger students and older students alike learn about nutrition and caring for a healthy body. 

At the Elementary and Middle School levels,  Physical Education means just that – educating oneself about the physical bodies we all live in.  This includes training the body and the mind in coordination, balance, strength and cooperative efforts.  The children of RMA participate weekly in a variety of PE activities.

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