Happy Earth Day!

(pen and ink~Jennifer Howard)
So I've been working on a felt, AIR, LAND and WATER mat...obviously I'm not quite finished or I'd be showing it to you. But it's coming along.
In honor of Earth Day I wanted to share some of our family celebrations:
It is April vacation right now, so school is not in session. This allows me more time to do things with my own children and to create!!!
So what to do...
Some previous Earth Day posts & ideas for celebrating Earth Day this year:
Lost & Found
Flower Pot Scrubbing
I Love the Earth
Encouraging Spring
The Earth The Air The Fire The Water song

With your kids:
Decorate canvas bags to be used for grocery shopping
Share the story of the Universe with your children
Leave food for the Earth Fairies
(hint they live in the woods and enjoy the same foods as birds)
Ask your children to teach you a song about our Earth (they are bound to know one)
Wash ALL the windows in the house (my kids actually enjoy this chore!)
When was the last time you made a mud pie?
Pull out the spring time puzzles!

















If it's warm enough: Wash the car!
Offer to do yard work for someone who can't do it themselves.

Visit these blogs for some other very GREEN ideas:
Making Paper Bag Books
Make a Nature Can with Plum Pudding
or try Art Projects For Kids: Recycled Art Projects

Look Who is in the Sand Box!

This is a BIG thank you to Didier & Paula for new sandbox sand! The toddlers are thrilled beyond words and so are their teachers.

Sunday's toad stool

Yesterday before our church service began, a small boy, I know from teaching the children's religious ed. classes, wandered around outside waiting for a friend to arrive. It was a beautiful late summer morning and the grass was lush and still wet with dew. This young friend of mine sat on the front steps with a long face. I asked him, "How are you this morning?" to which he responded by shrugging his shoulders.
So I sat down next to him and asked him if he believed in Gnomes? He looked at me sharply and quickly returned the question,
"Do you?"
"Of course." I said, a matter of factly because of course, I do.
"I've never seen one." he said
"Neither have I."
"Oh." he smiled at me. Then I asked him if he would like to see where the Gnome minister stills when she leads the gnome church service? (As I had made my way up the street earlier that morning I had noticed a lone toad stool standing in the grass aside our building.) I lead him to it and we both stood over it looking down upon it with admiration.
"When do you think the gnome's service starts?" he asked me.
"Probably around the same time ours does." was the best answer I had to this question I didn't expect.
"Well," he said, "we should probably get inside because I don't think the gnomes will come around if we are here and I don't want any of them to miss their service."
We held hands while we walked into the church; before we turned the corner he looked back over his shoulder at the mushroom. "They're arriving!" he whispered to me and before I could look for myself he tugged me along to the front steps.
Once inside the boy's father greeted us and asked,
"What have you two been up to?"
"We were looking at a Gnome stool Dad, Jennifer said some people call them 'toad' stools, I think those people need glasses."
"Oh." his father looked at me with curiosity.
For a moment I thought to myself, "Had he truly seen a gnome atop the mushroom?"
And in the next moment I knew the answer,"Of course he did."
Perhaps I need new glasses?

"How often is the soul of man, especially that of the child, deprived because one does not put him in contact with nature.
There is no description, no image in any book, that is capable of replacing the sight of real trees, and all the life to be found around them, in a real forest. Something emanates from those trees which speaks to the soul, something no book, no museum is capable of giving. The wood reveals that it is not only the trees that exist, but a whole interrelated collection of lives. And this earth, this climate, this cosmic power are necessary for the development of all these lives. The myriad lives around the trees, the majesty, the variety are things one must hunt for, and which no one can bring into the school."
~Maria Montessori

Gaining Perspective

I know transitions can be trying. I think all parents and teachers know this. But sometimes I forget it. School has ended, and summer has begun...so too have my 'Middle Man's' transition woes. Today is the first day of summer camp at Cornerspring! I am hopeful all will go well; yet I worry this additional transition might result in total melt down come bed time.

