Montessori Upper Elementary Program | Denver
Our upper elementary school program at Montessori Children's House of Denver guides students through a transformative period of academic and personal growth, building the foundation for lifelong learning and independence.
Montessori Upper Elementary Program Enrollment
Ages Served
9-12 years old (Grades 4-6).
Schedule Options
Full-day program with before and after care available.
Hours
8:30 AM - 3:15 PM (Before care: 7:30 AM, After care until 6:00 PM).
Is Potty Training Required?
Yes, students must be fully independent.
Curriculum Focus
Cosmic Curriculum integrating math, language, science, history, geography, and cultural studies.
Daily Routine
3-hour morning work cycle, community lunch, afternoon enrichment classes.
Classroom Experience
Mixed-age environment with hands-on activities, outdoor access, and self-directed learning opportunities.
About Our Montessori Upper Elementary Program
Our Denver upper elementary students embark on an exciting journey of academic independence, discovering their passions while building critical thinking skills. The Montessori method guides students through this crucial developmental stage, where they transition from concrete learning to abstract concepts. Upper elementary students thrive in our carefully prepared Montessori environment, working alongside peers and teachers who support their natural curiosity about the world around them.
From 9 to 12: Development Support for Every Stage
During the elementary years, students experience remarkable growth in their reasoning abilities and social awareness. Our upper elementary level curriculum meets students where they develop cognitively, emotionally, and physically. Middle school preparation begins naturally as older students take on leadership roles within our inclusive community. The Montessori materials and lessons support each child's journey from concrete understanding to abstract thinking, preparing them for the academic challenges ahead.
Montessori Upper Elementary Program Enrollment and Registration
Ready to join our Montessori school community? We welcome families throughout the year and encourage you to visit our classroom to see the Montessori method in action. Our enrollment team helps families understand how our upper elementary program prepares students for middle school success while nurturing their love of learning. Contact us to learn about upcoming events and schedule your visit.
Why Families Trust Montessori Children's House of Denver
Families choose our elementary school because we combine academic excellence with character development. Our teachers create an environment where students discover their potential through authentic Montessori materials and meaningful lessons. We serve families across Denver with three convenient campus locations, and our calendar of events keeps parents connected to our vibrant school community throughout the year.
A Private Montessori School Serving Denver
Discover how our Montessori approach can make a lasting difference in your child's life. Contact us today to learn more, schedule a tour, and become part of our vibrant school community.
Other Montessori Programs Available at Our Locations
Our toddler program provides a nurturing first school experience where young children develop independence and social skills through age-appropriate Montessori materials and gentle guidance.
The primary program serves early childhood students through their most absorbent years, building foundations in practical life, sensorial exploration, language, and mathematics.
Our lower elementary program introduces younger students to the Great Stories and cosmic curriculum, sparking imagination and wonder about the universe and their place within it.
MCHD Summer Camp extends learning through the summer months with outdoor adventures, creative projects, and continued Montessori experiences.
Our digital citizenship program teaches elementary students responsible technology use and online safety skills essential for modern life.
Our PIP Studio gently guides families through pregnancy, infancy, and the first three years of parenthood. You will gain a deeper understanding of how your child is developing, interacting with the world, and expressing themselves, and you will learn how you can better show up as their guardian.
Other Montessori Programs Available at Our Locations
Our toddler program provides a nurturing first school experience where young children develop independence and social skills through age-appropriate Montessori materials and gentle guidance.
The primary program serves early childhood students through their most absorbent years, building foundations in practical life, sensorial exploration, language, and mathematics.
Our lower elementary program introduces younger students to the Great Stories and cosmic curriculum, sparking imagination and wonder about the universe and their place within it.
MCHD Summer Camp extends learning through the summer months with outdoor adventures, creative projects, and continued Montessori experiences.
Our digital citizenship program teaches elementary students responsible technology use and online safety skills essential for modern life.
Our PIP Studio gently guides families through pregnancy, infancy, and the first three years of parenthood. You will gain a deeper understanding of how your child is developing, interacting with the world, and expressing themselves, and you will learn how you can better show up as their guardian.
Parent Reviews
Meredith B.
January 21, 2025
Communicative and caring teachers and leadership and small classroom/school size contributing to true community feel.
Stefanie S.
June 18, 2024
I love that the staff creates such a safe space for both the kids and parents to be themselves. They are all so welcoming and open and extremely knowledgeable in childhood education. They have helped me and my family overcomes some of the hurdles that toddlerhood brings and develop positive approaches to difficult situations. We love MCHD!
The Upper Elementary Classroom Experience
Finding True Academic Independence
Our Denver Montessori upper elementary program empowers students as they take full ownership over their academic progress, building confidence through their unique strengths and interests. As they spread their wings, eager to take on new academic, physical, and social challenges, they become ready to embark on the journey into adolescence.
