For some children, formal experiments may be more interesting that “regular” cooking.  For some fun study ideas about eggs, refer to Kathy O’Reilly’s “Exploring Eggs—Food Related Activities” here: http://www.amonco.org/spring8/montessori_spring8.pdf

Eggs are a very interesting and versatile food and science object.  Find more experiments using eggs below. http://www.hometrainingtools.com/kitchen-science-newsletter/a/1295/ http://www.sandiegozoo.org/education/science_eggs_float.html, http://www.homebaking.org/KitchenScience.pdf and http://www.twohelmets.com/2009/08/eggs-and-copper-bowls-kitchen-science.html

You can also have lots of fun and scientific learning with ice cubes.  The fine folks at Fun Felt share quite a few ideas here: http://www.amonco.org/spring2/montessori_spring2.pdf

Some students will find recipes more inspiring than experiments, often because of the incentive of eating the results. (I think most of us can understand that!)  If the children in your care are so inclined, try some of these fun recipes.  “Fresh Off the Cob Casserole” or “Hot Fudge Topping” from Larry at the Farm Country General Store. http://www.amonco.org/spring7/montessori_spring7.pdf  “Home-made Ice Cream in a Bag” from Ron at Intellitunes http://www.amonco.org/spring2/montessori_spring2.pdf and Nan Barchowsky’s “Yummy Peanut Butter Fudge” http://www.amonco.org/spring3/montessori_spring_3.pdf

Between activities, help children keep track of their cooking projects and practice their penmanship at the same time with Nan from Barchowsky’s Fluent Handwriting’s project idea, “Make Your Own Illustrated Favorite Foods and Recipes Notebook”. http://www.amonco.org/spring3/montessori_spring_3.pdf

Gardening can be a useful and enjoyable extension of both cooking and other kitchen sciences. Garden Artisans’ Catherine Hartridge offers many good ideas to help you get started gardening with children. http://www.amonco.org/spring4/montessori_spring4.pdf

Dale Gausman from North American Montessori Center also provides some additional neat insights on gardening with children in his article, “Spring Is Here – Planting a Flower Garden”. http://www.amonco.org/spring5/montessori_spring.5.pdf

If you don’t have a lot of outdoor space, you can still try some indoor gardening.  Look at Dale’s cute “Grass-Eggshell People” project. http://www.amonco.org/spring4/montessori_spring4.pdf

Perhaps the easiest indoor gardening of all is growing edible sprouts.  There is no soil or fertilizer to handle, and you need only very basic, inexpensive (or sometimes free) equipment. Sara L. Ambarian gives you the details you need to get started in her article, “Home-grown ‘Fast Food’ for Busy Families”.  http://www.amonco.org/spring1/montessori_spring1.pdf

Find more useful tips and ideas for gardening with children at these sites.

http://montessori21stcentury.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/spring-is-here-time-to-start-your-school-or-home-gardening

http://www.kidsgardening.org/

http://www.whitehutchinson.com/news/learnenews/2009_june/article103.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/gardening_with_children/

Spring brings many special holidays and historical events to enrich our homes and classrooms. Enjoy these resources to help your students understand and explore these interesting observances.

For a round-up of various links for January and February lesson plans and ideas, visit: http://www.amonco.org/jan_feb_celebrations.html   

Black History Month – February

Black History Month, observed in February since 1926, provides many interesting opportunities to explore history, culture and food.  The Creative Process can get you started with their “Celebrate Black History Month” page, linked here: http://www.amonco.org/spring8/montessori_spring8.pdf

You will find more information, resources and recipes in the links below.

