Far-Off Places – Lessons with an International Flavor

In our quest to provide children with an environment that is both “living” and beautiful, as prescribed by Maria Montessori, international and multicultural studies are a natural. The world is full of beautiful scenery, varied flora and fauna, fascinating costumes, delicious foods, and interesting traditions which can broaden and enrich our children.  If you need some ideas for bringing international and multicultural concepts into your lessons, check out these resources.

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

Springtime Hands On Learning

Welcome to Springtime at American Montessori Consulting

Visit Spring/Summer 1998. and Spring/Summer 1999. These newsletters were recently revised.

A sampling of what is featured in the 1998 issue appears below:

• interdisciplinary lessons involving shape, color, science and math.

• new color gradient learning ideas

• Butterflies – Lessons and Observations

• categorize gems according to color.

• lessons in shapes and mathematics for middle school students

Visit Springtime Celebrations to access the following:

Gardening & Other Springtime Nature Activities
and Theme Lesson Planning

• Ampersand Press – Games and Wildlife Stamps

• Childsake – Nature and the Environmen

• Farm Country General Store – Open Pollinated Seeds

• Fun Felt Newsletter Article Loaded with Free Butterfly Lesson Planning Ideas

• Fun Felt – Science Theme Lesson Planning with Felt

• Free Birdhouse Plans and Patterns

• Free Gardening Tips and More

• Free Information Source – Seashells for Classified Reading Exercises

• Free Lesson Planning Butterfly Links

• Garden Artisans – Newsletters, Projects and More

• Garden Forever for Gardeners of All Ages and Abilities

• Joyful Noise – Theme Related Materials – Wonderful Selection of Science Materials

• Lab Essentials, Inc. – Microscopes for Science Investigational Studies

• Nature’s Workshop Plus!

• Priority Montessori Materials – Hands On Science

• Schoolmasters.com Science Kits and Activities

• Spring Gardening with Children – Make a Tepee (Free Instructions)

• Wildflowers – Free Lesson Planning Ideas

Springtime Art Activities

• allartsupplies.com- For School and Home Classrooms

• Chinaberry.com – Find the Perfect Nature and/or Springtime Theme Books

• Creative Care – Ideas Books (Jenny’s Spring Crafts)

• Free Making Art from Seashells Activity

• Free Seashell Painting

• Nature’s Workshop Plus

Holidays

• Paper Mache Pinata

• Celebrating Cinco de Mayo at The Holiday Zone

• Lesson Plan – Subtopic – Cinco de Mayo

• A Unit Study Lesson Plan About Mexico in?Spanish

• More Interdisciplinary Lesson Planning ~ Spanish Lessons and Cinco de Mayo

• Cinco de Mayo ~ Excellent Background Information

• Cinco de Mayo Recipes

• Creative Care – Ideas Books (Jenny’s Crafts)

• Free Mother’s Day History and Activities

• History of Memorial Day

• Memorial Day

• Free Father’s Day Projects

• Free Easter History and Activities

• Free Passover Ideas

Happy Spring!!

Heidi
http://www.amonco.org

A Movie About Maria Montessori Worth Watching

Many of us spend parts of the day multitasking. I often find it easier to endure my time walking on the treadmill, by watching some informative television program. Usually, I watch some type of political programming; however, early last night, for some odd reason, I found myself channel surfing. With the remote control in hand, I sped by numerous channels featuring inane shows, Suddenly, my eyes briefly caught the intro to something that was actually astonishing. I saw the television title header María Montessori: Una Vida Dedicada a los Niños flicker for a second on the television screen. What did I just see? Quickly, my finger hit the back button on the remote, to make sure that I wasn’t seeing things. I wasn’t!! However, I still couldn’t believe my eyes.

My timing was indeed fortuitous. Within minutes, the dialogue validated that I was watching the opening scenes of the film, María Montessori: Una Vida Dedicada a los Niños (Maria Montessori: A Life Dedicate to the Children). I stood there for a while, just listening and observing. Within minutes, I could see that this production would fall into the genre of Masterpiece Theater rather than some poorly acted and scripted B movie. Fine. I had made the decision to watch. At this point, I was intrigued just enough to see if the film was an accurate account of Maria Montessori’s life or just a another docufiction.