Meet the Child: Mental and Emotional Independence Ages 9-12
More than ever before, upper elementary students overflow with big questions, feel excited to explore complex ideas, and are fearless in making new connections with both concepts and people. We support students in developing their research, independent study and time management skills so they learn to ask and answer their own questions. Our Montessori environment provides a safe and open space for students to continue building their own value system and growing as social beings.
Areas of Development
Upper elementary students focus on developing:
- The reasoning mind through abstraction, critical thinking, and problem-solving
- Imagination and creativity through open-ended projects
- Interest in culture and origin through the Great Stories
- Peer relations and collaboration in group work
- Moral and social justice awareness
- Internalization of order and personal responsibility
The Curriculum: Cognitive Development
The Cosmic Curriculum remains the backbone of our upper elementary program, spiraling into all areas of study including math, language, geography, history, zoology, botany, earth science, physics, chemistry, and more. By connecting all curriculum through this "vision of the universe," students make real life connections through their learning.
During these elementary years, between ages nine and twelve, students shift from learning to read to reading to learn. They follow their interests independently and we encourage this natural development. We provide all the tools each student needs to pursue their personal interests and passions, including the skills needed to plan and implement their own "going out" experiences. For these experiences, students research, plan and organize their own off-campus excursions that deepen their understanding of curricular topics.
Social Emotional Development
Upper elementary students remain externally motivated by working and interacting with their peers, a need we continue to support with group work, activities, projects and leadership opportunities. These students, deep in their most sensitive period for social and moral development, begin gaining a higher understanding of their place in their community and world.
To encourage this development, every student explores how they directly impact themselves, others, and their environment, drawing upon the values of respect for self, respect for others, and respect for the environment. They develop and carry out various service and philanthropic projects. These primarily student-driven projects empower them as they begin to understand that they can affect positive change in our world.
Physical Development Through the Spartan Program
Upper elementary students continue to participate in the Spartan program, which aligns well with our Montessori philosophy. At year's end, the program culminates at our school-wide Spartan Race & Field Day, during which students face a variety of challenging physical obstacles that they overcome.
The Spartan program teaches students how to:
- Set individual goals
- Find their True North through the strengths and passions that drive them
- Break down goals into achievable tasks
- Work cooperatively with others
- Build resilience to never give up, no matter how impossible it seems
- Develop confidence to believe they can achieve more than they know
The Montessori Environment and Classroom Design
Our upper elementary students take on more responsibility within the MCHD community, including caring for their classroom environment, their own learning, and others. The classroom reflects thoughtful design with student needs as the guiding principle. Montessori materials are organized by subject and difficulty to encourage self-directed learning.
Materials continue to shift from concrete to more abstract and complex, helping students along the Path to Abstraction. A variety of reading materials at varying levels meets their developing needs and inspires the specific interests and passions of students. Our living world area enriches the space with plants and animals, bringing the curriculum to life and offering students opportunities to connect to and care for living things.
Students care for their classroom environment through rotating jobs. Classroom doors lead outside for direct access to the beautiful outdoor deck, which serves as an outdoor classroom, a place to take breaks, and an outdoor lunch area. The natural playscape just beyond the deck provides opportunities for recess, organized sports, and gardening in the great outdoors.
As with all Montessori classrooms, students move freely around the room and work at tables or on the floor. The classroom design matches their size and supports their success, allowing them to access all materials and feel physically and emotionally comfortable while at school.
Daily Schedule
7:30-8:30 Before care
8:30-8:45 Arrival and settling in with morning work and journal topics
8:45-9:00 Community meeting, which may include group lessons and discussions
9:00-12:00 3-hour work cycle with planning, choosing and completing independent practice and follow-up work, plus receiving lessons
12:00-1:00 Community lunch and recess with lower elementary students
1:00-3:15 Afternoon enrichment activities, including PE, Spanish, sustainability classes, science labs, and more
3:15-6:00 After care
As students arrive, we review their work plans, which are organized by subject area. Through record-keeping and observation, we remain acutely aware of where each child's areas of strength and challenge lie. We offer lessons when students show readiness to move forward with new concepts and skills. Over the course of the three year cycle, we learn how to challenge and support each child in their educational journey, while keeping them excited and engaged in their own progress.
While we evaluate student progress through a variety of methods, including benchmarking assessments and standardized tests to understand their comprehension and mastery of materials, we keep more formal methods to a minimum. We avoid emphasis on tests and instead assess primarily using more organic methods, which deters competition and supports individualized success. In this way, students celebrate their own learning without concern or much awareness of other students' progress. Students with specific differences often feel accepted and confident within this community, because they, just like every other student, follow their own learning trajectory.
FAQs
Upper elementary students at our Montessori school experience a unique blend of independence and support that bridges the gap between elementary and middle school. While middle school often focuses on subject separation, our upper elementary level maintains the integrated cosmic curriculum that helps students see connections across all learning areas.
Schedule a Tour!
Discover how our Montessori educational approach can make a lasting difference in your child's life. Contact us today to learn more, schedule a tour, and become part of our vibrant school community. Visit our elementary program overview to explore all our offerings, or learn more about why families choose Montessori education for their children's growth and development.