Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year

Planting Activities

Planting activities are one of my favorite things to do with preschoolers. They love being able to care for something that is real and to see firsthand the growth process! We have many enthusiastic botanists in our class this year and they have been incredibly enthusiastic about the planting activities that we implemented in the month of May.

Growing a Bean Plant

Each child was given the opportunity to plant their own bean seed as well as the responsibility to care for their seed and observe the growth process. Each child chose their own little pot, filled it with soil and then planted their very own bean seed. We have been housing the seeds in our greenhouse and every day the children took turns watering their seeds and charting the growth. We have learned about the parts of a bean seed and some of the older children made their own books and posters to compliment the learning process. Soon the bean plants will be ready to be taken home and planted in the garden!

Ceramic Duck

Years ago I found the cutest little ceramic duck and every year we fill him with dirt and grass seed and watch him grow ‘grass hair'. The children are very impressed with his Mohawk and we just gave him his first hair cut!

Growing Vegetables

Another exciting aspect of our class has been watching our carrot, radish and onion seeds sprout -- the children had fun guesstimating which seeds would grow first and the carrots definitely won the race! It is fun to see the children go to the window sill each morning to check out the new growth … hands-on learning at its best!

Potato Head People

Making our own Potato Head People was such a fun activity and the children loved it! Each child was given their own potato to hollow out with an ice cream scoop. Once the potatoes were hollowed out, each child had the opportunity to decorate their very own potato head person and let me tell you, no two were alike -- we had Grandma potatoes, alien potatoes, Mickey Mouse potatoes, various animal potatoes and many more. Once the decorating was done, we filled the potatoes with dirt and then we sprinkled on some grass seed. Within a few days, our potato head people were beginning to sprout hair and the children were thrilled! They have enjoyed giving their Potato Head haircuts and have been very careful to keep the soil moist with water.

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.

North American Montessori Center: http://www.montessoritraining.net/

Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year

Jordan’s Love for Montessori Math

It has been so rewarding to follow Jordan’s progress this year and to observe his confidence grow in each curriculum area in our Montessori preschool environment. He began the school year knowing very few phonetic sounds and numbers and is completing the school year reading Grade 1 literature and being able to add and subtract using the Montessori Golden Bead Material -- Amazing!

Montessori math is an area that Jordan has been particularly interested in over the past couple of months and I can certainly understand why. Who wouldn’t love working with materials that are colorful, beautiful, intricate, and interesting! I love the fact that the materials clearly appeal to a child’s senses and that the emphasis is always on the process and not on simply getting the right answer. In doing so, it eliminates the fear and apprehension that often goes hand in hand with mathematics and instead, the focus is on discovery and exploration!

Jordan is so proud to be able to write numerals 1 through 9,999 and to be able to associate the numerals with the respective quantities. He has become very proficient with static addition and static subtraction using the Bead Material and is ready to explore the process of exchanging (“carrying” in arithmetic problems)…quite an achievement for a four year old!

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.

Related NAMC blogs:

• Jordan’s Experience with Numbers and Counters
• Overview of Montessori Math Curriculum
• Montessori Math Materials
• Montessori Curriculum Overview: Math

North American Montessori Center: http://www.montessoritraining.net/

Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year

Learning about Honeybees – Part 2 of 2

Here are a few more activity ideas with photos to share from our study of honeybees, which I began in Part 1 of this series.

I think the cutest part of the whole theme was seeing the children “buzzing” around the garden with their cotton swab honeybees taking great care to pollinate the various flowers. They took their job very seriously and it was adorable to watch!

Bee Washing:

I was so excited when I found this giant bee at the dollar store and I knew it would be the perfect addition to our honeybee theme. The children fill up the container with water and then use the toothbrush and soap to scrub the bee. Once they are done scrubbing the bee, they give him a rinse, empty out the water and then tidy everything up as they found it. It’s amazing how long some children will sit and scrub the bee … he is one clean honeybee!!!

