Autumn Art Lessons for the Montessori Classroom

Free Art Related Lessons Found in AMC Montessori – Fall Newsletter
http://www.amonco.org/montessori_fall_handson.html

Part I

Color Wheels ~ A Lesson Plan for Learning to Mix Colors with Poster
(Tempera) Paint by Rae of The Creative Process 

http://www.netposterworks.com/resources/curideas/colorwheel.html

Felting Lesson 3: Humans Discover Felting by Pat of Harrsiville Designs
http://www.harrisville.com/woolworks.htm

Make a Guiro by Georgette of Cantemos http://www.cantemosco.com

See http://www.amonco.org/creative01/montessori_fall1.pdf Part I for detailed information.

Part II

Recipe for Wood Dough for Sculpting Submitted by Richard of Lord Company http://www.lordequip.com

Turtle Drawing Lesson by Kim of Draw Your World – http://www.drawyourworld.com 

(Please also visit Visit http://www.amonco.org/turtleset.jpg to use with this lesson)

.

For detailed information about the free lessons found in Part II, please see

 http://www.amonco.org/creative/montessori_fall2.pdf

Part III

The Friendship Tree Art Activity from North American Montessori Center http://www.montessoritraining.net

Making at Home Craft Recipes by Rae of The Creative Process

http://www.creativeprocess.net

For detailed free lesson plans found in Part III, please see  

http://www.amonco.org/creative3/montessori_fall3.pdf

Part IV

Italy Unit Study Including Art History and Art Resource links
http://www.amonco.org/montessori_italy.html

Painting Kitchen Trivets by Karen of Fun Felt http://www.funfel.com

For detailed free lesson plans found in Part IV, please see 

http://www.amonco.org/creative/montessori_fall4.pdf

Part V

Autumn Color Leaves Tissue Project by Sara Ambarian  

http://condortales.com/bridestouch.html

Sewing a Friendship Quiet by Dale of North American Montessori Center http://www.montessoritraining.net

For detailed free lesson plans found in Part V, please see 

http://www.amonco.org/creative5/montessori_fall5.pdf

Part VIII

Zebra Stick Craft by Anna of Wood, Etc..
http://www.woodetccorp.com

Broken Rib Scarf with Seed Stitch Easy Beginner Pattern
by Lois of Bountiful Spinning, Weaving and Knitting 

http://www.bountifulspinweave.com

For free lessons found in Part VIII, please see

 http://www.amonco.org/creative08/montessori_fall8.pdf

Part IX

Combing Learning and Fun at Art Museums by Wenda of Birdcage Press
http://www.birdcagepress.com
Combine Learning and Fun at Art Museums
*Treasure Hunt
*Art Collector
*I Spy an Eye
*Scavenger Hunt

For free lessons found in Part IX, please see http://www.amonco.org/creative9/montessori_fall9.pdf

To view autumn themed art, math, phonics, reading, creative writing, social studies, science, practical life and other free lesson planning, please visit http://www.amonco.org/montessori_fall_handson.htmlhttp://www.amonco.org/montessori_fall_handson.html

Enjoy!

Heidi Anne Spietz

Hands-On Equations Free App

Our friends at Hands-on Equations have just announced the release of The Fun Way to Learn Algebra - FREE - Hands-On Equations 1 Lite app for the iPad!

If you own an iPad,  download this free app today from the App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fun-way-to-learn-algebra-free/id505954972?ls=1&mt=8.

To commemorate the event,  Hands-on Equations has a RAFFLE!

Download the free app, try it out, RATE it (hopefully five stars), and provide a comment on the App Store prior to midnight on Sunday, August 12th pacific time.

Of those who provide a comment and a rating, thirty will be selected at random and offered their choice of

A. A free Hands-On Equations Level 1 or Level 2 app and a $50 credit toward     
     any Hands-On Equations physical product, 
     
     or

     
    B. A free Hands-On Equations Level 1 or Level 2 app and a $25 cash check.

Winners will be contacted via e-mail, so  please sign up at this link.

 See this video to view an overview by Dr. Borenson of the Hands-On Equations Level 1 app.

Please note:  American Montessori Consulting is not affiliated with the raffle in any way.  AMC is not receiving any monetary compensation for posting this announcement!  This message is  only to inform school and homeschool teachers about the newest offerings from Borenson and Associates.

