Montessori Homeschool Curriculum
The Complete Guide for Toddlers, Preschool, and Elementary
When we first started thinking about homeschooling, we knew that we wanted to raise our children the Montessori way, but we didn’t have a clue what that would look like in reality.
We dreamed big, though! Sunlight streaming romantically through the windows in the morning, a calm, uncluttered wholesome space. Mom baking bread in the mornings and relaxing in the hammock every afternoon as the kids played independently. Dad coming home from the office to read stories and play “tickle monster”. Weekends spent together exploring our local culture and doing all the lovely mundane things like grocery shopping and taking nature walks.
And it’s true that in many ways, this is exactly what we ended up with! Montessori can be such a beautiful journey!
It’s also true that eventually, reality hit us with a million questions: would our children thrive without all of the (many and often expensive) Montessori materials that were available in classrooms? Would our children be prepared - truly prepared - for all that life had to offer them, even if they did go to school eventually? And when would this feeling of overwhelm go away?
If it makes you chuckle - even a little - that two formally trained and experienced educators (one of whom even has a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction and several certifications in Montessori) would enter homeschooling feeling a little disoriented, you’re in the right place. These feelings happen to everyone! And of course our children were sometimes really messy, unfocused, and immersed in pretend play. Of course there were days when we didn’t give any lessons at all. That’s all part of it.
We want to share with you what we’ve learned along the way and how we embraced the complete Montessori curriculum as both educators and parents who are more or less just learning along with their kids. Because you, too, are 100% capable of homeschooling with Montessori!
You don’t have to replicate a Montessori classroom. You don’t need to spend hours every night planning or trying to follow someone else’s Montessori manual from their classroom days. You just need a plan that’s already done for you. One that’s been created by someone who understands how real families live — with siblings, busy days, and zero time for purchasing curriculum that is overly prescriptive or fluffy. You’re ready for the real deal!
That’s exactly why we created the Child of the Redwoods Curriculum for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary ages. It’s a step-by-step Montessori program that doesn’t just tell you what to teach. It shows you how to do it in your own home, with your own unique child, in a way that feels joyful and sustainable.
Sweet friend, you can do this. We promise!
Take the Perfect Homeschool Routine Quiz to see exactly how our curriculum can fit your days.
What is a Montessori Homeschool Curriculum?
A Montessori homeschool curriculum is a developmentally-aligned, thoughtfully prepared sequence of lessons, activities, and materials that helps you teach your child all the skills they need to reach their full potential right now and later in life. All lessons are child-led, hands-on, and interdisciplinary by design.
What this looks like in a classroom is a multi-age prepared environment filled with shelves and materials. The teacher, called a guide, gives children lessons when they are ready for new ones and allows the children to make choices about what materials they’d like to work with that day. This is called “following the child”.
What Montessori looks like for homeschooling families is similar: your goal is to gently guide your child by observing their readiness for learning certain skills and anticipating which lessons you will give them next, on their own unique timeline. You follow your child and trust them to learn at their own pace rather than micromanaging them. As your child plays with real-world concrete materials, you introduce them to high level vocabulary words early on and eventually help them transition into more abstract concepts as their imagination and concentration gets stronger.
Montessori families aspire to help their children become independent, curious, and confident. They happily embrace the sometimes messy life at home, and the curriculum allows them the flexibility to make the educational choices that are right for their children while also offering the support they need to know what to teach first, next, and eventually…when to let their child do the teaching!
In your home, you’ll likely start with a shelf with a few of your child’s own toys, organized for easy access, but you’ll also be adding special materials (like golden beads for math), giving practical life lessons at the kitchen counter, inspecting wildlife in your backyard, or even conducting physics experiments at the playground.
Your Montessori life at home will be unique depending on your home spaces and your child’s personality, but if you aim to provide your child with a mix of calming, beautiful hands-on experiences punctuated by joyful togetherness, you’ll be doing it right!
For toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary children, a Montessori homeschool curriculum provides:
A clear path through all subject areas so you’re never guessing “what’s next”
Opportunities for interdisciplinary learning — blending subjects so they feel connected instead of isolated
The freedom to go deeper into topics your child loves, while still covering essential foundations
With Child of the Redwoods, you’re not left with a pile of random TPT printables or wondering if you’ve missed something important. You’re given fully scripted lessons, organized by age and ability. You’ll have immediately printable materials that reflect the authentic Montessori method so you can start using them with your child today.
Choosing to homeschool with Montessori doesn’t require a massive budget or a curated Instagram-worthy space. Your family is ready for this reality right now. It can be your new obsession — with a roadmap to guide you.