Sunday morning by 7:30am I needed to take the two younger boys OUT of the house. Dad was sleeping (after working the night shift) and 'Taller Than Me' was too.
Thing one and Thing Two however, were bouncing off the walls, having eaten b'fast and gotten dressed by 6:15am! (YES! You read that correctly) Both boys were ready to go somewhere. Now please understand something, we live in the woods.
A beautiful forest actually, and truly and there are more than enough wonderful stimulating things surrounding this tiny house in the woods, for two small boys to have fun for HOURS.
But NO, this is not what was to happen. 'Middle Man' was outside maybe 3 minutes and returned frustrated with the 'BUGS'. I looked out the window and saw 'Little One' happy and filling his wagon with sticks...but I had hoped my ten year old could look after my two year old while I finished my cup of tea and watched them from the sofa in front of the bay window. But NO, apparently not.

So...because we are blessed to live on the coast, I piled them into the car and drove to the beach. It was low tide!

(The above photo was taken last year not yesterday morning because to have brought my camera would have required more thought than I had at that moment. Also the above photo is not of the beach we visited but I really loved the sunlight)

"LOW"and "TIDE" are a coastal Mama's two favorite words at 7:30 in the morning. I sat down in the sand with my newspaper and my now cold mug of tea...
Thing One and Thing Two EXPLORED.
Ahhhhh.......
It was lovely. 'Little One' could have stayed for hours...
'Middle Man' had to use the bathroom about 15 minutes into our coastal escape. Then he cut his finger on a rock(?) I'm still not exactly sure how it happened but thankfully it was a small injury. Small but in need of a hug and a band aid.

We got back into the car. Home again jigity jog...
This was the daily calendar's picture:
Sometimes, I forget. I forget how hard it is to be an almost ten year old Spirited child, who isn't sure what will happen next. When we returned home 'Middle Man's' finger was magically mended, TLC and a small band aid was all it took. Little One added his two sea shells, four rocks and one very large piece of drift wood to our nature shelf and sat down to a pile of board books.

It had been a FULL morning and all BEFORE 9am.
Every time I think it is difficult to be 'Middle Man's' Mom I remind myself how difficult it must be to be 'Middle Man'. Especially during transition times.

Thanks for reading this...
PEACE
MM

Lost and Found

While shopping at our brand new Goodwill store I made a wonderful discovery! I found a copy of Nature Crafts for Kids by Gwen Diehn and Terry Krautwurst, a book I had once owned and treasured. I lost my copy years ago when we moved to Maine and have longed for it every summer because of the wonderful nature crafts it possessed. And yesterday I found it! Stuck between some children's stories and only $0.99!!
Some of the craft ideas it instructs with beautiful photos and easy to follow step by step instructions, are:

• How to make paper with inlaid leaves
• Walnut printing
• turnip lanterns
• Mushroom spore prints
• Making nature kaleidoscopes
• How to make sun prints
• Wild Flower candle making
• constructing a cement bird bath

...and the list goes on....
I highly recommend this book for parent/teachers working with elementary age children.
~~MM

Flower Pot Scrubbing

Out door work station: Flower Pot Scrubbing!
Most of us have last year's flower pots about, in need of some TLC after the winter months. This Spring activity is fun and gives your children an opportunity to show how helpful they can be.
While your children scrub away cleaning last years pots, you can be getting garden work done. This activity is messy, aprons could be worn or outdoor yard-work clothes.

Materials needed:
several clay flower pots
an assortment of scrub brushes
bowl/basin
2 cup measuring cup
sponge
towel
table top/surface
pot storage bin/shelf in outdoor shed

From the bin of dirty pots the child chooses which pot to scrub and places it in the basin. Next he fills the measuring cup with warm water (from the water source) and pours it into the basin. The child then chooses a brush that will work best with the size pot he is going to scrub.
Taking the brush he dips it into the water and begins to scrub the pot in a circular motion.
After the pot has been scrubbed, he uses the sponge to wipe off any excess dirt.
When the pot is clean, he places it in the storage bin/shelf and returns to clean up.
He wipes up his space with the sponge and empties the dirty water anywhere in the garden.
Purpose:

• To clean the pot
• Preparation for handwriting (when using circular scrubbing. like table washing)
  
• Building concentration skills
  

Enjoy your time appreciating our natural world and each other.
(Sorry no photo! Blogger is giving me a hard time tonight!)
~~MM
*inspired by The Outdoor Classroom by Mary Boden

Multimedia Sculpture: Thursday's Art+Play

"Today is Thursday,
Yes indeed!"

