Scooping with a tool

Little One is progressing from whole hand scooping to using a tool and loving it! Today's Red Bin discovery was water play with floating flowers (plastic ice cubes not cold), a slotted spoon, blue strainer, baster and a bowl to fill up and dump out!
He LOVED this and got very wet while having fun.
Enjoy the moments
~~MM

Metal Inset Art

My FAVORITE Montessori language material! Look at these lovely creative pictures.
Metal Insets
Dr. Montessori analyzed the movements which are connected with writing and developed the Metal Insets for directly preparing the child for handwriting. The Metal Insets (ten metal insets and frames) exercises strengthening the three finger grip and coordinate the necessary wrist movements.

When teaching on a rainy day, sitting down with this work is the fastest way to restore calmness to a restless room. To complete, they take great amounts of concentration for a three year old; (less so the older the child generally) observing the process is the charming.
[It looks like Odin created some Elephants from the circle inset].
As I'm sure you can imagine, this is a very popular activity and many, MANY beautiful pictures are created (daily). In our school we encourage the children to use both sides of the paper and to construct a book from their finished work if they like.

For a printable version of Montessori Metal Insets click here
(it's in PDF format)
Enjoy!
~~MM

Color Sorting

Color Sorting: Montessori on a Budget

Materials needed:
plastic ice cubes (shaped like flowers, six of each color) found at the dollar store
clear plastic egg cartons
plastic dessert cups sold in a set of four at Rite Aid in the dollar bin

Little One enjoyed sorting these colorful flowers into the egg cups. Since eggs have been the only thing he has been putting in egg cartons lately, sorting something new proved to be a big attraction.
(These ice cubes float also! Watch for more practical life works using these coming soon!)

Although I wish there was less plastic involved, I'm happy to be making use of the plastic egg container (we usually get the cardboard ones but I bought late [just before Easter] and the plastic ones were all the store had at the time). Recycle!

*Note:
Color sorting is one goal of this work however, if your Little One is not ready for color sorting, simply placing the flowers in the individual egg cups is also valuable for small hands/eye coordination, concentration and independence.
Enjoy!
~~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?

Can I play you a song?

Okay, so he doesn't like having his photo taken; he's 15 after all. I don't remember enjoying being photographed at his age myself.

But he does LOVE his guitar.
And he's pretty good too.
I played classical guitar as a youth, and piano and flute...until I caught the acting bug in high school and left music behind me.

'Taller than Me' caught the acting bug too, at a very young age. I think he was just 5 years old when he got his first role (and line "Hee-Haw" he was a donkey).
It seems like forever ago now.
This fall he won praise in his High school's production of Anything Goes and most recently as the forgetful King in Some Thing's Rotten in the State of Denmark.
I'm of course very proud of him. But the reason for this post is because I very rarely post a photo of him! My middle son commented recently that I needed to share about HIM more.
(We are all attention hogs around here it seems, except my husband).

So here's another shot of my three sons.

Their three personalities are revealed in this photo.
'Middle Man' aka 'The Informant' & 'Mr. Creativity' smilin' BIG or the camera!

'Little One' aka 'Captain Distructo' & 'Shy Guy' and in this photo ('Tired of Being Photographed')

'Taller than Me' aka 'Smarter than Me' & 'Star of the Show'

Now back to Montessori posts!
In PEACE
~~MM

Art & Play: Puff Paint Fun

Borrowing a wonderful idea from the Artful Parent, I tried my hand at making home made puff paints! They were lots of fun, I am happy to report. The children seemed to enjoy the squeeze containers and bright colors. I recently picked up some free wallpaper books from our local paint supplies store and we used this paper for our creations. This is a two part project, due to the time it takes to dry, so we will hopefully finish up next Thursday.
My nine year old had a day off from school and so he and my little one joined Art+Play for the day! This created a little chaos, as Little One does not seem to feel comfortable in big groups. (Sharing his Mama was also a challenge for him.) So I was a little stressed I have to admit. But everyone else seemed to have fun and many beautiful pictures were created. Puff Paint is fun to work with I highly recommend it!
Jean at The Artful Parent also leads an art group. (I wish I lived close enough to bring Little One!)
~~MM

"Tree Frogs"

This is my Little One when he was really a Little One, I called him "Tree Frog", now he's walking and talking and picking books at the library....where does the time go?
My middle guy is about to play Piglet in the children's theater production of Winnie the Pooh next month and it feels like he just learned how to read, even though it was five years ago now.
My oldest son is shaving! He plays guitar and knows more about geography than both of his parents.
I'm not saddened by these facts, not at all, but some days they sneak up and surprises me, how quickly they grow. How much we all change as time passes.

