The activities in this area help the child become more independent, laying a foundation for a strong self-concept. The toddler environment supports independence by providing freedom to explore real-life activities and appropriate materials.

Activities that refine gross and fine motor coordination are essential for children as they learn to control their body movements. Activities of practical life, music, dance, and arts support coordination, balance, and muscle strengthening. Dr. Montessori emphasized that "the hand is the instrument of intelligence." Current research supports her theories, indicating that the use of the hand, as well as other motor activities, supports brain development. We support our toddlers’ need for movement by providing unlimited access to the outdoor classroom.

The toddler classroom includes sensory exploration lessons to support awareness of different object qualities. These activities appeal to the child’s natural interest and need to explore through touching, smelling, tasting, seeing, and hearing.

Language development is one of the primary tasks for children at this age. With this in mind, teachers name and discuss everything in the environment, allowing children to hear spoken language and learn the proper names of things. An everyday activity supporting expressive and receptive language is the "Question game," often practiced in Montessori Toddler classrooms.

Arts and music activities help children develop self-expression and communication. Students have access to diverse art media and are free to create art. However, it's important to remember that children at this age are more interested in the process of the activity than in the end product. Singing, dancing, and manipulating musical instruments are daily activities in the toddler classroom.

Our open outdoor classroom offers young children many opportunities to experience the richness of nature while also allowing them freedom of movement.

The Practical Life Exercises enhance the development of task organization and cognitive order through self-care, care of the environment, grace and courtesy, and activities to refine gross and fine motor skills. While these activities may seem simple at first, they hold more significance than meets the eye. Young children are naturally drawn to them because they are familiar with them, allowing them to imitate adults. Imitation is one of the strongest urges during the early years. Through this imitation, young children practice and develop new skills in a relaxed manner as they joyfully work on meaningful activities. As children work on pouring skills, using everyday tools, washing dishes, or polishing shoes, they improve their coordination and become absorbed in the activity. The concentration, coordination, order, and independence inherent in the performance of these practical life activities lay the foundation for their learning and success in life.

The sensorial materials help children develop sensory impressions such as length, form, visual discrimination, sound, texture, temperature, weight, and stereognostic. These lessons focus on isolating a particular quality, such as emphasizing length with the red rods. This process lays the foundation for developing the mathematical mind, involving higher-level thinking skills like comparing, analyzing, and problem-solving.

Dr. Montessori observed that children enjoy touching and manipulating objects while counting, leading them to learn fundamental mathematical concepts. After participating in Practical Life and Sensorial activities, children develop essential skills—such as comparing, grouping, matching, sorting, sequencing, grading, and problem-solving—that are fundamental skills for learning math. Children internalize number concepts, symbols, sequences, and operations using such material. These sensorial experiences shape the mathematical mind. Starting with concrete materials allows children to witness actual concepts, preparing them to transition to abstraction. The goal is not merely to teach recognition of symbols, counting, or solving operations but to foster logical thinking and understanding in mathematics.

The Montessori curriculum provides an environment rich in language. By observing the children, we become aware of their interests and guide them toward experiences that enhance and expand their interests through language-related activities. As a result, our language curriculum extends beyond the designated language shelves and is integrated into every area of the classroom. The activities in the language area are designed to promote the development of oral language, written expression, and reading, as well as the study of grammar, creative dramatics, and literature. The phonetic study is combined with a rich whole-language approach. Children learn letter sounds and writing using multiple senses with the sandpaper letters and movable alphabet. Writing or word construction nearly always precedes reading as children begin to link sounds and letter symbols to express their thoughts. Proceeding at their own pace, children learn to write and read through fun activities as naturally as they learn to speak.

The science area is designed to nurture children's sense of wonder as they explore the world around them. Discovery projects, scientific observation, and basic science experiments stimulate curiosity and allow children to draw their own conclusions. The plant and animal kingdoms are studied to foster a love and appreciation for all living things. Class gardens and other outdoor projects allow children the opportunity to connect with nature and explore life cycles. The science lessons offer children the chance to develop concentration, follow logical processes, and organize their impressions of the world.

The Montessori cultural curriculum introduces children to geography and history lessons to help them develop an awareness of the world around them. Geography lessons start with introductory presentations on land and water forms, such as lakes, islands, peninsulas, and bays. The large wooden puzzle maps are popular activities in the classroom, allowing children to learn the names of countries, states, and continents. Geography studies continue as children explore various countries, learning about customs, food, music, art, climate, language, fauna, and flora through geography folders/boxes. To introduce the concept of history, children create a timeline of their lives, starting with a baby picture and ending with their current age.

Simple food preparation lessons and cooking projects are incorporated into the classroom's practical life and cultural areas. Children enjoy the opportunity to prepare and serve food. As part of the grace and courtesy curriculum, children will learn the proper use of utensils, how to set the table, and table manners when sharing a meal with their peers.

The art activities in the primary classes aim to maintain the joy children find in creating something of their own. First, children are presented with simple activities that help develop individual skills necessary for art, such as cutting, pasting, and using paints. Secondly, they have the opportunity to explore their imagination using a variety of mediums. Our art area recognizes that young children are more interested in the process rather than the product.

The creative music and movement program is an ongoing, flexible process that integrates itself into all areas of the overall program. Children are drawn to the rhythm of music, and their natural response to rhythm is physical. Therefore, the body is the first instrument through which the movement in music is reflected and interpreted. Children will explore the music of the great composers and learn about the instruments of the orchestra.

SMA will introduce an informal approach to teaching Spanish. Children will learn the names of colors and numbers and simple communication skills. The goal of this program is to support the children's sensitive period of language development.