Rainbow Shamrocks

The children enjoy seasonal art activities, and one way we incorporate new skills is to introduce them through these types of lessons.  For this activity, the children were shown a new gluing technique using a small brush to seal layers of tissue paper squares.  As with all lessons, the materials are set up keeping in mind the directionality of moving from left to right.  

Here the materials are set up on the art shelf.  Moving from left to right, the child gathers the tissue paper squares , glue tray, and white paper with a shamrock shape.

Everything is brought to a workspace, where the child completes the process of sealing the tissue paper squares using the glue and brush. 

Once dried, the paper can be cut into the shamrock.  

The children have been interested in completing the lesson because the gluing technique has provided a new point of interest.  Up until this point, they have worked with glue sticks and glue bottles, so using the brush and adding second layer of glue on top has been most intriguing.  Of course, the clean up process is part of the lesson, and the children have been taking great care to leave the materials clean and beautiful for the next person to use. 

It must be December!

The shelves are looking so festive and fun, and the children have been enjoying the December shelves.  Our assistant, who is currently completing her Montessori training and internship, was instrumental in creating the lessons currently on the shelves.  It is always so refreshing to have new ideas and variations of lessons available to the children.

Wet transfer fine motor activities for the Practical Life shelves.

Dry transfer fine motor lessons.

Threading and bead work - making necklaces and bracelets.

This art activity invites the children to make paper poinsettias.  They always turn out so beautifully, we usually have this activity out each year.  THIS post goes into more detail about how the children complete the lesson.  

We have also begun learning our 'Christmas Wreaths' poem, which is always a pleasure as the children begin to memorize and recite poetry.  It has been quite a cheerful room with all of these activities, and the children have been both intrigued and delighted with these festive additions.  We are certainly looking forward to watching their continued growth and enthusiasm as we approach the end of the calendar year and greet a new one!

Pumpkin Craft

The children have been working on making these adorable pumpkin crafts.  It ended up being a several step process because the doilies needed to be painted prior to gluing.  For the first several days, we set up the white doilies to be painted orange.  Once they were dry, we collected them and set up the second part to the craft, which the children have been completing this week.

First step: Paining the doilies.

Second step:  Gluing the painted doilies onto white paper and adding a stem ,vine, and grass.

A work in progress.

So cheerful...

Our very own pumpkin patch in the hallway!

International Day of Peace: Collaborative Art

Each year, we take the opportunity to celebrate the International Day of Peace not only by talking about and discussing what 'peace' means, but also to create a collaborative art piece for our school.  This year's project is documented in the following photos:

Each child was able to add, mix, and create colors on the canvas which had been prepared with lines of tape.

After a couple of days, it was filled with color, design and fun details.

The children helped to peel away the tape...

...and we added their thoughts about what they think of when they hear the word,  'peace.'

A closer look.

It brings me much joy to know that for many of our students this is a new concept to think about, and they really have demonstrated the understanding of the key points.  We asked the children what they think about when they hear the word,  'peace.'  Their responses create a beautiful composition:

PEACE

Quiet,

Taking care of nature,

Sharing,

Peaceful silence,

Being Happy,

Helping someone when they fall,

Shining,

Being nice and smiling,

Hugging,

Kindness,

Caring,

Love,

Whispers,

Helping,

Relaxing,

I love you,

A gentle dove,

Maria Montessori.

-Students of Dirgio Montessori School's

2016-2017 class 

Basic Lessons for the Art Shelf

As the children become more acquainted with their classroom environment, it is important provide opportunities to learn basic procedures while building skills.  In these early days, the students are practicing finding an activity to work with, setting up the necessary materials, completing the lesson, cleaning it up, and leaving it ready for the next person in its place back on the shelf.  

In addition to the lessons using the Montessori materials in the various areas of the classroom, setting up art lessons promoting these same concepts aids in developing the skills children will need through out all areas.  Our new students need ways to practice utilizing various art materials, including the use of a paintbrush.  The following lessons show examples of simple lessons that are currently on the art shelf.  While I use the term 'simple,' there really are several steps and skills involved within each activity. 

Using Do-A-Dot Painters
Here, the child practices gathering necessary materials, setting up the workspace (sense of order), opening and closing containers, and numerous skills in building fine motor control and concentration.

The activity is not quite over yet - now the child practices replacing the materials and leaving it ready for another person to use!

Painting with One Color
As simple as it sounds, there is quite a lot happening here!  The child must make three trips to the shelf to set up this activity (movement is always promoted in a Montessori classroom!).  First, the child takes the tray with paint.  Then, the student returns for the art board and apron.  Once the apron is on, then, they go back for the paper and set it up at the workspace.

Now, onto learning how to use the paintbrush.  Part of the lesson includes naming the parts of the paintbrush, and pointing out how much paint to use.  In this photo, the child has been careful to use just enough paint on the bristles, and is delicately using the brush.  When finished, the child readies all materials for the next person, including rinsing the brush at the sink.  

As the children learn the steps and procedures using these types of materials and lessons, we will add more options to the activities.  This may include additional colors for painting or lessons that require more steps within in the process.  The children are doing wonderfully and taking great care in completing these art lessons.  I am looking forward to observing them practice their skills, and guiding them as they continue to grow.

Sewing Together on the Tapestry Table

Some readers may recall our group sewing project several years ago which was highlighted in THIS post.  Since so many of our children have enjoyed the series of sewing lessons over the past couple of years, one of our assistants decided to put together the following culminating sewing activity using our beloved tapestry table to coincide with the Short Bead Stair:

Working back from the golden ten bar, these circles were placed in a row... 

…and embellished with golden beads, buttons, etc.

The same for number nine...

…all the way...

…to number one!  

