by Rachel Wilsey Some of the biggest hits in my house have been toys that I put together from stuff we had around the house. The two below are easy to make and promote eye-hand coordination as well as concentration. Domino Box—a Take on the Coin Box The domino box is our take on the […]
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The Montessori Blue Series for Reading
A few months ago we were gifted a box of treasures by a former Montessori teacher who also happens to be the grandmother of one of our students. Even after a decade and a half in the classroom, I still love this stuff! All that organizing put me in the mood to take photos […]
Introduction to the Life Sciences
Living and Non Living A few years ago we introduced the concept of living and non-living by introducing the students to our brand new class pet. The big reveal! Observing the fish. They named him Violet. (RIP Violet. You served us well for 3 years. We loved you.) Comparing the living fish to a […]
Preschool Printables for March and St. Patrick’s Day
Here are some ideas for St. Patrick’s Day themed preschool activities to help you get ready for March. These printables are available in the Trillium Montessori Shop. Sorting pictures of shamrocks and people Shadow matching 0-10 Number Cards 0-10 Number Clip Cards Where is the leprechaun? Prepositions Game Follow 1-3 step directions Related Products Click […]
So You Want to Get Montessori Training
I often get questions from people who are interested in getting Montessori training but have no idea where to start. Even though Montessori has been around for a long time, it is just recently coming into mainstream awareness. You have to dig a little bit to find the information you need. Hopefully the overview […]
The Solar System
Today’s guest post is by Disha Patel of Lotus Montessori Extensions. She has some fun pictures of the variety of ways in which they explore planets in her class. Click the image below to see some of the activities we do here at Trillium when learning about Space in the following posts: by […]
How Developmentally Appropriate is Sharing?
By Pauline Meert A few months ago, I read an article on sharing that led to a lot of discussions and thinking. The article “Some Parenting Rules are Meant to be Broken” by Beth W. from Very Bloggy over on sunnyskyz.com discusses her experience with “sharing”. Through examples of two experiences, one in a park where a child expects […]
Montessori Golden Beads
by Jessica Renée A new visitor to a Montessori classroom will likely notice many unusual and intriguing materials, laid out on wooden shelves, as if calling out to be touched. This is exactly what happened recently at my dual-track school where some classes follow the traditional school model, and other classes follow the Montessori model. […]
Short Vowels: How Much is Enough Practice?
By Cathie Perolman Read more about Cathie’s process for practicing letter sounds here: Are Sandpaper Letters Enough? The Letter Race Game Once a child has mastered some letters and is able to blend sounds into words he is ready for some “heavy duty” work with three letter short vowel words. As I visit schools and support […]
Free Printable: January Idea Book
The January Seasonal Idea Book is ready! This resource includes ideas for practical life, language, and science lessons that are easy to implement and designed to complement your existing Montessori materials. Whether you’re looking to add variety to your routine or bring in some seasonal inspiration, the activities in this book offer simple yet meaningful options. […]
A Year of Montessori Fine Motor Shelves
“Practical Life” is a huge area of the Montessori Curriculum. It’s about giving children opportunities to engage in real everyday activities such as taking care of themselves and their surroundings, preparing food, cleaning up etc. Real. Life. Stuff. Many Montessori teachers call their fine motor activities Practical Life activities. I think of them more as […]
December Activities for Preschool
Here are a few more December activities to round off the month! Sensorial Smelling and matching Christmas scented candles. Use a blindfold for a fun challenge! Language We LOVE this “I Have Who Has” vocabulary development game from Kindergarten Squared Matching Christmas erasers with their outlines. I don’t remember where I got these but they […]
Big Nature Connections in Small Spaces
I’m honored to have Kelly Johnson on our blog today. Kelly is a talented Montessori teacher, artist, and author. She is passionate about expanding children’s experiences with nature. If you’re a Montessori professional, you may have heard her speak at a Montessori conference, attended her recent AMS webinar, or read her articles in Montessori Life […]
A Celebration of Light – The Winter Solstice
By Lisa Anderson Spending this time of the year with children reminds me of the beauty the holidays have to offer. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and we try to acknowledge each family’s cultural traditions and share the joys of the season. This year we are celebrating the winter solstice and preparing […]
Holiday Gifts Your Child Can Sew
Please welcome Aimee Fagan! Aimee’s work on the Montessori Works Blog has been an inspiration to me for a long time. Aimee is a trained Montessori teacher and she has some wonderful resources for the practical life area of the classroom. She also writes about her experiences raising her children in a Montessori home. Today she […]
An Introduction to the Baric Tablets- A Montessori Sensorial Activity
