It literally seems like yesterday that I was blogging about winter and spring hands on lesson plans holiday crafts and recipes. I find hard to believe that Independence Day is just around the corner!! Have you firmed up your plans for this upcoming exciting holiday?

There is still time to plan an interesting lesson unit study about the holiday. Maybe you would just like to introduce some new crafts and recipes into your traditional holiday celebration. I have located the information you need to save you time and energy. Visit Montessori 4th of July Lesson Planning Links
to access the following:

AMC’s Special 4th of July Pick
Sara Ambarian’s Independence Day Recipes

Arts & Crafts Links
Patriotism- Fun Crafts for Children
Montessori Summer Hands-On Creative Lesson Planning Newsletter
4th of July Independence Day
4th of July Fun
AMC Montessori General Lesson Planning Resource Holiday Links

Arts & Crafts Links

Clip Art
Free Fourth of July Clipart

Language Arts

4th of July Word Searches
Montessori Holiday Grammar
Printables: 4th of July Word Search
Recipes

Fourth of July Recipes

Practical Kitchen: Holidays: 4th of July
Frozen Fruit Salad Dessert Delight
Sara Ambarian’s Independence Day Recipes
Party Ideas

Fourth of July Games, Music, Art, Party Ideas and More!

Montessori Summer Hands-On Creative Lesson Planning Newsletter

Safety

4th of July Safety

Social Studies

4th of July Fun
Why Do We Celebrate the 4th of July?

Special AMC Links
AMC Montessori Summer Hands On Lesson Planning Newsletter
Summertime Learning Fun Online

There only days left to enter the June Montessori drawing. Don’t delay!! Visit
AMC Montessori Directory to enter.
To see a listing of prizes for the month of June, please visit http://www.amonco.org

Have a happy and safe Independence Day!!!

Heidi

Congratulations to our AMC May Montessori winners - Linda Crumbaugh, President of Independent Homeschoolers’ Network in Brevard County, Florida, Jackie Kalinowski of Hillsboro, NH and Jennifer Volkman of Long Island, NY.

It’s time now to enter the June drawing.
Celebrate American Montessori Consulting’s 20th Anniversary throughout 2008! Each month, you will have a chance to win wonderful prizes donated by many of the organizations listed here -http://www.amonco.org/directory.html One first place winner and one second place winner will be awarded prizes every month. This month a special third place winner will also be announced. Have you check to see what prizes are available for this month’s drawing????? To see the list of prizes visit www.amonco.org

Entering every month is quick and simple. Just scroll down to Zoo-phonics where you will see the form, type in your name and e-mail address, and click on the ’submit your entry’ button.
It’s that easy!

Heidi

http://www.amonco.org

SUMMER KITE FLYING

Learn how to make and fly a kite in your neck of the woods.

Planning a trip to Southern California? All the fun is not necessary had at the amusement parks. Take a side trip to Seal Beach, a quaint beach town, that has much to offer. While there, you won’t want to miss the monthly Seal Beach Kite Club meetings. Click here to see what the city of Seal Beach has in store for you and your family. Then, venture to Hobby City for some additional free hands-on fun.

GO AHEAD… MAKE SOME MUSIC THIS SUMMER

Learn how to make a band in minutes. Yes, you and your children can make a coffee can drum and yogurt container shakers by following the easy instructions provided by
Kidsongs.com

The Blow Ye Winds , Paddle Wheeler and Erie Canal - and Wabash Cannonball are free extension activities from the guide written by Dr. Kathryn A. Short, for Kimbo’s new CD release: “Songs About America,” Celebrating America Through Song.. See Kimbo for details.

Georgette, of Cantemos, offers some unique Latin music lesson planning to make your summer sizzle! Try the new CHOCOLATE DANCE routine Click here to view Georgette’s complete multicultural lesson planning information

Talented Marty Layne offers some delightful summer poems set to music. See Sea Change for details.

Marjorie Kiel Persons presents TWO marvelous integrated lessons for your summer music presentations. - Water Music ? Alla Hornpipe by George Frideric Handel. and Oh, How I Love Italy ? Music, Art, and Food seasoned with History and Geography See Click on this link to access both lesson plans.

EASY, BREEZY, SIZZLING SUMMER RECIPES

Montessorian Kathy O’Reilly, author of Cooking with Children Can Be Easy, will show you how to prepare a food unit study for children featuring the yummy Watermelon Blueberry Banana Split recipe.

Dale Gausman, owner of the North American Montessori Center, shows how children can plan, prepare, and execute a Spring or Summer Tea. Click here for details.

