Decorating the Holiday Table with Your Child

Tis the season to apply Maria Montessori’s Practical life Exercises to decorating the holiday table. For starters, children can learn how to properly fold and place the napkins on the table. See http://montessoritraining.blogspot.com/2009/11/montessori-practical-life-activity.html#.UnPdiiRpet8 NAMC Montessori Teacher’s Blog.

From NAMC Montessori Teacher’s Blog

Find an NAMC lesson presentation for holiday flower arranging by visiting http://www.amonco.org/winter1/montessori_winter1.pdf

Nan Barchowsky, a recognized handwriting expert, offers some valuable tips on how to improve your child’s handwriting. See http://www.bfhhandwriting.com/blog/ Nan’s program is used by countless schools and homeschoolers. See http://www.bfhhandwriting.com for details. Even in this “electronic age”, handwriting is an essential communication skill. To improve comfort and coordination, Nan Barchowsky of Barchowsky Fluent Handwriting suggests “A Bit of Yarn for a Good Pen Hold”. http://www.amonco.org/summer2/montessori_summer2.pdf

Find instructions for making some beautiful hoilday place cards by visiting http://inmyownstyle.com/2012/11/holiday-table-place-cards-made-with-paper-bags.html

Here are some other sites to explore.

http://momitforward.com/kid-friendly-craft-thanksgiving-turkey-place-card-holders

Decorative Thanksgiving Turkey Place Card Holders

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2fnohSFZcY

Homemade Christmas Place Cards – YouTube

http://www.imagitek.com/xmas/crafts/

Christmas Place Mats

http://www.imagitek.com/xmas/crafts/basket.html

Candy Basket

http://ministry-to-children.com/christmas-crafts/

Free Christmas Craft Ideas for Kids

http://www.hgtv.com/entertaining/20-gorgeous-holiday-table-settings/pictures/index.html

20 Gorgeous Holiday Table Settings

http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-christmas-tree.html

Origami Christmas Tree

http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-modular-holiday-wreath.html

Origami Holiday Wreath

http://stacysewsandschools.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/christmas-homeschooling-activities-books-crafts-and-printables-list/

Christmas Homeschooling Activities, Books, Crafts and Printables List

http://www.bountifulspinweave.com/kids-page.php#.UoGcRI6R-lI

Pot Holders

http://www.amonco.org/holidaycrafts.html

Pine Cone Christmas Tree

Have fun exploring these activities with the children and teens in your life!

Heidi Anne Spietz
American Montessori Consulting
Celebrating 28 Years of Serving School and Home Educators
Montessori for the 21st Century
http://www.amonco.org

Summertime Music and Movement Activities

Kimbo
Copyright 2015 – 2016
All Rights Reserved.
Website: http://www.kimboed.com /

Activity Submitted by Elaine

Numeral Dance

Tune: Do Your Ears Hang Low?

Directions: Give each child a magnetic numeral or numeral card to hold in their hand. Ask children to name the numeral they are holding. Demonstrate each of the movements called for in the song (wiggle, tap, twist, and so on). Invite children to listen carefully for their numeral and then move as directed by the lyrics.

The numeral dance is fun.
It starts with numeral one.
There’s a move for you,
and that’s all you have to do.
So gather near;
your numeral you will hear.
Then you can dance with me.

Can you wiggle numeral one?
It’s time to have some fun.
Can you tap numeral two?
You know what to do.
You can dance with me.

Can you twist numeral three?
As twisty as can be.

Can you float numeral four?
Can you soar across the floor?
Can you spin numeral five?
Let’s all do a little jive.
Can you slide numeral six?
Show us all your little tricks.
Come and dance with me.

Can you snap numeral seven?
Let’s keep the party revvin’.
Can you shake numeral eight?
You’re lookin’ really great.
Can you shimmy numeral nine?
You’re lookin’ mighty fine.

The numeral dance is fun,
but now it time to run.
So let’s move once more;
spin and slide across the floor.
Let’s all shimmy. Let’s all soar.
Let’s all wiggle. Let’s all shake.
Let’s all snap. Let’s all tap
Now let’s take a break! Whew!

Activity:
Make a set of numeral cards using numerals cut from sandpaper. Encourage the children to trace the numerals with their fingers.
Challenge pairs of children to shape their bodies to create an assigned numeral.

Literature: One, Two, Three to the Zoo, By Eric Carle
Activities for Celebrating “America Through Song” by Elaine Murphy

These activities are excerpts from the guide written by Dr. Kathryn A. Short, for Kimbo’snew CD release: “Songs About America,” Celebrating America Through Song.