Bee Scooping:

I found this set of bees at the dollar store as well and the beauty of them is that they float in the water. With this Practical Life activity, the child fills up the bucket with water and then pours the bees into the water. We all know that bees can’t survive in water so the children use the scoop to rescue the bees and place them back in the bowl where they are safe. This particular activity is a very popular one and in constant use!

Chopsticks and Colored Bees:

This activity was found at a teacher’s store and it is one of my favorites. The children first build the honeycomb any way they want and then use the chopsticks to place the colored bee in the corresponding colored cell of the honeycomb. It’s not only cute, but it is an excellent activity for refining a child’s fine motor control and concentration!

Beehive Finger Play:

The child hides the bees under the beehive and recites the following finger play. When they get to the end of the finger play, they remove the bees one by one and then arrange the numbers in order on the felt board.

Here is the beehive

But where are the bees

Hiding inside where nobody sees

Watch and you’ll see them come out of their hive -- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Q-tip Bee:

I was introduced to this concept at a nature workshop and the children loved it. First you insert a cotton swab in the end of a straw and tape it so it stays in place. Then you color the end of the cotton swab with a yellow marker and then use a black sharpie to make the stripes. Voila -- the perfect honeybee! Each child is given a “Cotton Honeybee” and shown how to pollinate the flowers in the garden. The children were so cute running around the garden collecting pollen from the stamens of the flowers and then buzzing along to the next flower. Such a fun, hands-on way to learn about pollination!

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.

Related NAMC blogs:

• Learning About Honeybees - Part 1 of 2

North American Montessori Center: http://www.montessoritraining.net/

Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year

Learning about Honeybees – Part 1 of 2

We are now learning about honeybees in our Montessori preschool and discovering what amazing insects they are. We have talked about the parts of a honeybee and learned some big words like “thorax”, “abdomen”, “proboscis” and “antennae”. We were able to look at different flowers with a magnifying class and identify the pistil, the stamens, the calyx and the pollen. The children have also learned that nectar is sucked up through the proboscis (the bee’s tongue), mixed with enzymes in the stomach, and carried back to the hive, where it is stored in wax cells and evaporated into honey.

We examined a real honeycomb, made several unique bee crafts and explored the bee family. The children learned that the male bees are called “drones” and that they are very lazy bees who live a life of leisure doing no work and being fed by the worker bees (female bees). The children also learned to identify the important queen bee who lays all of the eggs. Last but not least, there are the hard-working “worker bees” who are always busy. They stay very busy gathering pollen which they stick to their back legs (the pollen basket), and carry back to the hive where it is used as food. Pollen from the stamens of one flower, stick to their bodies, and is carried to another flower where it rubs off onto the pistil, resulting in cross pollination. Mankind's food supply depends greatly on crop pollination by honeybees -- Amazing!

I have included a few photos in this two-part series to show you all that we’ve been up to and I hope you enjoy them. More to come in Part 2!

Bee Spooning:

A simple Practical Life activity where the children spoon the wooden honeybees (purchased at a dollar store) into a little tray (used for mixing paints).

Bees in Cornmeal:

Another fun Practical Life activity that involves the children hiding the bees in the cornmeal. Once the bees are hidden they scoop up some cornmeal and gently shake the spoon over the container. The cornmeal falls through the hole and the bee remains in the spoon. The idea is to find all of the hidden honeybees. This was a huge hit!!!

Beehive Art and Examining a Real Honeycomb:

The children had fun coloring the beehive and then glued on pieces of Honeycomb Cereal ... it took a lot of will power not to sample the cereal but they did it!

One of the parents brought in a real honeycomb and it was such a treat to be able to examine the cells with a magnifying glass and to see firsthand its intricate structure.

Honeybee Crayon Rubbings:

Crayon rubbing are always fun for the children and very simple to do. The child simply clips a piece of paper over the rubbing plate and then rubs back and forth with the side of a crayon. With a few seconds, the honeybee appears -- just like magic!