Today's Art+Play was Multimedia Sculpture! That's a fancy name for: "gluing all sorts of things together". The kids seemed to enjoy gluing (as most young children do) and the choice of materials interested them also. I mentioned, when demonstrating the activity to the group, that some people may prefer to draw on the card board prior to the gluing. Sometimes this helps to focus a younger artist (and limits the amount of glue that gets used). Let them glue, glue, glue and they will create something original and interesting to look at.

And now for something completely different: Check out this very cool web page in celebration of the late great Rachel Carson (born May 27th).

It's May Day!

Today's Art+Play: Making May Baskets!
I acted out the "ding & dash" concept using the classroom coat closet and pretending to be my Gramma answering the door. (The children really seemed to enjoy this part.)
Construction:
The children decorated the paper and picked their flowers (assisting of course with the trimming of too long stems and ribbon cutting). Parents applied the contact paper and fashioned the paper into a cone shape. Deciding who they would surprise with their May Baskets was by far the best part. It was lovely listening to them chat with their parents about their choices as they left the classroom. I love May Day.

All day long I thought about the Montessori school the joy of May Day. I longed to stop by and join in the fun but resisted until the very end of the day. When I arrived a friend shared about the May Day festivities even before I could inquire. It made my heart smile to hear her stories of the children's tip toe adventures around the neighborhood like a pack of fairy folk. 
Complaints:
I've had a long and difficult week. My husband is away and parenting three children on my own is allot of work (and that is a major understatement!) My hat goes off to single parents everywhere! I could have written about all my complaints because there is a long list, but I'm writing about May Day. May Day is a day to surprise and delight. There is something magical about this day and being "thought of" always feels good when you're the recipient OR the gift giver. It's much nicer than complaining.
Random Acts...
When I went in to buy the flowers for today's craft I noticed an older woman sitting alone in her car, next to mine. When I returned about 15 minutes later she was still sitting there (I guessed, waiting for someone to come out of the store) she looked so tired. And I felt so tired, even though it was the beginning of my day. I put the bags in my car and started to back up to drive away. But then I stopped, pulled back into the space and got out. I gave the woman a flower.
"Happy May Day" I said to her
and she smiled,
"Thank you very much" she said.
She was obviously surprised but also very happy. I didn't know her and she didn't know me and it was a surprise, that's what May Day is all about. Random acts of kindness, to quote a bumper sticker.
It's a nice message to share with your children,
today and everyday.
In PEACE
~~MM

Ways to Celebrate May Day!

May Day is May 1st and people all over our Earth celebrate it.
I've put together a collection of ways to celebrate with your children:

• Lie in the grass under a flowering tree and look up at the sky through the blossoms
• Dress all in green
• Braid your hair and your daughters hair, weaving flowers into it, or make a wreath of flowers for your head.
• Make a lei to were around your neck. Then make another to give away.
• Take an early morning nature walk and collect dew from plants (ask a 3rd grader the way to do this, they are very inventive)
• Dance with family/friends around a Maypole!
• Take turns reading poems about Spring before each meal on this special day.
• Have lunch outdoors, picnic style!
• Make offerings to the garden animals (birds, rabbits, squirrels) quietly sit together and enjoy watching the animals take part in your gifts.
• If possible take your child outside, sit quietly together and listen to the birds.
  
• Involve your children in the 'Spring Cleaning' of your home! Remember even small hands can contribute to caring for the home.
• Join hands and walk the perimeter around your home, giving thanks for the yard, the trees, or even a tiny bit of grass.
• Understand and express to your children that no piece of Earth can really belong to you. You belong to the Earth.
• Weed, mulch, mow. Admire
• Plant a hawthorn or May bush.
• Create a wreath of greenery for the door.
• Read a book about caring for our Earth.
  