Blow Ye Winds – a sea chantey about whaling ships and clipper ships from the late 1700’s into the 1800’s.

Show children pictures of whaling and clipper ships.

Gather children around the perimeter of a parachute, instructing them to hold onto the edge. Have children walk around in a circle while singing the lyrics (if you do not have the recording, this can still be good, imaginative play set to any music.) On the chorus (or on cue), stop and face the center while gently shaking the parachute up and down to symbolize the blowing wind on the water.

Paddle Wheeler – Students recognize that there are various kinds of transportation used in different time periods. In this case, the song is about a paddle wheeler that was used to ply the Mississippi back in the early 1900’s.

Show a picture of a paddle wheeler, perhaps the most famous of all, The Delta Queen!

Using a map, locate the cities of Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and follow the path of the Mississippi.
Erie Canal – Boats traveled the Erie Canal in New York State, beginning in 1825. This marvel of engineering and human labor opened up the American frontier and made westward expansion inevitable. The song was written in 1913 as a protest to the coming of the mechanized barge, which would replace the mule.

This familiar, old favorite song, can be acted out. Have children divide into two groups to simulate the canal, and face each other. Another group become the barges, and travel through. On the chorus, “Low bridge, everybody down,” the canal partners join hands to form a bridge, so the “barges” have to duck down to travel through.

Wabash Cannonball – The first Wabash Cannonball was a mythological train, dreamed up by a hobo in the 1880’s. The song about this imaginary train became so popular that the Wabash system in the Midwest named its express run the Wabash Cannonball. It ran between Detroit and St. Louis.

Everyone can sing the song while the children line up to simulate a train. The first child can wear an engineer’s cap, and the teacher can blow a train whistle for sound effects. Pretend to go to some of the places mentioned in the song, e.g., Atlantic and Pacific oceans, New York, St. Louis, Minnesota, and Chicago, woodlands and more.

About Kimbo

For information on purchasing this very special recording, “Songs About America,” Celebrating America Through Song, please call Kimbo Educational, 800-631-2187.

Several of the songs on this recording have a transportation theme, providing a unique way of reflecting America’s history. Children will also learn about geography from the lyrics and the activities.

Visit http://www.kimboed.com to discover the other fine products available through Kimbo Educational.

For more lesson planning ideas http://www.amonco.org

Spring Hands-One Activities and Lesson Plan Ideas

Enjoy spring through the study of nature.

Visit http://www.pinterest.com/amcmontessori/spring-hands-on-activities-and-learning-adventures/ to get started today!

Enjoy!

Heidi Anne Spietz
http://www.amonco.org
Celebrating 28 Years of Serving School and Home Educators
Montessori for the 21st Century

 

Montessori February Community Service Projects 2016

Please note: If the links don’t come through, please visit http://www.amonco.org/montessoricommunityprojects.html

This year commit to do something fun yet really meaningful for those in your community who are sad and lonely. Become involved in a project and possibly enlist the help of other families and friends. First, call your local nursing home or children’s hospital and explain that you would like to bring handmade gifts to the patients. Find out the dos and don’ts of acceptable gift giving.

Now, get busy and go to work. 🙂 Visit the Kids Activities – Community Service Ideas website. Scroll down until you see Project Ideas. Decide whether you want to make a cooking, sewing or other type of craft project. One word of caution here. The first time we became involved in a community project, we got a little carried away by our enthusiasm and spent more than we wanted. Don’t make the same mistake. Meet with your other community project partners and agree that you will set a spending limit. To make the project enjoyable for everyone, be sure to also consider the age, ability, interest, and attention span of the children/teens involved in making the gifts.

Bargain hunting does take time but is well worth the effort. These trips are useful for children and teens as they learn about budgeting, units of measurement in cooking and how much yardage of material to buy.

Visit some craft, yardage and stationery stores in your area and explain what your group is doing and ask to see the discount and bins. Also inquire about possible discounts.

You can also cut costs by purchasing baking items at many discount grocery chains. Below, are some additional sites and recipes to consider for your cooking projects.

