Montessori Culture (History): The Calendar

I had this printable with all the months of the year and it was fun for him to place the numbers in the right squares. 

We discussed how months may begin on different days. 
We also talked about how January ended on a Friday this year, so February began on a Saturday (the day after the last day in January). 
I mentioned the first day of the week and how it can be different in different countries. In the United States, for example, the first day of the week is Sunday, but in Mexico, it is Monday.
He put the days of the week in the correct order.
During the entire process, we consulted our calendar on the wall.

Montessori Culture and Science: Land, Air, Water Lessons

It was fun learning today. Today was Science and Culture day! We had Circle Time (I know, I still have to list all of the stuff we do during this time. I'll do it another time because it is a lot of great stuff), we sang and danced, we had Bible class, did a little bit of handwriting, and we reviewed Chinese and Spanish, too.  

After that, we had a snack and then got ready for Culture (Geography) class.  Today, K learned about Land, Water, and Air. We talked about these three concepts and then made a craft with the animals that live in each of these places.  He did really well.  Then we did the same, but instead of animals, it was modes of transportation.  It was really fun for him, since he loves cars, trains, airplanes, and boats.

I gave him a little break in between classes, so I let him practice his cutting skills.  I gave him a magazine.  He especially liked cutting the boys in superhero costumes.  He's getting better at holding the scissors and cutting.

    

In Science class, he learned about Living and Non-living Things.  We talked about how living things breathe (need air), get hungry (need food from the land), get thirsty (need water), and need a home.  Then we made a craft that we will briefly revisit weekly until he grasps the concept completely.

Montessori Science (Geography): Land, Water, Air

We sorted several pictures of animals and insects depending on where
they "live."  I know birds and butterflies technically don't LIVE in AIR,
but they fly and it's easier to explain to him that they can fly
and they spend time up in the air, whereas other animals can't.

Land, Water and Air lesson, but with means of transportation.

English: Land, Water, Air
Spanish: Tierra, Agua, Aire
Chinese: Di, Shui, Qi

Montessori Culture (Geography): Land, Air, and Water

First, we reviewed the differences between land, water and air. 

We talk about why they are all important for life. 

Then, I open the envelope with living things and K sorts them out (animals that are in air, water and land).

After that, we clean up and I open the envelope with methods of transportation and K sorts them out (airplanes, helicopters, etc go by Air, boats, ships, canoes, etc go by Water, cars, trains, trucks, etc go by Land).

Montessori Practical Life: How to Fold Towels

I know that this sounds like such a no-brainer activity, but when it comes down to the logistics of folding towels of different sizes, it definitely comes in handy to have some direction, especially for a pre-schooler. :) I hope you find this helpful and practical.

Montessori-Inspired Landforms Activity and Craft

                     

Homeschooling May 2013 Part 4

Montessori Sensorial: Knobbed Cylinder Blocks

(Sorry that the pictures turned out so dark.)

This is Block A: Same circumference, height is tall to short.

Presentation: Put cylinders right in front of the holes they belong in and discuss the hight, 

the circumference, and the depth of the holes. Put cylinders back in the holes.

Take your time analyzing each block and each cylinder (height/depth, circumference, etc).

Extension 1: Take cylinders out and place them out of order. Have child place them back 

where they belong. Order in which they are put back doesn't matter.

Extension 2: Take cylinders out and place them out of order. Have child put them back 

where they belong in the right order (tallest, next tallest, etc, all the way to the shortest).

Block B: Same height, circumference from wide to narrow.
Use same Presentations and Extensions as with Block A.

Extension: Use Blocks A and B. Place all cylinders out of order in the middle and
put them back where they belong. At this point, order doesn't matter.
Another Extension would be to put all cylinders in Block A back where they belong
IN ORDER and do the same with Block B afterwards.

Block C: Height goes short to tall and circumference goes from wide to narrow.

Block D: Height goes from tall to short and circumference goes from wide to narrow.

Extensions with Blocks C and D.

Extension: Blocks A, B and C.

Field Trip: Splash Pad

                                    

Pretend Play: Superheroes

                                   

Desk Work: Mathematics

                           

                           

Montessori Science (Botany): Parts of a Root

                                 

Nomenclature Key

Matching Nomenclature Cards

                            

Montessori Practical Life: Sewing a Button

You need:
- a mat
- an old shirt or piece of fabric
- a pair of scissors
- thread
- a couple of buttons
- a needle

                            

                               

                          

Homeschooling May 2013 Part 3

We went out to lunch for Mother's Day. I was happy to choose Olive Garden. Great place and great food.

Desk Work

Spanish: The Vowels (Las Vocales)

"a" as in apple
"e" as in egg
"i" as in igloo
"o" an in orange
"u" as in the sound "ooooo" that a monkey says
Cuántos años tienes tú? (How old are you?)

Practical Life: Cutting with a knife

This is a safe knife that I ordered from the Pampered Chef. It has a rounded tip
and the teeth are wider, so it still cuts, but it's safer to use. K does great using it.

Practicing Spanish (The Vowels)
We learned them along with sign language.
He is saying "U" here.

Desk Work

Montessori Mathematics: Number Rods and Tiles

Put Number Rods in order from 1-10

I put the Number Rods out of order and K put them back in order from 1-10.

Putting them back in order.

Montessori Science (Geography): Land, Water, Air

We sorted several pictures of animals and insects depending on where
they "live."  I know birds and butterflies technically don't LIVE in AIR,
but they fly and it's easier to explain to him that they can fly
and they spend time up in the air, whereas other animals can't.

Land, Water and Air lesson, but with means of transportation.

English: Land, Water, Air
Spanish: Tierra, Agua, Aire
Chinese: Di, Shui, Qi