Elementary
Ages 6-12
M-F, 8:30am-3pm
The Elementary program offers your child an unparalleled opportunity for growth in this new period of life. Your imaginative, social, and creative child needs an environment with appropriate freedom and limitations, with an expansive curriculum to support their curiosity and prepare them for the challenges ahead.
The Cosmic Curriculum
Elementary children are eager to explore and understand the world around them, both visible and invisible. To meet their needs, the guides strive to “give them the universe” through Montessori’s “Cosmic Curriculum,” the foundation of the entire Elementary curriculum for children 6-12 years-old. They participate in individual, small, and whole-group lessons, as well as work both in partnerships and independently. Beginning each year with the Five Great Lessons, the children are shown a vision of the universe as a whole and then develop a perspective of its components and their relationships to each other. Lessons, stories, and experiments in science, geography, history, language, and mathematics spark the children’s imaginations about the creation of the universe, the evolution of life on Earth, and the basic needs of people. Attention then turns to the variety of ways in which people have satisfied those needs throughout history, and the children share their findings in written reports, artistic works, and group projects and presentations. Each child collaborates with their guides to ensure that their work is challenging and purposeful, and the basic standards are met. In that way, the guides are in charge of the minimum scope of work, and the child is in charge of the maximum.
The Power of Imagination
What is presented to the Elementary child relies heavily upon their vivid sense of imagination. The guides aim to ignite the child's innate curiosity so that they might desire to learn more and follow their own interests, expanding in both breadth and depth as they progress through the curriculum. Inquiry and expression are encouraged, and ample time is given for the children to take their work as far as their imaginations can go. The Elementary child has big ideas and is capable of big work, alone or in a group, so we allow them the freedom to explore and create, which leads to greater understanding and gratitude for the knowledge and experience they are gaining.
Prepared and Confident
The ultimate goal of the Elementary program is to develop the children’s abilities and self confidence so that they are able to take charge of their own learning. Having found an appreciation for the enormous scale and resources of the world through the Elementary curriculum, they are ready to explore their place within that world and what comes next.
Parkside students consistently perform well academically and have successfully transitioned to a wide variety of middle schools including: Acton Academy; Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders; Austin Montessori School; Girls’ School of Austin; Covington Middle School Fine Arts Magnet; Gorzycki Middle School; Headwaters School; Hill Country Middle School; Hyde Park Schools; Kealing Magnet Program at Kealing Middle School; Lamar Middle School Fine Arts Academy; Lively Middle School Humanities and Law Magnet; O. Henry Middle School; Skybridge Academy; Small Middle School Green Tech Academy; St. Andrew’s Episcopal School; St. Gabriel’s Catholic School; St. Francis School; St. Stephen's Episcopal School; Trinity Episcopal School; West Ridge Middle School.
Of Special Note: Due to the impact of the pandemic on our overall enrollment and balance of our classrooms, we are pausing enrollment for our Upper Elementary program for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years and will reevaluate the potential reopening of the program as we prepare for the 2025-2026 school year. If you are interested in Upper Elementary for your child in the future, we invite you to schedule a tour and learn more about our special school.
If you think your child would thrive in a Montessori environment like we offer at Parkside, give us a call or
schedule a tour online. We would love for you to visit our school and learn more.
“We loved the education our children received - nurturing, loving, inspirational, disciplined, respectful, and challenging. We also enjoyed the sense of community and family that is always present.”
- Christie Horne
