March is National Crafts 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

Harrisville Design’s pegLoom, is a great and affordable way to discover the excitement of real weaving. Children immediately grasp the technique of weaving with the simple, sturdy loom. Children can make wall hangings, purses, coasters, “mug rugs” and more! pegLoom includes everything needed for a complete woven project. The pegLoom was also the winner of the Teachers’ Choice Award. Visit Harrisville Designs

Next, point your browser to the Farm Country General Store http://www.homeschoolfcgs.com. This online store offers a wide variety of arts & crafts books and other resources for individual and group settings.

Be sure to also read the Creative Care March 2012 Newsletter for ready to use preschool age appropriate craft kits and other spring themed items. For additional information about year round crafts, please visit the Creative Care website.

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

Heidi Anne Spietz

Montessori Rocks and Minerals Lesson Planning Ideas

As we move into the months of March and April, we continue to be on the look out for ways to employ an interdisciplinary approach to our lesson planning. Last year, a child who had very little interest in physical science was referred to me for tutoring. I used Montessori based hands-on lesson planning and independent research assignments to help spark an interest in this subject. And, like so many students I have tutored using the Montessori approach, it wasn’t long before  I could visibly see a positive difference in how she approached the tutoring sessions.

My student’s interest in learning more about the physical properties of rocks began with learning to apply the Mohs scale of hardness http://www.minerals.net/resource/property/hardness.aspx to the specimens she examined. However, her interest didn’t stop there. By engaging in classified reading cards http://www.amonco.org/spring1_2001.html and completing additional research, she began to learn about how these rocks were formed.  Within a short span of time,  she was able to easily distinguish a sedimentary rock from a metamorphic rock based on other criteria, as well.

She seemed to really benefit from the investigatory projects and research assignments and enjoyed reviewing the hands-on Montessori classified reading cards, matching exercises and charts. These latter hands-on activities helped her to review and build on the concepts that she had already mastered. For example, when she studied about metamorphic rocks, this student learned that marble was employed in the construction of the Michelangelo sculpture.

Further research lead her to discover that this particular metamorphic rock  was used to carve the Michelangelo sculpture  and actually came from the quarries near the town of Carrara, Italy.  Hence the name ‘Carrara marble” was coined.

Coincidentally, an interest in learning more about Michelangelo was fostered, as well.  For a biographical reading recommendation, please see  http://www.homeschoolfcgs.com/product_info.php/products_id/930338  .

At this point in the learning process, this student’s interest in metamorphic rocks was piqued, and she became curious about the uses of other types of metamorphic rocks. By engaging in additional research, she discovered that the metamorphic rock, quartzite, is used to make swimming pools, and that the brilliant blue Lapis Lazuli can be used to create a stunning pair of decorative earrings or embedded in other fine jewelry.

Eventually, my student was able to identify each rock in any random collection presented to her. Usually, each collection contained a mix of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. If she picked out, for example, a gneiss specimen, she would identify it as metamorphosed granite, and could tell me why this rock has characteristic stripes.

You can view some of the lessons I used for this student in Montessori at Home: A Creative Teaching Guide for Parents of Children Six through Nine Years of Age and Modern Montessori at Home: A Creative Teaching Guide for Parents of Children 10 through 12 Years of Age  Visit. http://www.amonco.og/bookstore.html for details.

In addition, the following links will lead you to other resources.

http://www.workshopplus.com/productcart/pc/showsearchresults.asp?idcategory=41&customfield=0&SearchValues=&priceFrom=0&priceUntil=999999999&withstock=&sku=&IDBrand=0&keyWord=Rocks&exact=&resultCnt=10&order=&iPageCurrent=1&pageStyle=H Nature’s Workshop Plus Inc.offers books, rock and mineral specimens and collections for lesson planning.

A classroom collection of rocks & minerals, igneous rock bag, and Moh’s Scale of hardness Minerals are just some of what you will find by visiting the Schoolmasters’ Science website. See http://www.schoolmasters.com/categories/schoolmasters_products.cfm?category=Rock580156&bc2=2&div=sc for details.

Farm Country General Store offers a rocks and minerals sticker book that could be used for the construction of matching picture exercises and classified reading cards. See http://www.homeschoolfcgs.com/product_info.php/cPath/22/products_id/3814 for more information.

 Lab Essentials, Inc. offers a fine selection of microscopes for those interested in examining specimens close up. See http://www.labessentials.com/holiday_shopping_guide.htm to learn more about their offerings.

Rae Peterson, of the Creative Process, offers a nice collection of posters and charts that can be incorporated into your geology and geography lesson planning.  Visit http://www.creativeprocess.net/search/search.pl?Terms=rocks

At http://www.rocksandminerals4u.com/ rocksandminerals4, you will find detailed information designed for both students and teachers on the following topics: the rock cycle, igneous rocks, earth’s interior, mineral identification, and birthstones. Plus you will discover links to a rock gallery, rock links, and their rock shop.

LORD Company,  http://www.lordequip.com/ offers free Montessori Land and Water Forms Cards and Labels for a hands on experience exploring the differences and similarities of Lake and Island, Cape and Bay, Isthmus and Strait, Peninsula and Gulf, and Archipelago and System of Lakes. To access this free download, visit http://www.lordequip.com/land_water.php

Some basic rock and mineral information is available from the following web resources:

http://geology.about.com/od/rocks/a/Rock-Tables.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002289/ident.html

http://webmineral.com/

http://www.gemselect.com/other-info/gemstones-by-language.php

http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/Geographic-Features-Guides_p_187.html

Finally, point your browser to Amy’s blog http://amypayson.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/rocks-and-minerals-lapbook-and-unit-study-part-i/ This is a MUST read. Once your read through Amy’s in depth lesson planning ideas, marvel at the photos and view the video clips found at this link you will understand why I highly recommend her Rocks and Minerals Lapbook and Unit Study.

Are you looking for links to other Montessori unit studies? Visit

http://montessori21stcentury.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/montessori-lessons-to-jumpstart-2012/. Below, is just a sampling of what you will find there.

Italy – Links for a Montessori Unit Study

A Maria Montessori Movie Worth Seeing

Gardening Year Round – Tips from an Expert

AMC Holiday Montessori Grammar Bingo and Extension Exercises

Apples and Oranges – Links for Montessori Unit Study

Study of the Human Respiratory System – Links for Montessori Unit Study

Medical Terminology – Links for Montessori Unit Study

The Human Cardiovascular System – Links for Montessori Unit Study

Cardiology Terminology

The Human Nervous System – Links for Montessori Unit Study

Let’s Go on an Animal Safari – See Part VII

Happy Lesson Planning,

Heidi Anne Spietz

American Montessori Consulting

http://www.amonco.org

Montessori for the 21^st Century

Celebrating 24 Years of Serving School and Home Educators

Montessori February Community Service Projects

Please note: If the links don’t come through, please visit http://www.amonco.org/montessoricommunityprojects.html

This year commit to do something fun yet really meaningful for those in your community who are sad and lonely. Become involved in a project and possibly enlist the help of other families and friends. First, call your local nursing home or children’s hospital and explain that you would like to bring handmade gifts to the patients. Find out the dos and don’ts of acceptable gift giving.

Now, get busy and go to work. Visit the Kids Activities – Community Service Ideas website. Scroll down until you see Project Ideas. Decide whether you want to make a cooking, sewing or other type of craft project. One word of caution here. The first time we became involved in a community project, we got a little carried away by our enthusiasm and spent more than we wanted. Don’t make the same mistake. Meet with your other community project partners and agree that you will set a spending limit. To make the project enjoyable for everyone, be sure to also consider the age, ability, interest, and attention span of the children/teens involved in making the gifts.

Bargain hunting does take time but is well worth the effort. These trips are useful for children and teens as they learn about budgeting, units of measurement in cooking and how much yardage of material to buy.

Visit some craft, yardage and stationery stores in your area and explain what your group is doing and ask to see the discount and bins. Also inquire about possible discounts.

You can also cut costs by purchasing baking items at many discount grocery chains. Below, are some additional sites and recipes to consider for your cooking projects.

Kis Activities – Community Service Ideas

Free Valentine’s Day Cards

Craftown Valentine Projects

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookie Cutouts ~ Recipe from Montessorian Kathy O’Reilly

Chocolate Chip Bars

Scented Baskets

IT’S A WRAP – Making Beautiful Gift Boxes

Although the service project mentioned in this posting is designed for the young, the elderly enjoy these projects as well. A 91-year-old member of our family recently created the Valentine bag pictured above. She continues to be housebound because of illness but is motivated to reach out and help others. She currently is making these organza Valentine bags to give to women in need.

We did some bargain shopping and found some good buys through eBay auctions. Among the best bargains were the satin rosettes and organza bags. By clipping coupons and waiting for sales, we were also able to purchase ribbon and other trimming at deeply discounted prices.

This year, we knew that it was mandatory that we stay within our budget. Again, we made some price comparisons and found some very inexpensive lots of lip balm, mini hand lotion, etc. These items will be inserted into the 30 completed organza Valentine bags and given as gifts.

May the love and compassion that you send out to others be returned to you.

Visit American Montessori Consulting and look under New and Notable for other holiday related lessons and unit studies.

Enjoy!

Heidi Anne Spietz

American Montessori Consulting

http://www.amonco.org

Celebrating 24 Years of Serving School and Home Educators

Montessori for the 21st Century