Let Every Day Be Earth Day!!

Visit the following links for Montessori consistent lesson planning ideas:

Childsake - Environmental Resources

Nature Activities from Nature's Workshop Plus

Free Land and Water Forms from LORD Company

Berries, Nuts and Seeds from Farm Country General Store

Organic Garden Seeds from Farm Country General Store

A Gardening Unit Study

A Gardening Year Round - Tips from an Expert

Enjoy!

Heidi Spietz

Let's Go Fly a Kite - April is Kite Flying Month

Greetings all you kite lovers out there.

Glen Rothstein here, just giving you a head's up on what's up in the sky around here.

NABX is going on at Ivanpah right now so if you're inclined, head on over there and have a blast.

http://www.nabx.net/

The two other "major" events (besides your own fun) are Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.

4/15 marks the 27th Annual Santa Barbara Kite Festival. Every year, Dave Hefferman (& Family) along with Rakesh Bahadur (& Family) work hard to bring smiles to the faces of kids and adults alike. They're back again at SB City College to do it all over again. Please go out and support this event.

http://www.sbkitefest.com/

Sunday, April 22nd brings us to Santa Maria for their 3rd Annual Discovery Museum Family Kite Festival at Rotary Centenial Park. Every year, this event grows. Along with the great food, added this year are 3 Demo Quad Teams along with some Dual Line Demos as well.

The Candy Drop has a new twist (or Flap, if you will) and we're expanding the Bol Runs which got out of control last year.

http://www.smvdiscoverymuseum.org/kite.htm

There's even a Lodging Special with additional goodies above and beyond the discounted room rates.

http://www.smvdiscoverymuseum.org/kite/2012/Up%20Up%20%20Away%20Kite%20Festival%20Package%20FFI.docx

Just up the road on the 28th and 29th, the Morro Bay Kite Festival continues to pick up steam.

The bottom line is Kiting is happening and all you need to do is get there. Grab your friends and family and make a go of if. If you can't make it, grab a kite, hit your local flying spot and share, share, share.

For further info, please contact your local kite shops, clubs or the AKA.

Best Wishes and Winds,

ger

Glen E. Rothstein

Dawn to Dusk Flyer - Ventura County Kite Flyers

www.VCKF.org

Editor’s note: For additional kite flying fun, please read the AMC Montessori Newsletter – Spring 2012 Edition - http://www.amonco.org/spring4/montessori_spring_4.pdf

A Bilingual Spanish/English Unit Study About Plants

Studying about plants and their relationship to gardening and cooking can become a fun hands-on adventure for students in the 5 - 7 age range when the Montessori approach is used. Extension exercises, particularly done in two languages, can create further enrichment for young children. With the unique approach that is employed in the unit study 'Plants", students learn about this topic by reading and writing in both Spanish and English. A wealth of supporting Spanish/English resources and suggestions makes the lesson preparation and presentation a breeze for the educator. Moreover, the student’s enthusiasm grows as he learns and applies important concepts presented in both languages.

The adventure begins when students read about the seasons through literature. Next, a block of time is devoted to the study of seeds and plants. By studying ‘The Tortilla”, students begin to make the connection between seeds and plants.

The fictitious character, Carlos, then takes the students on a journey where they observe the sprouting of seeds by studying the lima beans in a controlled environment.

The final lesson, El Maiz, allows the students to combine record keeping through

open-ended comparisons and recording observations. Since this final lesson concentrates

on corn, students are invited to make cornmeal pancakes.

Each lesson encourages an integrated bilingual approach, so that students learn and apply

in both Spanish and English.

Bloom’s Taxonomy is used to make certain that students understand the concepts introduced. See http://www.amonco.org/bloomstaxonomy.html for a comparison of

Bloom’s Taxonomy with the Montessori method.

