Springtime Hands On Learning for PreK – Grade 8

Welcome to Springtime at American Montessori Consulting

Visit Spring/Summer 1998. and Spring/Summer 1999. These newsletters were recently revised.

A sampling of what is featured in the 1998 issue appears below:

• interdisciplinary lessons involving shape, color, science and math.

• new color gradient learning ideas

• Butterflies – Lessons and Observations

• categorize gems according to color.

• lessons in shapes and mathematics for middle school students

Visit Springtime Celebrations to access the following:

Gardening & Other Springtime Nature Activities
and Theme Lesson Planning

• Ampersand Press – Games and Wildlife Stamps

• Childsake – Nature and the Environment

• Cotton’s Journey

• Farm Country General Store – Open Pollinated Seeds

• Fun Felt Newsletter Article Loaded with Free Butterfly Lesson Planning Ideas

• Fun Felt – Science Theme Lesson Planning with Felt

• Free Birdhouse Plans and Patterns

• Free Gardening Tips and More

• Free Information Source – Seashells for Classified Reading Exercises

• Free Lesson Planning Butterfly Links

• Garden Artisans – Newsletters, Projects and More

• Garden Forever for Gardeners of All Ages and Abilities

• Joyful Noise – Theme Related Materials – Wonderful Selection of Science Materials

• Lab Essentials, Inc. – Microscopes for Science Investigational Studies

• Nature’s Workshop Plus!

• Priority Montessori Materials – Hands On Science

• Schoolmasters.com Science Kits and Activities

• Spring Gardening with Children – Make a Tepee (Free Instructions)

• Wildflowers – Free Lesson Planning Ideas

Springtime Art Activities

• allartsupplies.com- For School and Home Classrooms

• Chinaberry.com – Find the Perfect Nature and/or Springtime Theme Books

• Creative Care – Ideas Books (Jenny’s Spring Crafts)

• Free Making Art from Seashells Activity

• Free Seashell Painting

• Nature’s Workshop Plus!

• Visual Manna

Holidays

• Paper Mache Pinata

• Celebrating Cinco de Mayo at The Holiday Zone

• Lesson Plan – Subtopic – Cinco de Mayo

• A Unit Study Lesson Plan About Mexico in?Spanish

• More Interdisciplinary Lesson Planning ~ Spanish Lessons and Cinco de Mayo

• Cinco de Mayo ~ Excellent Background Information

• Cinco de Mayo Recipes

• Creative Care – Ideas Books (Jenny’s Crafts)

• Free Mother’s Day History and Activities

• History of Memorial Day

• Memorial Day

• Free Father’s Day Projects

• Free Easter History and Activities

• Free Passover Ideas

Happy Spring!!

Heidi
http://www.amonco.org

Multicultural Lesson Planning Made Easy

The 2001 AMC Montessori Multicultural Lesson Planning Newsletter has just been revised.

Using the Montessori method, Korea, China and Japan are used as template lessons for contrast and comparison lesson planning. Learn how to integrate dance, theater arts, art, history, geography, music, second language acquisition, writing, grammar, reading, and more into your multicultural lesson plans.

Quickly and efficiently locate the resources you need without having to wade through mounds of Internet material. Visit
Part I – AMC Montessori Multicultural Lesson Planning
and

Part III- AMC Montessori Multicultural Lesson Planning

For additional multicultural lesson planing see
A Unit Study Lesson Plan About Mexico in Spanish

Origami Lessons in Spanish

Unit Study Lesson Plan About Mexico in French

Enjoy

Heidi

http://www.amonco.org

Adventures in Chinese for Children

Tina Lee, a public school educator, college supervisor of student teachers, parent of two adult children and a grandparent of a 27 month old recently reviewed the Chinese for Children: Professor Toto Multi-Media Language Education Kit. Her review will provide invaluable insight to those wishing to introduce or add Chinese into school and homeschool foreign language programs.

“This kit is designed to teach children ages 2 years and up a second language. The multimedia kit was developed by François Thibault, founder and director NYC’s Language Workshop for Children.

I was privileged to field test the kit with my English speaking Chinese granddaughter. After viewing a segment in Mandarin, then replaying that same portion in English, she viewed both with quiet, receptive attention. The Parent’s Guide emphasizes that the child should watch both DVD’s first before moving to the activity books or audio CD. The parent guide emphasizes that viewing in English should be limited and “as soon as your child becomes familiarized with the story, he or she should move on to the target language.”

As an educator, I find that the suggestions on how to implement the program for the recommended short spurt lessons follow the best practices for second language acquisition. The approach is pedagogically sound – immersing the child in hearing, understanding, and internalizing the second language in a natural way before the child is expected to speak it.

To assist in lesson planning, the full script of Professor Toto in Chinese is printed in English, simplified Chinese characters, and also Pin-Yin (Western phonetic Chinese). The script is intended to closely match the culture and today’s common usage. Rather than a literal word-for-word translation, the emphasis is on an eventual intuitive understanding for the word meanings.

The kit is aimed for both teachers and parents and contains:
A Parent’s Guide
Part 1 & 2 Script in Chinese and English and English and Chinese
Vocabulary review in English and Chinese
Sing and Learn Book
Color and Learn Book
4 Chinese and English Language Video DVD’s
2 Audio CD’s”

For additional information please contact:
The Language Workshop for Children: Professor Toto in Chinese
Phone: (212)396.0830
(800)731.0830
FAX: (212)396.1372
E-mail address: info@professortoto.com
Website: http://www.professortoto.com

Thanks, Tina!

Heidi Spietz
American Montessori Consulting
http://www.amonco.org
Serving School and Home Educators Since 1988

March is National Craft Month

It’s still cold in many areas throughout the United States. Some weekends are spent with families snuggled in their warm homes reading books, playing board games and doing other things to pass the time. Why not create some very special lasting memories?

Knitting, needlepoint, embroidery, crocheting and other such activities serve multiple purposes and can be enjoyed by all. It’s not too late to knit a scarf for that special someone. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are not far away. Why not make a handmade gift that is created with thought and care?

You can readily see that the benefits stretch far beyond just making memories. First, young children receive practical life applications and learn how to combine colors and textures. Second, it gives family members an opportunity to share a creative experience. Third, we all know that you can’t put a price on a handmade gift.

So, let’s get started. First, visit How to Knit and Crochet You should find just about everything you need there – from the basics to a discussion forum where you can ask questions, look for project ideas and share the fun.

Find links to free projects, lesson planning ideas and other offerings by visiting Links

See http://www.amonco.org/creative3/montessori_fall3.pdf for more information.

Lois, from Bountiful, forwarded an easy to knit pattern that is perfect for beginners. Visit Broken Rib Scarf with Seed Stitch Border – EASY BEGINNER PATTERN to access this information.

Yarn can be expensive, so first check the bins and discount tables at your local crafts or yardage store for bargains. If it’s too cold to venture outside, visit Closeouts from Bountiful You can also found out more about fibers, books, spinning, weaving and some very special products by visiting Bountiful

Have you admired those who create beautiful needlepoint masterpieces, but have felt too timid to try this art yourself? Think again. Receive a good overview and directions on how to get started by visiting Teach a Child to Needlepoint and Needlepoint for Fun

Receive a Beginning Cross Stitch and Continental Stitch for Making Coasters by clicking here. To see more of Ruth’s beautiful designs visit Ruth Dilts Design

For more creative fun visit Hands On Fun and click on the free hands on lesson planning idea planning newsletters.

Heidi

http://www.amonco.org