In a Montessori classroom, there is a large range of activities. There is a progression from concrete to abstract through sequences of largely self-correcting materials with many parallel exercises. Children (individually or in small groups) are free to choose their own activities and to develop at their own pace, with staff monitoring and guiding each child along a developmental continuum. As a government school, the traditional Montessori curriculum is integrated into a program that also reflects the curriculum for ACT Schools.
- Daily living activities include skills related to the care of the environment and care of self. These help build dexterity, concentration and skills of task initiation and completion.
- Sensorial materials develop each of the senses individually through sequenced activities and form the basis of the mathematics and language curricula.
- Mathematics includes varied experiences of classification, quantity, counting and the development of concepts and operations. Children use the extensive range of Montessori maths materials to investigate the strands of number, algebra, geometry, statistics, probability, measurement and working mathematically.
- The Language curriculum recognises that each child begins school at their own particular point on their own continuum of literacy development. The Yarralumla Montessori Literacy Program aims to immerse all the children in a supportive and stimulating literacy environment where they are constantly motivated to engage in literacy tasks at an appropriate level. In the classroom, where children move about choosing activities, teachers plan particular tasks for particular children that encourage them to move onwards in their literacy development. When Red Group combines after the younger children go home, more formal group activities take place, based around topics of relevance to the children.
- In Studies of Society we share our information with others through discussion, art and writing. The Montessori geography materials are attractive and effective; they are used constantly to emphasise the place of Australia in the world and to explore its varied cultures, especially those of families at the Yarralumla Montessori.
- In Physical Education use is made of the well-designed and carefully maintained environment. Through free play and structured activities the children develop fine and gross-motor skills, self-care skills, the ability to work cooperatively in a group and an awareness of health and safety.
- As part of the Arts program, craft activities are designed for independence and flexibility, given the range of competencies within the group. Activities allow creative expression and encourage the development of a repertoire of skills and techniques while exploring and developing ideas. Music provides fun and variety while building social, emotional, dramatic, musical, motor, maths and language skills. In Red Group, the arts are explored extensively.
- The Science program aims to build awareness of the natural environment and how it influences our daily life. The school garden is considered extremely important and children are encouraged, along with their families, to respect and look after it.
