6-12
Elementary
The 3-6 Casa age group curriculum is based on the desire for exploration and a thirst for knowledge. In the 6-12 age group of our Elementary program, the child changes again. Here the 'Self' becomes important again as they gradually grow into an adolescent. During this age the Self has evolved to another level: 'who am I and how will I fit into this society?'. The child is seeking a deeper awareness of how society functions and how it is influenced. This is explored by the child in our Elementary program through a political, economic, cultural and historical way. They want to know 'why?'. The elementary environment is the child's small society and functions as such, where they must look after the things in it including themselves. It is here in the elementary program where they slowly become ready to benefit from and enter the greater environment that our society offers outside of the classroom and school.
Language
In the elementary program the child learns how our language works. Here they will do grammar analysis, and it is through these analytic studies that the child develops intellect and clarity of our language. The children will continue to have the opportunity to exercise their reasoning mind using materials to guide them. They will need to make judgments, decisions and deductions. The child has the opportunity to use manipulative materials to allow their minds to be engaged, while their hand is active. Here the child learns to appreciate their language. When the child has reached clarity of language and intellectual independence they have the ability to reach independent thinking.
Mathematics
During the elementary years, the child has entered the second plane of development. The child is now interested in society, therefore we try to connect mathematics with the life and story of humanity.
It is during this stage where the reasoning mind of the child is also active. Therefore the materials appeal to the child and allows their hands to be the instrument of the brain. Elementary children love big work and intellectual challenge, and mathematics offers many opportunities for these.
Sciences
The work here helps the child with the relationship between them and the universe. We provide the child with impressions and allow the child to further explore. It is these impressions that allow the child to better understand how our world functions and they see it with their eyes and explore with their intellect and imagination. We provide the child with key to unlock further knowledge on their own. The child will explore the functions, relationships, and classifications of their environment.
Social Studies
Our social studies areas include geography and history. Here the child truly decides based on their interests what they would like to explore. We follow the child's lead. In the elementary environment we provide the child with the key concepts and hope to open up other areas of exploration. This is often an area that is explored based off of other interests that have then led the child here. We follow up with the child after giving them space to explore their interests in hopes of sparking further interest and exploration. While the child themself is given the opportunity to explore this area through their own interest we do ensure that the child is aware of at least the minimum that is required. It is here that the child will be able to further understand how society works and it is a great opportunity to explore themselves further.
