PRIMARY
Maria Montessori called the period between birth and age 6 the FIRST PLANE OF DEVELOPMENT.
She characterized children of this age as having an "absorbent mind," the ability to literally absorb, like a sponge, all kinds of information about their environment and culture.

The primary child's need for order and independence is reflected in the highly organized and child-proportioned nature of the preschool environment. Lessons are given to the children one-on-one. Teachers are careful to match the activity to the child's "sensitive period" for that particular aspect of learning.
Characteristics
White Rock Montessori Primary Environments
- Two preschool classrooms, each consisting of twenty-four children, ages 3-6
- Two Montessori-certified teachers are in each classroom; the student/teacher ratio is 12:1
- Weekly classes with faculty specialists in music, Spanish, and environmental education
- All children attend five days per week
- Older children attend from 8:30 A.M. -3:00 P.M.
- Younger children attend for a half-day only, from 8:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.
- Children remain in the same classroom with the same teachers throughout preschool and kindergarten.
- Classrooms are self-paced/Individualized

- Concrete, manipulative materials are organized into the following curricular areas:
- Everyday Living Skills
- Sensory Awareness
- Math
- Geometry
- Language
- Foreign Language (Spanish)
- Geography
- History
- Art
- Drama
- Music
- Science
- Environmental Education/Gardening
- Gross and Fine Motor Refinement
