Shanghai Utsukushigaoka Montessori Kindergarten assists in the growth of children by the educational idea of Montessori

　The curriculum for weekly classes has three levels of instruction divided according to age groups.

Children learn and enjoy a variety of sports activities for fine and gross motor skill development, physical health, coordination and team cooperation. Children develop skills such as jump roping, mat exercises, as well as participate in marathons, group games, and sports events.

Children gain skills and creativity by experimenting and experiencing art processes and projects. Creative and imaginative arts help children learn about different art mediums and procedures. In addition, the use of simple art equipment, such as brushes, crayons, scissors, glue and paste, helps develop small motor skills.

Children explore rhythmic movement, listening to a repeated musical pattern (or beat) while moving their body to the rhythm. Children also learn to understand spatial awareness, effort and body relationship concepts and develop large motor skills.

Children learn and develop an interest in oral and printed language which includes listening, speaking, reading and writing. Classes focus on teaching and expanding communication and learning abilities for children of all cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Children learn and develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills using both Pinyin phonetic system and Simplified Chinese characters. Classes focus on teaching vocabulary and expanding communication and learning abilities for children of all cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Practical Life - Exercises pertain to everyday life and indirectly reinforce order, concentration, fine motor coordination, and independence, Care of the environment and care of the child are practiced.

Sensorial - The materials and exercises are designed to develop the child's sensorial perception. With these exercises the child develops his order, concentration, coordination and independence, he also learns to discriminate size, colors, textures and sounds.

Mathematics - Skills are developed in learning of numbers concepts, sequence of numbers, addition, subtraction and other math related areas.

Language Arts - Emphasis is placed on developing a strong phonetic background, correct grammatical structure. and vocabulary development utilizing multi-series of worksheets and readers.

Cultural Studies - Enrichment in various areas of Science, Botany, Geography and History as well as special cultural celebrations are held.

Montessori education is founded by Maria*Montessori who was the first woman medical doctor and educator in Italy.It clarified the importance of observing the children supported by two basic knowledge which are 'the importance of stimulate by the environment which is fit for children's growth' and 'education is not infusion but helping young hearts grow on their own'.

The appropriate period for children to learn language,numer and body movement is called "Sensitive period" by Montessori.We will assist children in taking advantage of the golden time to prove their ability.

It is hard for children to learn new conception only by watching or listening. They have to gain the Characteristic of new knowledge by touching and practice.It is essential for children to practice in order to learn. All kinds of practice activities are prepared for children during sensitive period.

Though many activties are prepared for children,no one hut himself knows what to do and what is the most importmant for him. Montessori education will not give a project but make children choose activities the same day by themselves and things must be done will be clearly mentioned at the same time.We make children learn the real and regular freedom rather than undisciplined freedom.

Children will be serious when they really want to do something.Concentrating on it and keeping up trying until they feel satisfied which can make children obtain the powerful strength of trusting himself to foster their interest and Sympathy. It is one of the keys for education to foster the concentration.

We recognize the preschool education period in the long term human development to be equally important, if not more important than other educational periods for different age groups, especially in a sense one's character, which becomes one's core, is created during this period. In the future, even though one acquires skills and knowledge in life, it is at times overlooked by their personality; therefore we believe this period has a special meaning in one's human development. In this important period, we the teaching staff would like to take on the children's education with sincerity and affection. This passion is our innate feeling, as well as a feeling that surges from bottom of our hearts, when loved by the children we meet day after day. Also, by joining and cooperating with parents, we shall devote all our energy and engage in this work with enthusiasm, so the next generation can develop towards a new advanced world.

The child already has the source of growth in their body and mind. We believe the essence of the preschool education is creating an environment, where children can naturally develop without hindering their"ability to live". In other words, when put under the right environments of nature, human and objects, we think the child has the fundamental strengths to freely display their own ability, and develop them to become their ideal person. Additionally, it is required to observe the child's character and nature prudently when educating the child. We shall, on the basis of the pedagogical scientific understanding, quietly observe the child in a natural state, i.e. a state in which the child is not conscious they are being observed by adults, and utilize this in their education.

Hands are considered as the second brain.
In infancy, infant use their hands not only develop the function of hands but also raise the confidence and independence of wills. Think It By Hand manipulative and services are thoughtfully designed to involve students in their learning at both the conceptual level and procedural level.
We use Montessori teaching tool for press of the children's development from among world. Also, we positively use Japan Abacus and Seven tangrams" transmitted from the age of Cleopatra and others.

It is important to acquire the mother tongue firmly in infancy.
Shanghai is an international city; however, a domestic language also doesn't limit. To put the children on the several languages environment, therefore, lot of families provide English and Chinese as the common language of the international society at children's young time.
We provide the environment as international class that students can acquire correct English and Chinese, to spend a day with native's teacher so that the child may happily acquire the language while having various teaching materials and picture books and others.

A person who loves to move the body in the early childhood will have the tendency to like sports over the life, and cares about health. It is important that children who grow up with strong bodies as bases. We provide children the environment that they can develop the ability to grow up happily, with flexibility; we hope every child is raised as their own personality.
We have a wild lawn for children to exercise and run, children would love the activities which they can do throughout the whole year.

The arranged dividing setting up class is one of the traits of our school. Almost same numbers of 2･3･4･5 years old children are arranged at the same class.
Young children often feel uneasy; they would acquire security while they get older children's help. When the older children feel what they do are attractive, or when they have the yearning from the young's, they will have a strong motivation to develop themselves. Also, the older children will get confidence and become responsible when they take after the younger children.