Montessori Pick for the Week of December 6, 2009

More Montessori Winter Lesson Planning in Store for You!

Visit the following links:

Part VI

See http://www.amonco.org/winter6/montessori_winter6.pdf

Another yummy recipe that is sure to delight the chocolate lovers in your family is Farmer’s Favorite Fudge recipe. This was contributed by Larry of Farm Country General Store.

Angela, from Wildridge Software, submitted a Hearty Fall Kale Soup recipe that is sure to warm you up on chilly wintery days.

Now for some soapy science fun!!! You read that right. John, from Exploration Education contributed a free Soap That Grows lesson. This lesson is in .pdf and contains all of the illustrations, pictures and detailed lesson plans you need to make this activity a success.

Part VII

See http://www.amonco.org/winter7/montessori_winter7.pdf

Try a unique, tasty recipe that is sure to delight your friends and family. Mary Roberts, from Hello Wood, sums up the taste of her Onion Pie recipe with one word…..Yum-m-m-m!!

Elaine, from Kimbo Educational, makes informal entertaining quick and easy with her delicious Spinach Dip Recipe. Elaine also provided a literature link activity for Three Little Kittens.

Crepes Recipe for Children can be used as part of a unit study about the French culture. It could also be used for specific multicultural celebrations, and would be a scrumptious addition to a holiday meal.

Marjorie Kiel Persons contributed Winter by Vivaldi. Educators can use her complete lesson plan by customizing it to fit most age groups. Here are just a few ways educators can use the unit study:

*Put into historical context, i.e. Baroque Period – the Pilgrims’ landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620.

*Creatively used in conjunction with art, science and geography activities

*Easily incorporated into other existing music programs

Marjorie includes links to lyrics and to a portrait of Vivaldi.
Please see http://www.amonco.org/winter7/montessori_winter7.pdf
to view this entire lesson plan.

Sharon Jeffus shared the following in the recently uploaded AMC
Fall/Winter 2008 newsletter.

“This lesson has as its goal not only to teach a little history, teaching
drawing skills, show how important art is for communication, but to encourage children spiritually and creatively as well. C.S. Lewis’s movie “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” is truly a work of art. We are going to focus first on the door through the wardrobe and secondly on Father Christmas and his gifts. It is exciting to think about going into a window or door into someplace very special. Windows are exciting ideas for art projects. Tomp d’oil is the idea of looking back into time. Perspective is used so that it looks like you could actually walk into the picture.”

To receive a free Visual Manna newsletter just brimming with excellent FREE art lesson plans visit Part VII.

Now, that you have some new lesson plans, delve in and begin to put some extra sparkle into your school and home school settings. I wish you a fun filled winter..

Many of the resource participants who contributed to this newsletter are featured in the monthly drawings. See the AMC Montessori website for details on how to enter. Visit http://www.amonco.org andhttp://www.amonco.org/directory.html today!

Visit American Montessori Consulting and look under New and Notable for additional articles and free lesson plans.

Heidi Anne Spietz

http://www.amonco.org

Montessori Pick for the Week of November 29, 2009

Highlights from the AMC Montessori Newsletter

Part III

See http://www.amonco.org/winter3/montessori_winter3.pdf

I love the smell of baked apples. This autumn and winter try a new apple recipe. Ginger-Coconut Baked Apples is sure to delight your family and friends. Dale, from North American Montessori Center, has also shared the Montessori Button-Buddy activity. Dale takes you step by step on how to present this lesson and provides an extension exercises as well.

Richard, from LORD Company, has uploaded some FREE materials for you to use in your school and home classrooms. Read Part II of this newsletter to learn more about The Land and Water Forms Cards and Labels set and how to use them.

Verna, from The Music House, contributed the Aromatic Basmatic Rice with Saffron. This delicious dish could be served at any upcoming multicultural event or be an unexpected delicious treat for your holiday meal.

Wenda, from Birdcage Press, has provided an amazing let of free lesson planning materials for a unit study about Renaissance and Impressionist artists.

