Upper Primary

(9–12 yrs)

“Help me to think for myself ”

The social explorer

In Upper Primary (cycle 3), children continue building their independence and exploring the world around them. During this period, they receive lessons to guide their explorations of culture, science, mathematics, language, social rules and morals. They are encouraged to take ownership of their learning and develop a holistic body of skills and knowledge to become confident, compassionate and self-motivated graduates.

Equipped with a strong imagination and an ability to learn and think about abstract concepts, the primary child is keen to explore both their immediate surroundings and to understand the wider world. Students continue to use Montessori materials as they develop their ability to abstract, complementing these with books, digital tools, real world experiences and community resources.

The diverse Primary curriculum here at the campus covers:

  • Mathematics

    Operational processes, geometry, pythagorean theorem and fractions.

  • Language and literacy

    Handwriting, creative writing, reading, grammar and etymology.

  • Science and technology

    Botany, astronomy, physics, chemistry and zoology.

  • Creative Arts

    Drama, dance, music and visual arts.

  • History

    The universe, the natural world, humanity, language and mathematics.

  • Geography and Society

    Governments, first nations, religions, economics and philosophy.

  • PDHPE

    Individual and team sports, health and safety, and mindfulness.

​​Whilst the traditional disciplines are all covered in accordance with the NSW curriculum, children are free to explore beyond the confines of the curriculum, should they wish and be capable of doing so.

 

“The academics of Montessori, I have found, are actually quite advanced. When I entered high school, it definitely gave me a bit of a head start.” 

BMS Graduate Alumni

 We also offer cultural and indigenous studies, along with extracurricular opportunities such as:

  • Attend excursions and incursions, access books from our libraries, care for our garden, cook, sew, sing and perform in child-directed end of year performances for families.

  • Offsite school camps and a combined school sports day with the Montessori community.

  • Support and participate in the greater community through fundraising, environmental activities and our integrated peer support program.

The classrooms are rich and exciting environments where children are encouraged to develop ownership of their learning, using diaries and lesson plans to manage their time and schedules independently. Students work individually and in groups, with a student-led ‘going out’ excursion program providing opportunities to explore and research in the wider community.

Assessment occurs using a combination of observation, demonstration of mastery, and regular one-to-one student teacher conferences. Student progression is recorded in development reports issued to parents, as requested by NESA. Students may also participate in the national NAPLAN standardised testing in Year 3 and Year 5. The Montessori curriculum ensures that children not only meet required NESA primary outcomes, but develop a holistic body of skills and knowledge to become graduates who are confident, compassionate, independent, motivated and engaged.

“At my end, I’m seeing children who are so independent, able to think for themselves, and articulate their thoughts. This is because they’ve spent all those years independently coming in and organising their day.” 

Upper Primary Director