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/blackhistorymonth-htm , http://seasonal.theteacherscorner.net/black-history-month , http://www.thinkfinity.org/?q=black-history-month , and http://www.soul-food-advisor.com/black_history_month.html

Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, 1809

There is no question that Abraham Lincoln is one of the most famous and most admired presidents of the United States.  Many states no longer observe his birthday as a separate holiday; but his life, accomplishments and assassination are at the heart of one of the most complex and pivotal eras of American history.  President Lincoln’s life and career make an excellent basis for unit studies. Explore these interesting websites for more information.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/abrahamlincoln , http://www.nps.gov/abli/index.htm ,  http://www.civilwarhome.com/lincolnbio.htm , and http://www.primaryteachers.org/abraham_lincoln_unit.htm

George Washington’s birthday, February 22, 1732 (Presidents’ Day observed February 20, 2012)

Sara L. Ambarian helps us get to know the man who is called “the Father of our Country”, with information about George Washington in her article, “Celebrating the Personal Life of George Washington”. You’ll find additional educational links about our first president at the end of the article. http://www.amonco.org/spring8/montessori_spring8.pdf

For more presidential lesson ideas, read “It’s Time to Think Outside the Box and Kindle, Too!” from Literatureplace.com, with its suggestions for studying Thomas Jefferson. http://www.amonco.org/spring3/montessori_spring_3.pdf  You can also enhance your studies of government and politics with a batch of the famous, traditional and tasty Senate Bean Soup, from Dale and Rita at North American Montessori Center. http://www.amonco.org/spring4/montessori_spring4.pdf

St. Patrick’s Day, March 17

Visit these links for lesson and craft ideas for the “greenest” spring holiday! http://montessori21stcentury.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/st-patricks-day-crafts-origami-and-more  http://www.fastq.com/~jbpratt/education/sstudies/geog/stpatricks.html  and http://www.edhelper.com/st_patricks_day.htm  

Easter, April 8

Georgette Baker from Cantemos offers some fun projects for Easter and other spring holidays.  Check out her festive hat and easy tie-dye instructions. http://www.amonco.org/spring1/montessori_spring1.pdf  

For long-lasting Easter fun outdoors, Jan from Garden Artisans shares a cute Hippity Hoppity Bunny Topiary project here: http://www.amonco.org/spring2/montessori_spring2.pdf  

Bake up an interesting Italian tradition with Mary Ann Esposito’s Neopolitan Stuffed Easter Bread.  If desirable, you could make it easier, more economical and/or more kid-friendly by replacing the fancy imported meat and cheese with meat or cheese of your choice.  It might also be more kid-friendly if you dice the meat and cheese a little smaller than Ms. Esposito does in the tutorial.  The recipe is full of interesting Easter symbolism, and what child wouldn’t be fascinated (as Ms. Esposito was herself) by the whole raw eggs baked into the bread! http://www.ciaoitalia.com/seasons/20/2020/neapolitan-stuffed-easter-bread  

Find more Easter inspiration at the following sites.

http://www.preschooleducation.com/aeaster.shtml , http://www.bobsedulinks.com/easter.htm  and http://www.holidays.net/easter/index.htm

Cinco de Mayo, May 5

Cinco de Mayo is not, as sometimes assumed, Mexican Independence Day (a separate holiday which is celebrated on September 16). It marks the Battle of Puebla in which Mexican troops defeated French troops. Find out more at: http://www.mexonline.com/cinco-de-mayo.htm  

For introduction or reinforcement of Spanish language lessons, check out the offerings from Cantemos http://www.amonco.org/spring1/montessori_spring1.pdf  and Professor Toto http://www.amonco.org/spring6/montessori_spring6.pdf  

For Spanish-speaking students or those learning Spanish, check out our Unit Study Lesson Plan About Mexico in Spanish. http://montessori21stcentury.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/a-unit-study-lesson-plan-about-mexico-in-spanish

For more lesson ideas and some recipe ideas for Mexican food to make, check these interesting sites.  http://seasonal.theteacherscorner.net/cinco-de-mayo/ , http://recipesource.com/ethnic/americas/mexican /, and http://www.mexicanrecipes.org /

Mother’s Day , May 13

Parents and educators are always looking for ideas and resources for the popular holiday, Mother’s Day.  Dale Gausman from NAMC lists some books and ideas in his article, “Mother’s Day in the Montessori Classroom”. He also provides some lesson plan ideas for older students.  http://www.amonco.org/spring6/montessori_spring6.pdf

