Children’s house

3 – 6 years

Classroom

Our Classrooms resemble workplaces and creative laboratories, with different children working on various activities, alone or in small groups, following their interests and learning at their own pace. With all students being of mixed-ages between 3 - 6 years old, the classroom enables the children to learn from each another, with the guidance and supervision of the teachers.

Key learning areas

It is important that children make their own discovery of their environment and learn with joy and confidence. Hence no learning area in the Montessori classroom exists in isolation. This allows the children to become immersed in their surroundings and thus gradually understand both concrete and abstract concepts.

Practical Life

Refining children’s motricity and coordination helps develop concentration, responsibility and independence. Activities cover two main areas of the child’s development: care of self and care of the environment.

Sensorial

Children get in touch with all their senses in this work area: stimulating visual, tactile, auditory, gustatory and olfactory senses. The skills they learn here are an indirect preparation for abstract concepts, such as mathematics.

Language

Children learn the four basic language skills in both French and English simultaneously. These four skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are encouraged throughout the classroom. The children learn writing before the age of four thanks to the skills acquired in the Practical Life area. 

Mathematics

It is important that children make their own discovery of the various forms of mathematics. All of our Montessori material encourage mathematical thinking with each exercise building upon the other.

In the classroom the children also discover a variety of subjects such as:

Geography

From continents and landforms to earth layers and solar systems, we teach children about the interactions between people and various environments.

History

By using timelines and calendars, we explain the concept of time and change in practical activities.

Nature

In our indoor and outdoor learning environments we explore general botany, zoology and the concept of ecology. During outdoor activities, we sensitize the children to their carbon footprint and their positive and negative effects on the environment. One promoted activity is collecting litter in the park and by the river.

Science

We teach the methods of experimentation as a way of acquiring knowledge with a hands-on and intuitive approach. 

A day at the school

Arrival time

8:00 to 8:30 am

Children arrive and prepare for their day

Time for concentration

8:30 to 11:30 am

In the morning, the classroom is a haven of peace and concentration. Each child dedicates him/herself to an activity that he/she has chosen. The teachers show the exercises first, then observe and encourage the children to explore the teaching materials. If necessary, the teachers are there to support or to guide the child to a new activity at the right time. Each child is free to move quietly around the classroom to observe and to talk about their interests.

Circle time

11:30 to 11:45 am

This is a time for the classroom community to come together. During this time, we work on language skills, singing songs, hearing stories and poems in both French and English. We conclude the session with some playtime outdoors and to catch some fresh air before lunchtime.

Meal time

11:45 am to 1:00 pm

Before every meal, we assign children different tasks, such as setting the table and tidying up after the meal. This shared responsibility empowers self-esteem and a sense of community. 

To learn more about the meals, head to Practical Information.

Recreation after the meal

1:00 to 1:30 pm

The children enjoy playing and relaxing in the courtyard after their meal. 

afternoon activities

1:30 to 3:45 pm

A Time for Exploration ! 

After an energizing break, the children eagerly return to the classroom, where the classroom transforms into a creative hub, buzzing with artistic endeavors, music, culinary adventures, and delightful stories. Not only that, the children also have the option to continue their exploration with the captivating Montessori material. 

Weather permitting, we take them on mindful walks to enhance their sensory learning, explore nature with land art, encourage gross motricity by running, jumping and climbing – all in the embrace of fresh air. These outdoor activities help our children appreciate the simple joy of exploring open fields and forests. 

End of school day

4:00 pm

After-school childcare

4:00 to 6:00 pm

We provide a comfortable after-school environment hosted in the classroom or in the nearby park. Children can explore artistic activities including painting and drawing, as well as having access to non-Montessori materials such as books, puzzles, pencils, etc. We provide organic and locally produced snacks like fresh fruits, rice crackers and healthy cookies.

 

Environmental awareness

Teaching Our Children to Take Care of Our Planet

Little Birds recognizes the importance of not only teaching our children to care for our planet, but helping them to build life long habits that will decrease their environmental footprint while helping to keep the world around them beautiful. Over the course of the school year, Little Birds encourages children to participate in gardening activities, go on nature walks to gather, examine and discuss what they find and become Litter Heroes. As Litter Heroes, children learn to identify debris that has been left behind by others. Under the careful supervision of Little Birds’ staff, children use hand-held litter grabber machines to pick up and place non-dangerous litter in the collection bag held by their partner. In pairs the children frequently clean up the areas they explore in the nearby park, on adult led walks around Onex or down by the river, all to the benefit of the local community and our world.

I am very happy that my two daughters had the opportunity to attend Montessori Preschool Little Birds for more than a year before our family moved back to Portugal for good. I thank Kimiyo and Alexandra very much for the positive impact they had on their education and development during such an important period of their lives

Mother of Maria Luisa and Clara aged 4 and 5