I remember when I first began teaching at Cornerspring and I was anticipating that one of my students was going to have trouble transitioning from the playground to inside (as he had every morning before) and Paula, the director and my friend, smiled at me and said,
"Let each moment be new."
In other words, don't carry yesterday's struggles into today, give each of your children a fresh start, every day. Anticipate their success and encourage them lovingly.
I think I have struggle with this at times and it is still often my work to learn how to begin each day without holding on to yesterday's difficulties. I've always been a "planner" and living in the moment has not felt comfortable to me, until recently. I believe, I made the transition from planning to living when I became a Montessorian.

Montessori said, "I don't teach anything to children; it is they who teach me."

This afternoon my nine year old came home from school and the first thing he said was,
"Did you know that tree frogs live their whole life and never touch the ground?"
I didn't know that, but I know I'll never forget it.
~~MM

Lovin' Leo Lionni

Another favorite children's book author/illustrator of mine is
Leo Lionni
This book, Fredrick is my favorite by him. (Apparently I have an affection for mice and cut paper illustrations?)
I also love A Color of My Own and Swimmy also by Leo Lionni
Just thought I'd share. :)
What is your favorite children's book?
~~MM

The Magical Baster

Moving liquid from one cup to another has never been MORE fun! Using a small baster, demonstrate for your children how to suck up water and how to squeeze the water out. Using water tinted with food coloring makes this even more fun.
Practice this activity first before you present it to your children and ask yourself these questions:

• Is the tray too heavy to be carried by a child or should this be a stationary work?
• Is there just enough water so that you can vacuum up the entire contents of the glass with one squeeze?
• Did you provide a sponge and does the child(ren) know how to clean up a wet spill?

For parents: I recommend introducing the baster in the bath tub with young threes allowing for the exploration of this exciting new tool, without concern about the mess.
Have fun!
~~MM

Creative Preschooler Wants to Know?

"Is there such a thing as TOO much paint?"

While visiting Cornerspring recently I had a chance to observe the art lesson as well as the children during the creative process. The lesson was Ways to Create Texture with Paint and the art teacher, parent and artist Eva, did a beautiful job of demonstrating the use of different tools: Natural sea sponge, paint brushes, foam brushes, paper towel etc. Some of the children, as is often the case, had creative ideas of their own.

One child used his fingers to create texture and another just kept adding paint, paint, paint and more paint. When I asked her if she felt she had enough paint her quick and quiet response was,
"Is there such a thing as too much paint?"
I enjoyed the moment and took this photo to share with you all.

*Point of interest: My role in the classroom this day was as an observer, therefore I did not want to interfere with the art teacher's lead. I did point out to Eva that allot of paint was being used at that end of the table and she took it from there.

But it made me think about how I would have handled the situation ...
I think my answer might have been, "That is up to the artist to decide."
I would also point out to her that she was welcome to use another piece of paper if she wanted.

Most likely the piece she had been painting on, would tear when she tried to carry it to the drying rack. When this happened, I would comfort her if she was disappointed (of course) but I would also try and facilitate learning from the experience by asking open ended questions such as, "Why do you think the paper tore?" and "I wonder if your paper had less paint on it would it have torn?" It is important when asking these questions to keep your tone non-judgmental.
"You could do an experiment," (I would suggest) "you could use less paint with your next piece of paper and see if your paper ends up tearing."

Our goal as Montessori teachers/parents who lead art exploration with young children, is to:

• Provide the materials and space,
• Give a brief introduction of how to use the materials respectfully and the intention of the activity (as well as how we would clean up something specific, if this is a concern)
• Allow for freedom of creative expression (i.e. coloring outside the lines, using too much paint, making a mess)
• Make observations and share appreciative praise with every child in the group.

*I also feel that while leading an art activity it is not the time for me to create. Children may compare their art to mine and feel less confident about their abilities. My goal is for all the children to feel successful and to enjoy themselves. I will (when possible) share with the children examples of the style of painting or sculpture done by famous or local artists. We admire and appreciate but I make a point to express it is not our goal to recreate something someone else has already done, we are unique and special and so too is our art work.

~~MM