Montessori Multicultural Holiday Lesson Planning

For the past few years, I have had many interesting conversations about American traditions with college age foreign exchange students from Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe. Back in 2007, in particular, I had the pleasure to chat with some foreign exchange students from El Salvador and Indonesia about our Thanksgiving holiday.

Although the students appeared to appreciate the significance of the holiday, they couldn't help but also giggle about our annual turkey celebration. Many of these students live in dorms or apartments and found out the prior year that they just couldn't think of enough creative ways to eat and use all of the left over turkey. So, we had some fun discussing various ways to prepare the leftovers, plus talked a bit about their favorite dish and holiday traditions.

You, too, can plan a day to have a multicultural turkey celebration. Plan a unit study for your children focusing on maybe three countries at a time.

To help you get started, visit the following links:
All About Fall Cooking - Worldwide
Find some excellent information for planning your Thanksgiving feast by visiting
AMC Fall Holiday Lesson Planning
Multicultral Lesson Planning Part I
Multicultural Lesson Planning Part II
AMC Montessori Hands On Fall Lesson Planning
AMC Montessori Hands On Winter Lesson Planning
Christmas Around the World Part I
Christmas Around the World Part II


Scroll down on each page for the lesson planning information. :-)

Heidi
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 Lesson Picks of the Week January 7, 2008

Montessori Medical Terminology Unit Study


Free Pictures for Unit Studies by Oxford Illustrated Science Encyclopedia


Montessori Unit Study on the Respiratory System
Grades 2 through 12


Discovering China


How to Make Japanese Origami Kusadama Flowers


Multicultural Unit on China


Multicultural Unit on Japan


Math on the Street - Origami


The Geometry Junkyard


The Uniform Polyhedra


Polyhedra and Numbers Puzzles

 Free Help for Secondary Math Students