Special Summer Lesson Planning Links - Part I

The first day of summer is fast approaching Let’s take a second look at some summer lesson planning links worth repeating.

Children's Books for Summer Reading - Part I

Patriotic American Songs in English and Spanish Special!!

A Bilingual Spanish/English Unit Study About Plants

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

Enjoy!

Heidi Anne Spietz

American Montessori Consulting
amonco.org
Celebrating 24 Years of Serving School and Home Educators
Montessori for the 21st Century

Make Homemade Bread for the Holidays

November 17th is National Homemade Bread Day. It's probably no accident that this special day precedes the holiday season. What better way to celebrate your upcoming holiday meal preparation than by including children in this bread making practical life activity. Imagine the joy your child will experience when he places a basket of freshly baked bread on your dinner table or gift wraps a loaf to share with friends. Below, you will find some links to help you with the planning and preparation.

http://denverlibrary.org/content/happy-national-homemade-bread-day

Happy National Homemade Bread Day!

http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/food-drink/you-should-only-be-happy-celebrating-homemade-bread-day/

Celebrating Homemade Bread Day

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,homemade_bread,FF.html

Homemade Bread

http://blog.superhealthykids.com/2010/05/the-easiest-homemade-bread-youll-ever-make/

The Easiest Homemade Bread You'll Ever Make

Now that you have mastered bread making, you will want to try some additional recipes this holiday season.

Look below to find some scintillating salads, magnificent main courses, and delightful desserts. Click on the links

to access the free information.

AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part III

Yummy Peanut Butter Fudge

AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part V

Sour Cream Fudge

AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part VII

Hot Fudge Topping From Farm Country General Store

AMC Montessori Summer Hands-On Newsletter Part 3

Recipe for Onion Pie

AMC Montessori Summer Hands-On Newsletter Part 6

Gingerbread Muffins by Montessori Teacher Cathie Perolman

AMC Montessori Summer Hands-On Newsletter Part 7

Cinnamon Rolls Recipe and

Farm Country's Cornbread Recipe

AMC Montessori Fall Hands-On Newsletter Part 3

Making Applesauce

AMC Montessori Fall Hands-On Newsletter Part 4

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

Hot Baked Chicken Salad

AMC Montessori Fall Hands-On Newsletter Part 5

Making Apple Cinnamon Muffins

AMC Montessori Fall Hands-On Newsletter Part 6

Lithuanian Cranberry Cake

Cherry Mae's Holiday Turkey Meatballs

Cherry Mae's Holiday Stuffing

AMC Montessori Fall Hands-On Newsletter Part 7

Apple Angel Food Cake

Oma's Cookies ~ A German Recipe

Farm Country's Favorite Zucchini Bread

AMC Montessori Fall Hands-On Newsletter Part 8

Filipino Fruit Salad

Filipino Mango Float

Filipino Leche Flan

AMC Montessori Fall Hands-On Newsletter Part 9

Homemade Fresh Tomato Ketchup

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

AMC Montessori Fall/Winter Hands-On Newsletter Part 2

Pistachio Poppy Seed Cake ~ A Miami Favorite

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookie Cutouts ~ Recipe from Montessorian

AMC Montessori Fall/Winter Hands-On Newsletter Part 3

Ginger-Coconut Baked Apples

AMC Montessori Fall/Winter Hands-On Newsletter Part 4

Nutty Chocolate Pudding Squares

Chocolate Dusted Almonds

AMC Montessori Fall/Winter Hands-On Newsletter Part 5

Holiday Cheesecake

AMC Montessori Fall/Winter Hands-On Newsletter Part 6

Farmer's Favorite Fudge

Spinach Dip Recipe

AMC Montessori Fall/Winter Hands-On Newsletter Part 7

Crepes Recipe For Children

AMC Montessori Fall/Winter Hands-On Newsletter Part 8

Re-thinking Holiday Priorities through Tough Times

Enjoy!

Heidi Anne Spietz

http://www.amonco.org

American Montessori Consulting

Find a Harvest of Autumn Information - Part II

In Part One, we looked at some general autumn subjects. In this installment, we will focus on autumn agricultural subjects.

Turkeys

The turkey is an animal many of us in North America associate with autumn. For many fun facts and activities related to this interesting bird, visit:

http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Farm/Turkeys

http://farmfutures.com/story.aspx/fun/facts/about/the/turkey/17/44170

http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/turkey.htm

Apples

Autumn is apple harvest time, and this crop is so beloved and important that it inspires harvest festivals all across the country in towns like Fortuna, California; Arendtsville, Pennsylvania; Martinsburg, West Virginia; and Wenatchee, Washington. The University of Illinois Extension offers the following interesting facts about apples: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/apples/facts.cfm

Everyone seems to have a favorite apple recipe (or several favorites!), and here are a few AMC Resource Directory members have shared.