To access the complete lesson plan, please visit

http://www.dpsk12.org/programs/almaproject/pdf/Plants.pdf

For additional Spanish/English resources, please visit

http://www.cantemosco.com/ - Cantemos

http://www.funwithlanguages.com/ - Fun With Languages

http://www.professortoto.com/ - Professor Toto

http://amonco.org/bookstore.html - Reading, Writing and Spelling in Spanish I

http://www.amonco.org/montessorisummergardening.html - Montessori Lessons -

A Gardening Unit Study

Enjoy1

Heidi Anne Spietz

American Montessori Consulting

http://www.amonco.org

June is National Candy Month

June is National Candy Month, so why not celebrate with a fun and educational sweet indulgence with your students/children. Certainly as teachers and parents/grandparents, we want to provide a good example to the children in our lives; but special occasion treats like candy provide a good opportunity to reinforce the principle that “moderation is key”. Unless you or they have specific health issues which preclude candy, most people can enjoy an occasional “goodie” as part of a healthy diet. Older children might enjoy the table at the following link, which lists the calories and other nutritional information for a variety of popular candies. http://housing.k-state.edu/dining/FitCourse/justforfun/06-candymonth.html

If you use the recipes or buy nostalgic candies from the businesses below, consider sharing with family, friends and neighbors. Just a few pieces of candy, wrapped in pretty cellophane, and decorated with a bow and/or artificial flowers (or delivered with a little bouquet of flowers from your own garden, if you have one) makes a lovely gift. Think of people in the children’s lives who might especially appreciate a little “just because” offering. When you share, no one has “too much of a good thing”, and children get the joy of brightening someone else’s day.

For a tasty lesson in math and science and a practical life exercise, consider making your own candy from one of the following fudge recipes. Fudge is a popular candy to make, especially with children, because it is more forgiving of mistakes and heat/time variations than some candy recipes.

Larry from Farm Country General Store has shared instructions for Farmer’s Favorite Fudge, based on evaporated milk and chocolate chips. http://www.amonco.org/winter6/montessori_winter6.pdf

As part of a handwriting project of compiling family recipes, Nan of Barchowsky Fluent Handwriting has submitted a recipe for Peanut Fudge using Karo syrup and marshmallow cream. http://www.amonco.org/spring3/montessori_spring_3.pdf

Angela from Wildridge Education tells about the origins of her family favorite, Grampa Bailey’s Sour Cream Fudge. This is an unusual, old-fashioned fudge recipe, which uses simple ingredients and ought to be a hit with folks who don’t enjoy chocolate fudge recipes. http://www.amonco.org/spring5/montessori_spring.5.pdf

If you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own, enjoy nostalgic candy while supporting small business and a good cause. Victory Seed’s old-time candy store sales help to fund their research and preservation of rare and heirloom seeds. Read their story and check out their products at: http://www.victoryseeds.com/candystore.html

Another family business which sells a wide variety of old-fashioned and unusual candies, including international and sugar-free varieties, is The Vermont Country Store. Find your favorites and share a taste of your childhood at: http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/products/Food-Candy/Candy-Chocolate.html

Summer Gardening - Montessori Style

With the advent of warmer weather, longer days, and more leisure time as a family, gardening is a natural pursuit for the summer months. If you haven’t started yet, you may not have enough time left before cool weather returns to grow some plants (especially if you live in the north or at high elevation). However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun in the garden this summer, nonetheless. Why not get some information and inspiration, and, as they say, “get growing”!

Find a wealth of ideas and gardening activities for the summer months (and all year long) in the archived newsletters of Garden Artisans. They cover many helpful, interesting and educational topics, like edible gardening in containers, companion planting, mulching, and xeriscaping. They also have lots of products and projects to help you get creative in and around the garden with your kids. See their Arts and Crafts, Living Wreath, Wild Bird Supplies, and Garden Links pages, among others. For links and more background on Garden Artisans, see: http://www.amonco.org/summer6/montessori_summer6.pdf

For more inspiration and information, visit CHILDSAKE, a referral site for children's books on nature and the environment. You will find the“Gardening” subheading under “Flora” on the left navigation bar. http://www.childsake.com/dobooks.html

The following sites have free information and ideas about gardening with children, as well: http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4dmg/Children/children.htm

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art171221.asp

http://eartheasy.com/grow_gardening_children.htm

http://www.kidsgardening.com

http://www.amonco.org/montessorisummergardening.html

MONTESSORI LESSONS -A Gardening Unit Study (With the Focus on the Summer)

Below, are links for a complete summer gardening unit study. These PreK and K-8 links will lead you to articles, hands-on activities and other exercises that are compatible with the Montessori classified reading cards, phonics, grammar, creative writing, science, social studies and other extensive lesson plans found in Montessori at Home, Modern Montessori at Home and Modern Montessori at Home II books. Please visit
http://www.amonco.org/montessorisummergardening.html to access these links.