Who This Is For
This curriculum is designed for real families, not idealized ones. You might recognize yourself in one (or more) of these groups:
“I want to learn real Montessori!” You’ve read a few books or seen Instagram posts, but you want to understand exactly how to implement Montessori at home.
“I sure do have my hands full!” You’re juggling work, home, and homeschool, and you need a plan you can follow without hours of prep.
“I’m homeschooling two or more!” You have kids in different stages, and you need lessons that can be adapted up or down.
“I’m on a budget!” You want high-quality materials and ideas without draining your bank account.
“I’m new to homeschooling!” You’re worried you’ll “do it wrong” or that you’re not qualified to teach.
If any of these is resonating, you’re going to fit right in. Montessori’s been waiting for you! All you need to do is take the next step.
What Subjects Are Covered in Montessori
One of the biggest challenges of homeschooling is making sure you’re covering “enough” without turning your days into a marathon of disconnected lessons. The beauty of Montessori is that learning is interdisciplinary. That means your child will naturally explore multiple skills and subjects within a single, well-chosen activity. It ensures that you are offering a well-rounded and high quality education.
In the Child of the Redwoods Curriculum, every lesson is drawn from one or more of these 10 core subject areas:
Practical Life – Everyday skills like cooking, cleaning, gardening, and caring for self and others.
Sensorial – Activities that refine the senses: sorting, matching, grading by size, shape, color, texture, sound, and smell.
The Arts – Music, visual arts, drama, and creative expression.
Life Science – Botany, zoology, ecology, and the study of living things.
Physical Science – Physics, chemistry, earth science, and simple experiments.
Humankind – History, geography, and cultural studies.
Reading & Writing – Building literacy skills through phonics, word study, handwriting, creative writing, and comprehension.
Grammar – Montessori grammar symbols and activities to understand parts of speech, sentence structure, and language patterns.
Mathematics – Number sense, place value, operations, fractions, and more.
Geometry – Understanding shapes, symmetry, and spatial relationships.
Each of these subjects is woven into a Leveled scope and sequence which offers you a bird’s eye view of the entire curriculum as your child progresses from skill set to skill set within each subject area.
Your scope and sequence also provides documentation of which lessons you have given your child. Most homeschooling parents stress about how to know whether they are “missing” something important. We are parents, after all - busy and distracted at times and with children who often have strong opinions on what they are interested in learning about.
Using a scope and sequence keeps lessons always in focus. It also helps your child proress through the curriculum steadily over time, even if your days look different from week to week.
This is how we provide families a complete, connected Montessori roadmap that makes sense for your child’s age, abilities, and interests.
How It Works Day-to-Day
Creating a rhythm and routine that works perfectly for your own family will take a bit of trial and error at first, but once you find the right fit, it’s golden! There is no single “right” way to do Montessori at home if you are following your child, giving the lessons, and respecting their natural instincts to learn and grow. So if you’re worried that you’re already “doing it wrong”, try to give yourself some grace. You’re learning. That’s exactly what you’re supposed to do.
That said, most parents rightfully want to start the year strong, and our curriculum is fully designed to guide your days without boxing you in.
You get both step-by-step Foundational lessons for all of those core subject areas plus fully scripted thematic lesson plans that tell you exactly what to say and do. These resources ensure that you’ll never be left in the dark about your role. But also, friend? You also get the flexibility to adjust for your child’s mood and energy level on any given day.
At the center of our system is the Montessori Planning Card System. Think of it like a menu of lessons from which you can use to organize your week:
Each card contains a short checklist of lessons.
You can sort them by subject area, skill level, or interest.
You choose which cards to present based on your child’s readiness and excitement that day.
Here’s what that might look like in real life:
Sample Homeschool Routine #1 – Ages 2–4
7:00 Your child wakes up independently and starts playing with their toys in their room.
7:30 You and your child make breakfast together. You set up a little pitcher of milk for your child to pour into their own glass and they also help clean up. Afterwards, they work on getting dressed with your help.
8:00 You read your child a story from a book from the current theme of the month and other picture books your child asks you to read aloud. Then you sing some of your favorite songs and have a little dance party.
8:30 Free play - your child plays with their construction vehicles, their favorite toy, while you review your Montessori Planning Cards and lessons for the day.
9:00 You give your child a lesson on the pink tower. Your child repeats the activity once on their own and then puts it away.
9:15 Your child then chooses to water all of the plants in your home.
9:30 You introduce paper snipping with blunt-tipped scissors and show your child how to place it into an envelope.
9:45 Your child prepares their own snack and serves you snack as well. While you clean up together, you sing a song.
10:00 You take your child out for a walk in the neighborhood and your child soon discovers a snail and watches it for several minutes. You show your child how to gently touch the snail’s shell with a single finger.
