Spring is literally days away, so take a moment now, to look through your upcoming lesson plans for the months ahead. Do some of your art and music lessons seem stale? If so, read below. Even if you think you have everything perfectly planned, you will want to peruse the following resources. You may just find some unique ideas or resources that you might want to use this springtime.
Music and Dance Resources
Have you thought about teaching dance to your toddler and preschool age children? If you experience trepidation at the thought of doing this, fear no more!! Gari Stein will fearlessly take you through the steps needed to feel confident while making the dance presentations. In no time at all, you will be confident in teaching your students dance steps for May Day and other springtime celebrations. . See “What? Me Teach Dance?” http://www.little-folks-music.com/what.htm to get started today.
May Day Related Dance and Music Resources
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/mayday.htm May Day Traditions and Customs in England
http://www.pecentral.org/lessonideas/ViewLesson.asp?ID=10049#.UycpgV5aO0c May Day Dance Lesson Ideas Preschool – Grade 5
More Montessori Spring-Themed Music Lesson Planning Ideas
http://www.justmontessori.com/montessori-curriculum/week-29-day-2/
Spring Song
http://www.justmontessori.com/montessori-curriculum/week-29-day-2/
Signs of Spring
http://www.justmontessori.com/montessori-curriculum/week-29-day-2/
Sounds of Spring
http://www.justmontessori.com/montessori-curriculum/week-29-day-2/
The Seed Story Play
http://handsonhomeschooler.com/2013/08/music-discovery-tables-for-kids.html
Music Discovery Tables for Kids
http://www.singnlearn.com/Item/beethovenswig4
Beethoven’s Wig 4: Dance Along Symphonies
Each of the Beethoven’s Wig CDs has featured a new twist and Beethoven’s Wig 4: Dance Along Symphonies is no exception, as it celebrates classical music for dance. Included are pieces written for the two-step, ballet, waltz, polka, minuet, rondeau, habenera and march. Creator-lyricist Richard Perlmutter has widened his focus on the classics to include such notable composers as Scott Joplin and John Philip Sousa along with favorites like Bach, Tchaikovsky and Strauss.
http://www.singnlearn.com/Item/267
Best Loved Stories in Song and Dance
http://kimboed.com/babyballetcd.aspx#.UyctT15aO0c
Baby Ballet
A wonderful introduction for children to the world of ballet, designed for ages four through six. Complete barre and center work. All tracks have repeats. Plies, Tendus, Coupe Passe, Grand Battement, Port De Bras, Saute, