Making May Memorable with Flowers

Now that May is almost upon us, we see the full beauty of spring everywhere.  Since many of us don’t take enough time to stop and smell the roses, let’s make an exception, starting now. 

May is the perfect month to present lessons about flowers.  Your study doesn’t have to be all or nothing.  Design  your lesson plans, using a cross-curricular approach that involves Montessori practical life exercises, science, art, and other disciplines.  You can select which of the following resources below will fit your child’s individual interests.

The Internet is full of flower-themed resources, many of which are free.   For example, by visiting http://amonco.org/montessorisummergardening.html you can access free resources for making your own Montessori classified reading cards aids.  Links to finding facts about summer flowers,  flower diagram clip art, and the names of flowers in English, French and Latin  are just some of what you will find by clicking the link above.

Then, visit http://www.netposterworks.com/resources/curideas/flower-themes.html “Flower Themes, Flowers in Art” for some additional ideas for cross-curricular lesson planning.

If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to plant your flower garden.   Dale Gausman, from the North American Montessori Center, http://www.montessoritraining.net wrote an informative article to help you get started.  See http://www.amonco.org/spring5/montessori_spring.5.pdf for details.  Are you unsure of what to plant or where to purchase the seeds?   One resource you will want to explore is http://www.victoryseeds.com/ Victory Seeds.     Find some leads to obtaining free and cheap gardening supplies by visiting http://flowers.about.com/od/Flower-Gardening/tp/4-Ways-To-Get-Cheap-Or-Free-Flower-Gardening-Supplies.htm

Links to Montessori style sensory exercises involving seed matching, collecting seeds, and sunflower seed activities are available by visiting http://amonco.org/montessorisummergardening.html

Click on the links below to receive some Montessori Practical Life inspired exercises for flower arranging::

http://www.infomontessori.com/practical-life/care-of-the-environment-arranging-flowers.htm

http://tothelesson.blogspot.com/2012/01/flower-arranging.html

Add some math to the mix.  Check out the following

http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2010/07/flower-math-activity.html “Flower Math Activity”.

Locate books and other resources about floriology and floriculture here:

http://www.workshopplus.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=2621&idcategory=33

http://www.childsake.com

Now that your child has had an opportunity to learn more about flowers, he may be open to creating his unique masterpieces by drawing or painting flower representations.

Click on the image above to learn more about beginning drawing and painting DVDs available from Coyote Creek Productions.

Quickly locate additional beginning drawing and painting resources here:

http://www.artfulparent.com/watercolor-techniques-ideas-for-kids.html

http://www.my-how-to-draw.com/how-to-draw-flowers.html

http://www.allartsupplies.com/item.php?articleId=2057

As you know, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day are just around the corner. Use some Montessori inspired ideas, plus other gift giving suggestions to make the most of these holidays.  Visit http://handsonaswegrow.com/simple-spring-crafts-for-kids/ “Spring Flower Crafts for Kids” to access free instructions for making some adorable flower-themed projects.

Make special memories at home, while creating a unique Mother’s Day or graduation gift.  Instructions for making a dried flower craft is available from http://www.grandparents.com/grandkids/activities-games-and-crafts/dried-flower-crafts grandparents.com

Other dried flower related craft projects are available here:

http://www.ehow.com/info_8180103_crafts-kids-dried-flower-bookmarks.html

http://mykidcraft.com/pretty-dried-flower-placemat/

Finally, encourage your children to share their flower-themed gifts with others who may need some special encouragement.  Perhaps, you live next door to a shut-in.  Or, maybe residents of a nursing home or children’s hospital can enjoy your children’s crafts. As we know, flowers and flower-themed gifts often lift the spirits of those who are experiencing a difficult time.

My hope is that the collection of resources listed in this post will make May 2013 a month of memorable learning and giving. 🙂

Enjoy!

Heidi Anne Spietz
http://www.amonco.org
Celebrating 27 Years of Serving School and Home Educators
Montessori for the 21st Century

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