10:30 When you arrive back home, you pretend to be a snail into your home. You talk about how snails are invertebrates and do not have bones. You use the Lesson Explorer to look up lessons about snails or other invertebrates while your child plays with their dolls. Recognizing the learning opportunity, you plan to give these lessons the next day, so you go ahead and print the materials you’ll need.
10:45 You model drawing simple pictures of snails and your child helps you watercolor them as you count how many there are on the page. 8-9-10 snails!
11:00 This is the end of your morning homeschool routine and you are ready to make lunch, have free unstructured play time, nap time, and maybe have a friend over in the afternoon or an outing to the grocery store. As your day goes on, you’ll give lessons when your child seems naturally drawn to different subjects, but it will all be very relaxed and unplanned.
Sample Homeschool Routine #2 – Ages 5–7
7:00 Your child wakes up independently and starts playing with their toys in their room.
7:30 You and your child makes breakfast together. They serve themselves and they also clean up afterwards. Then, they get themselves fully dressed independently.
8:00 You read your child a story from a book from the current theme of the month and other books your child asks you to read aloud. Then you sing some of your favorite songs and have a little dance party.
8:30 Your child constructs a new building with Legos while you review your Montessori Planning Cards and lessons for the day.
9:00 You give your child a lesson on Parts of a Sea Star with a set of 4-part cards. Your child matches the pictures, reads the words, and learns about each part of the sea star.
9:15 Your child makes their own Parts of a Sea Star booklet by writing the names of each part on each page and coloring in the correct part.
9:30 Your child notices that the soil is dry in two of your plants and waters those specifically, being careful not to spill.
9:30 You introduce a grammar activity, sorting word cards into categories: nouns vs. verbs. Your child thinks of some of their own nouns to add to the activity and writes them on cards.
9:45 Your child prepares a quick snack and serves you a snack as well. While you clean up together, you make up a silly rhyming poem together about sea stars: “If I were a sea star I wouldn’t travel very far!”
10:00 You take your child out for a walk in the neighborhood and your child leads the way, pointing out plants in your neighbor’s gardens and teaching you about them as they pass by.
10:30 When you arrive back home, you sit down with your child for a Math Minute. Together, you get out a simple addition word problem card and use your Montessori colored beads to find the answer.
10:45 Your child reads silently from a basket of books while you use the Lesson Explorer to look up Montessori lessons about botany, given your child’s new interest in plants and plant care. Recognizing the learning opportunity, you plan to give these lessons the next day, so you go ahead and print the materials you’ll need.
11:00 This is the end of your morning homeschool routine and you are ready to make lunch, have free unstructured play time, get back outside for some running and jumping, and maybe have a friend over in the afternoon or an outing to the grocery store. As your day goes on, you’ll give lessons when your child seems naturally drawn to different subjects, but it will all be very relaxed and unplanned.
Sample Homeschool Routine #3 – Ages 8–9
7:00 Your child wakes up on their own and heads to the kitchen to prepare a simple breakfast — toast with fruit and yogurt. They also start boiling water for your tea, just because they like doing something kind for you.
7:30 While eating, you talk about the day’s plans. Your child says they want extra time to work on their comic strip. They’ve invented a set of superhero characters — each with unique powers and personalities — and are excited to develop the next part of the story.
8:00 You curl up on the couch for a read-aloud from your current theme book — this month’s focus is “Prehistoric Life.” Even though the comic isn’t dinosaur-related, your child is still fascinated by this theme. You pause to talk about the difference between herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs and how paleontologists know what each species ate.
8:30 Your child spends some time sketching a dinosaur in their science notebook — just for fun — while you review your Montessori Planning Cards and set out materials for today’s math lesson.
9:00 You present a Montessori math lesson using the Stamp Game to solve multiplication. Your child records answers in their math journal, then challenges themselves with larger numbers and invents a superhero-themed problem: “If Solar Girl rescues 245 people each day for a week, how many people does she rescue in total?” You help them solve the problem with the stamps.
9:30 Your child transitions into their superhero comic strip project. Over the next 90 minutes, they:
Storyboard the next chapter in their superhero saga
Draw action scenes, showing characters using their powers
Add speech bubbles and narration boxes to move the plot forward
Research reference images for realistic cityscapes to use as backgrounds
Color each panel, experimenting with shading and contrast for dramatic effect
10:15 Snack time. Your child slices apples and spreads peanut butter, serving you a plate as well. You eat together and brainstorm silly superhero sidekicks for future stories.
10:30 You both head outside for a nature walk. Your child brings their Nature Journal and draws an unusual rock formation. They wonder aloud if it might resemble a fossil.