Montessori Classified Reading Cards and Other Aids to Learn About Summer and Year Round Gardening

Make Your Own Classified Reading Cards for PreK - Grade 5
Botany Montessori Exercises
Names of Flowers in English, French and Latin
Names of Vegetables in Spanish with Pronunciation Key
Names of Fruits in Spanish - Spanish Vocabulary
Names of Fruits in Spanish - with Pronunciation Key
Free Flash Cards - Vegetables - English
Free Flash Cards - Vegetables - English
Free Flash Cards - Vegetables - French
Fruits and Vegetables - Frutas y Verduras
Vegetable Names in European Languages
Names of Flowers in English, French and Latin
Mature Flower Diagram Clip Art
Plant Cell Wall Diagram Clip Art
Summer Flowers - Names and Facts
The Garden Game
Northwest Coloring Book Scientific Plant Name Index
Let's Study About the Cycle of a Flowering Plants and Trees - Extension of Montessori's Classified Reading Cards for Elementary Students
Plant Identification by Characteristics (Reference Guide)

Sensory Exercises/Motor Development Involving the Study of Summer Gardening

Sunflower Seed Activities (Pre K - Grade 6)
Seed Match
Collecting Seeds - Fun for the Whole Family
Botany Cabinets for the Classroom
A Close-Up Look at Seeds
Sensory Table (Sunflower Seeds)
I Love Dirt!

Practical Life Exercises Involving the Study of Summer Gardening

Summer Flower Bulbs
Itching to Plant (Germinating Seeds)
What Shall I Grow?
Home-grown "Fast Food" for Busy Families by Sara L. Ambarian
Gardening Year Round - Tips from an Expert
Learn What Mulch Can Do For You!/a>
International Gardening Information - Scroll Down Half Way through Newsletter
A Child's Garden
Grow It Cook It
Planting a Gardem - Lower Elementary Ages
Garden Planters and Containers
Preparing a Container Garden
Gardening Tools
Homegrown Vegetables in Any Space
Complete Gardening Archive
Organic Garden Seeds
Wildflower Seed Planting Instructions - Wildflower How-to-Guide

Language Lesson Planning for Elementary and Middle Students

My Vegetable Gardening Diary
Special Summer Food Fun - Word Puzzles for Middle Schoolers
The Secret Garden
Montessori Gardening Grammar Bingo
Growing Poems
Experience of Nature (Flora: Plants & Flowers) PreK - Grade 2
Recommended Children's Poetry Books (Ages 4 - 8)
Recommended Children's Poetry Books (Ages 9 - 13)
Figurative Speech: Analogies, Similes, and Metaphors

Science and Social Science Lesson Planning for Elementary and Middle Students

Growing Plants Unit Study - Upper Elementary Level
Vegetable Planting Guide Worksheet
Blue Potatoes, Orange Tomatoes (Grades 2 - 6)
Comparing Leaves
Growing Plants Unit
Science With Plants
Microscopes for Observation and Science Experiments
The Garden Game
Planting a Gardem Thematic Unit Study - Lower Elementary Ages
Vegetable Guide to Planting in Late Summer
Seeds to Plant in Late Summer/Fall
Farmers' Almanc Gardening Calendar
Plant a Summer Crop of Beans
Curriculum Connections
The Science of Gardening
Harvest of History - The Farmers' Museum
Hands On Flower Model

Music and Art Lesson Planning for Elementary and Middle Students

Let's Make Pressed Flowers - Elementary Level
Draw Your World - Drawing Enriches the Curriculum
Flower Themes, Flowers in Art
Sharing Food, Food in Art
Changing a Flower's Color
Seed Collages (Scroll down until you see this activity)
Painting a Garden (Scroll down until you see this activity
Gardens for Schools
Flowers Posters, Prints, Charts, Photographs & Calendars
Music and Gardening (In Tune With Nature)
Sing and Learn About Science
Sings for Every Season (Click on Recordings)

Math Lesson Planning for Elementary and Middle Students

Inside the Coordinate Grid (Ages 8 -13)
Flowers: Graph & Graph Again (Ages 5 - 13)
It's Juice! Reading and Interpreting Graphs
Sprouting Math Activities - Numbers and Operation
Sprouting Math Activities - Algebra
Sprouting Math Activities - Geometry
Sprouting Math Activities - Data Analysis and Probability
Sprouting Math Activities - Problem Solving