• Plant flowers in a window box for someone who can't get outside to enjoy them.
• Prepare May baskets for friends and relatives or even a stranger! Fill it with special treats. Hang it on the doorknob, ring the bell, then run away! Better still, deliver it in person and stay for a visit.
• Press flowers onto cards and send them in the mail to friends.
• Read the biography of Rachel Carson.
  
• Face paint your children as the animals the enjoy most.
• Learn a new song together and sing, sing, sing!

*some ideas inspired by Patricia Montley's In Nature's Honor
~~Happy soon-to-be MAY DAY to all!
*MM's notes: It's important to remember when hiking or walking in nature with young children that the child is not trying to 'get there'. All he or she wants to do is to walk, to stop and pick dandelions or to splash in a puddle.
PEACE
~~MM

Middle Man's Mandala

I forgot to post our mandalas! Here is Middle Man's. The ovals remind me of kidney beans. PEACE to you and yours,
~~MM

Oink Oink, Buzz Buzz

Happy Earth Day!

This weekend we celebrated Earth Day by taking in the final performance of 'Middle Man's' play Winnie the Pooh...we're sad it's over, but it was fun while it lasted. He was a terrific Piglet. For his last performance I made a chocolate cake shaped like Pooh Bear for the cast party. The next day Middle Man and I made these Bee Hive Cookies (his idea) they turned out very tasty.


For our church's Earth Day Celebration the children acted out the Universe story. 'Taller Than Me' was asked to portray The Grim Reaper! He was allowed to fashion his own costume and made many people laugh when he entered dressed as Dick Cheney! (I apologize for offending anyone, I usually try to refrain from posting anything political) 'Middle Man' was a beaver, and 'Little One' a Yellow Jacket. Although 'Little One' refused to participate in the Earth Day play, he was cute in his Bee costume.


Today was a tea party (my favorite kind)! As a member of the Membership Development Committee, I helped to host the event and honestly, enjoyed every minute of it. There is just something about TEA that brings out the lovely in people, no matter what the age. This was a TEA for the Elders in our church community. To honor them and to get to know them better.
I especially enjoyed when one of the ladies told me,
"I haven't had this much fun in years!" and then added,
"I hope one day someone will make you tea and cookies for no reason at all."
This comment of course made me smile and think of Mother's Day Tea (a tradition in most Montessori classrooms). I will be posting some ideas about Mother's Day Tea soon!
So it was a busy weekend (and Monday) I look forward to slowing things down a bit.
I really appreciate all the lovely comments I've been getting. You all warm my heart so much, thank you! I try and answer them, but usually fail miserably.
I hope your Earth Day was spent enjoying the beauty of nature and your children.
In PEACE
~~MM

Upside down? BEAUTIFUL!

Sunset through the eyes of a teenager. I am continually being reminded to appreciate nature by my boys. I will admit I have been spending way too much time in doors lately. I am desperate for Spring to arrive and longing more and more for the warm breezes of summer to hurry up and replace these freezing winds. Today it is suppose to be 'warm' at 45 degrees. My sandals stare at me with anticipation. What's the weather like where you are?
Middle Man and Little One discovered just yesterday, the green tops of daffodils peeking through the patch of muddy snow I once remember as a flower garden. They called to me,
"Come see! Come see Mama! Spring!"
They shared with me, Hope and now I am hopeful. I really need to pay better attention, I walk by the 'flower garden' every day and I haven't noticed Spring coming, just the mud and ice mixture. It is true the child's eye can see far more than mine.

And so, I will try and remember Dr. Montessori's insightful and inspiring words:
"I live in heaven. My home is a sphere that turns around the sun. It is called Earth."
~~in peace
MM

Spirit Play Lesson: I Love the Earth

Spirit Play Story Lesson:
"We value our home, Earth, that we share with all living beings.
I Love You, Sun. I Love You, Moon
by Karen Pandell (adapted by Jennifer Howard)

Materials needed: Rug, place mat with shapes in another color of felt sewn on or outline drawn on; objects to represent: sun, sheep, leaf, tree, fish, dove, rock, bug, earth, stars, moon, and heart.

