Headed for Gold!

Yes, it is true - these lessons have demonstrated magnetic appeal, and the children have been thoroughly enjoying the theme of gold (which you can see more of in THIS POST).  Before sharing our classroom photos from this week, here are some  close ups of additional activities on the Practical Life shelves:

Pincer grasp sorting.

Sorting with a spoon - there were smiles all around when the children discovered this  nesting doll spoon.

And, who could resist this golden egg which houses the play dough?  

And now for some action photos from around the classroom:

This lesson has intrigued the children: Clipping barrettes onto a ribbon - so simple, yet allows  practice of many skills!

I saved this black, divided tray from a box of glue sticks - look how lovely the gold beads are in this transfer lesson with tweezers!

Map tracing continues its flurry of activity - we now have an entire collection adorning our classroom walls.

Some children simply could not resist the weaving activity using these various gold ribbons. 

Pairing verbs and adverbs - the conversations that occur during these types of lessons are just as valuable as the materials themselves.

Writing practice and letter sounds with Sandpaper Letters.

Coffee filter Earth Day craft.  These turned out very beautifully and can be found in our hallway by the cubbies.

As mentioned earlier, the map making frenzy is apparent in our classroom! :-)

Constructive Triangles: Exploring how triangles form new shapes when placed together .

Beautiful, exploratory work with the box of circles...

…likewise with the box of triangles.  I love how this work was being completed side by side, with one student inspiring the other.

A fun tin to practice Opening and Closing - each section contains a golden pom pom .  When added together they equal ten.

Linear and skip counting practice, along with number symbol recognition using the Short Chain of Six.

Sorting the Geometric Solids into groups: one that roll, ones that slide and ones that roll and slide.

Solidifying concepts of quantity with the Spindle Boxes.

A beautiful matching activity - 'Peace' in various languages.

Spelling practice with the Small Moveable Alphabet.

Pairing primary and secondary colors with the Second Color Tablet Box.

Number writing practice with Sandpaper Numbers.

Learning about suffixes.

Reading word family books.

Subtraction Snake Game...

…and checking one's work - all the beads are paired evenly with the ten bars and gray bars.

Learning American Sign Language letters - the child pairs the printed letter to the small, cursive letter on the sign language card (red), then practices signing the letter.

Bottle Cap Art

As part of our discussions about Earth Day last week, the children worked together to create a vibrant collage made entirely of plastic bottle caps:

We worked on it each morning...

...and added a bit more each day until...

...it was done!

Here it is out by our cubbies for all to see until we find a more permanent location.

  

On the Shelves: May

Seriously?  May?!  Since our return from Spring Break, the children have been enjoying some variation of activities on the shelves having to do with Earth Day and Spring.

Practical Life:  Dry Transfer activities.

Practical Life:  Wet Transfer activities.

Practical Life:  Spooning beans.  I think the kids love these flower dishes as much as I do!

Building a tower of sponges using tongs.  Once the tower is built, the child blows it down!  This is a lesson I've seen floating around the blogoshere and wanted to try in my class.

Bead Stringing Tray:  Continent Bracelets
The child will place one of each colored bead to represent the colors of the continents on the Montessori colored globe.  Of course, I had to drive all around town trying to find brown beads for Australia!  Also, I wanted the children to string the beads onto blue pipecleaners to represent the oceans - would you believe every store in town was out of blue pipe cleaners?! I finally found them after driving all the way to Bangor....!

Stereognostic Progressive Exercise:  Different types of flowers.

I also set up the color mixing activity shown HERE, along with some other variations of art lessons.  I'll be sure to share these with you in the coming weeks!

Highlights...

...from the first week back after Spring Break:

Fine-motor development:  Transferring straight pins.

"Planting" a daisy garden.  Small green pipe cleaners with daisy buttons in florist foam - instant delight!

'Springtime Flower' art.

A fun math maze highlighting linear counting and number recognition with numbers 1-100.

Comparison of Short Chains and squares. 

Enjoying the Nature Shelf corner.

Metal Inset designs on large paper.

Our classroom looks so cheerful and colorful with fresh forsythia - I love how the child who made this arrangement placed the glass decorations surrounding the bottom of the vase! :)

Matching and naming colors with the Color Tablet Box 2.

Matching uppercase to lowercase letters with this butterfly puzzle.

Learning about Earth's Land and Water Forms:  Lake/Island.

Yoga practice.  I set up a small mat and some Yoga cards for children (Yoga Pretzels).  I put some Earth Day-themed poses in the basket:  Tree, River, Airplane, and one called All is Good.  The child in this picture has set up the mat, taken his shoes off and placed them in the basket, and set up the cards for visual reference.  He is completing the "River" pose.

Addition Strip Board
(Click on caption to read more.)

Caring for plants.

'Springtime' poetry.

Reading practice:  Labeling the Farm.

Number Rods and Cards

Color Mixing Wheel
(Click above to read more.)