Autumn is just around the corner, and the AMC 2009 Fall Hands On Newsletter is filled with ideas to help make Autumn 2009 truly meaningful for the children in your life. Most of the ideas, lesson plans and other creative offerings have been generously donated by the participants of the AMC Resource Center http://www.amonco.org/directory.html, and I have contributed a few myself. This newsletter is free of charge and contains free lesson plans, recipes and crafts.
Perhaps, you don’t live in an area where you can see the change of seasons firsthand. You have only seen the changing color of the leaves via a travelogue and can only imagine such majesty of nature. In Part I of the AMC Hands On Fall Montessori Newsletter, you will find the resources you need to help children learn about how and why leaves change color and how to grow and pick pumpkins and other aspects of fall gardening. Links to apple unit studies and apple recipes and crafts and more are available by clicking here and other sections of this newsletter.
Fall Gardening
Rae, from the Creative Process, provides autumn planting tips. See http://www.amonco.org/creative01/montessori_fall1.pdf
Janet, from Garden Artisans, shared her Nectar Recipe for Hummingbirds plus offers additional free information featuring Remembering the
Wildlife in our Fall Cleanup, Planting Bulbs for
Spring and Summer Color and Collecting Seeds – Great Fall Fun! See http://www.amonco.org/creative9/montessori_fall9.pdf for details.
Special Apple Recipes and Crafts
Dale, from North American Montessori Center, has contributed many Montessori presentations, including two excellent practical life exercises for this issue.
First, you will want to read through the Making Apple-Cinnamon Muffins unit. Let Dale walk you through setup, presentation, making the muffins, tidying up and tasting – all Montessori style. Extension exercises are also included. See Part V
Second, Dale has whipped up a delicious Montessori style Making Applesauce practical life exercise and recipe. See Part V of this newsletter to access this practical life exercise plus additional Montessori lessons contributed by North American Montessori Center.
Jaye, from Creative Care, contributed the Apple Wreath and song that can be used for children ages two to five. Visit Part V for details.
Montessorian Kathy O’Reilly, from Cooking with Children Can Be Easy has shared her Apple Sauce Parfait recipe. Kathy tells us that she has used this recipe with toddlers (18 months) through adults
(81 years) and that it tastes kind of like apple pie. Kathy provides the reader with a very complete set of practical life exercises. Sequence cards, shopping list, station setup of equipment, booklist, finger play and extension activities are also provided.
Want more?? Kathy has generously also included a Fresh Fruit Freeze recipe with practical life exercises. Both can be viewed and downloaded
by clicking here.
Don’t forget to download both the http://www.amonco.org/creative7/montessori_fall7.pdf to access the delicious the Apple Angel Food Cake recipe courtesy of Montessorian Dianne Knesek from Conceptual Learning.
Recipes
Janet, from Chinaberry, forwarded a Frozen Jack-O-Lanterns recipe and Gari, from Music for Little Folks contributed a very special chocolate pudding recipe. Both are perfect for autumn parties. See Part IV
The Danish Aebleskiver contributed by Rae of the Creative Process, Lithuanian Cranberry Cake by Ligia of Childsake http://www.amonco.org/creative6/montessori_fall6.pdf and the German Oma’s Cake shared by Carolyn of Excellence in Education are three recipes that are perfect for the upcoming fall and winter months. Carolyn has also used the dough in the classroom for many creative projects. See Part VII
In a hurry? Try the Omelet in a Bag contributed by Joyful Noise Publications and Macaroni and Cheese contributed by Millie of Insta-Learn. See Part VIII
In Part II you will also find a ice pudding recipe submitted by Vera of The Music House.
Music
Georgette, from Cantemos, will lead you step by step on how to make a guiro. Think of the fun this musical instrument will create in your school and home classrooms. It will add much to multicultural discussions involving music and musical instruments of Latin America. Visit this link for details.
Shari, from Shari and Jerry, has provided some fun sensory extension exercises that will help children identify and discern different sounds. See Sound Effects Activities
Marjorie, from Classical Magic, offers a lesson plan for autumn by Vivaldi – from The Four Season. See Part VII You will discover that her very creative ideas can be adapted for various age groups.
Back to School Montessori Crafts and Exercises
In Part III, Dale Gausman, from the North American Montessori Center, shares two great back to school exercises. To access The Friendship Tree and the Getting to Know You Exercises click here. In
Part VI, Joan of Nation Relation, shares her Geography Catch Games. See
http://www.amonco.org/creative6/montessori_fall6.pdf for details.
Sewing, Knitting and Needlepoint
In Part V, Dale from North American Montessori Center, provides a very organized practical life exercise that includes the materials, presentation, setting up, sewing and finally finishing a Friendship Quilt. See Part V for details.
Harrisville Designs offers several felt crafts, including the Felted Ball Ornament, Felted Bead Necklaces and Felted Pouches. See Part I for details.
