9-12 Year Old Class

This is the Age of Cosmic Education – the age of reaching for an introduction to and an overview of everything. In the Children’s House one offers the world to the child; in the elementary one offers the universe – from the smallest particles in the atom to galaxies, along with the idea of infinity. The expansive mind of the child is limited only by the resources in his/her environment and the ability and stamina of the adults who prepare the environment. This environment should provide key ideas that unlock the forces inherent in children to think creatively, to retrace and explore with understanding the discoveries and inventions of human beings and to search for new ideas and solutions to today’s needs.

The Cosmic View reflects the unity and interrelatedness of all things, animate and inanimate, in the universe. The realization of the interdependency of human beings grows along with the knowledge that cooperation is superior to greed and violence.

This all happens joyfully as the prepared environment allows for the growth of responsibility and self-controlled freedom in a natural social setting. The children increase in ability to work cooperatively with others as well as to concentrate individually for longer periods of time. Moral education and self discipline evolve naturally as the children interact with one another in this environment which offers them the opportunity to grow and develop socially, emotionally, and intellectually in an integrated fashion.