Jennifer's Notes:
*As the story is told, each object is placed on the corresponding shape on the outer circle. It is the story teller’s choice when telling the story to connect each object to the center heart or their own heart, before putting object down on outline. When practicing this story try it both ways and use whichever feels more comfortable to you.

*This lesson could be shared in silence using sign language only; providing it has been presented with language first.

*Wondering Questions (at the bottom) are intended to be asked but not necessarily answered.

Presentation:

(Lay out a rug, smooth out)

"Watch carefully where I go to get the lesson."

(Go to shelf and remove lesson basket.)

"Ah, here it is."

"See, this is a story about loving to valuing our planet, Earth, which we share.
In our classroom community we have three promises we make to each other about how we are going to treat each other, so that we all get along, and feel safe here."

[Optional: You could take time to review them "Be Gentle, Be Safe, Be Kind" OR you could continue, assuming everyone understand what you are referencing]

( Hold up the glass heart admire it and ask: )

"What does it make you think of? What does it mean?"

(after the children offer answers, place glass heart on top of its felt outline in the center of the circle, next pick up the glass sun touch it to center heart [or your own heart] and then place it on its outline)

"In this story, this heart means 'Love'"

"I love you, sun."

(Touch sheep to center heart and then on its outline)

"I love you, sheep."

(Touch leaf to center heart and then on its outline)

"I love you, wind, and the leaves that blow in the powerful wind."

(Touch tree to center heart and then on its outline)

"I love you, tree."

(Touch fish to center heart and then on its outline))

"I love you, fish."

(Touch dove to center heart and then on its outline)

"I love you, dove."

(Touch rock to center heart and then on its outline)

"I love you, rock."

(Touch bug to center heart and then on its outline)

"I love you, bug."

(Touch earth to center heart and then on its outline)

"I love you, earth."

(Touch stars to center heart and then on its outline)

"I love you, stars."

(Place moon in center on heart and then on its outline.)

"I love you, moon."

(Again touch each and name of the items, without picking them up, and then lastly the heart)

"I love you, ALL, and so much more, my beautiful universe.

I love you and you love me."

Wondering Questions:

I wonder how Earth loves us?

I wonder what you love on Earth?

I wonder how you can show ( rock, moon, Earth, etc.) that you love her?

I wonder how it feels to be loved?

I wonder how it feels to say “I love you”?

I wonder if the stars (earth, moon, sheep, etc.) loves the rock (sun, etc.)?

I wonder how it feels to be a part of Earth?

I wonder how we can respect all living beings?

Happy First Day of Spring!

Today is the first day of Spring! Yippi-skippi excuse me while I do a little dance number. I love winter, I do but enough is enough.
Today in Art and Play some of my kiddos shared that the cat grass seed we planted last week was starting to spring up. They were very excited and beamed with pride over growing something. When I visited Cornerspring Children's House I noted that the grass was growing there too! Returning to my car I walked carefully, so as not to slip on the ice, and I looked at the snow covered playground. Spring is not yet here but it's close.

In Art and Play today we decorated eggs! This was a bit of work for me, without a classroom sink, but I managed to pull it off (thank you Jessie for your help!) The kids seemed to enjoy the activity and some of the moms thanked me, saying they were happy they didn't have to do this at home.
We used traditional food coloring and vinegar today but I look forward to trying natural dyes this weekend with my boys.
Below is a list of natural egg dyes: Enjoy Everyone!
Brown - the outer layers of onions, tea or coffee
Yellow - turmeric or saffron
Red - cranberries
Purple - beets, purple onion skin
Green - spinach
Blue - blueberries
Combine the dye source with 1/2 Tablespoon of vinegar with some cold water in a saucepan. Add raw eggs (make sure there's enough water to cover the eggs) and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 to 15 minutes. The longer you simmer, the darker the color will be, but simmer
at least 8 minutes so that the eggs cook thoroughly.
~~MM

