Clay Xmas Ornaments

Do you have the free Montessori eBook yet?

Deb Chitwood, the Madonna of online Montessori, has published the coolest free eBook on Montessori curriculum! Go to her to get your copy, pronto!
By the way, some of my science curriculum on this blog was chosen for the book! Thank you endlessly, Deb!

http://livingmontessorinow.com/2011/12/08/free-ebook-mom-bloggers-talk-montessori-favorite-ideas-and-activities/

Dinosaur Coil Pots

The Best Montessori Articles and Studies

http://waterfrontmontessori.com/Montessori_LINKS.html

Want articles to read and circulate?  This school put it all together!

Is Montessori the Origin of Google and Amazon? from Forbes

A good read for Montessorians.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2011/08/02/is-montessori-the-origin-of-google-amazon/

Fall Harvest Basket

Parts of the Body Paper Works

After using the Parts of the Hands cards, the students can look at this more advanced master and trace their own hands and label in a list form.

To make a more advanced Parts of the Body booklet to color in I made masters of all the organs for the kids to copy

They also like this Parts of the Head master to draw and make a list from.

Mary Had a Little Lamb in Japanese

Geometric Solids Objects

Geometric Solids

We have a basket of small objects to match to the geometric solids.

It helps the children visualize these shapes in things of daily life.

Sensorial Shape Box to Design With

A beautiful shape, color, design and sorting work is this three layered box of cut out shapes. 

It can be as easy or as advanced in structure as you wish.

I bought mine here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MONTESSORI-CIRCLES-SQUARES-and-TRIANGLES-NEW-/120584620267?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item1c136748eb#ht_528wt_1051

Sensorial Extention Color Gradation Work

Our class enjoys this newer Montessori friendly color gradation work.

It is a good addition for any class!

You can buy it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Montessori-Color-Resemblance-Sorting-Task/dp/B00495UJQ2/ref=sr_1_23?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1316964003&sr=1-23

Superwoman Was Already Here and it Was Maria Montessori

http://un-schooled.net/?p=488

http://montessoribuddy.com/blog/2011/08/maria-montessori-superwoman-was-already-here/

Nice addition to your Montessori reading!

Insets Art Project

Huge Unit on Insects

This long visual post highlights my unit on insects.

 Here is how you can do it for your class:

1. Collect dead specimens and put them in tiny boxes. They keep for many years. Look under rocks, under bushes, in the eaves of the garage and keep the porch light on to attract them.

2. Cut up insect books and magazines to make matching cards and corresponding pictures.

3. Draw like a child so your students can copy your master images.

4. Find workbook black line drawings to use as "parts of" masters. Image Google black line spider, for example.

5. Write little descriptions of the bugs for " Who Am I? " cards.

6. Be obsessed with making this unit. Teachers go through "sensitive periods" of learning, also!

7. When it is done you will have this loved unit for many years to make your science area shine!
Parents love doing these works as much as the kids!

Here goes! Remember, I have been teaching for a very long time. This unit evolved over years.

Scorpions / Tarantulas / Spiders

Bees

Butterflies

Cicadas and Cicada Killer Wasps

Ants

Beetles

Grasshoppers

Praying Mantis

Flies

Cricket and Mosquito

Start with one bug that is laying on your porch now.

This tiny, hidden world of insects is all around you.

Observe, collect, and create! 

That is a Montessori teacher.

And have fun! And love bugs!!

Teach your children to observe and love insects, not step on them and scream. 

They will remember these lessons for life.

 I will do a curriculum search for the dead ladybug under your bush :

 Pictures:  http://duncraft.atom5.com/butterflies-bees-lad-3213.html

 Black line for Parts of Cards:  http://www.openclipart.org/detail/79471/ladybug-line-art-by-gammillian

Craft: http://villagefamilymag.org/2011/06/08/craft-ladybug-toss/

Cooking:  http://www.parenting.com/article/how-to-make-a-ladybugs-cake