Do STEM and Montessori really go together?

Montessori-based curriculum reinforces that everything is related, showing the connection of topics across the five Montessori Learning areas: Language Arts, Mathematics, Practical Life, Sensorial, and Geography/Culture

By nature, Montessori education shares many of the hallmarks of STEM education. Children often learn best when they can explore, experiment, and bring concepts together. That’s a reality that Maria Montessori understood quite well, and it’s something we bring to our classes. 

Both Montessori and STEM  teaching styles are based on the concept of child-led exploration which includes, question-based and hands-on learning, critical thinking, open-ended exploration, and applying self-initiative. It is also a natural place for STEM activities to occur. This is a result of encouraging students to be independent, curious, and innovative. 

Our teachers provide guidance to your child that invites the type of programming STEM is known for:

  • Opportunities for hands-on discovery

  • Learning through experimentation

  • Allowing for students to explore areas that draw their interest

  • Bringing concepts together to create a more holistic academic experience

  • Development of practical, real-world skills that move beyond rote learning

We offer many daily activities that tie in directly to learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts. Some learning activities your child may enjoy can include:

  • Planting a seed and observing its growth from seed, to sprout, to leaves and flowers

  • Creating and observing rain gauges to learn about natural processes such as evaporation

  • Blowing bubbles and watching how they respond to different environmental elements, such as breezes and different surface materials the bubbles may touch

  • Learning about the design of things by playing with materials designed to nest into one another or connect with one another in a clear pattern

  • Categorizing objects into groups that share the same trait (size, shape, color)

Students learn the core rules of math and science through the discovery of natural laws through manipulation of didactic materials and problem-solving with peers. The work engages the senses and ensures the internalization of concepts, not just memorization of disjointed facts and figures. Through the Montessori concept of a Southern Stars Education, the curriculum reinforces that everything is interrelated; students see how math and science work harmoniously in nature, like in the Fibonacci sequence.

It is worth noting that Montessori education has been linked to some of the greatest technology entrepreneurs of our time, including Google founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales. They have credited Montessori for allowing them to ask questions, discover, and learn on their own terms. In fact, Amazon’s Bezos has committed to funding the growth of high-quality, Montessori preschools.

The possibilities are endless for incorporating STEM into your child’s learning. With our teachers offering thoughtful guidance, we equip your child to do well in a technologically-savvy future and thrive in our ever-advancing world.

The Montessori Advantage: FAQ

How many students are typically in a Montessori class?

Unlike some private schools, which strive for very small classes, Montessori values the lessons of community when the size of the class is somewhat larger. Montessori classes for children above the infant & toddler level might include 20–30 students whose ages span 3 years. All members of the community benefit from this set-up. Older students are proud to act as role models; younger ones feel supported and gain confidence about the challenges ahead. Classes for infants & toddlers are smaller, with typically 10–15 children. 

How can children learn if they're free to do whatever they want?  

Dr. Montessori observed that children are more motivated to learn when working on something of their own choosing. A Montessori student may choose his focus of learning on any given day, but his decision is limited by the materials and activities—in each area of the curriculum—that his teacher has prepared and presented to him. Beginning at the elementary level, students typically set learning goals and create personal work plans under their teacher’s guidance.  

Why are Montessori schools all work and no play?  

Dr. Montessori realized that children’s play is their work—their effort to master their own bodies and environment—and out of respect she used the term “work” to describe all their classroom activities. Montessori students work hard, but they don’t experience it as drudgery;  rather, it’s an expression of their natural curiosity and desire to learn.

If children work at their own pace, don't they fall behind?  

Although students are free to work at their own pace, they’re not doing it alone. The Montessori teacher closely observes each child and provides materials and activities that advance their learning by building on skills and knowledge already gained. This gentle guidance helps them master the learning by building on skills and knowledge already gained. This gentle guidance helps them master the challenge at hand—and protects them from moving on before they’re ready, which is what causes children to “fall behind.”

Do Montessori teachers follow a curriculum? 

Montessori schools teach the same basic skills as traditional schools and offer a rigorous academic program. Most of the subject areas are familiar—such as math, science, history, geography, and language—but they are presented through an integrated approach that brings separate strands of the curriculum together. 

While studying a map of Africa, for example, students may explore the art, history, and inventions of several African nations. This may lead them to examine ancient Egypt, including hieroglyphs and their place in the history of writing. The study of the pyramids, of course, is a natural bridge to geometry. 

This approach to curriculum shows the interrelatedness of all things. It also allows students to become thoroughly immersed in a topic—and to give their curiosity full rein.

Is it true that Montessori students have the same teacher for all subjects rather than work with “specialists” in different curricular areas?  

Montessori teachers are educated as “generalists,” qualified to teach all sections of the curriculum. But many schools choose to also employ specialists in certain subjects, including art, music, foreign language, physical education, and science. 

Can Montessori accommodate gifted children? What about children with other  special learning needs?  

An advantage of the Montessori approach—including multi-age classrooms with students of varying abilities and interests—is that it allows each child to work at her own pace. Students whose strengths and interests propel them to higher levels of learning can find intellectual challenge without being separated from their peers. The same is true for students who may need extra guidance and support: each can progress through the curriculum at his own comfortable pace, without feeling pressure to "catch up."  We might note that from a Montessori perspective, every child is considered gifted, each in her own way. For every child has his own unique strengths—it is all a matter of degree. 

Are Montessori schools expensive? 

Private Montessori schools are independently owned and operated, and each sets its business practices, including the cost of tuition. Typically, tuition fees vary from region to region and from school to school.  

Some private schools offer scholarships for families in need of assistance, and many offer reduced tuition when parents enroll more than one child. 

There are also more than 400 public Montessori schools in the United States. These include charter schools, some of which enroll students through a random lottery process. Like other public schools, charter schools are tuition-free.  

How well do Montessori students do compared to students in non-Montessori schools?  

There is a small but growing body of well-designed research comparing Montessori students to those in traditional schools. These suggest that in academic subjects, Montessori students perform as well as, or better, than their non-Montessori peers. In one study, for example, children who had attended Montessori schools at the preschool and elementary levels earned higher scores in high school on standardized math and science tests. Another study found that the essays of 12-year-old Montessori students were more creative and used more complex sentence structures than those produced by the non-Montessori group. 

The research also shows Montessori students have greater social and behavioral skills. They demonstrate a greater sense of fairness and justice, for example, and are more likely to choose positive responses for dealing with social dilemmas.  

By less stringent measures, too, Montessori students seem to do quite well. Most Montessori schools report that their students are typically accepted into the high schools and colleges of their choice. 

And many successful grads cite their years at Montessori when reflecting on important influences in their life. For more information, see the "Overview of Research on Montessori  Education" in our online Research Library.