Making a Bee:

This has been another popular activity with the children. They simple take the collage tray to their table and choose 1 black head, 1 yellow body, 1 stinger, 2 googly eyes, 2 wax paper wings and a piece of black paper. The child then glues all of the pieces together and cuts strips from the black paper to make the stripes. We ended up with a class full of very cute ‘worker bees’!

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.

North American Montessori Center: http://www.montessoritraining.net/

Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year

Jordan and the Cylinder Blocks

One “work” that Jordan has consistently gravitated to throughout the Montessori preschool year is with the Cylinder Blocks. He began working with one block at time and now enjoys challenging himself by placing all four blocks in a square formation.

The material consists of four blocks, each containing 10 cylinders with knobs, with each cylinder fitting into a respective hole in the block. Each block contains cylinders that vary in one or two dimensions. In block 1 the cylinders vary in decreasing diameter only.

In block 2, the cylinders vary in decreasing diameter and height.

In block 3, the cylinders vary in decreasing diameter and increasing height.

In block 4, the cylinders vary in decreasing height only.

The Montessori Cylinder Blocks activity is a relatively simple exercise and I often watch in awe as children seem driven to repeat the exercise over and over again with intense concentration. The Cylinder Blocks appeal to a preschooler’s love of order, they allow for self correction and they refine a child’s pincer grasp. The Cylinder Blocks also allow a child to feel the weight differences based on the varying sizes of each cylinder.

When Jordan works with the Cylinder Blocks, it is as if, for him, nothing else in the Montessori classroom exists. I once heard him pretending aloud that each cylinder was a member of a family and it was time for them to go to bed. He tucked each one in bed by carefully placing them in their corresponding holes. It was adorable to hear him call each cylinder by name (tall man, skinny brother, short grandpa, etc.). Once each cylinder was in the correct hole, he would say, “shhhh and now it’s time to sleep”. Then he proceeded to carefully carry the Cylinder Blocks back to its correct place on the shelf with such pride and satisfaction. It was intriguing to see him completely absorbed in what he was doing and I love that he has come back to this material time and time again throughout the course of the school year.

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.

North American Montessori Center: http://www.montessoritraining.net/

Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year

Year-End Activities – A Family Picnic

It is once again that time of year when we reflect on what we have accomplished as a school community and we start thinking about arranging a few year-end activities for the children and their parents. A few activities that I have implemented in the past include:

• A year-end concert
• A sports day
• A multicultural potluck
• A year-end family picnic
• A special field trip/going out activity
• An end-of-the-year craft project
• Kindergarten graduation

For the past few years, we have organized a field trip in the month of June. This year we are planning to go to the Honeybee Center as a way to enrich our study of Honeybees. You will hear more about this in an upcoming blog.

Another tradition is our year-end picnic which is always enjoyed by parents and children alike! We have a beautiful park near our Montessori preschool that provides us with the perfect location for a family picnic. We send home a note a few weeks in advance post a sign-up sheet as well so that each family can sign up to contribute a specific item to share with the group (salads, desserts, fruit platter, veggie platter, drinks, etc.). There is always an abundance of yummy food and our Montessori preschool always supplies the hot dogs, buns and condiments.

We all meet at the park at 10:00 a.m. For the first 45 minutes or so, the children are free to play at the playground or in the large grassy field. Around 11:00 a.m. we begin the races and we explain to the children ahead of time that it doesn’t matter who wins or who loses -- it is about having fun with our friends! The races are always a highlight of the picnic and the children especially love the fact that after each race they are given a ribbon to be pinned on to their shirts! The races that have been the most popular over the years are:

• Sac race
• Obstacle race
• Dress-up race
• 3-legged race
• Marshmallow on a spoon race

The children usually work up quite an appetite during the races, so we have our picnic lunch shortly thereafter. Family members join the children and we all enjoy a special picnic together.

After lunch, we play some more and the children enjoy activities such as blowing bubbles, playing soccer, face painting, tattoos and a trip into the forest to find the “magical gummy tree.” Each year we prepare little bags of 3 or 4 gummies and hang them on a bush in the forest. The children love searching for the Magical Tree and are always intrigued with how the gummies get there each year -- A Montessori Mystery!!!