What unfolded before me was a well acted, scripted and produced account of Maria Montessori’s life. I found myself being vicariously transported back into time. Throughout the entire movie, Maria’s genuine love and concern for children was permeable. Many of Maria’s struggles, heartaches and victories that we have read about were accurately and thoughtfully brought before the audience for the viewer’s contemplation. I kept marveling at Maria’s courage and determination. Aspects of Maria Montessori’s personal life, including her relationship with her son Mario, were also disclosed.

It was very evident that the writers, producers, actors and others concerned with the making of this film really took the genius of Maria Montessori’s life seriously and had taken precautions not to use an artistic license to distort facts.

Maria’s many struggles to adopt new pedagogy in various countries were examined, and her conversations, which were at times quite intense, underscored her desire to never compromise her beliefs. As we know, Maria was so ahead of her time. Consequently, her so called “radical” thinking was very difficult for the Bourgeoisie of that day to accept.

Scoffers who had dismissed the children running rampant through the streets of Rome as being uneducable, later saw a great transformation. What they later witnessed were children working calming and independently with Maria Montessori’s didactic materials. Her nemeses also saw these same children engaging interactively, showing courtesy and respect to each other as they washed and dried the dishes in a typical Montessori practical life setting.

Bits and pieces of Mussolini’s prevailing fascist doctrine and Maria’s refusal to make the children believe in a fascist mentality were exposed. To allow otherwise, would be contrary to what she advocated. After all, she believed in individuality and didn’t want children to live in a suppressed society where their voices would go unheard and their individuality lost.

The actress who portrayed Maria Montessori did so beautifully. I was amazed with her striking resemblance to Maria Montessori. I believe, the persona this actress displayed would be appreciated by Maria Montessori as well. The actress artfully captured Maria’s intellect, sensitivity and genuine love of children. She brilliantly portrayed the essence of Maria’s pure frustration in being unable to take action when, for example, witnessing firsthand children being abused.

Watching the scenes of children being beaten and otherwise abused, and seeing Maria’s reaction was difficult to sit through. All of us who have seen a child or children being physically or verbally abused can relate to that level of discomfort. Like Maria, whenever possible, we try to be proactive and stop the abuse. We try to follow her example.

If you know about Maria Montessori’s life, and understand some Spanish, you can easily sit through and watch the movie without feeling overly tired. It’s well worth watching and serves as a powerful reminder of our collective role as stewards in the lives of the many children who traverse our paths during our lifetime.

Indeed, Maria Montessori’s example for us, especially when acted out in a movie, becomes a vivid reminder of her legacy and how and why it has endured for more than a century.

Where to view –

Use Google.com to find out when and on what television stations this film will next be televised.

Some additional links to visit include:

The Sensitive Period for the Acquisition of Language

Walking the Line: Montessori Style

Homeschooling? Feeling stressed out? Let me offer a few suggestions…

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

New Sizzling Summertime Montessori Creative Lesson Planning

Visit https://montessori21stcentury.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/sizzling-summertime-2012-lesson-planning/ to access the new 2012 edition!

Springtime Celebrations Lesson Planning

Visit Springtime Celebrations to access the following lesson plans:

• Fun Felt Newsletter Article Loaded with Free Butterfly Lesson Planning Ideas

• Fun Felt – Science Theme Lesson Planning with Felt

• Free Birdhouse Plans and Patterns

• Free Gardening Tips amd More

• Free Information Source – Seashells for Classified Reading Exercises

• Free Lesson Planning Butterfly Links

• Garden Artisans – Newsletters, Projects and More

• Garden Forever for Gardeners of All Ages and Abilities

• Spring Gardening with Children – Make a Tepee (Free Instructions)

• Wildflowers – Free Lesson Planning Ideas

Springtime Art Activities

• Free Making Art from Seashells Activity

• Free Seashell Painting

• Paper Mache Pinata

• Celebrating Cinco de Mayo at The Holiday Zone

• Lesson Plan – Subtopic – Cinco de Mayo

• A Unit Study Lesson Plan About Mexico in Spanish

• More Interdisciplinary Lesson Planning ~ Spanish Lessons and Cinco de Mayo

• Cinco de Mayo ~ Excellent Background Information

• Cinco de Mayo Recipes

• Free Mother’s Day History and Activities

• History of Memorial Day

• Memorial Day

• Free Father’s Day Projects

• Free Easter History and Activities

• Free Passover Ideas

• AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part I

• AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part II

• AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part III

• AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part IV

• AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part V

• AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part VI

• AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part VII

• AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part VIII

• AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter Part IX

Happy Springtime!