Encouraging Spring

As you know, I live in the Northeast and it has been snowing here since November...it is March now and looking out my window, I can see more of the fluffy white stuff falling. I am growing a little tired of it and I LOVE the snow. People are grumbling and I think the birds have had enough already. Because of this l o n g winter season we are having, I decided for this week's Art & Play class we would do something to encourage Spring to arrive.
What did we do you ask?
We painted clay pots and planted cat grass seed! I took photos and then my camera stopped working. Needless to say I am disappointed I am unable to show you the shots of toddlers painting their clay pots but do know that they turned out lovely and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. For a Montessori extension to this art craft I created this work:
Planting seeds & decorating your own pot!
At the craft store, I discovered markers that write/draw on terracotta pots so, of course I scooped those up! This way each child can not only plant their own pot of spring grass but they can bring it home in a decorated clay pot! (planting seed work only pictured)
When leading Art & Play I showed the pictures from book:
The Carrot Seed
I'm not a big fan of the words in this book, so I paraphrased. Anyway, the children then wanted to make a garden marker to say what was growing in their pots. And so this second work was created:
Plant Marker Creating:


I provided the cards on pop sticks for decorating, scissors, a glue stick, cut paper, colored pencils, and contact paper (sized to fit) to cover & protect the finished sign.
Wondertime Magazine has a great article called Plant, Pick, Eat. Check it out as time allows you. When I can finally access my photos I will post the painted pots!
Inch by inch row by row.......ENJOY
~~MM

Baby Goats! And Mama Grumbling...

Our neighbor's goats have given birth and now each day we drive by, we slow down to take a peek. Yesterday they were out and about! My Little One assumes, because of their markings, that the goats are cows and was Moo-ing to them while I snapped some photos. My nine year old wants to adopt one and raise it in our home
"you know like the cats" he said :)
I think two cats is more than enough personally since last night one of my felines woke me at 3:30am because she was hungry. Grrr....what would a goat do?
So on to my grumbling,
it's only 11am and already today I have edited my oldest son's Che Guevara paper and assisted with his Che Guevara poster, done three loads of laundry, made French toast, changed three diapers, given a yogurt covered toddler a bath, helped my nine year old pick up an entire rubber-made tote full of Legos that "accidentally spilled"before above mentioned toddler could eat them, vacuumed up rice cake pieces and gold fish also "accidentally" spilled before they could be ground into the living room carpet by yep, you guessed it: Little One, and addressed 15 envelopes for work! Phew...did I mention my husband is working and it is day seven of February vacation? Enough grumbling....
Any-who, I thought some of you would like to see these beautiful babies and feel hopeful about Spring coming. And I hope YOU are enjoying your Sunday, your family and maybe hot chocolate...mmmm...sounds good, don't mind if I do.
PEACE
~~MM

Let it Snow!

Today is a snow day. My boys are home from school and hot chocolate is on the menu. We expect 10 to 12 inches before it's over and my nine year old is thrilled!

This simple tweezing work is a winter favorite. I thought I would share it with all of you. The foam snow flakes were purchased through a craft catalog (original purpose:snowy arts and crafts). When they arrived, we teachers noted how they were a bit too thick for gluing but would be perfect for tweezing! Soon this Everyday Living activity was created and has been present every January since. (It is also nice color sorting work!) The small tweezers can be tricky for young three year olds but most seem up for the challenge. This is good example of an inexpensive Practical Life work, most of us have small tweezers at home and with a few small items and bowls (or plates) this work can be pulled together relatively quickly. Have fun!
~~MM

The Beauty and Wonder Table:

A little table or small shelf dedicated to a changing array of beautiful objects from nature.

Some ideas are: sea shells, rocks, pine cones, snake skin, moss covered bark, bird feathers, beach glass, fossils, perhaps even an animal bone or antler discovered on a nature walk.

This area for the classroom is kept tidy, beautiful and is constantly changing. A small basket of magnifying glasses are kept near by for the children to make closer observations.

At the beginning of the school year a letter is sent home to encourage whole family participation in the collection of items for the Beauty & Wonder Table. It is our hope that upon nature walks or while vacationing; families will make discoveries and bring in their treasures to share with
the school community.
Photographs of natural objects have been welcomed additions to our Beauty & Wonder Table when it has not been possible to remove those items from nature.