Business Marketing Activities

Plant Sale Grows Kids
Theme: Growing a School Garden Business
Thematic Unit Study - Plant Sale Project
Label It, Sell It (Nutritional Labeling and Marketing

Additional Extension Exercises - Let's Write, Discuss and Talk About Gardening

Granny's Garden School
More Fruits and Vegetables
Farmer's Market Nutrition Program in Spanish
Farmer's Market Shopping for Fruit
Farmer's Market Shopping for Fruit in Spanish
Farmer's Market Fruit and Vegetable Bargains
Farmer's Market Fruit and Vegetable Bargains in Spanish
Food for Thought - Newsletters in English and Spanish
Curriculum Connections - Incorporate Selected Ideas for Montessori Environment
Write Your Own Books - For K - 3rd Grade(Part I)
Write Your Own Books - For K - 3rd Grade (Part II)

Visit American Montessori Consulting and look under New and Notable for other unit studies. Copyright 2007-2011 Heidi Anne Spietz. American Montessori Consulting

Special October Montessori Drawing - Enter Today!

October 2010 1st Place AMC Montessori Winner Prizes Include:

Writing Card Sequence with Plastic Organizer & Masters for Writing Practice! (from LORD Company

A Valuable Gift Certificate (from Learning Success™ Institute)

GTC777 Gratnell Jumbo Rolling Tray Seat (from Wood, Etc.)

Art Ditto (from Birdcage Press)

Hands on Equations Program (Borenson and Associates)

Kite Game from( Creative Care "No Excuse" Craft Packs )

Modern Montessori at Home: A Creative Teaching Guide for Parents of Children Six through Nine Years of Age (from American Montessori Consulting)

October 2010 2nd Place AMC Montessori Winner Prizes Include:

A Valuable Gift Certificate from (Conceptual Learning Materials - A Montessori Company)

Baby Animals Around the World Card Game & Book (from Birdcage Press)

Heart Number and Animal Game from (Creative Care "No Excuse" Craft Packs )

Montessori Resources CD (from American Montessori Consulting)

Collage Art for Kids DVD (from Coyote Creek Productions)

Visit http://www.amonco.org/directory.html to enter!

Special October Montessori Drawing - Enter Today!

October 2010 1st Place AMC Montessori Winner Prizes Include:

Writing Card Sequence with Plastic Organizer & Masters for Writing Practice! (from LORD Company

A Valuable Gift Certificate (from Learning Success™ Institute)

GTC777 Gratnell Jumbo Rolling Tray Seat (from Wood, Etc.)

Art Ditto (from Birdcage Press)

Hands on Equations Program (Borenson and Associates)

Kite Game from( Creative Care "No Excuse" Craft Packs )

Modern Montessori at Home: A Creative Teaching Guide for Parents of Children Six through Nine Years of Age (from American Montessori Consulting)

October 2010 2nd Place AMC Montessori Winner Prizes Include:

A Valuable Gift Certificate from (Conceptual Learning Materials - A Montessori Company)

Baby Animals Around the World Card Game & Book (from Birdcage Press)

Heart Number and Animal Game from (Creative Care "No Excuse" Craft Packs )

Montessori Resources CD (from American Montessori Consulting)

Collage Art for Kids DVD (from Coyote Creek Productions)

Don't Forget to Enter the Montessori August Drawing!

New for August - October! The American Montessori Consulting Resource Directory Celebrates 10th Anniversary - Enter the drawing for a chance to win special prizes Visit AMC Montessori Resource Directory to enter. Scroll down until you see the entry form!


August 1st Place Prizes donated by the following companies:

Kimbo Education
Literatureplace.com
Learning Success Institute
AMC Montessori Books

August 2nd Place Prizes donated by the following
companies:

Borenson and Associates
Coyote Creek Productions
AMC Books

You could be a lucky winner. Prizes include:

Ribbons and Rhythms CD - Kimbo Education
Free Subscription - Literatureplace.com
Free Gift Certificate - Learning Success Institute
Drawing Lessons for Beginners DVD - Coyote Creek Productions
Montessori Books on CDs

Visit American Montessori Consulting and scroll down to the middle of the page to access additional details.

Enjoy!
Heidi