Handwashing (Toddler Tuesday)

 Not many pictures involving the toddlers last week. Preschoolers kept me plenty busy with take a picture of me moments. I did present our Handwashing Table to Jessica. Jessica enjoyed every step of the handwashing presentation. This is one of the few times that I have seen a child repeat the entire steps over and over for the entire work period. I was amazed and couldn't focus a lot of times on anything else because I was really intrigued by this observation of Jessica. It continues to be her favorite work. Jessica is not potty trained yet, so I thought that this handwashing table would at least help her learn to wash her hands independently.  Here is Jessica with great excitement and concentration while doing handwashing work.
                

                                                    The Handwashing Table.

First step getting water for the work.

                                           Pouring water into the wash bowl and rinse bowl.

Washing and rinsing hands.

                                           Drying hands,and putting drying cloth back.      

                                         Carrying bowl to pour the water out into a bucket. 

                                      Pouring water out of the washing and rinsing bowls.
                                    

           Returning rinse bowl to the tray.  Work cycle completed!!         

                       Jessica never missed a step while she was repeating this work several times. The Montessori Method is truly amazing. I have raised three toddlers and I would have never thought that all I had to do was set up a Handwashing Table for them to gain independence, busy their hands, and me a little more freedom to do other things as well. Now pop over and take a look at Pita Pocket and other toddlers learning the montessori way at One Hook Wonder.

We Are Family! {Montessori Monday)

     Last school week was a blast!!  We enjoyed each other we cried, we laughed. The moments that happened there are no words to describe it. It was all natural learning. Whenever a child requested a lesson I was right there, prepared to present. They tried new subject areas, we were family. Take a look.

                                                              Practical Life

                                                                           Pouring beans.
                                                                                    

                                                                           Sponge squeezing.   

                                                                                      

                                                                 Buckle dressing frame.

                                              Working with scissors creating a scary silly bag.

Button frame

Language

Matching object to picture (fruit)

Sequencing puzzles. Anna is saying "Look at me, Mrs. T".

                                                        Participating in a paper story.

                                                            Matching object to shadow.

                                                 Mathematics/Sensorial

Pink Tower

                                                     Ordering Number Rods from one to ten.

                                                                         Spindle Box.

                                                           Pink Tower/BrownStair extension.

                                                           Sandpaper Numbers with sand tracing box.

                                                                Geometric Demontration Tray. 
                                                                       
                                                                       Geography

                                                         Land/ Water/Air transportation sort

                                                                     World Map puzzle.

                                                       North America Continent Map Puzzle.

                                             Discovering Canada is bigger than United States.

                                                                     Zoology

                                                                     Living/Non Living sort.

                                                                       Frog puzzle.

                           No, I didn't get a chance to take a picture of every work the children did. This is actually a representation of two days of work! I am prepared for next week. I'll be introducing some works in Botany. We can't let Fall come without investigating Apples. Now go check out what Short Pants and others are learning using the montessori method at One Hook Wonder!!!

Ecology:Dirty Water

                                            This week we did a science experiment called "Dirty Water". We discussed the difference between dirty and clean water. Some children thought dirty water could be scary. Throughout the week we also talked about our emotions, so the word scary has been used quite a lot. The experiment is very similar to how I demonstrated the job of stems in flowers.

                                                      Supplies needed: 2 cups
                                                                                 2 flowers
                                                                                 water
                                                                                 dark food coloring

                                                      This is how we set up the experiment

                                                                                   
    I wasn't able to take pictures of the children while we were doing the actual experiment this a picture after they completed the steps.

                                                                
                         Our science question was What happens to a flower that is in dirty water?

                          They noticed the flower in the clean water was still white.

                     They observed the flower in the dirty water turned blue.           

                         What we learned is that dirty water is not healthy for living things and can cause harm to some non living things as well.     

                                N made an observation on her own she noticed the flower still smelled the same.

N needed an explanation for her finding. I shared with her that over time the flower would start to smell different the longer it was kept in dirty water. N wants to find this out for herself, so we will leave the flower in the dirty water until.... N predicts that the flower will still smell the same as the flower in clean water.

Stay Tuned.

                                                                                         

Phasing In Independent Snack Time

 With a few new children I decided to reintroduce how snack time works. I made it as simple as I could for the first go around. I offered apple slices with a pictorial count so the child would know how much they may have. I showed them where their nametags will be on the table, how to clean up after they eat, and exactly where to put their nametags when finished.
                                                                   

                                                                 
 There is a lot involved that a child must due to serve themselves snack and beaware that their must be enough for everyone to eat.

Practing counting, matching object to outline, one to one corespondence.

Mumble was able to recognize his name.

Once most of the children are able to recognize their names the whole snack routine will be less of me and more of them. For now I will be pairing up children with one who does know their name. That way since there are only two chairs the child will be able to use process of elimination. They all have shown me that they know how to do this by playing musical chairs.

Have You Seen My Cat?

 I have a few new emerging writers who love to use pencils and crayons to draw during our work period. I thought this activity would be of interest to them.

                                                      First I read this story to them.

  This is a story about a little boy who ask various people have they seen his cat. The children were amazed that Lions and Jaguars are also cats. This story held everyones' attention. They all wore smiles when the little boy found his cat.
                                                                     
                                                  The children made a cat with precut parts of the head and the tail. They glued it on their paper and practiced tracing circles, c, a, t, and the word cat.

                                                                                   
                                 Notice Lil very involved with this work. Lil did not want to write in a journal, but couldn't wait to write in this activity. Lil happens to love cats, and has her very own pet cat at home.
                                                               Follow The Child!!

Aa Sound Bin

Tomorrow I will be presenting the Sound Bin Aa. The introduction of the sound bins are always an exciting time for the children. It is now presented during circle time so all the children are exposed to the letter sounds. Like all of the materials the children who are interested in the activities will work with them more.

                                         The Sound Bin which holds all of the following activities.

                                   Highway Letters printable comes from Making Learning Fun website.
                                                                                       

Lacing apple.

      Letters could be used for tracing. Sound objects,ant,apple,astronaut,ax and alligator. The objects are kept in the envelope. Sound card from Beautiful Sun Montessori.

        The child will use the magnet to place the words on the letter Aa card. The pointer is used to find the letter Aa.

This box holds the magnetic activity.

                                                  Here is the shelving that holds our Sound Bins.