Montessori Activities at Home: Infant/Toddler to Upper Elementary Cross-Curricular Studies with Alligators

Learn about alligators from the North Carolina Zoo. Get to know Baby Cypress and all kinds of amazing facts about alligators. Afterwards, download and print the free Montessori alligator pack from Welcome to Mommyhood, complete with nomenclature cards, counting cards, and more (for ages two–lower elementary).
You can then build on this introduction to alligators with cross-curricular activities. Here are just a few examples.

Cross-Curricular Studies with Alligators

Infant/Toddlers

• Alligators have skin that feels rough and bumpy. Go on a sensorial treasure hunt for other objects with interesting textures.
• Develop fine motor skills by “feeding the alligator.” Visit this website to learn how https://therapyfunzone.net/blog/feed-animal-fine-motor-activity/

Early Childhood

• Alligator begins with the short vowel /a/ sound. Find three more objects that begin with the sound /a/.
• Pretend to be an alligator by doing an alligator yoga pose. Try posing like other animals using Swamp Yoga Poses for Kids.

Lower Elementary

• Do some Alligator Math and learn about inequalities - greater than (>) and less than (<). Keep the learning concrete by using objects like pom-poms for the quantities.
• Make a list of the differences between reptiles and amphibians.

Upper Elementary

• Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting alligators and crocodiles.
• Create an alligator food chain.
• Write a poem about alligators.

Visit NAMC's website to learn more about cross-curricular activities and see samples and tables of content from the full set of our Infant/Toddler, Early Childhood, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary curriculum manuals.

— NAMC Staff

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 - originally posted in its entirety at Montessori Teacher Training on Friday, March 27, 2020.