DIanne Knesek, Montessori teacher and owner of Conceptual Learning, shares a mouth watering Summer Fruit, Cheese, and Meat Kabobs recipe. Visit this link for complete information

Mary, from the Montessori materials company Hello Wood, offers the delicious recipe, Onion Pie, perfect for your holiday celebrations. See http://www.amonco.org/summer3/montessori_summer3.pdf

Planning a unit study about pirates? Karen , from Fun Felt, shares her three pirate snack ideas - Treasure Chests, Pirate Ships and Cannoballs, all of which, can be easily integrated into any pirate unit study. Click here to access the recipes.

Don’t forget to make some delicious potato salad for your family picnics. Use Bill’s recipe for Father’s Day and Fourth of July celebrations. See the MindWare entry to access the recipe.

Montessorian Cathie Perolman employs the Montessori practical life technique with her recipe scrumptious gingerbread muffins recipes. Access this recipe by by clicking here

Larry, from Farm Country General Store, shares an equally delicious cinnamon roll recipe. What a perfect addition to a homemade Father’s Day breakfast or just a lazy Saturday morning con su famlia (with your family.) See http://www.amonco.org/summer7/montessori_summer7.pdf

SUMMER SCIENCE

Plan a unit study about Stalactites and Stalagmites by visiting from the Captivation/Teaching Tank lesson activity.

John, from Exploration Education, presents an excellent, fun-filled simple and effective activity about static electricity is for children six and up. Click here for details.

Hurricane Unit Study by Michelle of Treasure Box Press

The 2007 hurricane season has been busy and destructive. Hurricane Katrina left
thousands of people without homes and jobs. The United States and the world came together to help with food, clothing, shelter and psychological support. The lesson and activity was created to help us understand how such a devastating storm surge forms and the need to prepare for it in the event of future hurricanes.
Visit http://www.amonco.org/summer4/montessori_summer4.pdf to learn more about this complete, well written lesson plan.

Summer gardening can be fun if you plan ahead. Garden Aristans offers help you will need to customize your garden lesson planning. Find everything from planning an herb garden to bird psychology by visiting http://www.amonco.org/summer5/montessori_summer5.pdf

Richard, from the Montessori Materials LORD Company, is offering FREE
reading books, Montessori land and water labels and a math bank activity http://www.amonco.org/summer7/montessori_summer7.pdf

MONTESSORI MATH

MTE incorporate several unique features to build understanding and enhance critical thinking. The materials include exercises that support the understanding of math vocabulary and facilitate the reading of mathematics texts as well as open ended questions to promote discussions of math concepts. The series also includes the traditional sets of drill and practice exercises and problem sets when appropriate.

In this AMC summer issue, Mel, from MTE, also explains the term ‘critical thinking’, and provides a FREE transversable cubes exercise. Click here to access the information.

Receive some free hands-on algebra exercises. See Hands On Equations for details.

GAME TIME!

Mariaemma, from Coaching for Learning Success(tm), feels that kids who are tactile-kinesthetic, whole body learners, and/or like basketball love the Basketball & Whole Body Memorizing activity!” Click here for details.

Make geography come alive! Joan McGivney, provides a fun filled geography guessing and geography catching games. Visit this link for complete information.

Stillsonworks offers more unique puzzles designed for middle school students. Try your hand at the free exercises included by clicking here Access additional FREE puzzles for children/teens by visiting http://www.amonco.org/summer7/montessori_summer7.pdf/

Be sure to check out the cooperative games by Rae from Creative Process. See
http://www.amonco.org/summer5/montessori_summer5.pdf

THIS and THAT….Additional unique, creative lesson planning info.

Rae from Creative Process generously has provided the following free activities ], articles, and lesson plans:
Calendar Activity, Teacher as Curator : Setting up a School Gallery, Sharing Food, Food in Art?:Access this information by clicking here

Cindy Wiggers contributed an outstanding article about family heritage and timelines. Her suggestions will help make history and geography truly meaningful. This is a must read!! Visit http://www.amonco.org/summer5/montessori_summer5.pdf for details

Sharon, from Visual Manna, shares helpful information about auditory, visual and kinesthetic learners. This article is perfect for many who are busy planning lessons for the upcoming months. See http://www.amonco.org/summer7/montessori_summer7.pdf

Wenda, from Birdcage Press, provides some excellent viginettes featuring Botticell, Fra Angelico, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael..Click here for to access the information. For additional lesson plans featuring Renaissance artists and musicians please visit http://www.amonco.org/spring2002_1.html and http://www.amonco.org/spring2002_2.html

