Here are some of the activities we have on our Montessori preschool shelves while we celebrate Earth Day!
On the Art Shelf
Cutting Strips
This is a great activity for who children who are just beginning to learn how to hold scissors properly.
(Source: Earth Day Preschool Pack )
Cutting Lines
Cutting on the line offers a variety of line patterns for children to follow with their scissors. This takes very careful precision.
(Source: Earth Day Preschool Pack )
Pre Literacy Activities
Sorting by Size
This sorting by size activity is helpful for children in the early stages of visual discrimination. The Earth Day pictures make it educational and will invite fun discussion about trees, shovels and recycling.
(Source: Earth Day Preschool Pack )
Sorting by Color
Sorting by Color is another good activity for practicing visual discrimination.
(Source: Earth Day Preschool Pack )
Oral Language Development: The Question Game
The Earth Day Question Game includes eight question cards with topics like recycling, compost, using your bicycle to save energy, and more! This is fun to do in a small group. We distribute the picture cards and talk about the photos. Then the teacher reads the question cards and the children identify the correct picture based on the clues.
(Source: Earth Day Preschool Pack )
Oral Language Development: Following Directions
Playing the Following Directions game is great for all ages. It can be played with just one friend or the entire class! It can be very helpful when your students need assistance with listening to the teacher, as well as listening to their friends.
(Source: Earth Day Preschool Pack )
Oral Development: Where is the Trash? A Prepositions Game
Play the Preposition Game to help your students learn the concept of where an object is placed- such as above, beside, in front of, etc. Best if you can get a real recycling bin and can!
(Source: Earth Day Preschool Pack )
Shadow Matching
This Shadow Matching activity is another great visual discrimination work. It requires the child to look at all the details of a shape in order to match it properly. Hopefully you will have some great Earth Day discussion with these fun pictures, too!
(Source: Earth Day Preschool Pack )
Sorting photos of Compost and Recycling
This sorting activity has the child sorting pictures of recycling and compost. This will lead to fun conversations about the difference between the two, as well as encourage the child to recycle at home! Ideally you will have real recycling and compost bins in your class and do this as part of daily life in the classroom.
(Source: Earth Day Preschool Pack )
Counting
Number Clip Cards
The Number Clip Cards are excellent for practicing early one-to-one correspondence with children. We usually use flat floral marbles instead of clips on these cards.
(Source: Earth Day Preschool Pack )
Number Cards
Number Cards are another great activity to help solidify the concept of one-to-one correspondence for your early counters.
(Source: Earth Day Preschool Pack )
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Seemi holds a Master's degree in education, and an AMS Early Childhood credential. She has twenty years of experience in Montessori as a teacher, school administrator, and school owner. Seemi is the founder of TrilliumMontessori.org.