Animal Classification

We did animal classification for science.  My stepmom got these cards at Target.  I am doing some other printable ones but I haven't had a chance to complete those yet.

They put them in the correct categories.

Then we took out some of our Safari TOOB animals and used those too.

My oldest decided he wanted to know more about the Gila Monster so we looked it up in a book that we had and read about it.  Then we googled a video about it and learned more that way.

Once again the kids took it a step further for more learning.  It is what I love about Montessori.

We did more for my older son from here.

I started printing the cards from Walk Beside me.

I also started buying more Safari TOOBS!  The younger ones love them and they love to play with them.

 

Land Air Water - kids activity

Land Air Water

We are starting on Montessori Geography because I like it.  I like the flow of it.  Plus I got a free geography primary album from Living Montessori Now for signing up for her newsletter.

Geography is something we can all do together. 

**Sorry about the pictures being a bit blurry.


 First I had my 4 year old carry the tray to the living room.

We set it up with three jars - one with soil in it, one with water and one with air.

 Then they matched up the cards I had to the right category.

Then I had them go to the boys' room and find things that go on land or in air or on water.

Then they took it a step further.  They put some beans (from the pouring activity) and put it in the soil and poured the water on it to see if they could get a plant to grow.  I loved their idea.

I was thrilled they took the activity and did more with it than I had though of.  They seemed to enjoy it.

For more ideas for land, air and water activities visit Living Montessori Now.


 

More Montessori - some handmade materials

I have been learning as much as I can about Montessori in a short amount of time.  It is very overwhelming at first because it is so opposite of how I think.  It really slows me down which is a good thing.

I bought and read a book - Basic Montessori.  It is great for a beginner and has helped me know where to start and what to do.

With Montessori there are so many materials that are used because it is hands on and many of them are very expensive.  I really had to look to see what we would use, what I could buy and what I could make. 

The Pink Tower (you can read more about it here)

We have been using this quite a bit.  I did not buy this though - my dad made it for me.  I am so thankful he did!  I gave him the dimensions and he made it.  I painted it so don't look too closely at the paint job.

The thing I like about this is that it uses both fine and gross motor skills.  You have the child graps the blocks with both hands and carry them one at a time to the mat.  I store it in our dining room and have them put the mat into the living room so they have to carry it several times.  It gets in a little exercise too. 

It is self correcting - the child can see if they put a smaller block where a larger block should have been.  You can do other things with it and you can use it with the brown stair (which my dad is also making) to do some pretty cool structures.  The baby likes playing with it too.

Sandpaper letters (See more about it here and other DIY ideas)

Sandpaper letters are used to teach sounds of letters - you have the child run their fingers over the letter and then say the sound.  They are also good for writing and the best part - they are used with the Orton Gillingham approach to reading - which is what I basically use with my dyslexic son.  So these letters serve a lot of purpose.

I bought a cheaper version of the lowercase print letters from Lakeshore Learning and then I made my own cursive version using this basic tutorial.

I did the vowels in pink using Modge Podge.  I have been having my older son (who is learning cursive) trace the letters with his  hands and then write it.

I also have been having him write it in salt to help remember it too.  I need to get a bigger salt tray though.

When I do reading with him I have the "b" and "d" out because he does still get those confused at times.  If he mispronounces one of the letters I have him trace it with his left hand (writing hand) and even close his eyes and then re-pronounce the word.

We've also changed up our science a little and added in geography - thanks to the Montessori method and we have enjoyed this a lot this week.  I'll write more about that this weekend when we are done for the week.

Dabbling in Montessori

I have been fascinated by Montessori methods for a few years now but each time I look into it I end up frustrated by my lack of funds and my lack of space to do it at home.  This year though we were able to put our daughter into a half day Montessori program and a school close by.  It costs half of what other Montessori schools costs.

I love it.  I love going there.  I love looking at all of the materials and how the classrooms are set up.

So I am trying again - doing more of it at home with my preschooler but still without a lot of funds and not a lot of space.  But I am convinced it is a great way to go.

Here is where I am starting:

This book is divided up into 5 sections:  practical life, developing the senses, language development, numeracy skills, science skills.

I decided just to start at the beginning and do a page from each section each week.  I set up the bottom shelf of my big Ikea shelf for his Montessori trays.

Like I said - I do not have a lot of room so this will work for now.  What I love about Montessori is how they teach practical life and how gross and fine motor skills are taught.

I like the order to it.

It is just tough making sense of it all and figuring it out which is why I am starting with this book.

I have also been making a few things on my own.

If you have thought about Montessori at all I would encourage you to dig deeper.

Living Montessori Now is a great blog.  I'd also go and visit a Montessori school in your area so you can see how things are laid out.

You Tube also has many Montessori videos for you to see.