11:00 Back inside, you use the Lesson Explorer to find a physical science activity on how fossils form. You gather materials for tomorrow’s sediment layering experiment.
11:15 Your child returns to their comic strip, finishing two more panels and designing a title page.
11:45 Together, you review their work from the morning: math journal, comic progress, and nature sketch. You both choose which pieces to keep in their portfolio and which to keep in their work folder for continued access.
12:00 The morning work cycle ends. You transition to preparing lunch together, followed by an afternoon of outdoor play, a trip to the library, or continuing their superhero project if they want. Either way, your child has already done a lot of school work, and you can rest easy knowing that the rest of the day will be just as playful and relaxed.
The beauty of Montessori is that once your child is engaged, they can work for long stretches without interruption. The curriculum gives you everything you need to prepare the environment, introduce a lesson, and then step back while your child practices and explores independently.
You don’t need to stress about “covering it all” every day because the lesson plans and planning cards ensure that over the course of weeks and months, your child gets a rich, balanced education without daily pressure or burnout.
Observe
Choose
Present
Follow-Up
Start your free 7-day trial to start teaching the Montessori way today.
Why Parents Love This Curriculum
What most people don’t realize is that parents have been teaching Montessori lessons at home with their own children ever since Maria Montessori wrote The Montessori Method back in 1912. By choosing Montessori, you are joining a long legacy of parents who simply want the best for their children:
Independence and self-motivation
Critical thinking skills
Problem-solving abilities
Deep concentration and focus
Confidence in learning new skills
Respect for self, others, and the environment
Strong sense of personal responsibility
Creative thinking and innovation
Collaboration and empathy
Curiosity-driven learning
Real-world practical life skills
Perseverance through life’s challenges
Love of learning that lasts a lifetime
When we ask our members what they love most about the Child of the Redwoods Curriculum, the feedback is overwhelmingly emotional. They have a newly emerged confidence that they have never experienced before. Not only do they understand how to embrace the Montessori way of life, they are relaxing into the silly, playful everyday experiences children learn the most from.
They tell us that they are less stressed because they the fully-scripted lessons and beautiful printable materials make teaching easier. They’re no longer trolling the internet for ideas or downloading random bundles of unrelated printables wondering how to use them effectively. Everything is clearly explained while leaving room for spontaneous, joyful energy at home.
Here’s how one of our members described their personal transformation:
“My son loves his toy garbage trucks and trash cans. One day, I watched him play with them alone for at least three hours. Before beginning to play, I gave him some glass vase gems. Within play, thanks to knowing about not interrupting, I watched him count, sort, scoop, pour, and fill the gems. These are all part of the scope and sequence for Pre-K and K, and I didn't have to plan a thing. Talking about amazing!?!!!”
- Sadiya
This is exactly what we want for you, too.
Common Questions
Do I need expensive Montessori materials?
No. While authentic Montessori materials are beautiful and effective, they’re not required to get started. Many of our lessons include DIY or budget-friendly alternatives, and our printable materials are included in your membership. You can begin with simple, household items and add classic materials over time if you choose.
How much time will this take each day?
Most families spend 1–3 hours on formal Montessori work, depending on age. The rest of the day is filled with life skills, play, reading, and outdoor exploration, all of which are still “school” in the Montessori sense. Our curriculum adapts to both short and extended work cycles.
Will my child be “behind” if we follow this instead of a traditional curriculum?
No. Our scope and sequence is designed to meet or exceed typical academic expectations, while also nurturing skills like independence, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Montessori children often develop deep conceptual understanding that serves them well if they transition to other learning environments.
Can I start if my child is already 8 or 9?
Absolutely. You can enter the curriculum at any age between 2–9. The lessons are adaptable, and the Planning Card System helps you quickly match work to your child’s current level, not just their age.
What if I’ve never taught before?
That’s the exciting thing about having so many fully scripted lessons at your disposal. They walk you through exactly what to say and do. You don’t need to be certified as a teacher or Montessori guide to homeschool with success.
Get Started Today
If there’s one thing we want you to know about Montessori homeschooling, it’s this: you are 100% capable of it. You don’t need any of those trendy things on social media or to invest in all the classic materials. Anyone can learn how to give these brilliant lessons and help their children grow in a joyful, respectful way.
The key to making it all happen is to have a strong plan in place — one that’s simple to follow, flexible to use, and rooted in love and respect for your child’s natural learning process. You have what it takes, and the Child of the Redwoods Curriculum is here to give you that confidence in your journey.
You can start today. Teach your first lesson tomorrow. Watch your child bloom with the magic of Montessori!
Choose your plan and enroll today. You’ll have instant access to all themes, lessons, and printable materials.