Part IV

See http://www.amonco.org/winter4/montessori_winter4.pdf

The Scented Basket project, contributed by Mariaemma of Coaching for Learning Success, provides an opportunity for your students to learn more about art, and they will end up with a special holiday gift. Dianne, from Conceptual Learning, provides yet another tasty Nutty Chocolate Pudding Squares recipe that is great for your holiday parties. Dianne, has also graciously contributed some outstanding Montessori Math Sequencing lessons in .pdf

Georgette, from Cantemos, has compiled information for an integrated, fun pineapple unit study.

It’s not to late for the younger children to participate in the fall squirrel project. This is one new project that you will want to tuck away for next fall as well. Your students are also sure to enjoy the papier mache activity submitted by Shari of Shari and Jerry.

Dr. Borenson, from Hands On Equations, has once again contributed a free hands-on algebra activity. In this section, you will also discover more about the free Animals in the Winter unit study.

Part V

See http://www.amonco.org/winter5/montessori_winter5.pdf

Karen, from Fun Felt, has consistently demonstrated her creative talents. In this issue, she has shared her Handprint Towel. This activity is a wonderful hands-on project, with the dual effect of doing something truly meaningful with children and helping them to create a gift with lasting memories. Karen has also shared her special Pumpkin Pie Scented Playdough Recipe. This is sure to delight the younger set!!

Joan, from Nation Relation, submitted a Recipe of World Tolerance. This is something we continually need to impart to those we educate.

Ligia, from Childsake, submitted an easy to make, delicious Holiday Cheesecake. Yum!!

Enjoy!
Heidi Anne Spietz

Montessori Pick for the Week of November 15, 2009

Below, are just some of the highlights of the AMC Fall/Winter 2009 Hands On Newsletter.

Part 1
See http://www.amonco.org/winter1/montessori_winter1.pdf

In Part 1 you will discover the following:

KidzClix.net has contributed Make-A-Food-Mosaic. This fun activity incorporates art and larger geometrical shapes. This is an excellent extension practical life exercise that can be used with any food unit study. KidzClix has also donated a bonus activity that children can do for FREE right at their website. Don't miss out. Visit Part 1 for details.

Also, included in Part I is Rita Arpaia's Start with the Winners Book List. She will show you the recipe for making just the right match for your children. Then, take some time out to discover Mollie's Collage Paste Mix activity. Mollie has probably used this activity many times in her Montessori classroom.

Rae, from the Creative Process, has offered three free activities that will spark the imagination of your students. Scribble Designs, Masks and Mask Making, Sharing Food unit study and a wonderful, brand new Teaching Alternative Energy Ideas will all add some zip to your winter lesson planning.

Part II

See http://www.amonco.org/winter2/montessori_winter2.pdf

Linda, from the Storyboard , submitted the Rain Stick or Rain Maker. This fun filled activity, designed for young children, is sensorial and an imaginative art exercise. When the project is completed, children will enjoy making the sound of rain with their rain sticks.

Rick, from Fun With Languages, contributed a Miami style Pistachio Poppy Seed Cake recipe. This recipe would be a great addition to any holiday gathering. Speaking of recipes, renowned Montessori teacher, Kathy O'Reilly, from Cooking With Children Can Be Easy, submitted a yummy Old Fashioned Sugar Cookie Cutouts. This recipe is also perfect for your holiday celebrations.

Heidi Anne Spietz

http://www.amonco.org

AMC Special Montessori Holiday News and Lessons

Some Montessori Holiday News by Heidi Anne Spietz

The American Montessori Society 2009 Fall Conference was outstanding. I enjoyed attending the workshops and visiting the exhibit center.

AMS Workshops

The workshops were excellent. Visit AMS Fall Conference for a list of what was offered. See American Montessori Consulting - Facebook for comments about some of the workshops.

Exhibitors

I spoke with Dave from Hello Wood and was really impressed with the brand new memory puzzle. Dave will transform a picture featuring your favorite pet, a child, other relative, vacation spot, etc. into a BEAUTIFUL memory puzzle. Contact Dave via e-mail at dave@hellowood.com or call (931)498-2432 for additional information.

Representatives from Conceptual Learning, Hands On Equations/, Insta-Learn , and Priority Montessori were among the many represented there.

Montessori for the 21st Century Special Drawing News

Don't forget to enter the AMC Montessori November Drawing. The first place winner will receive the Bountiful Quick-to-Knit Scarf Ki by Bountiful Spinweave plus other prizes!!!! To enter visit AMC Resource Center and complete the entry form located at the bottom of the page.

