Elementary Education (Ages 6-12)
The AIS approach to elementary education unites the best aspects of constructivist educational philosophy with Montessori pedagogy and recent research on the benefits of subject-specific academic rigor.
AIS Elementary Core Commitments:
Respect for the individual child
The conviction that the urge to work, to challenge oneself, is an essential human quality
Setting high academic goals, and providing children with a clear path to achieving those goals
honing learning strategies, unique to each child, that will allow students to thrive at AIS and beyond
As students master aspects of their studies, the members of the faculty guide them to natural increases in academic breadth and complexity.
History & Social Sciences:
Understanding the past, participating in the present, welcoming the future
History of the Cosmos
Western and non-Western history and culture
Geography
Timeline of civilizations
American government and comparative government
READING & LANGUAGE ARTS:
Phonics
Grammar
Handwriting
Literature, theatre performance
Composition/effective and intellectually solid argument
Research skills/critical thinking, developing and presenting research papers
Physical & Life Sciences:
Research methods
Observation and record-keeping in experimental settings
Development of a hypothesis based on research; testing of hypothesis and presentation of results
Use of the outdoor classroom as a natural laboratory
Physical Sciences: Geology, Chemistry, Physics
Life Sciences: Botany, Biology
Math & Technology:
Mastery of elemental arithmetic as a strong foundation for higher level mathematical challenges
Fractions
Geometry
Algebra
Opportunity to accelerate studies or to take additional time to achieve mastery of particular concepts
Computer Literacy skills
Electives:
Spanish
Fine Arts
Harp
Piano
“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”