Diversity Curriculum
Rogers Park Montessori School weaves diversity and cultural sensitivity into all its curriculum
and welcome guest speakers to talk about different cultural and religious practices.
Preschool 3-6 Program
- Personal Time Line and Family Photo Albums
- "Gotcha Day" to celebrate adopted children
- Celebration of holidays like Hanukkah, Chinese New Year, Three Kings Day, Cinco de Mayo
- Inclusion of children's literature from around the world
Elementary School
- World cultures study using the Montessori material of Fundamental Needs of Humans Beings
- Celebration of holidays like Chinese New Year, Day of the Dead, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Diwali
- Native American Studies
- Observance of Black History Month, Hispanic History Month
- Use of the Native American Peace Council for problem solving
Upper Elementary 9-12 Program
Culture Fair: An student exploration of different cultures. Students' research is grounded in Montessori's Fundamental Needs of Humans which explores the food, shelter, defense, clothing, transportation, art, music, culture, and religion across different cultures.
Middle School
- Topics covered include: The Civil Rights Movement, Native American Cultures, First and Second Wave of Feminism, The Gay and Lesbian Rights Movement, Workers' Rights, Immigration, Comparative Rites of Passage.
- Sample books from the literature curriculum: House of the Scorpion, Slave Dancer, The Outsiders, Sweetgrass, Breaking Barriers, Warriors Don't Cry, Persepolis.
Spanish Language
- All Elementary and Middle School students study Spanish, where they learn to communicate in a second language, and celebrate Latin American culture and literature.
- Cultural lessons and celebrations include: Dia de los muertos, Hispanic Heritage Month, study of Latin American indigenous cultures and prominent Hispanic American leaders such as Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.
- Study of immigration, particularly at the Middle School level, the film "El Norte" is presented and discussed.