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.

North American Montessori Center: http://www.montessoritraining.net/

Exploring the Seven Wonders of the World – Montessori Classroom Ideas

When I was a child, I remember learning about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and dreaming of the day when I could explore them first-hand. Imagine my shock to learn that only the Pyramids of Giza are still standing!

Known to the Greeks as theamata, or things that must be seen, these ancient wonders are more available to your Montessori students than ever before. While you may not be able to physically travel there, virtual field trips (vft’s) and webquests add new life to these ancient and revered sites. Studying the ancient wonders in your Montessori classroom provides a cross-curricular look into ancient cultures. Through them, topics of literature, history, math, geometry, physics, chemistry, astronomy, botany, art, and physical and cultural geometry can be studied.

Wonders of the earth are not just limited to ancient history, however. On July 7, 2007, voters from the global online community voted on a ‘new’ set of Seven Wonders of the World. These include:

• Chichen Itza, Mexico
• Christ Redeemer, Brazil
• The Great Wall, China
• Machu Picchu, Peru
• Petra, Jordan
• The Roman Coliseum, Italy
• The Taj Mahal, India

And while difficult for most of us to travel to see them, your Montessori students and a wealth of information available to them in both print and online media formats.

While the ancient and “new” lists of seven wonders focus on cultural geography and manmade objects, there is a list of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

• Grand Canyon, Arizona, The United States
• Great Barrier Reef, Australia
• Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Mount Everest, Himalayas
• Aurora Borealis
• Parícutin Volcano, Michoacán, Mexico
• Victoria Falls, between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

While exploring the wonders of the world and its people first hand is always preferable, modern technology allows children in the Montessori environment to explore beyond the walls of their classroom and community and seek to understand the world around them.

For more information, please visit:

• http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/assets/PDF/Seven_Wonders_of_Ancient_World.pdf
• http://www.allstaractivities.com/general/vacation%20info/visiting-ancient-wonders.htm
• http://www.kidskonnect.com/subject-index/16-history/280-seven-wonders.htmly/280-seven-wonders.html
• http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/history/ancient-wonders//
• http://7wonders.mrdonn.org/index.html

Virtual Field Trip:

• http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/wonders.htm

Webquests:

• http://www.dedham.k12.ma.us/webquest/spring2002/jj/
• http://www.angelfire.com/pa5/ldevinney/SevenWondersWebquest.html
• http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=5780
• http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=26704

NAMCs curriculum manuals provide many activities to act as a springboard for further discovery and exploration of the world, its history and culture.

North American Montessori Center: http://www.montessoritraining.net/

Vacationing Montessori Style: Canada’s Bounty

Canada became a country on July 1, 1867 and this year marks its 144th birthday. When you think of Canada, what immediately comes to mind? Hockey? Quebec City? Niagara Falls? The rugged wilderness of the Canadian Rockies? Exploring Prince Edward Island and looking for Anne Shirley from the beloved and timeless children’s classic Anne of Green Gables? Or Chuck wagon races and steer roping at the Calgary Stampede?

Visitors and residents alike enjoy Canada’s rich cultural history and events, pursue outdoor adventures from skiing to sailing (sometimes on the same day), or communing with nature on the prairies, in the mountains, or on the water. The diverse geographical and cultural nature of Canada offers endless people, places and things to discover, explore, and enjoy.

Growing up in the Pacific Northwestern United States, my family and I traveled to Canada frequently. Crossing the border into Canada truly felt like you were entering a different country. The air seemed cleaner, the mountains higher, the cities more cosmopolitan, and the people friendlier. Later, I explored the cities of Quebec and Montreal, delighting in the history, language, and culture of French Canada.

"If some countries have too much history, we have too much geography". W.L. Mackenzie King (1874-1950) Prime Minster of Canada, 1921-1926

Canada is the second largest country in the world! Its vast area (9,970,610 square km/3,849,650 square miles) stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans and from the United States border to the polar regions in north. Canada is also home to 9% of the world’s renewable water supply and the world’s third largest forest. Due to Canada’s rugged terrain and severe climate in some regions, its population is roughly 1/10th the population of the United States.