Today I’m excited to welcome Tanya Wright to the blog! She is sharing some information about the Montessori Baric Tablets. This is an elegant Montessori activity that you don’t hear about much, which is unfortunate because it’s an important part of the Montessori sensorial curriculum. The senses are the child’s window to the world; […]
A Day in the Life of a Montessori Toddler
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MONTESSORI TODDLER by Simone Davies It is so fun to be back guest blogging here for Trillium Montessori. Thanks for having me visit, Seemi. I always say that Montessori is not just an educational philosophy but a way of life. So I thought it would be fun to […]
The Connected Family
I’m so excited to introduce you to my friend Kim Hughes today! Kim has been a master teacher, mentor and leader for many many years. Although she’s not a Montessorian, her approach to discipline works very well with Montessori. She is a certified Conscious Discipline ® Loving Guidance Associate, personally trained by Dr. Becky Bailey. -Seemi by […]
A Montessori Lesson
Today I’d like to introduce you to Linda Karchmar. Linda is a now retired Montessori Guide who owned her own school for 28 years, and taught for 32 years. She has a wonderful online store where she is selling materials from her school, including lots of lovely Practical Life items! You can also find children’s […]
Free Printable: November Idea Book
The November Idea Book provides a collection of Montessori-aligned activities to help you bring the season into your classroom. It’s like a photo album of ideas, offering practical and engaging ways to introduce sorting, phonological awareness, early math, and more—each tied to the themes of autumn, from leaves to turkeys. This resource includes ideas for […]
A Tour of a Montessori Toddler Classroom in Amsterdam
It is my pleasure to introduce you to Simone Davies from Jacaranda Tree Montessori. Simone runs a lovely Montessori playgroup in Amsterdam. She is treating us today with a detailed tour of her beautiful space. I am in love with her design aesthetic and gorgeous light in her room! Enjoy the tour and be sure to […]
Pumpkin Patch Fun
Pumpkin Patch Fun We will be taking a field trip to the pumpkin patch in a couple of weeks. To prepare, our classroom is starting to fill up with “pumpkiny” activities. If you haven’t already downloaded my October Seasonal Guide for the Classroom with pictures of all our seasonal activities for the month, you can get all […]
The Letter Race Game
I’m excited to welcome Cathie Perolman back to the Trillium Montessori Blog! Last time she was here, she gave us a wonderfully detailed look at many of her letter work activities. Today she’s got a great letter sounds game to share with us. This is perfect for students who are in the “second period” of […]
Preliminary Practical Life Exercises
The Practical Life activities in a Montessori classroom are designed to be purposeful work that lead the child to an understanding of his environment and how it works. These activities are appealing to the young child as they resemble everyday activities the child has seen adults complete. The Practical Life Area of the classroom encompasses: […]
Small Space Montessori Setup: Kitchen and Wrap Up
Montessori At Home Mondays with Marie Mack Small Space Montessori Setup Wow! Our last post in our Montessori At Home Monday’s series. I’m so excited to share with you all and thank you, again, Seemi! Did you miss the previous posts? Check them out here: Small Space: Introduction and Entryway Small Space: Living Room Small Space: […]
Free Printable: October Idea Book
Can you smell autumn in the air? Neither can I 🙂 But that doesn’t mean it’s not here! Pretty soon there will be a nip in the air, the leaves will begin changing color and pumpkins will start showing up on door steps. It’s time for us to start thinking about how to bring signs […]
Small Space Montessori Setup: Bathroom
Montessori At Home Mondays with Marie Mack Small Space Montessori Setup I am excited to be back for part four of our Montessori At Home Monday’s series. Did you miss the previous posts? Check them out here: Small Space: Introduction and Entryway Small Space: Living Room Small Space: Bedroom and Closet The Bathroom We all […]
Small Space Montessori Setup: Children’s Room and Closet
Montessori At Home Mondays with Marie Mack Small Space Montessori Setup I am excited to be back for part three of our Montessori At Home Monday’s series. You can view part one and part two to catch up if you missed them! The Children’s Room Our children have shared a room since our daughter was […]
Montessori at Home and on a Budget
This week I’d like to introduce you to the talented Nicole Kavanaugh. I first found Nicole when I was looking for resources to share with the parents at our school about how to set up their homes in a Montessori friendly way. I loved how she had her bathroom set up to help her little […]
Small Space Montessori Setup: Living Room
Montessori At Home Mondays with Marie Mack Montessori Setup in a Small Space Thank you, Seemi, for having me back for part two of our Montessori At Home Monday’s series. If you missed part one, check it out here! I would love to show you around our living room next. We used this space for […]
Small Space Montessori Setup: Introduction and Entryway
I’m excited to introduce you today to my friend Marie. Marie has a passion for incorporating Montessori principles into day to day life with her two adorable children. She has graciously agreed to write a series of articles for us, focusing on setting up your home in a Montessori friendly way when you live in […]
Montessori Letter Order: Are Sandpaper Letters Enough?