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.
Ruth, of Ruth Dilts Design, contributed complete instructions on how to make coasters. See Part VI for details.
It’s never to early to start preparing for holiday crafting. In Part III, Montessori teacher Cathie Perolman shared her adorable Snow Covered Pine Trees craft. See http://www.amonco.org/creative3/montessori_fall3.pdf for details.
Anna, from Wood, Etc., suggested that young children make Zebras that can be used in an Animal Safari unit study This project is indeed easy and inexpensive to make. Click here for more information.
Art
Click here to access the Color Wheel Lesson Plans shared by Rae of Creative Process. Rae tells us that these lessons can be adapted for elementary age through adult learner, and by seeing what is offered I thoroughly agree. The ideas can be integrated in art, social studies, writing, and science lessons. Rae also submitted her new Make at Home Craft Recipes. See Part III to access the lesson plans.
Crafts and Holiday Gift Giving
Why not create some unique holiday gifts? Janet, from Chinaberry, forwarded a craft idea that children and teens are sure to love. The Decoupage Decorative Gift Box is a gift that will be treasured for years to come. The Painted Kitchen Trivet Gift, courtesy of Karen of Fun Felt is also a marvelous craft that serves as a unique gift.
Wood Crafting and Drawing
By clicking here you will find a Wood Dough Recipe for Sculpting from Richard Lord of LORD Company, and a Turtle Drawing Lesson form Kim, of Draw Your World. Richard’s recipe is a great practical life extension exercise. Kim creates integrated lessons that develop handwriting, drawing, science and more. These lessons can be customized for different age groups.
Science and Nature
In In Part II Janette, from Cotton’s Journey, shares her
COTTON BOLL’S BOUNTY ACTIVITY Janette tells us that the student will be able to compare cotton lint varieties, predict and record, compute percentages, and discover the properties of spinning and crushing cottonseed oil.
This activity is an interdisciplinary unit for the following grades:
1st-3rd, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Nature of Science
4th-6th, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Nature of Science
7th, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Nature of Science
John, from Exploration Education, will walk you through the science activity SIMPLY SOUND, which helps children understand the properties of sound, and they will actually have fun doing so. Visit Part VIII for details.
Don and Diana, from Nature’s Workshop Plus, have authored the article Delighting in Discovering Little Things. Set aside time to read this informative piece. Children will discover new ways to see the world through a hand held magnifying glass or microscope. See http://www.amonco.org/creative/montessori_fall4.pdf to download this information.
Ever been on a microscope safari? Get ready, set, go! See
Part IX for additional information.
Receive a complete cardiovasuclar unit study for K – 12 with links for post secondary students by visiting Part VIII
Free Educational Games
Alan, from Stillson Works, offers some unique, innovative Middle School Word Puzzles These puzzles will be especially useful for Columbus Day, Christmas, etc. Alan’s puzzles are also unique holiday gifts.
See Part IX to access the Birdcage Press Combine Learning and Fun at Art Museums article plus links to the Treasure Hunt, Art Collector, I Spy an Eye and Scavenger Hunt games.
Literature Lessons
Searching for the right book? When in doubt, start with the winners! Rita, from literatureplace.com will show you how to do just that! Whether you are in the process of compiling a reading booklist or in the process of creating your own book-awards program, this is the place to start. Visit http://www.amonco.org/creative/montessori_fall4.pdf to download Rita’s information.
Math
Mel, from MTE, Ltd. provided a problem solving sample to help students learn about transversable curves. Based on the thoughts of Piaget and Montessori; Educational Critical
Thinking is logical and productive thinking that is capable of extending
ideas, creating new ideas, and synthesizing patterns of thought.
Educational Critical Thinking is a type of disciplined reasoning and must be self-directed, self-disciplined,
self-monitored, and self-corrective. See Part V
In Part VI, Dr. Borenson of Hands On Equations has provided some free algebra samples for you to present to your children. Click here to download the exercises.
Social Studies
In Part VII Ed and Suzanne from The Puzzle Man share Fun Filled Creative Ways to Use the USA Map.
Next, invite your children to take a tour of Italy.
To access this integrated italian unit study, complete with lessons focusing on the art, history, music, language and cuisine, point your browser to Part IV
Now, that you have some new lesson plans, delve in and begin to put some extra sparkle into your school and home school settings. I wish you a fun filled autumn.
Many of the resource participants who contributed to this newsletter are featured in the monthly drawings. See the AMC Montessori website for details on how to enter. Visit http://www.amonco.org and http://www.amonco.org/directory.html today!
Visit American Montessori Consulting and look under New and Notable for additional articles and free lesson plans.
Heidi
http://www.amonco.org
Enjoy!
Heidi
Posted by montessori21stcentury 
Posted by montessori21stcentury 
Posted by montessori21stcentury 