Kis Activities – Community Service Ideas

Free Valentine’s Day Cards

Craftown Valentine Projects

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookie Cutouts ~ Recipe from Montessorian Kathy O’Reilly

Chocolate Chip Bars

Scented Baskets

IT’S A WRAP – Making Beautiful Gift Boxes

Although the service project mentioned in this posting is designed for the young, the elderly enjoy these projects as well. A 91-year-old member of our family recently created the Valentine bag pictured above. She continues to be housebound because of illness but is motivated to reach out and help others. She currently is making these organza Valentine bags to give to women in need.

We did some bargain shopping and found some good buys through eBay auctions. Among the best bargains were the satin rosettes and organza bags. By clipping coupons and waiting for sales, we were also able to purchase ribbon and other trimming at deeply discounted prices.

This year, we knew that it was mandatory that we stay within our budget. Again, we made some price comparisons and found some very inexpensive lots of lip balm, mini hand lotion, etc. These items will be inserted into the 30 completed organza Valentine bags and given as gifts.

May the love and compassion that you send out to others be returned to you.

Visit American Montessori Consulting and look under New and Notable for other holiday related lessons and unit studies.

Enjoy!

Heidi Anne Spietz

American Montessori Consulting

http://www.amonco.org

Celebrating 28 Years of Serving School and Home Educators

Montessori for the 21st Century

Lessons to Jumpstart 2016!

Happy New Year!!

Below are links to jump start your Montessori lesson planning for the new year.

Many of these lessons are free!

Getting Ready for a “New” Year

Animals in the Winter Unit Study Free Lesson Plans

Valentine Day Links

Montessori Winter-Themed Activities from NAMC Part I

Montessori Winter-Themed Activities from NAMC Part II

Gardening Year Round – Tips from an Expert

Beginning a Spring Garden at Home or School

Spring Tea

Year End Activities

Draw Your World Lesson Plans

Children’s Books for Summer Reading – Part II

Bird-watching with Children

Monthly Observances and Notable Data

Science Activity “I CAN’T TAKE THE PRESSURE!”

Celebrating the Personal Life of George Washington – lesson planning ideas

Valentine Origami Art & Math Activities

A Movie About Maria Montessori Worth Watching

AMC Montessori Winter Hands On Lessons

Hands-On Interdisciplinary Learning

Winter Science Links

Want more?? Click on the links below for additional free lessons and articles that are available only at the amonco.org website :

Italy – Links for a Montessori Unit Study

A Maria Montessori Movie Worth Seeing

Gardening Year Round – Tips from an Expert

AMC Holiday Montessori Grammar Bingo and Extension Exercises

Apples and Oranges – Links for Montessori Unit Study

Study of the Human Respiratory System – Links for Montessori Unit Study

Medical Terminology – Links for Montessori Unit Study

The Human Cardiovascular System – Links for Montessori Unit Study

Cardiology Terminology

The Human Nervous System – Links for Montessori Unit Study

Let’s Go on an Animal Safari – See Part VII

More in store for you in 2016!

Visit www.amonco.org often throughout 2016 to discover new Montessori lesson planning.

Enjoy!
Heidi
http://www.amonco.org

Crêpes Recipe For Children

Professor Toto

Copyright 2013-2015

All Rights Reserved.

Website: http://www.professortoto.com

 Recipe Submitted by Laeticia

 Crêpes Recipe For Children

Cooking should be more than cooking; it should be fun, and children love to make their own snack by rolling up a crêpe! This recipe is an easy and fun activity that you both will enjoy.

Equipment: Large Bowl, Plastic spatula, Whisk, Frying Pan (non-stick), spray oil

 Batter Ingredients: 1.5 cup of Milk, 1 tablespoon of Butter, 3 Eggs, _ teaspoon of Vanilla Extract, 1 cup of Flour

Fillings: Various to taste.

1. Prepare the batter:

Combine all ingredients except the milk in a large bowl. Have the child mix the ingredients with a whisk. Have the child continue to mix while you’re adding the milk into the bowl.

1. Make the crêpes

Over medium heat, lightly cover the pan with spray oil. Pour one small ladle of the crêpe mix into the pan. Tilt and jiggle allowing the batter to cover the bottom of the pan.

Flip the crêpe using a plastic spatula when the edges start to turn golden.

Cook the crêpe until the bottom turns golden (45 sec). You can peek at the bottom of the crêpe by lifting up an edge with the plastic spatula. Re-spray the pan between each crêpe.

1. Fill the crêpes

Have the child spread the filling on the crêpe and roll it up.

About Professor Toto

A multimedia language course for children

http://www.professortoto.com

This multimedia course was developed by François Thibaut’s renowned Language Workshop for Children, a teacher and a practicing specialist in the field since 1973.