This post is written by my friend Cathie Perolman, a long time Montessorian with over 3 decades of experience! Today she is sharing her language program with us. I have been very inspired by Cathie’s work and have used it as a basis for the organization of my own language shelves. I’m sure you will get a […]
Life Cycle of a Ladybug: Free Printable
The life cycle of a ladybug has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Eggs hatch into larvae that eat pests. Larvae molt into pupae. After 1-2 weeks, adult ladybugs emerge to continue eating pests before mating and laying eggs. Ladybugs capture the imagination of preschoolers and kindergarteners everywhere with their bright colors, spots, and […]
Life Cycle of a Bee: Free Printable
The bee life cycle consists of four main stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Bees are fascinating creatures that play a crucial role in our ecosystem. They pollinate plants and produce honey, which is not only delicious but also has many health benefits. In this post, we will explore the life cycle of a bee […]
Life Cycle of a Butterfly: Free Printable
Butterflies captivate children with their vivid colors and elegant flight, making them a perfect subject for educational exploration. The life cycle of a butterfly—from egg to caterpillar, then chrysalis, and finally adult butterfly—is a remarkable process that offers valuable lessons in biology, growth, and adaptation. In this article, we take a look at the life […]
Life Cycle of a Cicada: Free Printable
As spring and summer approach, many parts of the world will be filled with the loud, distinctive calls of cicadas. These insects have a unique life cycle that can be both captivating and educational for children. To help you teach your students or homeschoolers about cicadas, we’ve put together a free download that includes cicada […]
Life Cycle of an Ant: Free Printable
The life cycle of an ant has four main stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. In this post, we will explore the life cycle of an ant, from egg to adult, and provide a free downloadable printable for children to learn the names of the various stages. Understanding the life cycle of an ant can […]
Free Printable: Aquarium Fish
This week’s 5th Anniversary Freebie Friday features common aquarium fish. This set of 3-part cards includes color illustrations as well as blacklines. The following aquarium fish are included: Angelfish Clown loach Female molly Male molly Female swordtail Male swordtail Neon tetra Zebrafish
Free Printable: Arctic Animals
This set of Montessori 3-part cards features a selection of Arctic animals. Use these cards to introduce children to the diverse wildlife of the Arctic and spark conversations about how animals live and thrive in such a harsh environment. This set includes color illustrations as well as blacklines so children can make their own booklet. The […]
Free Printable: Animals of North America
Add these 3-part cards to your shelves when you’re learning about animals of North America! This set includes color illustrations as well as blacklines so children can make their own booklets. Animals included in this set: Beaver Bear Cougar Coyote Deer Bald Eagle Elk Fox Owl Raccoon Skunk Squirrel Wolf Animals of North America Beaver […]
Free Printable: Birds Coloring and 3-Part Cards
Are you looking to add an engaging and educational activity to your bird unit or nature shelf? Our free printable set of Montessori 3-part cards of common birds is a perfect addition to your classroom. These cards not only feature color illustrations but also include blackline versions for coloring so children can create their own […]
Activities for a Beach Theme
We’re ready for summer and we’re starting to feel beachy! Shell Scrubbing Sorting seashells by size Spooning marbles onto a starfish suction mat Tweezing ocean themed mini beads onto a fish suction mat Scooping white pompoms with an ice cream scoop Spooning beach sand
Ideas for a Butterfly Unit
Raise caterpillars and observe how they change into butterflies! See more on our post about Painted Lady Butterflies here. Simple butterfly life cycle sequencing puzzle Monarch butterfly life cycle 3-part cards with objects. We made this set using images from Google. Types of Butterflies- 3-part cards and objects matching. We made this set by photographing […]
Learning About Europe
Materials for the Study of Europe @missnearingsmontessori This age never ceases to amaze me 💖🌍 #teachersoftiktok #montessori #teacherstories #preschoolactivities #preschoolteacher #kindergartenteacher #unitstudy #europe #europeisacontinentnotacountry ♬ original sound – Miss Nearing’s Montessori Miss Nearing from Tiktok shares how she’s using some of our Europe materials! Available in the Trillium Shop. Lining up the photo […]
On the Fine Motor Shelf in May