*Note the binoculars on the floor, a young friend was sitting near by looking out the window at birds prior to me taking this photo.

~~~MM

The Prepared Environment: Honoring Our Earth

I can't say enough about the importance of the prepared environment. Having taught in both settings, one with a beautiful, well thought-out and cared for environment and others that were not...I can say with enthusiasm and certainty that the classroom that is thoughtfully prepared is the one I prefer to be in; and the children were more settled and happy also.
Outdoors:

The outdoor environment needs to be rich with meaning and purposeful activities of exploration of the natural world. The following is just a short list of some of the types of materials to support a purposeful and fertile playground space:

• A child grown garden with wheel borrows and appropriately sized garden tools available to the children.
• A wood working bench
• A sand box
• A water table,
• Climbing equipment providing not only gross motor exercise but also different view points and perspectives
• Space for indoor work to be taken outdoors as well as art work opportunities for the children to take photographs of and draw the natural world around them.
• Art supplies and outdoor easels
  

Indoors:
The classroom should represent a living and changing environment and the children need to be offered an opportunity for solitude and expression.

The classroom Beauty and Wonder Table, sometimes called a Nature Shelf, provides the children with items from nature to admire and research.
Montessori said that, “Nothing is better calculated than this (to care for living things within the classroom and home) to awaken an attitude of foresight.” She taught that we need to provide children with the natural world so that they may gain an appreciation of it, feel comfortable in it and learn how best to care for it, our delicate planet earth.
Ways to support this philosophy in your classroom or home:

• Caring for plants
  
• Caring for the items on the Beauty and Wonder Table
  
• Caring for pets
  
• Caring of the environment activities such as:
• composting snack & lunch scraps
• using cloth towels and napkins (and laundering them)
• washing tables, chairs, anything really!
• dusting

(see earlier posts: Montessori at Home and Clean up Magic)

~~MM

DO Touch

Children are enthusiastic touchers. They are passionate about touching things, experiencing different surfaces and textures.

So often we say, "Don't touch" but today (because I need the reminding myself), I encourage you to say,
"Do touch" to your children. The sense of touch is a primary way children have of classifying their experiences and learning from them. It is important then, for them to have many opportunities for tactile experiences in the classroom and at home.

Typically you will find the following materials available to children in a Children's House (3-6 year old Montessori program):

A basket containing rough and smooth items:
This is an introductory activity to introduce children to the variety of textures. The basket contains beautiful, natural objects that have interesting textures and that allow the child to classify "rough" and "smooth"
Touch boards
There are 3 boards in this series. The boards (covered with various grades sandpaper) aims are to observe, compare, discriminate and refine the ability to determine different textures.
Touch tablets
A box containing 5 pairs of sandpaper covered tablets. Each pair has a slightly different color and gradation of roughness.
Fabric Box #1
A box or basket containing approximately 8 pairs of different type fabric (velvet, wool, silk, gauze, burlap, corduroy, cotton, satin, linen, muslin, etc.). Each fabric piece is about 6" square and the edges are finished.
Fabric Box #2
The same organization as Box #1 except the fabric is all the same color and varies only in texture.

If you do not have these Montessori materials available to you rest assured. Simple activities such as passing a sea shell found at the beach, can be included in circle activities. By sharing interesting natural objects you will encourage your children to develop their tactile sense, you will offer them new vocabulary when describing the items (rough, smooth, coarse, silky) and you expand their scope of the natural world by exposing them to items they may not have an opportunity to see in their back yard.

If you are able, creating a nature table is a wonderful way to introduce a variety of nature's gifts to young children. It is also a nice way to encourage the children to observe the natural world around them; ask them to bring in objects from nature to share with the group. I think I'll post more about that...

Today I say, "DO TOUCH" and enjoy the sensations and discoveries you may have.
My toddler and I made the following observations this afternoon:
Evergreen trees are prickly, a cat's tongue is rough, the inside of my fancy shoe is smooth,
water is wet, snow is cold, towels just out of the dryer are warm and soft...

In PEACE
~~MM