Planning a trip to Washington, D.C. or Europe this summer? Read Bicycling From Gettysburg Battlefield To Washington D.C. , A Trip to the Aleutian Islands and ?
Family Bicycle Adventure Across Europe To access this information please visit http://www.amonco.org/summer6/montessori_summer6.pdf

Taking your class on a literature journey? Why not start with the classics. Let Rita Arpaia of litreature.com show you how. Point your browser to http://www.amonco.org/summer6/montessori_summer6.pdf

MAKE SOME GIFTS and GIFT BOXES

Jaye, from Creative Care, will show you how to make a double frame. See http://www.amonco.org/summer5/montessori_summer5.pdf

Janet, from Chinaberry, will guide you step by step on how to make some beautiful gift boxes. See http://www.amonco.org/summer/montessori_summer1.pdf

If you experience any difficulties, you can also access most of the above links at http://www.amonco.org/montessori_summer_handson.html

Now, with these fun activities, recipes and lessons, you are set to go out and make this summer the best yet!

Heidi

P.S. Many of the participants of the AMC Montessori Resource Center have generously donated prizes for the monthly AMC Montessori drawings. Visit http://www.amonco.org and http://www.amonco.org/directory for details.

Congratulations to our AMC AMC April Montessori winners - Kim D from West Palm Beach FL, Susan A from from Maryville MO and L Nascimeneto of Honolulu, HI.

It’s time now to enter the April drawing.

Celebrate American Montessori Consulting’s 20th Anniversary throughout 2008! Each month, you will have a chance to win wonderful prizes donated by many of the organizations listed in the online resource directory -
http://www.amonco.org/directory.html One first place winner and one second place winner will be awarded prizes every month. This month a special third place winner will also be announced. To see the list of prizes visit www.amonco.org

Entering every month is quick and simple. Just scroll down to Zoo-phonics where you will see the form, type in your name and e-mail address, and click on the ’submit your entry’ button. It’s that easy!

Heidi

http://www.amonco.org

Hopefully, you have had an opportunity to read The Sensitive Period for Language and you have been working with your infant and toddler to develop a love of reading. You can now continue the joy of reading with your preschooler. Easily and quickly adapt some of the ideas I used to create your own reading books for small children. The animal and nature themes of the books mentioned on http://www.amonco.org/fall_sup1.html and http://www.amonco.org/fall_sup1.html web pages are especially appealing to young children.

Look through your photo albums or scrapbooks for additional ideas. Vacations, family celebrations and graduations are possible themes you can use. Tell a story using the pictures from some of these events. Then, present one or two short sentences using monosyllable and polysyllable words per page to tell the story. Use the templates found at the web pages above as your guide.

A couple of years ago, I enrolled in two photography classes offered at a local recreation center and was amazed with how many adults brought to class really good pictures taken by their children. Digital cameras and camera phones have allowed for flexibility and the convenience of picture taking for many members of the family.

Whenever possible, create short story images using the pictures that your children take, and involve your child in the actual story telling. Children really do love doing these “hands-on” activities. By using construction paper, glue and their vivid imaginations, your children will have become involved in some meaningful integrated lessons.

For complete instructions on how to fuse phonics, reading and book making visit http://www.amonco.org and click on the How to Make a Book located in the navy blue column.

Congratulations to our AMC March Montessori winners - Nancy Earnest, Teacher, Chebeague Island School, Chebeague Island, ME and Ruthe Ann Walsh of Jackson, NJ

It’s time now to enter the April drawing.

Celebrate American Montessori Consulting’s 20th Anniversary throughout 2008! Each month, you will have a chance to win wonderful prizes donated by many of the organizations listed in the online resource directory -
http://www.amonco.org/directory.html One first place winner and one second place winner will be awarded prizes every month. This month a special third place winner will also be announced. To see the list of prizes visit www.amonco.org

Entering every month is quick and simple. Just scroll down to Zoo-phonics where you will see the form, type in your name and e-mail address, and click on the ’submit your entry’ button. It’s that easy!

Heidi

http://www.amonco.org

GEOGRAPHY

Cindy Wiggers agrees that students remember better when action is involved. She has put together a set of free, easy to construct activities that your children can do to learn the states and capitals. Visit Learning States and Capitals Click on the other links and thoroughly explore the site. You will soon see why many school and home educators frequently visit Geography Matters.

SELF DISCOVERY

Rae Peterson offers some interesting lesson planning ideas in her Who Am I? What Makes Me Tick? free online lesson packet. Rae commented:

The following suggestions are a jumping off place for a myriad of lesson plans around the question, “Who Am I?