Heidi

http://www.amonco.org

Spring Forward With Some Free Exciting Lesson Plans

Visit http://www.amonco.org/montessori_spring_handson.html
Peruse through the entire lessons.

Then,  download the new AMC Montessori Hands-On Creative Lesson Planning Newsletter. You can also access this newsletter by visiting http://www.amonco.org and clicking on the new eBook Library.

Below, is just a partial listing of the offerings included in the newly uploaded AMC Montessori Spring Hands-On Newsletter.

Part I – AMC Spring Newsletter

Georgette shows us how to use newspaper to make a festive hat for Easter, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and shares many multicultural techniques for combining Spanish and English in the classroom.

Part II – AMC Spring Newsletter

Jan shares information about the imaginative Hippitty Hoppitty Bunny Topiary: Jan has donated a pair of gardening gloves for the March Montessori drawing. See http://www.amonco.org for details and to enter.

Rae continues to show us why we should visit the Creative Process website. Her
innovative ideas will greatly add to your spring lesson planning.

Put some music in your young child’s life with Shari and Jerry – Speak and Sing. Children will love making and using the tambourine/maracas , drums, tome tests and shaker/maracas as well as participating in the Here is My Bunny – Finger Play activity.

Karen shares tips on how to make your own flannel board and homemade ice cream.

Part III – AMC Spring Newsletter

John shares his entertaining as well as educational activities entitled “I CAN’T TAKE THE PRESSURE and The Needle Proof Balloon.”

Nan shows us how to make some truly beautiful “homemade” colored Easter eggs.

Does your middle school student enjoy participating in fun, challenging puzzles? Are you looking for some activities to help your student prepare for the ACT or SAT?

If so, you are likely to find some wonderful puzzles here to supplement your language presentations in this section of the newsletter.

Part IV — AMC Spring Newsletter

Rita, from the North American Montessori Center, shares two outstanding Montessori extension exercises – My Family Tree and Marble Design Paper.

Part V – AMC Spring Newsletter

Marie and Kim illustrate how drawing helps children develop a mental map. We discover a Montessori extension exercise that is designed for age group 5 to 95. 🙂

Part VI – AMC Spring Newsletter

Dr.Borenson, from Hands-On Equations®,  offers more samples of algebraic concepts.

 

Download free French and Spanish songs with translations from Professor Toto.

Part VII- AMC Spring Newsletter

Ruth shares a needlepoint lesson which is designed for students 12 years and older.

Marjorie shares a lesson plan for springtime from The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi.

Barbara takes on an exciting journey to explore how we can use images from the web as part of a notebook approach to history.  Barbara has also generously shared her new Ancient Egypt Mini Unit.

Don’t forget to read Part VIII – AMC Spring Newsletter

Diana, from Nature’s Workshop Plus, knows that we are all looking forward to the beauty of spring, so she showers us with some springtime nature activities that are sure to be enjoyed in any Montessori environment.

Are you interested is seeing how you can integrate letter recognition, phonics and drawing into your lesson planning?  Sharon has provided some wonderful free sample lessons from her Artsy Animals Learn to Read book.

Montessorian Kathy O’Reilly uses eggs as the focus of food related exercises. Her multi-subject integrated approach is supplemented with a Booklist for additional extension lessons.

This post contains only a very small sampling of what is offered in this newsletter.All of the lessons contained in the newsletter are free of charge.

Heidi
American Montessori Consulting

Home

A Unit Study Lesson Plan About Mexico in Spanish

The website below is designed for Spanish speaking children who are seeking to learn more about Mexico. If your child is learning to read Spanish, encourage him to visit: 

México para Niños.

To supplement the unit study, educators will also want to visit:

Méxican Paper Cutting

Folded Friendship Knot Card

Heidi
Author of: Reading, Writing and Spelling in Spanish I

See also: Spanish Montessori

Origami Lessons in Spanish

Is your child learning Spanish? Does he speak, read and write it fluently?

If you have had an opportunity to peruse through the different posts here at Montessori 21st Century Weblog you will notice that I have posted often about origami and how it can be used in conjunction with art, math and pratical life lesson planning.

If your child can read Spanish, he is in for a real treat. Below, is a website that offers instruction in origami plus other related Spanish arts and crafts.

Visit
Spanish origami

Enjoy! 🙂
Heidi
Author of:
Reading, Writing and Spelling in Spanish I

See also:
Montessori Spanish