Space

Toward the end of the year, we studied space!  We learned about the solar system, several planets, the Earth and how the planets rotate around the sun. 

Last year, we had the pleasure of having a student in our school whose parents were visiting astronomers from Venezuela!  They made planet models for us and we used them again this year to rotate around the sun.  Here this group each had a planet (some comets and asteroids too) and they practiced rotating around the sun in the middle!

We also had coloring pages for the planets.  Here a child decided to cut them out and glue them onto a background.  He then labeled each planet.

 We made a beautiful Venus! 

This child spontaneously drew Earth on the easel.  He loved telling us all about what he drew on the Earth! 

 

 

Spontaneous writing!

 

 

 

In a Montessori classroom, there should be many opportunities for spontaneous writing!  Here a child was so excited about her nail polish, she wanted to write it down and draw a picture!

She rolled out a rug, got the moveable alphabet and sounded out the words!  She then traced her hand and had her story.  These opportunities help her to understand how to sound out words, how to write a story and that she has something to say.  She was quite proud of herself and couldn't wait to take it home and show her mom!

 

Extension of the Geometric Cabinet

Some of the older children have worked often with the Geometric Cabinet and like to complete extensions.   Here a child uses stamps and colored pencils to create a book of geometric shapes.  They are familiar with the names and have now started to write everything down.  They enjoy making books of their own to take home.  

Strawberry Hulling (and eating!)

 

A wonderful and tasty practical life (food prep) activity is strawberry hulling.  Here the child learns how to place their fingers in the special tool.  (First they put on an apron, carry the tray to a table and wash their hands.)

The child then takes off the green part by pushing down the tip of the huller and twisting. 

 After she is done hulling she places the green part in a small bowl (to be throw away or composted later) and eats the yummy strawberry! 

Ideas about summer....

http://mariamontessori.com/mm/?p=2327

Egyptian Studies

We decided to take a small group of afternooners on a field trip to the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology as we have been studying Africa and most specifically, Ancient Egypt. 

We hopped on the bus and headed into campus.  Our stop was right by the cube so we decided it was necessary to give it a spin before the trip inside the museum.

http://www.lsa.umich.edu/kelsey/

First, we read the rules!  When our Docent arrived, we were well prepared to answer her question of
"What are the rules of the museum?"

 We saw many, many interesting artifacts.  We even saw a child mummy!  Jean our Docent helped to explain this in a very gently, age appropriate way! 

 We saw many masks that were put on people who had died as a way to identify them.

 Here we were fascinated with a cat and hawk mummy!

 Children in ancient Egypt played with many recognizable toys!

After our tour, Jean read a book to the children called "Temple Cat." 

http://www.amazon.com/Temple-Cat-Andrew-Clements/dp/0618111395

The children enjoyed the story and the whole field trip!

Thank you Kelsey!

 As part of our classroom study of Ancient Egypt, many children have decided to make pyramids out of sugar cubes! 

 We also used hieroglyphic stamps to write names as well as various words.

We also presented the Ancient Egypt Toob!   The children liked to interact and read (so many older children are reading independently now) about the various pieces. 

The Butterflies (well, not yet...)

 The caterpillars arrived in their plastic jar and began waking up that day.  They started eating the food in the bottom of the jar and set off to grow and grow and grow!

After a few days, several made the girdle and attached themselves to the paper at the top.  The children were able to see how they quickly turned into a chrysalis. 

Unfortunately one fell off and was in the bottom of the jar.  We gently picked him/her up and placed in the bottom of the habitat.  The children were really interested to see how the others stayed attached to the paper when taken out of the jar.  Many children asked me to be careful!

We then pinned the paper inside of the habitat.  Since you never know exactly how long the process will take, we made sure to leave sugar water sprinkled on some flowers at the bottom before leaving for the weekend.  The children will be quite excited to see butterflies next week.  Hopefully they will take the weekend off and decide to emerge during the school day!