All products are classroom tested and received six major children’s media awards.

The Professor Toto Language Education course starts a child’s journey through colorful visuals, child-friendly narration, and lots of different stories in French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, or German.

* *

Receive additional lesson plans, craft ideas, recipes, and more by visiting http://www.amonco.org/montessori_winter_handson.html

Christmas Coasters Tutorial

“I am SOOOOO behind on my Christmas sewing!! ARGH!!!!! I have so many things that I need to make!! I need a longer day, people.

After I dragged out my Christmas decorations I realized that I realllllly needed something for people to put their drinks on, water rings make me crazy. So I decided to whip up a couple of coasters and then I decided to add a mug rug.

This is so fast. I mean SUPER fast. Like 10 minutes for a few of them fast.

You can even use up scraps! Perfect!!!” From Stacey Sews and Schools

http://stacysewsandschools.blogspot.com/2014/12/christmas-coasters-tutorial.html

Apple Angel Food Recipe

Conceptual Learning

Copyright 2011 – 2015

All Rights Reserved.

Website: http://www.conceptuallearning.com/

Recipe Submitted by Montessorian Dianne Knesek

Apple Angel Food

Prepare angel food cake batter.

Mix in 1/2 lb of pecans.

Pour into angel food cake pan.

Slice a couple of Granny Smith apples on top.

Bake as directed.

Cool.

With spatula, loosen cake from sides

Place on platter and invert

Serve and enjoy!

About Conceptual Learning

Conceptual Learning Materials has introduced several new series into the Insights into Math Concepts line.

To ease the children into more abstract fraction work, we have introduced “Fraction Match,” a series of 15 matching exercises that include graphics, verbal expressions, and fraction symbols for various configurations. These include numerators of one, numerators greater than one, fraction of a set, improper fractions, mixed numbers, fractions on a number line, equivalencies, and simple addition of fractions. The work is appropriate for students in 2nd through 4th grades. Other recent fraction releases include “Fraction Operations” which focuses on addition & subtraction of unlike fractions. “More Fraction Operations” includes multiplication and division of fractions and mixed numbers as well as a comprehensive overview of all fraction operations. Previously released fraction series include “Fraction Concepts,” “Fraction Line and Labels,” and “Fraction Order.”

Three levels of time have also been introduced. The incremental matching cards encompass time to the hour, half hour, quarter hour, five-minutes, and time intervals of varying difficulty.

“Introduction to Decimals” has been expanded to include mixed rounding and as well as operations involving one and two-place decimals. Previously released decimal series include “Decimal Line and Labels,” “Decimal Order,” “Advanced Decimals, ” as well as “Decimal/Fraction Equivalencies.”

Please contact us for a new catalog and be sure to visit http://www.conceptuallearning.com

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Dianne Knesek

Editor’s Note:

Receive additional lesson plans, craft ideas, recipes, and more by visiting http://www.amonco.org/montessori_fall_handson.html

Sewing a Friendship Quilt

Activity Submitted by Dale Gausman of the

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

Copyright 2015.  All Rights Reserved. Dale Gausman, NAMC

Material

Tray containing: darning needle and several straight pins in a pincushion; embroidery thread in assorted colors; fabric scissors; fabric paint; tacky craft glue; pencil or chalk. Basket containing: Pre-cut felt rectangles 9 x 12 inches (23 x 30 cm) in different colors, two per student; pre-cut fabric squares 3 x 3 inches (7.5 x 7.5 cm), four per student.

Presentation

• Most Montessori teachers present this activity in Years 1 and 2. This activity can take place over several days. • In advance, send a note home asking parents to donate scraps of colorful fabric such as cotton to be used for the friendship quilt.
• In advance, cut the donated fabric scraps with pinking shears (zigzag scissors) into 3-inch (7.5-cm) squares, enough for four per student.

• In advance, place items on the tray and place the tray on a shelf. Place the felt rectangles and the fabric squares in a basket on the shelf next to the tray.

PART 1: GETTING READY

• Announce that students will have an opportunity to make something beautiful using cloth and a needle and thread.

• Go to the shelf and choose two felt rectangles and four fabric squares from the basket, place them on the tray, then bring the tray to the worktable or mat.
• Explain the activity: The students will sew a colorful quilt, which is called a friendship quilt because a group of friends make it together.

PART 2: SEWING THE FRIENDSHIP QUILT

• Take the felt rectangle from the tray and place it on the worktable, then choose one of the fabric squares and place it on one of the corners of the felt rectangle.

