The Sommerville Manor language programmes through the Elementary grades employ traditional approaches to spelling techniques while encouraging creativity and personal response in journals and writing exercises.
Verbal expression is enhanced through group discussions, public speaking and project presentations, each of which develops self confidence and strength of character as the students learn to express their thoughts and opinions in a public forum.
The Mathematics Curriculum challenges, stimulates and motivates students at all levels in the school. Traditional standard-form computation is used in conjunction with a wide range of manipulative materials which provide the concrete experience required as a base for the more abstract concepts introduced through the upper grades. Problem solving techniques are taught consistently throughout the programme to enable students to develop skills in logic and critical thinking.
When students learn mathematics, they do more than master basic skills; they acquire a concise and powerful means of communication. Knowledge of mathematical language, structures and operations will help students to reason, to justify their conclusions, and to express ideas clearly.
The Science Programme is designed to arouse curiosity and guide children as they strive to satisfy their natural curiosity. Curiosity is more than just an anxiousness to touch, but a real desire to understand. Understanding our world and ourselves is what science is about. Science involves curiosity that turns into satisfaction of knowledge. Science is also fun, that should begin in delight and end in wisdom.
The programme employs a hands-on technique, and small class sizes allow the students to enjoy the experience of personal experimentation. The curriculum for Science is divided into units of study at each grade level which progress throughout the grades to encompass elements of Physics, Biology and Chemistry thus preparing the students for advanced scientific studies as they move on to High School.
The overall objective of The Social Studies Programme is to facilitate students’ understanding of the functions of their society and of their possible roles in it, along with the functions and roles of others in the present day, as well as in the past. Furthermore, it is designed to encourage the students to not only develop both a local and global awareness, but also to begin to develop their abilities to compare and contrast their growing knowledge of these subject matters.
A large part of the Social Studies programme involves research and presentation of factual information. These are vital skills which our children will utilize not only in their future academic studies but also when they emerge into the world of business.
French instruction is given on a daily basis beginning at the Senior Kindergarten level. The aim of the Primary French programme is to develop the child's comprehension of French. Throughout the Junior and Intermediate divisions, the programme expands to include reading and writing activities with continuous assessment to monitor student progress.