Sorting Birch Discs Sorting Paper Flowers Tonging Mini Eggs in Nests Tonging Feathers Spooning Seeds in Sunflower Dishes Spooning and Sorting Gems Pouring from a Mini Watering Can Using a Spoon and Funnel More Shelf Activities for Spring Preschool Literacy Activities for Spring Fine Motor Activities for Spring 18 Shelf Activities for Spring Learning About Flowers […]
Spring Literacy Activities for Preschoolers
Oral Language and Vocabulary Development The Question Game. Use the clues on the question card to find the right picture. (Source: Spring Montessori Pack and In the Garden Preschool Pack) Following Directions (Source: In the Garden Preschool Pack) Where is the Snail? A Prepositions Game (Source: In the Garden Preschool Pack) Matching and Sorting Sorting by Color(Source: In […]
Fine Motor Activities for Spring
Pouring into two containers Using an eye dropper Miniature pouring Eggs and Chicks Open and Close Transferring Plastic Eggs Bugs in the Grass Tweezing Activity. You can find plastic grass like this at the craft store or try Amazon (affiliate link). The tiny bugs were from a local teacher supply store. Scooping Corn Kernels. Wooden trays like […]
Shelf Activities for Spring
Playdoh mat from PreKinders.com (free) Umbrella tissue sealing Gluing on a dot- Easter Egg confetti Assembling and gluing a flower Roll and Sort Buttons Flower Lacing Cards Garden Tools 3-Part Cards from Montessori Printshop (free) Flowers and Bulbs 3-Part Cards from Wildflower Ramblings (free) Reasoning Question Cards from Splashy Speech Stuff (free) Springtime Questions from Expressly Speaking Practicing Pronouns […]
Learning About South America
Build Your South America Unit As you gather materials for your South America continent studies, you may be interested in these resources from some of my favorite Montessori printable creators! South America Continents Pack from Every Star is Different South America Preschool Pack from Trillium Montessori South America A-Z from Trillium Montessori Rainforest Phonological […]
Learning About Asia: East Asia
A few items from East Asia on our shelves for the children to examine These photo-description cards are from the Asia A-Z Montessori Printables Pack Writing numbers in Chinese Origami fun A simple zen garden found at the dollar store Learning how to make some Chinese and Japanese characters with our Sumi E Board […]
Learning About Asia: Middle East
Continuing on with our study of Asia… Our display took on more of a Middle Eastern theme I found these treasures on one of my trips to Qatar. The last frame has different colored sand from the deserts of Arabia. A few items to add to our mystery bag. There’s a glass mosque, […]
Learning About Asia: South Asia
We’re focusing in on the countries of South Asia. We love Kathy Troxel’s song about South Asia on the album Geography Songs to learn the names of the countries in this region. (Track 15) We added a few items from South Asia to our display shelf. There’s a model of the Taj Mahal, a peacock feather […]
Learning About Asia: Introduction
I pulled out my Asia storage box a couple of weeks ago and was overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I’ve put in it over the years. I decided it was finally time to get it properly organized. (More thoughts about organizing thematic units here.) Here are the preliminary results! I put a few […]
A St. Patrick’s Day Theme
We’re getting the classroom ready for a St. Patrick’s Day and Rainbow theme! St. Patrick’s Day Fine Motor Activities Check out our St. Patrick’s Day fine motor activities post from last year Rainbows and St. Patrick’s Day Art Activities See more details in this post about rainbow activities from last year. Cutting shapes. I used […]
St. Patrick’s Day Phonological Awareness
These are some of the activities we have on our Phonological Awareness shelf for March! Activity 1: Word Awareness Poem and Sequencing Cards (Source: St. Patrick’s Day Phonological Awareness Pack) Activity 2: Rhyming Riddles (Source: St. Patrick’s Day Phonological Awareness Pack) Activity 3: Beginning Sounds Build-a-Shamrock (Source: St. Patrick’s Day Phonological Awareness Pack) Activity 4: Ending Sounds […]
On the Language Shelves in February
In another post, we shared some of the Valentine themed activities we had in the Fine Motor and Art areas of the classroom… like this heart-tonging work. This time we’re sharing some new activities we have on the Language shelves for February If you (or some of your students) are on heart-themed materials overload, you […]
Winter Olympics
Are you excited about the Winter Olympics coming up this year? We’ve got a few activities planned to keep up with all the fun! Stamping the Olympic rings with paper tubes and paint Cut (or pin-punch) a torch and glue some colored tissue to make a flame String beads to make the Olympic rings. Figuring […]
Animals in Winter Unit