• Remove two straight pins from the pincushion and hand them to you.

• Demonstrate how to pin two sides of the fabric square securely to the felt rectangle, by placing the pins approximately 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) from the edges of the fabric square. Remove two more pins, then pin the other two sides of the fabric square to the felt.

• Choose one color of embroidery thread, and with the scissors, cut off a piece of thread that is about 16 inches (40 cm) long.

• Demonstrate how to tie a knot at the end of the thread, and thread the other end through the eye of the darning needle.

• Demonstrate how to begin sewing around the edge of the small square, about 1/3 inch (.8 cm) from the edge. Pull the needle through one corner of the felt rectangle and fabric square, being sure the knot is on the underside of the felt.

• Demonstrate how to make a running stitch by pulling the needle and thread up and down through the fabric in a straight line (the same stitch used for the hand puppet).

• Demonstrate how to tie a knot on the underside of the felt once the fabric square is sewn on, then cut the thread and stick the needle back into the pincushion.

• Remove the straight pins from the fabric and stick them back into the pincushion.

• Pin and sew on the remaining three fabric squares on the other three corners of the felt rectangle, and tie knots on the underside of the felt after each square is sewn on. Use different colored thread for each square, thus giving students more practice threading the needle and tying knots.

• Explain that this rectangle with four fabric squares sewn on it will be just one piece of the friendship quilt.

• Bring a new felt rectangle from the shelf, this time choosing a different color.

• Trace your hand on this felt rectangle, using a pencil or chalk, then using the scissors cut out the hand pattern.

• Glue it in the center of the piece of the friendship quilt with tacky craft glue.

• Write your name in fabric paint on the piece of the friendship quilt (see following image).

• Place the friendship quilt piece in a safe place to allow the fabric paint to dry.

• Encourage the students to make their own personal piece of the friendship quilt, as demonstrated.

• Agree on a day by which everyone will have their pieces completed, so that the students can move to the next step in sewing a friendship quilt.

• Remind the students to place all material back neatly on the tray when they are finished, and then to put the tray in its proper place on the shelf. Designate a storage area for all the completed pieces, and ask the students to place their pieces in this area.

PART 3: FINISHING THE FRIENDSHIP QUILT

• Once the fabric paint is dry, invite the students to bring their pieces to the work area. Explain that all the completed pieces will be sewn together to make the friendship quilt.

• Invite the students to lay their completed felt rectangles on the work area, so that they join like a patchwork quilt.

• Demonstrate how to pin the rectangles together, then sew the rectangles together using an overcast or a zigzag stitch. Sew small sections of the quilt together at a time, or the quilt may become hard to manage. (It is recommended that the teacher pin and sew the quilt pieces together.)

• Remind the students to clean the work area, place the material back on the tray, and return the tray to its proper place on the shelf when they are finished the activity.

• When the quilt is finished, invite the students to display the quilt in a special place in the classroom for everyone to see.

About North American Montessori Teacher Training Center (NAMC)

• Infant/Toddler (birth- 3 years)
• Preschool/Kindergarten (3-6 years)
• Lower Elementary (6-9 years)
• Upper Elementary (9-12 years)

Flexible, Affordable, Manageable

Providing Montessori distance education training since 1996, NAMC is proud to have graduates working in Montessori environments throughout North America and around the world.

Beautiful, full color albums incorporate years of research to save valuable time as you attain professional Montessori training. Classic Montessori training is enriched with contemporary ideas and proven educational activities to give you lifetime teaching resources — all at a reasonable price, in a user-friendly presentation. For complete details visit http://www.montessoritraining.net

Receive additional lesson plans, craft ideas, recipes, and more by visiting

http://www.amonco.org/montessori_fall_handson.html

Montessori Resources 2015 Kindle Version is Now Available!

Whether you are looking for Montessori apparatus to purchase for your classroom or suppliers of Montessori materials for home use, you are likely to find just what you need in Montessori Resources. You’ll find reviews of highly recommended resources and products designed for preK and K through grade 10, tips on how to use the resources in a Montessori setting, information on where to buy supplies for integrated lesson planning, recommended computer software and sites where you can get free lesson plans and resources online.

Download directly at Amazon.com by visiting

http://www.amazon.com/Montessori-Resources-Complete-Materials-Teachers-ebook/dp/B00YGCAUXA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440271433&sr=8-1&keywords=Montessori+Resources++Kindle