PRAIRIE HILL Learning Center

The Young Children's program (ages 1 1/2 to 3) provides individual and communal opportunities for very young children to gain experience in independence, coordination, organization, and concentration through daily living activities: toileting, dressing, food preparation, eating, plant and animal care, etc. Experiencing other sensorial and language activities, encompassing all areas of learning also assists the children in gaining independence.

Primary

The Primary program (ages 3 to 6) offers continued individual and communal opportunities for young children in daily living activities, as well as sensorial and language experiences in all areas of learning. This includes the fine arts, geography, math, the sciences, geometry, and history, and occurs in a broader environment with a wider choice of activities. Primary involves a greater number of community members working together. Very gradual development towards abstraction during these years dictates the need for beginning writing and reading.

Primary Afternoon Class

The primary afternoon class (ages 4 1/2 to 6) is a continuation of the individual and communal activities begun in the morning, for children with two years of experience with the Montessori materials. The additional hours allow the natural tendency of the older child to be more active with the advanced materials in all areas of learning.
 

Elementary

The elementary program ( 6 years old to 8th grade) utilizes the Montessori tradition of individualized instruction. This allows children to learn and be helped on an individual basis. Individualized learning establishes more intimate contact between the child, teacher, and work. The elementary program integrates elements from the preschool programs (imagination, abstraction, language, socialization) with advanced cultural exploration in the arts, sciences, and the Universe. Multi-age groupings are used to afford maximum stimulation. All kinds and levels of learning take place maximizing the individual potential of the child. The elementary program is open-ended, so there is no ceiling to what a child can do!

Country Day Camp

Each summer, Prairie Hill offers a unique, nature-centered day camp experience for children ages 6 to 15. The daily emphasis is on enjoying and appreciating the world around us -- from planting seeds and discovering animal homes to solar cooking and star gazing. Pony riding, animal care, and singing together are everyday activities. Three two-week sessions are offered focusing on different but related themes. Separate sessions are offered for children aged 6 to 9, junior counselors aged 9 to 12, and senior counselors aged 12 to 15.