Elementary Program
(Grades 1–8)

Grace and Courtesy is a core part of the Montessori approach, helping children develop confidence, empathy, and respect in all their interactions. Students learn key life skills such as emotional awareness, self-regulation, conflict resolution, healthy communication, leadership, and decision-making—all while building a strong sense of identity and community.

Our program also encourages students to connect with the wider community through biannual events with Grand View School and local retirement homes, where children engage in reading, collaborative activities, and shared outdoor play. These experiences reinforce social skills, empathy, and global citizenship, helping students become thoughtful, caring, and responsible members of their communities.

The Elementary Language Arts curriculum focuses on developing strong reading, writing, and communication skills. Students build fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking through literature and poetry, novel studies, and individualized reading programs.

Writing instruction includes narrative, expository, and persuasive writing, with an emphasis on grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and penmanship. Vocabulary and word study support clear expression and deeper understanding, while oral language skills are strengthened through discussion and presentations.

Research and writing skills are reinforced across the curriculum through projects, journal writing, and regular language practice. Reading development is further supported through the Reading Laboratory program, a self-paced program that allows students to assess their progress and advance confidently through increasing levels of challenge.  Our students are assessed on their reading fluency and comprehension skills to ensure they are always challenged.  Weekly language homework and tests reinforces vocabulary development and grammar practice.

Our program exceeds the Ministry of Education curriculum due to our focus on delivering the Montessori approach to mathematics and geometry. The program helps students build a deep understanding of numbers and operations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percentages, and concepts of time and money. Using hands-on materials, students explore measurement, geometry, and spatial reasoning while developing strategies to internalize math facts with understanding, not just memorization.  

We also introduce algebraic thinking, problem-solving, logic, and financial literacy through real-world projects and classroom activities, encouraging students to think creatively and critically. Weekly math homework is assigned once students demonstrate readiness, reinforcing skills and building confidence as independent, capable mathematicians.

Our Health and Wellness program helps children develop their gross motor skills, coordination, teamwork, and healthy living habits, grounded in Montessori’s belief that movement and well‑being are essential to whole‑child development. In Montessori education, physical activity isn’t just “gym time.” It supports self‑confidence, body awareness, and emotional regulation through both structured games and free play that encourage natural movement and meaningful engagement.

Students participate in teacher‑led activities during outdoor recess on our field and indoor gym time at Grandview, where structured skill development and free‑play opportunities build strength, cooperation, and a lifelong appreciation for healthy, active living. These experiences also prepare students for events like the IFAA track and field, helping them grow physically, socially, and emotionally as confident learners and teammates.

At Brackendale Elementary Academy, our Arts program nurtures creativity, self-expression, and cultural appreciation across visual arts, drama, and music. 

In Visual Arts, students explore a variety of media—painting, drawing, sculpture, fibers, and mixed media—while learning key elements of art, studying art history and styles, and engaging in both individual and collaborative projects. Weekly activities and monthly themes encourage skill development alongside imaginative expression.

In Drama, students build confidence and communication skills through acting, storytelling, character development, and stage presence, using costumes, props, and performance techniques. Their learning is showcased in our Winter and Spring Showcases. 

In Music, students develop an appreciation for melody, rhythm, and dynamics, explore global musical traditions, and gain hands-on experience with singing, dancing, and rhythm instruments. Older students are also introduced to instruments such as the recorder and keyboard, fostering a lifelong love of music and performance.

The Elementary Science program nurtures students’ natural curiosity through observation, experimentation, and discovery. Students explore botany, zoology, physical science, and environmental studies while building an understanding of plant and animal life, human anatomy, physics, and chemistry, in alignment with Ontario curriculum expectations.

Through hands-on experiments and inquiry-based projects, students investigate the development of the solar system, the Earth and its systems, and life on Earth. These experiences encourage students to ask questions, draw conclusions, and deepen their understanding of the natural world.