Here are some of the materials I put together for our Animals in Winter unit. This is a non-fiction book we will be using to introduce the unit. I might keep the cards apart and put them up on display one at a time as we talk about what it says. (Source: Animals in […]
The Mitten
“The Mitten” by Jan Brett is such a great book to read with the children in winter. I made up some phonological awareness games for our pre-literacy shelf to go with the book. Skill: Isolating Words You will need a basket of blocks to play this game. The teacher reads a sentence card and […]
Montessori and Preschool Printables for Winter
There are so many simple ways to bring a winter theme into the classroom. Last week we shared pictures of some of the new materials we have out in January. Here are a few more! Winter Clothing color sort. I decided to print out the black-line set on colored construction paper this time to […]
January Printables
It’s a new year and a new month and time to put out some new materials! Here are some of the Wintery works we have on the shelves for January. On the Pre-Literacy Shelf We love the Question Game for vocabulary development and improving inferencing skills. These questions are little more advanced than the […]
Top 10 Posts of 2013
Goodbye 2013! It’s been a fun year on the blog! Here are our most visited posts for 2013. I chunked some of the series together for you. A HUGE thank you to Deb at Living Montessori Now for sending us most of our visitors. 2013 would have been very different without you! 1. Fifteen Days […]
Space Vocabulary: Free Printable
Teaching space vocabulary to your preschoolers? The “I Have, Who Has” game is a great way to make learning new words fun and interactive. This popular classroom game can be easily adapted to teach a variety of vocabulary, including space terms. Our free printable cards feature large photos and easy-to-read words, making it perfect for […]
Christmas Around the World
This month in our class we have been celebrating holidays around the world. We began in America with Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, comparing the similarities and differences between the two. We then departed for a ‘holiday globe trot’, some of which was inspired by A Year of Many Firsts, while also weaving in the heritage of our own […]
Blue Whales and Parts of a Baleen Whale: Free Printable
Blue whales, the largest animals on Earth, are part of a special group called baleen whales. These massive creatures can grow up to 100 feet long and move gracefully through the ocean. Baleen whales, like blue whales, eat tiny organisms such as krill using special comb-like structures in their mouths called baleen plates. This way […]
Antarctic Food Web: Free Printable
The Antarctic Food Web The Antarctic Food Web offers a fascinating glimpse into the relationships between species living in one of the coldest environments on Earth. Understanding these connections helps students grasp how life in extreme conditions relies on balance and interdependence. By teaching the Antarctic food web, you can introduce students to the unique […]
Physical Features of Antarctica: Free Printable
It is the gift-giving season in many parts of the world and I have a ton of gifts to share with my amazing blog subscribers! I will be uploading one new free printable every day until Christmas. Today’s Freebie Physical Features of Antarctica We had a ton of fun learning about Antarctica last year. Antarctica Overview […]
Free Printable Biomes of Australia
Scroll down for details on how to download this printable. Take a look at some of our Australia Unit Studies work from last year for more ideas. Learn more about the biomes of the world Related Products Click the images for details. (Affiliate links may be included in this post. See full disclosures here.) […]
Free Printable Biomes of North America
This free printable features six major biomes of North America: deserts, grasslands, temperate forests, tropical forests, wetlands, and polar regions/tundra with photos of representative regions. North America is home to many different types of natural environments, called biomes. A biome is a large area of land with a specific climate, plants, and animals. Each biome […]
Free Printable Symbols of North Carolina
Symbols of North Carolina 3-Part Cards These may not be as useful to those of you who don’t live in North Carolina! We added these to our Geography shelf during our North America unit studies. Related Products Click the images for details. (Affiliate links may be included in this post. See full disclosures here.) […]
Free Montessori Printable Puzzle Words
There are over one hundred sight words in this collection. They are color coded in groups of ten so you can easily keep track of which set the child is working on. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBP3nYhl-EE/