These websites provide some additional ideas for crafts and decorations.  http://www.mothersdaycentral.com/mothers-day-crafts/  and http://www.divinedinnerparty.com/mothers-day-ideas.html

Memorial Day, May 28

Memorial Day is a solemn, but potentially important holiday with which to acquaint children at age appropriate levels. NAMC’s Dale Gausman discusses the history of and Montessori perspective for teaching about Memorial Day in his “Montessori Curriculum Ideas for Memorial Day”. http://www.amonco.org/spring7/montessori_spring7.pdf

Find more information on the history of this day of remembrance, at: http://www.history.com/topics/memorial-day-history  and http://virtual-markets.net/vme/memorial/dvm_mem.html  

**********

For more seasonal and holiday observances for educators, visit: http://www.netposterworks.com/holidays/index.html  and http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays

For more about holidays, in a convenient monthly chronology, see Rae from The Creative Process’s “Monthly Observances and Notable Dates”. http://www.amonco.org/spring2/montessori_spring2.pdf

Below are links to jump start your Montessori lesson planning for the new year.

Many of these lessons are free!

2012 United States Presidential Election Unit Study

Animals in the Winter Unit Study Free Lesson Plans

Valentine Day Links

Montessori Winter-Themed Activities from NAMC Part I

Montessori Winter-Themed Activities from NAMC Part II

Gardening Year Round – Tips from an Expert

Bird-watching with Children

Monthly Observances and Notable Data

Science Activity “I CAN’T TAKE THE PRESSURE!”

Celebrating the Personal Life of George Washington – lesson planning ideas

Valentine Origami Art & Math Activities

A Movie About Maria Montessori Worth Watching

AMC Montessori Winter Hands On Lessons

A Unit Study Lesson Plan About Mexico in Spanish

Hands-On Interdisciplinary Learning

Winter Science Links

Want more?? Click on the links below for additional free lessons and articles that are available only at the amonco.org website :

Italy – Links for a Montessori Unit Study

A Maria Montessori Movie Worth Seeing

Gardening Year Round – Tips from an Expert

Healthy Nutritional Tips for 21st Century Families

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

More in store for you in 2012!

Visit www.amonco.org often throughout 2012 to discover new Montessori lesson planning.

Enjoy!
Heidi
http://www.amonco.org

‘Tis the Season to be Selling
By Alan Stillson, Copyright © 2011

One method of boosting sales during the holiday season is with letter play.  You change one letter in a well-known holiday season phrase and it plugs your business.

Here’s an example:
You own a wedding chapel.  You change “We wish you a merry Christmas” to “We wish you a marry Christmas.”

Try to find a letter change in the bold word to plug each of these businesses:

BUSINESS                                                   HOLIDAY SEASON PHRASE

Boxing arena                                    ‘Twas the night before Christmas
Florist                                              Had a very shiny nose
Health food store                              Joy to the world
Sporting goods                                  It came upon a midnight clear
Tanning salon                                   The twelve days of Christmas
Optometrist                                       The eight days of Hanukkah
Plumber                                             The values of Kwanzaa
Transmission shop                              A partridge in a pear tree

Stumped?  Send Alan Stillson an e-mail at astillson@sbcglobal.net to ask for the answers.

Alan Stillson is the author/co-author of printed puzzle books, an e-book of brainteasers and a musical that will be showing in June and July.  Please click onto http://stillsonworks.com/mswp/mswp.html for details. Please feel free to share this message.

Happy puzzling and Seasons Greetings,

Alan Stillson
astillson@sbcglobal.net

Get your students in the mood for world exploration with this soothing old standard, which was a 1948 hit for Margaret Whiting, and a song well-loved by many famous singers through the years.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmLqE1786hA

Get festive in “Down Under” style with our Christmas in Australia Unit Study, including traditions, southern hemisphere Christmas flora, recipes, maps, and more.  http://www.amonco.org/winter2/montessori_winter2.pdf

Find lesson planning ideas for the study of ancient Egypt, and the “Go Fish” for Ancient Egypt card game from Birdcage Press both at http://www.amonco.org/winter3/montessori_winter3.pdf

Georgette from Cantemos  offers a Pineapple Unit Study, including a dried pineapple recipe, geography, and music.  http://www.amonco.org/winter4/montessori_winter4.pdf   For more about pineapples: http://www.fruit-crops.com/pinapple.html

Marjorie from Classical Magic offers Study Activities for Vivaldi’s Winter from The Four Seasons.http://www.amonco.org/winter7/montessori_winter7.pdf   For more Italian unit study information visit http://www.amonco.org/montessori_italy.html  Share lovely images of Italy in the winter to help students envision Vivaldi’s world at: http://www.xtrallusion.com/Photo/Galleries/x/Regions/To-Winter/RT54.html and  http://www.photographersdirect.com/stockimages/i/italy_winter_sports.asp  For general photos of Italian cities, navigate at upper left. http://www.images-italy.com/index.htm

If you have a country or culture in mind, but cannot find unit study materials, check out Make Your Own Multicultural Lesson Plans, Parts I and II.  http://www.amonco.org/1summer_sup2001.html and http://www.amonco.org/2summer_sup2001.html

Find more inspiration and information at the University of Missouri’s round-up of websites with information about childhood in different countries around the world. http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/1809

FactMonster.com provides fast-fact overviews of childhood in selected countries. http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0930058.html

Enhance your lessons with these nice coloring pages with international costumes. http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/children-around-the-world-coloring-pages.htm

Use masks and mask-making in your lessons with ideas from Rae of The Creative Process. http://www.amonco.org/winter1/montessori_winter1.pdf

Spanish songs for Kids was created to document traditional songs and finger plays from Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries. My name is Georgette and after living in South America for 23 years, most of the kid’s songs I could remember were in Spanish but I was sketchy on the lyrics and the music. Here I have compiled stories, preschool songs, traditional songs and games on Cd’s, all are English Spanish and many come with accompanying books! Share with your children your fun, favorite songs of yesteryear. Let’s sing! Cantemos!

She recently recently shared the following with AMC:

I will be performing at the following venues in the month of December. The events are all free and Plan today to bring your children to December Holidays From Around the World See locations below:

Chino Youth Museum Dec 2 from 3:30 -4:15
13191 Sixth St.
Chino, Ca 91710

Whittier Public Library  December 12, 7pm-7:45
7334 S. Washington Ave.
Whittier, CA 90602

Graham Library  Dec. 13, 3:30-4:15
1900 E. FIRESTONE BLVD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90001

Los Angeles Public Library  Dec. 17,   2pm
630 W. 5TH ST
LOS ANGELES, CA 90071

Georgette
Spanish songs and children’s music was created to document traditional songs and finger plays from Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries. My name is Georgette and after living in South America for 23 years, most of the kid’s songs I could remember were in Spanish but I was sketchy on the lyrics and the music. Here I have compiled stories, preschool songs, traditional songs and games on Cd’s, all are English Spanish and many come with accompanying books! Share with your children your fun, favorite songs of yesteryear. Let’s sing! Cantemos!

These rich, aromatic muffins are delicious with an autumn or winter breakfast, or as a slightly-sweet accompaniment to a holiday dinner or buffet.  Makes 12 regular or 18 small muffins. /

Stewed Fruit–
1 cup mixed dried fruit (or any combination of dried apples, apricots, peaches, pears, prunes, raisins, brown or yellow raisins, cranberries, and/or sour cherries)
–pack the whole fruit in the cup to measure, then chop into 1/4-inch pieces
3/4- 1 cup water (depending on how soft you want your fruit, use more water for softer fruit)
1/4 teaspoon ground mace
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar, optional

Combine ingredients in a small saucepan, and cook at a simmer over medium-high heat.  Stir frequently initially, then constantly as the liquid absorbs, until the fruit is rehydrated to your desired consistency (approximately 10-20 minutes.)  Set aside to cool at least 15 minutes, before adding to muffin batter, or store in refrigerator up to several days.  (This recipe also makes a nice topper for oatmeal or ice cream, and can be doubled to make a simple side dish/condiment for pork or poultry.  For a topping, you may prefer to add the optional brown sugar. Serve warm or cold, as desired.)