Before you go exploring Canada, you may wish to familiarize children with Canadian cultural and geographical icons by using or creating Montessori materials to use at home or in your Montessori classroom.

• Explore the physical geography with the Canada Puzzle Map and Pin Map
• Make Canadian famous landmarks 3-part cards
• Make a memory game using Canadian cultural icons such as: the Canadian flag, a maple leaf, a beaver, ‘loonie’ and ‘toonie’ coins, a hockey stick, the Ottawa Capital building, the Canadian coat of arms, maple syrup, totem poles, canoes.
• Older students who enjoy research can find out more about: Canadian explorers, famous Canadians, Canadian inventions, Canadian natural resources, Canadian tourism.

Finally, when traveling in Canada, use the above resources to create a scavenger hunt for the children to check off each item they find. For the younger child who is not yet reading, use the pictures from their Montessori materials to help them know what to look for.

Traveling to Canada with children can be a rewarding experience family experience. With so much to see and do, there’s sure to be something for everyone to enjoy.

For more information on visiting and traveling in Canada, please visit these resources:

• Fun Things to Do with Kids in Canada (includes a list of books about Canada)
• Family Vacations in Canada
• Where to go on family vacation in Canada
• Top 20 Vacation Spots in Canada
• Family Vacations Directory - Canada
• Travel Canada - About.com

NAMC's curriculum manuals provide many activities to act as a springboard for further discovery and exploration of Canada and our continent.

North American Montessori Center: http://www.montessoritraining.net/

Vacationing Montessori Style: America’s National Parks

Guard it well, for it is far more precious than money… once destroyed, nature’s beauty cannot be repurchased at any price. ~ Ansel Adams

A few years ago, while my family and I were exploring the scenic waterways of the North Carolina coast, we came upon a sign for the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Ready for an adventure, we set off down the road. Maintained by the National Park Service and accessible only by boat, Cape Lookout Lighthouse was one of those hidden gems that made for a great day of exploring not only North Carolina history, but also the flora, fauna, and physical geography of the North Carolina Coast.

The next year, when we were planning our vacation, my son, remembering the kind rangers at Cape Lookout, asked what other National Parks we might visit. That year we visited The Great Smoky Mountains National Park which borders both North Carolina and Tennessee. We went hiking, fishing, explored an old waterwheel and homestead, picnicked, named known flowers and trees, watched birds, looked for bears, and drove across the ancient mountains of Appalachia. It was amazing, driving across these mountains at sunset, with a thunderstorm on our heels. We began to understand why they were named the Smokies as the clouds and rain settled in.

The United States has over 400 National Parks. Exploring them together, truly puts Maria Montessori’s idea of Cosmic Education and the interconnectedness of all living and non-living things into perspective. Montessori also believed that the outdoors was the best classroom for children. Living, breathing, and interacting with nature is the best way to help children develop environmental awareness.

The U.S. National Park Service has put together a 15-page brochure called “Parks for Play: 35 National Adventures for Kids of All Ages”. This pamphlet is useful for helping you plan your own Montessori eco-friendly vacations. It includes brief descriptions and pictures of 35 national parks. In addition, it provides information on the Junior Ranger and WebRangers programs for kids. The Junior Rangers program helps children explore the parks through hands-on learning activities. The WebRangers allow children to explore the parks interactively at home. In addition, there are electronic field trips (EFTs) available for Montessori teachers and parents to help students explore these beautiful, natural national treasures.

When planning your summer vacation this year, think beyond theme parks and roller coasters. Think of the fun you can have exploring the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

For more information on visiting America’s National Parks, you may like to visit:

• Parks for Play
• WebRangers
• Electronic Field Trip
• Top Ten National Parks for Kids

NAMCs curriculum manuals in natural sciences provide a full range of activities to help children learn more about our natural world, and the many opportunities we have to live in harmony with all living beings. http://www.montessoritraining.net/