Program Overview
Cinquegranelli Montessori's program is offered Tuesday through Friday from 9:00am to 1:00pm in the Sunset Hill neighborhood of Ballard. The program is open to children ages 2 1/2 to 5 years old. An Italian name, Cinquegranelli means "Five Little Grains" and is pronounced ching - queh - gra - nelli.

The program highlights of Cinquegranelli Montessori are:

Curriculum
Children in a mixed-age setting learn to choose activities from a variety of hands-on materials arranged sequentially on low shelves. The curriculum covers five areas of learning that flow easily into one another. The basic Montessori curriculum materials allow for individual differences in the mental, physical, social, and spiritual growth processes.

These five areas are:

• Practical Life - Daily living exercises to develop skills in self-care and care for the environment. Lessons in grace and courtesy, which helps build respect for self, others, and the world in which we share. Indoors, for example, young children enjoy washing dishes, learning to sweep, pouring themselves a glass of water, or successfully placing their coat on a hanger.
  
• Sensorial - Through hands-on experiments with special materials, children refine the five senses. They encounter specific aspects of shape, weight, color, texture, length, width, temperature, taste, smell, sound, etc., and discover how to name, sort, classify, arrange in order, and describe sensory impressions.
  
• Mathematics - Hands-on materials help internalize number concepts forming the bridge to abstract operations. Children explore the decimal system and concepts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The world-wide metric standard for measurement in math and science is traditionally introduced using Montessori metric materials.
  
• Language - Children are read to often and listen to real-life stories told by teachers and guests about lives of others, various places, and the secrets of the world of nature. Language materials are used to develop basic skills linking sounds with symbols. Individual expression is encouraged in creative writing, reading, and drama.
  
• Cultural - Includes geography, history, life sciences, literature, foreign language (Italian), music, art, and creative movement. Life sciences are a rich focus at Cinquegranelli. 

Age Range
Experienced Montessori guides prepare the environment and give lessons to match each child's abilities.  Montessori materials are sequenced and children experience success and confidence as they strengthen their minds and bodies simultaneously.  Because of the differences in age and development, a non-competitive atmosphere is fostered.  This allows children the freedom to create an encouraging, responsible community.

Often the older children act as a model for the younger children.  The sequenced Montessori materials in the environment provide for the needs of all.

Originating at Cinquegranelli is the "Discovering Italy" curriculum, in which children experience Italy through activities in language, music, dance, stories, books, and food. Cinquegranelli provides daily voice and movement activities (in Italian and English).  Children also perform at Festa Italiana annually.