At Brackendale Montessori, our program is designed to fuel the “reasoning mind” of the child. Moving beyond simple facts, students ask “How?” and “Why?”, investigating the complex systems that sustain life through observation, experimentation, and discovery. Aligned with Ontario curriculum expectations, our students explore botany, zoology, anatomy, physics, and chemistry, using hands-on projects to draw evidence-based conclusions about the natural world and the solar system.

As students progress through Grades 1–8, our curriculum covers the four core Ontario pillars—Life Systems, Matter and Energy, Structures and Mechanisms, and Earth and Space Systems—with increasing complexity each year. By blending Montessori principles with modern STEM tools like coding and robotics, we empower students to use technology responsibly for research, problem-solving, and creative innovation.

Our Special Projects give students the chance to apply their learning in creative, hands-on, and collaborative ways. These projects allow students to dive into the scientific process, developing deep research skills to form and test their own hypotheses. These cross-curricular learning experiences bridge subjects like history, math, and art, sparking curiosity and helping students explore topics in depth—whether through complex science experiments, engineering design challenges, or community-based initiatives.

Students work individually and in teams, developing critical skills like planning, organization, and leadership. A cornerstone of these projects is the opportunity for public speaking before large audiences. By sharing their findings with peers, families, and the broader community, students build the confidence to articulate complex ideas and celebrate the real-world impact of their learning.

Our Enriched Programs give students the opportunity to explore their passions, develop leadership skills, and engage with their community. During after-school programs, students participate in teacher-led activities such as Art, Drama, Crochet, Novel Study, Chess, STEM, and French, while school clubs offer opportunities in Choir, Book Club, Coding, Eco Club, and more. 

Experiential learning through field trips connects classroom learning to the real world, deepening understanding and curiosity.

Our students also develop a strong sense of community and global citizenship through service projects like fundraising, local clean-ups, and visits to senior centres. Cross-school events, such as Track and Field, Olympics, Public Speaking, Art, and Spelling Bees, build teamwork, confidence, and school spirit. 

Additional programs in specialized sports, including Karate, Soccer, Rock Climbing, Gymnastics, and Skating, support gross motor development and healthy living. Leadership opportunities through student council and class roles empower students to take initiative, make decisions, and grow as confident, responsible leaders.

At Brackendale Montessori, Social Studies begins well before the elementary years. While traditional school systems often wait until later grades to introduce formal history and geography, our Kindergarten (Casa) students are already building a sophisticated foundation. By the time they enter Grade 1, they have already been introduced to the “Big Picture” of the world through hands-on materials like the puzzle maps, land and water forms, and the study of diverse cultures. This early exposure ensures that our elementary students start with a profound sense of global awareness and a high level of academic readiness.

In History, elementary students move from these early foundations into the Timeline of Life, early civilizations, and the Fundamental Needs of Humans. Fully aligned with the Ontario curriculum, we cover Canadian history—from Indigenous heritage to modern nation-building—emphasizing human achievement and interconnectedness.

In Geography, students investigate Earth’s structure, the solar system, and climate patterns. We place a particular focus on Canadian Geography, provinces, and territories. As students progress through Grades 1–8, the curriculum expands into Civics and Global Citizenship, where they analyze democratic values, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Canada’s role in global sustainability. This interdisciplinary approach ensures students graduate with the empathy and critical thinking skills of informed Global Citizens.

The French program at Brackendale Montessori builds on the strong oral foundation developed during the Kindergarten (Casa) years. Because our students begin their language journey so early, they enter the Elementary stream with an advanced level of comprehension and vocabulary compared to traditional school systems. This early start allows them to move quickly beyond basics into sophisticated reading, writing, complex grammar, and sentence structure.

Elementary students participate in daily French lessons that include both group and individualized activities. As students become more comfortable and proficient, their learning culminates in deep-dive research projects and formal French presentations during school events. These opportunities allow students to showcase their fluency and public speaking skills in a second language before a live audience.

The program features monthly themed units and special events to bring the language to life, with individualized tutoring also available upon request. Students are assessed in four key areas: listening, reading, speaking, and writing, ensuring comprehensive development. With this daily exposure and consistent practice, our students gain the confidence and academic edge needed to truly thrive in a bilingual context.