Independent work
In this form of teaching at primary level, pupils decide for themselves what kind of work to do, choose from the materials provided or continue a piece of work they have already started, find a place to sit and choose their learning partners, and also set their own pace of learning. Motivation to learn arises from experiences with the environment, which require pupils to master certain skills in order to cope with it, and from the realisation that they want to do so. In this way, children naturally pick up many skills as they carry out school-related tasks themselves, such as designing a garden or planning the daily routine.
Projects
Projects provide a framework for children’s activities over longer periods and offer them the opportunity to explore their wide range of interests. Projects enable the interdisciplinary and cross-year-group exploration and in-depth study of a topic in various contexts (spatial, temporal, historical, ecological, economic, etc.).
Intercultural Learning
To foster the development of historical and cultural awareness, joint excursions, stays abroad, work placements and similar activities are organised. We also endeavour to invite people from other cultural backgrounds or to organise projects with them, in order to provide the children with as authentic a picture as possible. At the same time, native speakers or volunteers regularly contribute to ensuring a natural and unconventional experience of other cultures and languages.
Physical activity and sport
All learning groups have one sports afternoon per week. For this, we either use the facilities at the nearby ‘Happyland’ sports centre (including a swimming pool, climbing wall, running track and ice rink) or the nearby outdoor sports grounds. In addition, all groups have a daily garden session offering a variety of opportunities for physical activity and play.
Field trips and excursions
Known as ‘Going Out’ in the Montessori tradition and organised by the pupils themselves, small-group excursions are carried out to complement lessons, with the aim of utilising sources of information outside school. We also place great importance on collaboration with subject-specific experts and guest speakers from the local community (forest exploration with forest rangers, visits to the planetarium, visits to Klosterneuburg Abbey, etc.).
New media
Computers, tablets and smartphones have become an integral part of both private and public life and are now indispensable in many work processes. Depending on their individual level of development, pupils have access to computers and the internet for their work.