A great “no-cook” apple dessert you can make with very young children, Apple Sauce Parfait, comes from Kathy O’Reilly’s Cooking With Kids Can Be Easy. http://www.amonco.org/creative/montessori_fall2.pdf

If you want to try your hand at making your own applesauce, for Kathy’s parfait or eating plain, Dale Gausman of North American Montessori Center offers a simple recipe with safe cooking tips. http://www.amonco.org/creative3/montessori_fall3.pdf Dale also shared a recipe for Apple-Cinnamon Muffins. http://www.amonco.org/creative5/montessori_fall5.pdf

Dianne Knesek of Conceptual Learning uses fresh apples and pecans to dress up a boxed angel food cake mix. http://www.amonco.org/creative7/montessori_fall7.pdf

Want to celebrate apple season without cooking? Jaye from Creative Care has a cute apple wreath art project for kids 2 to 5 years old. http://www.amonco.org/creative5/montessori_fall5.pdf

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are a favorite symbol of autumn and harvest time. They’re especially popular with children, probably because of their bright color, impressive size, and fun traditional uses. For more facts and activities about pumpkins, visit: http://www.pumpkinnook.com/facts.htm, and Sara L. Ambarian’s article on Canadian Thanksgiving. http://www.amonco.org/creative7/montessori_fall7.pdf

Other fall harvest items

Many home gardeners find they have lots of zucchini in late summer and fall. If you have extra zucchini to use up, you might enjoy Farm Country General Store’s Favorite Zucchini Bread:

http://www.amonco.org/creative7/montessori_fall7.pdf

Tomatoes are another bountiful crop this time of year. Garden Artisans offers a recipe for Homemade Fresh Tomato Ketchup, which is a great way to combine home and garden arts together. Many children do not realize that almost every type of food product we can buy was once homemade, so this is a great opportunity to show them the old-fashioned origins of what is arguably the most popular “kid condiment”. http://www.amonco.org/creative9/montessori_fall9.pdf

Lots of other interesting fruits and vegetables are also harvested in the fall. You might enjoy trying something new like sweet or hot peppers, pomegranates, quince, persimmons, elderberries or high-bush cranberries. You might be surprised at the variety of produce available in your area.

To find out more about the bounty of autumn, visit the following listing of fruits and vegetables which are harvested in the fall in the Northern Hemisphere.

http://localfoods.about.com/od/whatsinseason/a/FallFruitVeg.htm

Hearty autumn supper for busy teachers and/or families

For a quick, hot and hearty meal after a busy day at the pumpkin patch or in the garden, try the recipe for Hot Baked Chicken Salad shared by Karen at the Farm Country General Store. http://www.amonco.org/creative/montessori_fall4.pdf

To view all offerings in the new 2011 fall newsletter, please visit http://www.amonco.org/montessori_fall_handson.html

Celebrate Black History Month with The Creative Process

Rae Petersen, of The Creative Process, has some marvelous ideas to help you make the most out of the upcoming Black History Month. Rae recently shared the following with me.

"February is Black History Month - Commemorate the contributions and events of people of African descent with classroom environments enriched with educational posters celebrating Black History. http://www.netposterworks.com/history/blhistory/index.html

February was chosen as Black History Month by Dr. Carter G. Woodson because Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes and Abraham Lincoln were born in February. Rosa Parks was also born in February (1913), but as of the establishment of Black History Month, her great contribution to Civil Rights was almost 30 years in the future.

For additional Black History Month lesson planning, please visit Montessori January and February Lesson Planning Links.

Enjoy!

Heidi Anne Spietz
http://www.amonco.org

Animals in the Winter - Links for Montessori Unit Study

Please see http://www.amonco.org/animalsinthewinter.html for a complete Animals in the Winter unit study.

What happens to animals as it becomes cold outside?

Animals in Winter - Explains hibernation, migration and adaptation.
Animals in Winter Scavenger Hunt
How Animals Survive the Winter

How do animals prepare for winter?

Animal Winter Months Study
Animals in Winter

Why do birds fly south in the winter?

Why Do Birds Fly South for the Winter
When and How do Birds Migrate?

What is hibernation?

Hibernation
Animals Themes
Mrs. Jones - Hibernation
Groundhogs Day - Waking Up from Hibernation
Mammals Middle School - Lessons for Middle School Students

How do bears and badgers spend the winter?

Wildlife in Winter
How Do Animals Spend the Winter
Winter

How does the color white help animals in the wintertime?

Arctic Animals of Alaska
More About Camoflage

Where do the insects go in the winter?

Where do all the Insects go in the Winter?
Topics in Insect Ecology

How do fish survive in the winter?(Compare and Contrast)

Shunipiking Online Vol 02 No 02
Power to Learn: Winter Wonderings

How can you help birds in the winter?

Birds Winter
Education World Lesson Planning, Celebrate Winter!
FundingFactory Lesson Plans
Attracting Birds in Winter
How to Help Garden Birds Survive the Winter Months?

Let's Write, Discuss and Talk About Animals in the Winter

Animals in Winter
Hibernation Background Information and Activities
Grades K - 8 - Winter
Write Your Own Books - For K - 3rd Grade(Part I)
Write Your Own Books - For K - 3rd Grade (Part II)

Visit http://www.amonco.org and look under New and Notable for other unit studies.

Heidi Anne Spietz

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

Special Valentine Treats

Click below to receive some links to some delightful, delicious recipes and handmade gifts.

Fashioned Sugar Cookie Cutouts ~ Recipe from Montessorian
Scented Baskets
Nutty Chocolate Pudding Squares by Montessorian Diane Knesek
Handprint Towels
Holiday Cheesecake
Farmers Favorite Fudge
Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Painted Kitchen Trivets
Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
Making Apple Cinnamon Muffins by Montessorian Dale Gausman
Lithuanian Cranberry Cake
Apple Angel Food Cake
Oma's Cake

Montessori Lesson Pick of the Week April 20, 2009

Gardening Year Round - Tips from an Expert

Healthy Nutritional Tips for 21st Century Families

Part I - Montessori Lesson Pick of the Week November 17, 2008

Brand New Lessons You Can Use Right Now!



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.

Next, 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.

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.

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

Have fun!!

Heidi Spietz
American Montessori Consulting
http://www.amonco.org