We will certainly will find a special place to display the piece in our classroom - I am thinking on the wall above the Bead Cabinet.  Stay tuned!

Golden Circles

Our students have been very much engaged with a new art lesson that is currently on the Art shelf.  I love that it combines mathematical concepts with art - here, the children are tracing ten circles with a golden crayon and filling in the resulting design with water colors.  The gold, of course, corresponds to the ten bar in the decimal system materials - please find more information about that in THIS post.  While the activity is not intended to replace any math lesson with the Montessori materials, it is meant to provide opportunities for children to creatively make their own connections between materials and areas of study.

First the child traces ten gold circles using a golden crayon.

The resulting shapes are filled in with watercolors.

Here are just a few samples of the the children's finished work:

Mother's Day Vase

In case anyone is looking for a Mother's Day gift idea, here is one that we have been preparing.  Such sweet colors and the leaves are the child's thumbprints:

Mother's Day Vase

We used basic acrylic paints for the flowers, stems, and leaves followed by a coat of Mod Podge just in case…  There is still time to make these sweet gifts - I hope it might be useful for someone! :-)

Good As Gold

I can hardly believe that this journey started almost two years ago with the number one and the color red!  Here we are, all the way at number ten - gold!!!  What a time we have had with various Practical Life activities which correspond to each color/number of the Short Bead Stair.  The children have gained a deeper understanding of the Short Bead Stair and its connection to other math materials and lessons.  We have so enjoyed our collaboration in a series of art pieces that adorn a long hallway leading out to our outdoor space.  How we all have been looking forward with great anticipation for the number ten - gold evokes such a celebratory mood!  Here a few pictures of these festive shelves:

Wet Transfer Practical Life 

Dry Transfer Practical Life

Making bracelets.

Finger Knitting and Crochet trays - How much fun is that yarn?!

Weaving with various gold ribbons.

One of the tweezing activities - I think the gold foam gives the tray a whole new look!  

As you might imagine, the children have been quite excited about the gold.  Actually, the teachers have been too! :-)  There is certainly much to celebrate as this color reminds everyone where we started, and how far we have come over the past two years.  

More 'golden updates' to come! :-)

Signs of Spring

We are always sure to look for signs of spring...

The children listened attentively to this story of how Pussy Willows got their name.  How delicately they explored the branches I had brought in and were sure to "be so gentle!"

An invitation to create...

…was all that was needed to create a delightful springtime sight.

Pussy Willow

Close your eyes and do not peek,

And I'll rub spring across your cheek.

Smooth as satin, soft and sleek.

Close your eyes are do not peek,

And I'll rub spring across your cheek!

Smooth as satin, soft and sleek,

Close your eyes and do not peek!

-Aileen Fisher

Concentric Hearts

Thanks to my classroom assistant who thought of this clever activity, we have been enjoying a Valentine cutting lesson while learning new vocabulary about concentric shapes.  It has also inspired me to dust off our Superimposed Geometric Figures lesson and present it to our students!  You can read more about that lesson on the post (from long ago!) HERE.

The activity set up at a table:  Colored paper; scissors, glue, pencil; set of heart-shaped cookie cutters.
The child chooses three colors and traces around each of the hearts.  Then they cut on the lines and glue their hearts making "concentric hearts."   

Concentric Hearts to give as a Valentine or to use as a decoration.

Making Clay Beads

We have been enjoying a new version of bead stringing in the classroom - making our own beads!  I have always known the importance of working with clay for children especially as a means of motor development and artistic expression.  Here, the children have been shown various steps for making and collecting small clay beads to be strung to make necklaces once dried.  As we have been proceeding with the theme of the Short Bead Stair in our Practical Life activities, I thought this might be a clever way to tie in the number eight, which is brown.

The materials set up on the shelf.
Container with clay; small dish with toothpicks for making the holes in the beads; wooden board for a workspace; paper plates to collect the beads once made; basket of dried beads; basket with string and scissors, small dish to count out eight dried beads.

Once a child brings the materials to a table and makes their beads, they bring the plate to our drying rack so the beads may dry overnight.  The next day, the beads are transferred to the basket so that children may count out their beads to make a necklace, using the rest of the materials on the shelf.

"Number Eight Necklace" corresponding with the Short Bead Stair.

Most of all, I love how much pride the children take in making their necklaces, wearing them, and sharing them with others.

Some New Lessons for the New Year

To add some variety and maintain interest in the classroom, most Montessori educators periodically rotate, add, or change some lessons in the environment.  Over the years, I have concluded that too much change too soon can be detrimental to the overall goals of our program.  Changing lessons too often might not leave ample opportunities for children to practice and refine skills.  Too many changes at once can also be overwhelming for children and teachers alike!  It is a fine balance that requires careful observation and noting when children are ready for change or for something new.   Practically speaking, changing the shelves during vacations allows time for thinking about and developing new activities, while giving the children something new to look forward to upon their return.

On this note, we have been enjoying some new lessons on our shelves having returned from our winter break.  Most of the lessons coincide with our ongoing theme of the Montessori Bead Stair, which we began a year and half ago.  We have now reached the number eight which is represented by the color brown.  Here is a sampling of some new Practical Life lessons:

Dry Transfer activities.

Wet Transfer lessons.

Close up of a spooning lesson.  The tray seems to be a big point of interest!

Sorting and tonging.

Using tweezers to place brown pom-poms into each section.   It is encouraging to see the development and practice of  concentration and control while completing this type of lesson. 

Art activities:  The brown tray contains materials for practicing brush strokes.  The lesson on the right with light colored paper is for making snowflakes - perfect for this time of year! :-) 

Other new lessons to share will be coming soon, so stay tuned! :-)