On the Art Shelves in December
Here are some of the simple activities we have on our art shelves this month. Making little candy canes with left over pipe cleaner bits Lots of pinpunching variations out this month! Perfect for making Holiday cards. I love how sweet the santa hat and stocking look with the cotton glued on. This is a […]
Free Montessori Printable: Label the Environment
These are a great addition to your reading shelf. There are a few levels of difficulty so you can do this with a range of readers. The simplest set would correspond to the “blue” reading level (blends and multi-syllables). The second set has words that include phonograms highlighted in red. The most […]
Free Montessori Printable Phonogram Sentences
Ok my friends, this is a HUGE printable and may be my favorite of the lot. You get THREE sentences for EACH of the Montessori phonograms. Yeah, THREE… EACH. This took forever to put together and I love it. I hope you will too! The sentences do include a few basic sight words like “the”, […]
Free Montessori Printable Phonogram Sorting
Three pictures to go with each of the standard Montessori phonogram sandpaper letters. The phonogram sound may be found at the beginning, middle, or end of the word.
Consonant Blends Word List: Free Montessori Printable
A whole lot of word lists to add to your phonetic reading shelf! A variety of beginning and ending blends are represented.
Free Montessori Printable Beginning Sound Sorting Cards
These cards can be used for a variety of early language activities. Cut out and mount on colored paper to coordinate with your letter sets. I do not like to teach the sound of the letter X in the initial position and so this set does not include any pictures for X. All the other […]
December Fine Motor Shelf
Here are some pictures of our fine motor shelves all decked out in red and green to celebrate the season 🙂 December Fine Motor Fun! Pouring from a festive votive candle holder Tonging little ornaments into a candle holder we found at a thrift store. This little peg board is from the dollar store. I […]
December Printables
Here are some of the materials on our shelves in December Play Dough Mats Add these to your play dough work and see what the children do with them. I’ve really developed a liking for play dough mats over the last few years! From the December Preschool Pack Cutting Cutting strips. Children can practice […]
Thanksgiving in Our Class
We wanted to share some pictures from last year’s Thanksgiving Feast. This is the one holiday we always celebrate together as a class. It ties in so well with our study of North America, of plants and food, and is a culmination of so many of the practical life skills we’ve been practicing since the […]
December Phonological Awareness
I find that most Montessori Language Albums (manuals) don’t provide enough information about the pre-literacy skills children need to develop before being introduced to the Sandpaper Letters. In my opinion, a lot of time should to be spent on oral language development and ear training before symbols are introduced. Phonological awareness is an umbrella term […]
Learning About Leaves
Matching pressed leaves Matching leaf silhouettes Identifying leaves and trees This is a great fan deck with images of leaves and the trees they grow on Sorting big and little leaves Parts of a Leaf 3-part cards (Free in the Trillium Resource Library) Learning about leaf shapes with the botany cabinet Leaf […]
November Printables
There are so many great educational printables around the web for November! Here are some of our favorites: Language Oral Language “Hide, Turkey, Hide!” Prepositions Game. We found these little turkeys at Michael’s (a craft store). The lovely cards are from Kinder Kapers. Visual Matching Love these scarecrow matching cards! They are part of […]
November Fine Motor Shelf
Here are some of the fine motor activities we have lined up for November! Gotta bring out the turkey baster in November! Tweezing corn kernels. We picked up some ears of corn when we went on our field trip to the farm a couple of weeks ago. This one requires a little more dexterity. Picking […]
Plants We Eat
We introduced plants and plants we eat during our study of pumpkins. Here are some more of the activities we have been doing to explore the concept of edible plant parts. Sorting Plants on a Plate (I wish I could find the source for this set! It was a hand-me-down that I received over a […]
Pumpkins in Our Montessori Class
How Does a Pumpkin Grow? We went to the pumpkin patch to find out! We love it when our alumni come to visit! We planted some pumpkin seeds to watch them grow You can find these great cards at Montessori For Everyone. We made these pumpkin sequencing cards using images from Google. What’s […]
October Printables
