At about age six, a child matures from the exploratory mind set of the pre-school years to one of an imagination capable of embracing larger ideas, going beyond the concrete. The Lower Elementary curriculum builds on this, with an interdisciplinary approach. For example, students learn about the prehistoric world through biology, geology, history, language, math and art. In Upper Elementary, the natural sciences lead to the social and physical sciences. As always in Montessori, the transition from simple to complex occurs in a fully integrated way.
Emphasis is placed on the association between different areas of study rather than isolated details.
Math and geometry concepts flow from basic number operations through Euclidean geometry to solid geometry. Language becomes the final synthesis of all experiences, with creative writing and grammar analysis built on the cultural content of the curriculum. Students at this age burst into learning with an intensity similar to those in the Children's House. With tremendous exuberance and energy for life, they want to experience adulthood - emotionally, physically, spiritually , and intellectually. Saint Francis Academy fosters this need in a safe and challenging environment.