Overview
Upper Elementary
(4th & 5th Grade)
Our Classroom Environment
Our Upper Elementary Program (Grades 4 and 5) marks a bold step forward in our children’s academic and personal growth by deepening their critical thinking and applying foundational skills to real-world challenges.
Students at this level shift from learning to read and calculate to reading to learn and solving complex problems. Our curriculum aligns with state standards while staying rooted in Montessori philosophy and experiential learning.
Students explore subjects through interdisciplinary projects, novel studies, hands-on math, and advanced science investigations. As they prepare for more abstract concepts like pre-algebra, they learn not just to find answers and understand the "why" behind them.
Leadership Building
Our Upper Elementary students are also learning to become leaders. From hosting Monday assemblies to presenting their work at Maker Faire, the Montessori Model United Nations, and the Hudson County STEM Showcase, they are given meaningful opportunities to lead and to shine.
Students also participate in an unforgettable three-day camping adventure in the Pocono Mountains, where they develop essential skills in team-building, leadership, and outdoor survival.
Throughout the year, students broaden their horizons with monthly field trips, community outreach projects, and optional participation in regional and national competitions, including:
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Hudson County STEM Showcase
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National Spelling Bee
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Math Kangaroo
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Computer Science contests
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Billion Oyster Project Symposium
Nurturing the Whole Child
Academically, students are challenged through rigorous assessments, rubrics, and critiques designed to help them grow as independent thinkers and effective collaborators. With an emphasis on time management, executive functioning, and collaboration, students work on both individual and group projects that encourage creativity, responsibility, and intellectual risk-taking.
Equally important to academic growth is the social and emotional development of our Upper Elementary students. At this stage, children are becoming more self-aware, socially conscious, and capable of managing more complex emotions and relationships.
Our integrated Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum guides students in developing empathy, resilience, and ethical decision-making. Through daily community meetings, Peace Education, and structured reflections, students learn to communicate with respect, resolve conflicts constructively, and contribute to a positive and inclusive classroom culture. These life skills are woven into the fabric of the classroom experience, empowering students to grow not only as learners, but as kind, ethical, and emotionally intelligent individuals.
Your Child Will Learn
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Advanced Skill Development
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Project Based Studies
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Self/Time Management
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Taking Initiative
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Facing New Challenges
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Managing Emotions
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Resolving Conflict With Mutual Respect
Activities Involved
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Montessori Model UN
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Maker Faire
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Hudson County STEM Showcase
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Three-day Overnight Camping Trip
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Billion Oyster Project
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Day in the Life of the Hudson River
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Regional & National Competitions
Why Join Us?
In Upper Elementary, Hudson Montessori students are nurtured to become confident learners, skilled communicators, compassionate leaders, and capable problem solvers. We ensure they are ready for the exciting challenges of Middle School and beyond.
We prepare each of our Upper Elementary students to participate in the annual Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) conference. This four-day, overnight event in Manhattan offers a fantastic opportunity for our children to gain exposure to real-life problem-solving alongside thousands of other Montessori students from around the world. Students learn how to work together by engaging in collaborative activities such as research, writing, debating, and negotiating.
This is one of many tools we use to educate the whole child, instill respect and civility, help students formulate their thoughts, and develop critical thinking skills.
Classroom Enrichment
Outdoor Classroom
To extend learning beyond the classroom, students will participate in day trips and overnight camps that connect to the curriculum, provide real-life problem-solving opportunities, and inspire teamwork, leadership, and self-confidence.
STEAM
At Hudson Montessori School, the STEAM approach integrates science, engineering, math, technology, and art through hands-on, inquiry-based learning, while community engineers mentor students to further strengthen the Engineering Curriculum.
Computer Science, Robotics, and Technology
Hudson Montessori School’s new technology lab supports web research, 3D printing, programming, robotics, and coding, with 3rd–5th graders preparing for the Continental Math League and all students showcasing their work during Computer Science Week (Dec 5–11).
Music and Chorus
Our music teacher, has assembled and conducted our Hudson Montessori Children’s Choir. The choir will continue our outreach to Jersey City, New York City and other neighboring communities through music and songs.
Music Appreciation
Our Music Appreciation class is a culmination of the basics of music theory, a survey of different musical styles, and music history. We will ”explore” what music is, how it began, and how it evolved throughout the ages into what we hear today.
Jazz Band
This program engages young learners in the musical arts by offering weekly individual or small group lessons on a wide range of instruments, including piano, guitar, drums, ukulele, violin, triangle, and trumpet, encouraging them to express their talents, reach their highest potential, and grow into the brightest, most creative minds of the future.
Character Development
Our students will be participating in an interactive program linked to Common Core Standards and extending Maria Montessori’s grace and courtesy guidelines. The objectives for this program is to bring lessons in character development and conflict resolution through real and creative experiences found within various narratives and through discussion based dialogues.
Physical Education
Coach James Alfalla, who brings over 20 years of tennis experience, provides Physical Education twice a week and Tennis once a week through Tennis Approach, a program that uses its own eclectic method to introduce children to proper movement, games, and modern stroke techniques while supporting both naturally athletic students and those developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Spanish
Spanish is the language we study as our foreign language. The goal is for our students to acquire conversational skills by the end of the school year. Our approach to Spanish is immersive. Through the communicative approach, our students will be immersed in different contexts and situations where they will be required to use the target language to communicate their thoughts and ideas.
Library
The mission of the Library Program is to encourage students to become lifelong learners who are excited to read and research. Elementary students enjoy weekly visits to the school library for stories, educational and entertaining library programming, and book exchange. Students also have access to electronic resources, via laptops and DVD’s, so they can access the most up-to-date information on any given topic.
Art
Creative expression is essential to a Montessori education. Elementary students study various artists and their work to help nurture creativity. They explore different techniques and mediums through direct instruction and hands-on practice. Some of the artists we explore might include Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Keith Haring, Henri Rousseau, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keeffe, Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.
Assembly
Elementary students meet together once a week for an assembly to foster our community of learners. The assembly begins by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance/Pledge to the Earth, sing ‘You’re a Grand Old Flag’ and discuss a current topic of global interest.