AMC Fall and Winter Lesson Planning

Complete free fall and winter lesson plans await you.

Please visit

Fall Hands on Newsletter

and

Winter Hands On Newsletter

Montessorian Dale Gausman has added some new Montessori lessons to the AMC Fall/Winter 2009 edition. See Winter Section 3 to access the Smelling Bottles and Acting Out How Animals Survive in the Winter lessons.

For descriptions of all of the wonder lessons available, please visit Montessori Fall Hands On Lessons and Montessori Winter Hands On Lessons

Special Holiday Articles and Montessori Exercises

Visit the following links to access the free information.

Montessori Holiday Grammar Game for Children

Montessori Community Service Projects

Special Holiday Meals for Special Diets

Thanksgiving Thoughts: Passing Along Some Positive Perspective with the Pumpkin Pie

More Holidays Around the World

Christmas Around the World Part 1

Christmas Around the World Part II

and

Animals in the Winter - A Montessori Unit Study

Montessori Pick for the Week of October 19, 2009

Social Studies - AMC Montessori Fall Hands On Newsletter

More Hands On Activities for Making Geography Meaningful

In Part VII Ed and Suzanne from The Puzzle Man share Fun Filled Creative Ways to Use the USA Map.

Enjoy!

Heidi

http://www.amonco.org

Montessori Picks for the Week of September 21, 2009

Begin the first week of autumn by infusing some innovate math lessons into your curriculum. 

Math

In the current AMC Montessori Fall Hands On Lesson Planning Newsletter, Mel, from MTE, Ltd. provides a problem solving sample to help students learn about transversable curves. Based on the thoughts of Piaget and Montessori; Educational Critical Thinking is logical and productive thinking that is capable of extending ideas, creating new ideas, and synthesizing patterns of thought. Educational Critical Thinking is a type of disciplined reasoning and must be self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective. See Part V

In Part VI, Dr. Borenson, of Hands On Equations, has provided some free algebra samples for you to present to your children. Click here to download the exercises.

Visit American Montessori Consulting and look under New and Notable for additional articles and free lesson plans.

Enjoy!

Heidi
http://www.amonco.org

Montessori Picks for the Week of September 14, 2009

More in Store for you this Fall from AMC

Click on the highlighted links below to access this free information!

Science and Nature

In In Part II Janette, from Cotton’s Journey, shares her
COTTON BOLL’S BOUNTY ACTIVITY Janette tells us that the student will be able to compare cotton lint varieties, predict and record, compute percentages, and discover the properties of spinning and crushing cottonseed oil.

This activity is an interdisciplinary unit for the following grades:

1st-3rd, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Nature of Science
4th-6th, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Nature of Science
7th, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Nature of Science

John, from Exploration Education, will walk you through the science activity SIMPLY SOUND, which helps children understand the properties of sound, and they will actually have fun doing so. Visit Part VIII for details.

Don and Diana, from Nature’s Workshop Plus, have authored the article Delighting in Discovering Little Things. Set aside time to read this informative piece. Children will discover new ways to see the world through a hand held magnifying glass or microscope. Seehttp://www.amonco.org/creative/montessori_fall4.pdf to download this information.

Ever been on a microscope safari? Get ready, set, go! See
Part IX for additional information.

Receive a complete cardiovasuclar unit study for K – 12 with links for post secondary students by visiting Part VIII

Free Educational Games

Alan, from Stillson Works, offers some unique, innovative Middle School Word Puzzles These puzzles will be especially useful for Columbus Day, Christmas, etc. Alan’s puzzles are also unique holiday gifts.

See Part IX to access the Birdcage Press Combine Learning and Fun at Art Museums article plus links to the Treasure Hunt, Art Collector, I Spy an Eye and Scavenger Hunt games.

Literature Lessons

Searching for the right book? When in doubt, start with the winners! Rita, from literatureplace.com will show you how to do just that! Whether you are in the process of compiling a reading booklist or in the process of creating your own book-awards program, this is the place to start. Visit http://www.amonco.org/creative/montessori_fall4.pdf to download Rita’s information.