Here are some of the card materials we have on our Math and Language shelves this month. We’ve been trying to bring in the themes of Fall and Halloween to celebrate October. I still have mixed feelings about Halloween in the classroom since it’s such a fantasy-based holiday. However, it is a big part of […]
On the Shelves in October
Fine Motor shelves with an October theme Pouring acorns Tweezing mini pumpkins into a pumpkin icecube tray Spooning and pouring corn kernels Spooning lima bean ghosts. Thanks to Pinterest for the inspiration! Gluing-on-a-dot using Halloween themed confetti Making a jack-o-lantern with basic shapes We have these Halloween themed paper punches available on the art […]
Introduction to Montessori Geography
Introduction to Geography: A Montessori Approach The Montessori approach utilizes hands-on learning, independence, and exploration. When it comes to introducing young learners to geography, this method proves to be both engaging and effective, fostering a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world. Children are introduced to geography through tactile and visual experiences, such as […]
Montessori At Home
We had our first Parent Education Workshop of the year last week. We talked about things that can be done at home to support what the children are doing at school. All of our tips and suggestions center around helping the child become more independent. Here are some examples of ways parents can organize their […]
How to Start a New Class
How to Start A New Class Today’s post is about what we do during the first few days in our classroom. This post ended up being a lot longer than I had originally planned. It’s also coming a few weeks late since all of you are back to school already. But, I hope it helps […]
Organizing Thematic Units and Seasonal Supplies
Last month I wrote about how I use a unit studies approach to our “cultural” curriculum. I love how it has simplified my organization system. I used to keep my materials categorized by curriculum area. For example, all the language materials were in one cabinet, all the practical life materials were in one spot, and […]
Organizing Art Supplies
Organizing Art Ideas Pinterest is now my organizing tool of choice for all curriculum ideas. I have a board dedicated just to art, but I tend to add more art pins to my Unit studies boards. This makes it easier to decide when to use a particular activity. But before Pinterest, I had binders […]
8 Tips for Organizing Practical Life Supplies
Woohoo! Only a Montessori teacher can understand the rush of owning tiny bowls and pitchers and tongs. In the early days, you think you can’t possibly ever have enough. And then the day comes when you realize, by golly, you have to stop accumulating them because there’s no room left in the ~ahem~ fourth dimension. […]
Organizing in Four Dimensions
Over the years, I’ve collected a lot of classroom materials. I mean, a lot. If you’re a teacher, there’s a good chance you know exactly what I’m talking about. It starts with a few cute trays, a stack of themed printables, some thrift store finds that might come in handy one day… and before you […]
The Evolution of My Montessori Record Keeping System
I have been working and observing in Montessori classrooms for a good fifteen years now and I’ve seen dozens of different ways to keep track of the mountain of information generated on a daily basis. I’m also a bit of an information junkie and I collect ideas like they’re about to run out (have you seen my Pinterest boards?!) […]
A Simple Montessori Graduation
Do We Really Need a Graduation for Preschool? I have struggled with this question over the years, and more so the last few when we’ve only had preschoolers in our class. Fancy graduation ceremonies for preschool have always left me feeling uneasy. Many of the typical graduation rituals seem so… developmentally inappropriate for this […]
Around the World
Geography and world cultures are a big part of the curriculum in Montessori and we’re very lucky to have families who have traveled all over the world! Here are pictures from some of the wonderful presentations that parents have shared with us over the past few months. Africa Trying on a hat from Egypt Enjoying […]
Painted Lady Butterflies
Painted Lady Butterflies are a common and well-known species of butterfly found in many parts of the world. They are easily recognizable by their colorful and patterned wings. In this lesson, we will explore the Painted Lady Butterfly’s life cycle, habitat, and role in the ecosystem. Studying Painted Lady Butterflies provides an excellent way for […]
Flower Activities
We were given such a spectacular display of flowers for Teacher Appreciation week that we thought it was time to bring out our floral works! Sensorial Exploration Different Kinds of Flowers We have a ridiculous number of picture matching cards and they’re all out on the shelves! I may donate some of these to […]