Upper Elementary: Building Knowledge, Confidence and Global Citizenship

Our bilingual elementary program for grades 4 to 6, called Upper Primary, builds on the Montessori foundation of the earlier years while preparing students for the rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum in the upcoming grades. Our interdisciplinary approach fosters curiosity, independence, and academic excellence, blending child-centered learning with structured exploration across all subject areas.

Hands-on, project-based experiences are at the heart of our upper elementary program. From science labs and outdoor research to visual arts and theater, students learn by doing - testing ideas, solving problems, and connecting classroom knowledge with real-world applications. By balancing by meaningful use of traditional materials with thoughtful introduction of technology in the classroom, students develop the critical thinking and communication skills needed to thrive.

Teacher and elementary students outdoors on the playground of Del Mar Academy's 11 acre campus in Nosara Costa Rica

Exploration and Growth on our 11 Acre Campus

What makes Del Mar Academy’s elementary program truly unique is the balance of indoor and outdoor learning. Students move fluidly between thoughtfully designed indoor classrooms and the natural environment of our 11- acre campus, where wide open spaces, gardens, and outdoor labs bring lessons to life. Guided by dedicated teachers, children experience education not only as study, but as exploration, discovery, and connection with the world around them.

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Key Learning Areas

  • Montessori classroom with students sitting on the floor in a circle, engaging in a group activity, with teachers present. The room has large windows, wooden furniture, educational posters, and plants.

    Bilingual Program

    Our bilingual program helps build toward fluency in both English and Spanish, fostering a deeper cultural understanding as well as cognitive flexibility.

  • Elementary student in Del Mar Academy uniform in front of a poster presenting outdoors in Nosara Costa Rica

    English Humanities

    Students engage in reading, writing, and critical thinking, helping them explore literature, history, and culture while developing strong communication and analytical skills.

  • Group of students sitting at a wooden desk with Montessori math sensory materials in classroom at Del Mar Academy school in Costa Rica

    Oxford IB Math

    Students explore connections between arithmetic, geometry, and algebra while applying concepts to real-world contexts.

  • Elementary students sitting on large driftwood sculpture on the beach in Nosara

    Earth Science

    Hands-on experiments and outdoor learning cultivate environmental literacy and scientific thinking.

  • Three elementary students in safety goggles and Del Mar Academy uniforms doing a science experiment outdoors

    STEAM

    Project-based learning in science, technology, engineering, art, and math encourages creativity and innovation.

  • Group of elementary students and teacher pose in front of a painted wall on Del Mar Academy campus in Nosara

    Visual Arts

    Students express ideas and explore culture through drawing, painting, and multimedia projects.

  • Elementary school students performing a play on an outdoor stage with a colorful, hand-painted backdrop of umbrellas, rainbows, trees, and animals in Nosara Costa Rica

    Theater and Expression

    Students build confidence, creativity, and communication skills through performance, storytelling, and the arts.

  • Girls playing soccer outdoors, one in a blue shirt with the words 'Strong body, strong mind' on the back, holding a soccer ball on her head, and others in pink and blue jerseys running around on a field in Nosara Costa Rica school

    Outdoor and Physical Education

    Movement, teamwork, and outdoor exploration support physical health and social skills.

  • Group of children with muddy hands, smiling and showing their hands together in the center on Del Mar Academy school campus in Nosara Costa Rica

    CREW Advisory Program

    Small group mentoring builds teamwork, character, and social-emotional growth.

  • Six children sitting around a wooden table working on notebooks and tablets, with a bookshelf in the background and a sunny outdoor scene visible through the windows.

    Technology and Digital Media

    Technology is thoughtfully integrated into learning, helping students develop digital literacy in a responsible way.

  • Group of children and a woman, possibly a teacher, standing outdoors on a sunny day at a planting or construction site near the beach, holding shovels and gardening tools.

    Community Service

    Through community service, students learn that their actions can change the world for the better in their neighborhood and the world.

  • Two middle school students standing in front of a science project display board outdoors at Del Mar Academy campus in Nosara Costa Rica

    Environmental Studies

    We nurture a deep respect for nature, empowering students to understand ecological systems and practice sustainability in their daily lives.

Young girl with long wavy hair, wearing a red bandana, school uniform with red, white, and blue stripes, holding a metallic tumbler, outdoors with blurred group of children in similar attire in the background.

Bilingual Program

Our Upper Primary students deepen their skills in both English and Spanish through a thoughtfully designed bilingual program. Instruction is balanced across core subjects, allowing students to strengthen reading, writing, and oral communication in both languages. By engaging with literature, projects, and academic content in two languages, students not only master the curriculum but also develop the flexibility to think, reason, and express themselves across cultures.

This bilingual approach reflects the unique setting of Costa Rica while preparing students for an interconnected world. Students gain the confidence to move fluidly between languages, collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds, and appreciate the richness of multiple perspectives. At this stage, bilingualism is not only a practical skill but also a key part of their identity as global citizens rooted in Nosara’s community and natural environment.

Learning Beyond the Classroom: Day Trips in Costa Rica

Field trips are an essential extension of our upper elementary program, offering hands-on experiences that deepen the students’ connection with the world around them. Guided by their teachers, children explore Costa Rica’s rich natural and cultural environment - visiting beaches, forests, farms, and local community spaces - to spark curiosity, build social skills, and apply classroom learning in real-life contexts.

Group of elementary students and one adult woman in yellow helmets and red life jackets smiling and holding paddles on a yellow raft on a river, surrounded by greenery, on a school field trip in Costa Rica
Group of high school students swimming and playing in a river at the base of a large waterfall on a sunny day during a field trip in Costa Rica
Group of children and a guide posing next to a park sign in a wooded area.
A group of middle school students sitting on the grass by a lake, listening to an instructor. There are boats docked on the lake, with a big flag flying in the background under a partly cloudy sky in Costa Rica
An elementary student paddleboarding on a body of water, smiling, wearing a life jacket and colorful shorts, with mountains in the background during a school field trip in Costa Rica

Your child’s journey to global citizenship starts here.

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