You can tailor the ideas to fit your special situation: elementary age through adult learner and the areas of art, social studies, writing, science lessons.

Visit Who Am I? Lesson Plan Ideas for details. For additional free interdisciplinary lesson plans also see the Creative Process Links for Learning Index

PHONICS/BEGINNING READING

Richard from the LORD Company recently shared the following:

LORD Company has several free downloads for coloring and writing exercises. Our most comprehensive free download is a “Simple Reading Book” series of four each. This series is based on parables and uses an approach to “Sight Word” reading using the Montessori “Three Period Lesson” to insure success for the early reader.

Assembly instructions and coaching tips are included with the download and children may color the books as they discover they can read. The books are large print and graded in difficulty to help build a reading vocabulary for the child. It would be best if these books are presented to children after a good base of phonics work (see LE-620 for 180 phonetic word cards at www.lordequip.com but for children that may be having trouble with reading for whatever reason, these books with a little coaching will help the child to be successful in reading.

DISCOVER YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING STYLE

Mariaemma Willis shares some invaluable advice in her LEARNING DISABILITIES OR LEARNING STYLES? article. Click here to read LEARNING DISABILITIES OR LEARNING STYLES? her article. Mariaemma’s book Discover Your Child’s Learning Style is one of the April Montessori prizes. Click here to learn more about the April Montessori drawing. Visit http://learningsuccesscoach.com to locate additional information about Mariaemma’s other books, workshops and services/

DANCE AND THE BENEFITS OF MOVEMENT IN THE CLASSROOM

Gari Stein, Founder and Director of Music for Little Folks has authored a most insightful article entitled What? Me, Teach Dance?”:How to fearlessly incorporate dance into your classroom. This well organized article will appeal to seasoned and novices alke. Yes, even those who are experienced dance instructors will glean new information from this article. Visit Little Folks Music - What? Me, Teach Dance? for additional information.

CHILDREN’S BIOGRAPHIES - THE YOUNG PATRIOT SERIES

Florrie Kitchler recently shared the following:

Lesson plans, webquests and sample chapters for The Young Patriots Series titles are always available for download at no charge. Visit www.patriapress.com for more information and hook kids on history!

A Patria Press book entitled Lew Wallace Boy Writer is one of the April Montessori prizes. Click here to learn more about the April Montessori drawing.

LESSON PLANS FOR UPCOMING HURRICANE SEASON

Michelle, from Treasure Box Press, wrote:

The 2007 hurricane season has been busy and destructive. Hurricane Katrina left
thousands of people without homes and jobs. The United States and the world came together to help with food, clothing, shelter and psychological support. The following lesson and activity was created to help us understand how such a devastating storm surge forms and the need to prepare for it in the event of future hurricanes.

Click here to obtain the free Understanding Storm Surges lesson plan

Sam’s Science Adventure (What’s the Matter?) Level 2: Grades 3rd through 6th) Kit from Treasure Box Press is one of the April Montessori prizes. Click here to enter the April Montessori drawing.

HEALTH, NUTRITION AND COOKING

Shari Tallon tackles a myriad of health related issues that we face each day when we prepare our meals, dine out or do our grocery shopping. Click here for more details about all of the free related information. Plus to learn more about Cooks in the Classroom visit http://www.musicresources.org/n.htm

HOW TO MAKE A FLANNEL BOARD

Visit Fun Activities For Kids - How to Make a Flannel Board to discover how you can make your own flannel board. Visit
Fun Activities for Kids to discover additional free activities for children.

FREE GARDENING NEWSLETTERS

Below, is just a sampling of the free archived newsletters available from Garden Artisans.


January 2004 - House Plant Survival

February 2004 - Plant Dormancy - a brief respite

March 2004 - Bird Psychology

April 2004 - The Hummers are Coming!

June 2004 - Companion Planting

July 2004 - Perennial Geraniums

January 2003 - Planning an Outdoor Wedding

February 2003 - February Cleanup - Pruning Tips

April 2003 - Shade Gardening

May 2003 - Creating Walls of Color and Ceilings of Scent for your Outside Rooms

June 2003 - Daylilies - A Wonderful Addition to any Garden!

August 2003 - Creating the Desired Mood for your Outdoor Rooms

September 2003 - Remembering the Wildlife in our Fall Cleanup

October 2003 - Planting Bulbs for Spring and Summer Color

November 2003 - Collecting Seeds - Great Fall Fun!