Muffins–
1 1/2 cups all purpose or bread flour
1/2 cup whole wheat or buckwheat flour
1/4 cup flaxmeal, optional
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoons salt
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup cooking oil

cinnamon-sugar, “Sugar in the Raw”, or decorative coarse sugar sprinkles, if desired

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease muffin tins or line with paper muffin cups.

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl, and mix well.  Combine egg, milk and oil in a small bowl or 2-cup liquid measuring cup, and beat egg lightly.  Make a well in the dry ingredients, then pour in egg mixture all at once.  Stir together until just moistened and fully mixed.  Do not over beat. Batter should be lumpy. Gently fold in cooled stewed fruit.

Spoon batter into muffin tins, filling only to 2/3 of capacity.  Sprinkle tops with cinnamon-sugar or decorative sugar, if a glazed top and sweeter muffin is desired.  Bake 20-25 minutes for standard-sized muffins, 15-17 for small muffins.  Serve warm or room-temperature, as desired.  Makes 12 standard or 18 small muffins.  Warm muffins are delicious with butter, or with butter and apple butter if you like a sweeter muffin.

Variation: You can make a similar muffin using 1 to 1 1/2 cups packaged mincemeat in place of the stewed fruit; however, the resulting flavor is a little more “grown-up”.

Enjoy!

About Sara L. Ambarian
Copyright 2011
All Rights Reserved.
Website: http://condortales.com/bridestouch.html
Sara L. Ambarian is the author and illustrator of /A Bride’s Touch: A Handbook of Wedding Personality and Inspiration/.  Sara is also a designer, wife, and mother with professional and personal experience in a wide range of subjects, including: arts and crafts, fashion, weddings, homeschooling, cooking, nature, and travel.

Cooking and baking for the holidays make for such wonderful practical life exercises.
Below, is a recipe submitted by Nan Barchowsky, from Barchowsky Fluent Handwriting.
Learn about this innovative, logical program at BFHhandwriting.com, by visiting http://www.BFHhandwriting.com

Date-Cream Cheese Rollups

1 cup sugar
1/2 pound cream cheese
2 cups sifted flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
grated lemon peel
confectioners’ sugar
pitted dates

Cream butter and cheese together. Blend in flour and salt, and peel.
Wrap in plastic film and chill several hours or until it is firm enough to roll.
Roll to 1/8 inch thckness on a board sprinkled with the confectioners’ sugar.
Cut in 1 x 3 inch strips with a pastry wheel.
Put a date in the center of each strip and roll up.
Place rolls on a cookie sheet and bake at 375° for 15 minutes.

Learn and teach handwriting with phonics, an app designed by a Handwriting Specialist and an Early Childhood Specialist. The purpose of Letters Make Words is to help beginning writers develop good handwriting habits for all academic and adult needs, and to learn basic phonemes.

The first screens offer suggestions of how to use Letters Make Words. Then letters are presented. The user can select any letter. Each one comprises a complete unit of instruction for that letter, a warmup pattern, the letter and a word to trace and to sound out. When a letter has a different sound depending on its usage in words, choose from either of two words. The next screen has three words to sound out with a silly sentence for the child to write on paper.

A friendly voice coaches the child to finger trace with the index finger, thereby encouraging good pencil/pen hold when actually writing. It’s the index finger that should push a pen to make marks with the greatest ease of movement.

Lowercase letters are featured. An app for capitals and numerals will follow soon. Lowercase are the ones we most need when we write, and are the easiest to form.

Letter-related warmup patterns start each unit to help the child with formations.Starting points and directions for strokes are clearly defined, graphically and by the audio that guides a child through all finger tracing and pronunciation.

Letters are designed for ease of writing and legibility. Reversals (b for d, etc.) are never an issue with the formations used in this app.

If you are affiliated with a school and would like a free review copy of Letters Make Words, please contact Nan at info@bfhhandwriting.com for the code. Note that Apple offers a discount on multiple orders
Nan Barchowsky
http://www.bfhhandwriting.com/