A chemical reaction- shining pennies

A chemical reaction!

We have been engaged in a scientific experiment over the last few days. 

The children have been shining pennies by using lemon juice and salt.

The children start by choosing a dull penny.  They put it on the plate and rub the mixture of lemon juice and salt on the penny with a cotton swab.  Once shiny, they rinse it off in the water and pat dry.  They then take it and put the penny in the shiny container. 

Self Help

A Montessori classroom always contains what we call "dressing frames" which were designed for children to learn how to dress themselves.  We have one for snapping, buttoning, zipping etc.  Today we had a child want to learn to tie her shoe.  We gave her a demonstration on this frame and it inspired a flurry of activity around the buttoning frame. 

Then another child decided to try buttoning...

We will be practicing tying on a real shoe tomorrow!

These skills are very important for a child to become independent in dressing.  Dr. Montessori felt that this independence helps children to feel dignified. 

Popsicles!

Today we HAD to make popsicles!  This is mandatory on an 86 degree day when it is March 21st!
We simply poured orange juice into ice cube trays and froze them.  When we went outside, we all sat down for a treat!

Yum!

All children can make these popsicles, just use the juice you would like.

Tunisian soup with couscous

While studying Africa, we decided to make a soup which would involve a vegetable cutting work.  The children cut up vegetables for a few days and put them into a pot.

We then cooked the soup and made couscous. 

The children discussed where Tunisia is on the map. 

Some children did not want the soup on top but had plain couscous.  All of the children liked the couscous and a few ate the soup on top.  Yum!

Egyptian studies

As part of Africa, we have focused on Egypt and here are some of the fun things we have done!

We found Egypt on our new globe!

We looked at papyrus which the Egyptians used as paper.  On the papyrus was a scene from Egypt showing hieroglyphics.

We then stamped our names with the hieroglyphic stamps. 

In the afternoon, we read books about Egypt.  We talked about the pyramids.

Using our geometric solids, we found the pyramid and discussed the shape.  Using our equilateral triangle we used our cutting skills to make our own pyramids.

We have also had some coloring work of a pharaoh.

Egypt has been very fun!  We hope to visit Northern Africa again next year!

The progression of cutting - paper dolls!

The children have really been practicing their scissor skills and we found a love of cutting during Valentines Day week.  We realized they love to cut something when the paper is folded in half with a shape drawn, cut then unfold and voila!  A heart!  We decided to draw different shapes on the paper, it is still a hit!  During the morning these girls decided to cut and create their own paper dolls! 

Reading- Sentences!

The c-v-c series continues (see previous posts) after phrases to sentences.  After a brief lesson on punctuation and capitalization, the child is now able to read sentences.  She has had so much practice reading (sounding out) the three letter words and practicing sight words that she has almost no difficulty now with these sentences.

She then decided to write the sentences down. 

What an accomplishment!