January 2002 - Planning an Herb Garden

February 2002 - Create a Spectacular Floral Display

March 2002 - Germinating Seeds & Seedling Care

April 2002 - Butterfly Gardening

June 2002 - What Mulch Can Do For

Visit this spectacular site for all of your gardening needs. Be sure to sign up for the free newsletter by visiting http://www.gardenartisans.us

Enter to win a free Painted Ladies Butterflies of North America Nature Guide by visiting AMC Directory Scroll down until you see the entry form.

FREE ART LESSON PLANS

Locate four pages of fun drawing and reading activities for children by clicking here!! Locate additional free art lesson plans and resources from Visual Manna by visiting Free Lessons

Click here for a chance to win the Artsy Animals Learn to Read book

TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES

Marty Layne shares her experiences of springtime in Victoria, B.C. in a blog entry. By reading this entry, you will discover the essence of springtime.

Please http://www.martylayne.com for additional year round lesson planning information.

Stop, look around, and enjoy this special season.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Heidi
http://www.amonco.org

Within the next three days, I will be posting some new lesson plans and ideas. Be sure to bookmark this web page, and check back frequently. Stay tuned..

Heidi
http://www.amonco.org

The sensitive periods represent critical points of a child’s development. The sensitive period for language occurs from birth to about age six. It is at this time that the child learns the primary language spoken in the home. He also has the ability to learn and fluently speak other languages.

Children are fascinated by sounds around them. In fact, the infant intently watches the human face, focusing on the mouth of the person speaking. As Montessori indicated, the infant needs to be in close proximity to people to study their interactions and conversations. Placing a child off in a distant room where he only hears bits and pieces of a conversation is a great disservice, as the child fails to hear complete sentences or thoughts.

The infant is delighted with the rhythm of the human voice and is fascinated with the sounds of the spoken word. Because the child is in the sensitive period of the absorbent mind, we need to focus our attention on taking full adantage of this developmental period in thet child’s life. I highly recommend that you borrow Maria Montessori’s The Absorbent Mind from your library to learn more about how you can help your infant benefit from this crucial sensitive period.

Take time to read aloud to your child. Sing songs, recite poetry and read stories. Although the child hears other noises and sounds, the child selectively only reproduces the human voice. During this sensitive period for learning language single sounds become fixed in the child’s subconscious. When learning English, he first absorbs consonants, and then syllables. Next, words are fixed; however, the child can’t readily comprehend the meaning of the words he is hearing. The ‘inner teacher’ within the child helps him to later grasp the meaning and grammar of the English language. We must remember that anguage acquisition has a natural timetable which can’t be accelerated by an adult’s prodding or interference.

Montessori was quick to illustrate that if an adult goes to a foreign country and attempts to learn a foreign language, he will find it most difficult. This is because the adult no longer possesses the sensitive period of language. So, what are some of the things you can do to help your child fully benefit from the sensitive period of language? Read Montessori’s
The Absorbent Mind and The Secret of Childhood books. These books will provide you with a solid foundation of what you need to know.

Montessori at Home: A Complete Guide to Teaching Your Preschooler at Home Using the Montessori Method and Modern Montessori at Home: A Creative Teaching Guide for Parents of Children Six through Nine Years of Age will also be helpful as these books provide complete language lesson planning information and provide instruction on how to set up the prepared environment.

Visit the Fall/Winter 1998 Newsletter to receive some free material for presenting lessons in French. Many of these lessons and templates can be used to present lessons in English, Spanish, Italian, and German as well.

Heidi
http://www.amonco.org

Montessorians always set aside plenty of time to rehearse whatever will be presented to the child. Are you spending time practicing what you present? If not, you should. I remember how I would practice walking the line and was amazed with what I discovered.

Initially, I walked the line as the child would, putting one foot in front of the other, toe to heel, on a line made of masking tape or chalk. I imagined a young child outstretching his arms to help him balance as he proceeded walking the line.

I then walked carrying a pile of books on my head. I immediately noticed that I was more aware of my posture and balance in general. I had to walk with a slow, careful stride so as not to drop any of the books. I repeated the exercise a few times and noticed that with each successive try, I felt more relaxed and balanced.

Then, I attempted to walk to music. This initially proved to be a bit more difficult. As I concentrated on walking carefully, toe to heel, in time to the music, I was once again more aware of how I was balancing myself. Balancing the books on top of my head seemed cumbersome at first. After practicing a few times, my body acclimated, and I became more relaxed. This exercise, mentioned in detail in Montessori at Home: A Complete Guide to Teaching Your Preschooler at Home Using the Montessori Method is one of the exercises used to help children orient themselves in time and space and is a prequisitie to some of Maria Montessori’s language presentations.

Heidi

http://www.amonco.org