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
Easy Crafts Budget Wise Holiday Crafts - Centerpieces
Celebrating Kwanzaa At Home Kids
Christmas Ball Ornaments - Table Centerpieces
Montessori Practical Life Activity: Napkin Folding
Table of Contents
(Scroll down to click on the links to this newsletter.)
Part I
Collage Paste Mix and Sawdust Clay
Teaching Alternative Energy Ideas
Scribble Designs ~ Reawaken Those Imagination Sparking Moments
Masks and Mask Making
Sharing Food, Food in Art Unit Study
Part II
Pistachio Poppy Seed Cake ~ A Miami Favorite
Old Fashioned Sugar Cookie Cutouts ~ Recipe from Montessorian
Big Numbers Writing Activity
Science Activity "Air Lift"
Part III
Practical Life Activity: Napkin Folding
Ginger-Coconut Baked Apples
Making a Button-Buddy
Smelling Bottles
Acting Out How Animals Survive Winter
Simple Free Reading Books
Water and Land Forms (Cards and Labels)
Aromatic Basmati Rice with Saffron
Stories About Renaissance and Impressionist Artists
Nanny's Zucchini's Bread
Cooks in the Classroom
* Nutrition and ADHD
*Where do essential fats come from?
* What are essential fats?
Part IV
Scented Baskets
Tin Can Luminaries
Nutty Chocolate Pudding Squares
Montessori Math Sequencing
Chocolate Dusted Almonds
Dried Pineapple, Music and Faraway Places
Pineapple Unit Study
Fall Squirrel
Papier-Mache Art Activity
Animals in the Winter Unit Study
Free Hands-On Algebra Activity
Part V
Middle School Word Puzzles
Handprint Towel - Unique Craft and Gift
Pumpkin Pie Scented Playdough Recipe
Recipe for World Tolerance
Holiday Cheesecake
Part VI
Farmer's Favorite Fudge
Spinach Dip Recipe
Three Kittens Literature Link
Hearty Kale Soup
Soap That Grows
Part VII
Onion Pie
Music and Self-Regulatory Behavior
Crepes Recipe For Children
Vivaldi's Musical Activities and Lessons for The Four Seasons
(Featuring Winter)
Historical Fiction: Where Fact and Fiction Merge
Planning a New Literature Program for Your Child
Part VIII
Re-thinking Holiday Priorities During Tough Times
AMC Montessori Fall/Winter Hands-On Newsletter ~ Click on the Links Below to Read Each Part
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
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!!
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!
Make September Special!
Visit http://www.amonco.org/montessori_fall_handson.html to download the free AMC Montessori Fall Lesson Planning issue.
Below, is just a sampling of what you will find in this issue.
Recipes
Janet, from Chinaberry, forwarded a Frozen Jack-O-Lanterns recipe and Gari, from Music for Little Folks contributed a very special chocolate pudding recipe. Both are perfect for autumn parties. See Part IV
The Danish Aebleskiver contributed by Rae of the Creative Process, Lithuanian Cranberry Cake by Ligia of Childsakehttp://www.amonco.org/creative6/montessori_fall6.pdf and the German Oma’s Cake shared by Carolyn of Excellence in Education are three recipes that are perfect for the upcoming fall and winter months. Carolyn has also used the dough in the classroom for many creative projects. See Part VII
In a hurry? Try the Omelet in a Bag contributed by Joyful Noise Publications and Macaroni and Cheese contributed by Millie of Insta-Learn. See Part VIII
In Part II you will also find a ice pudding recipe submitted by Vera of The Music House.
Music
Georgette, from Cantemos, will lead you step by step on how to make a guiro. Think of the fun this musical instrument will create in your school and home classrooms. It will add much to multicultural discussions involving music and musical instruments of Latin America. Visit this link for details.
Shari, from Shari and Jerry, has provided some fun sensory extension exercises that will help children identify and discern different sounds. See Sound Effects Activities
Marjorie, from Classical Magic, offers a lesson plan for autumn by Vivaldi – from The Four Season. See Part VII You will discover that her very creative ideas can be adapted for various age groups.
Back to School Montessori Crafts and Exercises
In Part III, Dale Gausman, from the North American Montessori Center, shares two great back to school exercises. To access The Friendship Tree and the Getting to Know You Exercises click here. In
Part VI, Joan of Nation Relation, shares her Geography Catch Games. See
http://www.amonco.org/creative6/montessori_fall6.pdf for details.
MAKE SOME GIFTS AND GIFT BOXES
Jaye, from Creative Care, will show you how to make a double frame. See http://www.amonco.org/summer5/montessori_summer5.pdf
Janet, from Chinaberry, will guide you step by step on how to make some beautiful gift boxes. See http://www.amonco.org/summer/montessori_summer1.pdf
If you experience any difficulties, you can also access most of the above links at http://www.amonco.org/montessori_summer_handson.html
Talented Marty Layne offers some delightful summer poems set to music. See Sea Change for details.
EASY SUMMER RECIPES
Montessorian Kathy O’Reilly, author of Cooking with Children Can Be Easy, will show you how to prepare a food unit study for children featuring the yummy Watermelon Blueberry Banana Split recipe.
Dale Gausman, owner of the North American Montessori Center, shows how children can plan, prepare, and execute a Spring or Summer Tea. Click here for details.
DIanne Knesek, Montessori teacher and owner of Conceptual Learning, shares a mouth watering Summer Fruit, Cheese, and Meat Kabobs recipe. Visit this link for complete information
Mary, from the Montessori materials company Hello Wood, offers the delicious recipe, Onion Pie, perfect for your holiday celebrations. See http://www.amonco.org/summer3/montessori_summer3.pdf
Planning a unit study about pirates? Karen , from Fun Felt, shares her three pirate snack ideas - Treasure Chests, Pirate Ships and Cannoballs, all of which, can be easily integrated into any pirate unit study. Click here to access the recipes.
Don’t forget to make some delicious potato salad for your family picnics. Use Bill’s recipe for Father’s Day and Fourth of July celebratios. See the MindWare entry to access the recipe.
Montessorian Cathie Perolman employs the Montessori practical life technique with her recipe scrumptuous gingerbread muffins recipes. Access this recipe by by clicking here
Larry, from Farm Country General Store, shares an equally delicious cinammon roll recipe. What a perfect addition to a homemade Father’s Day breakfast or just a lazy Saturday morning con su famlia (with your family.) See http://www.amonco.org/summer7/montessori_summer7.pdf
For complete instructions on how to fuse phonics, reading and book making visit http://www.amonco.org and click on the How to Make a Book located in the navy blue column.
Click on the links below for additional Montessori related lesson planning.
The Sensitive Period for Language
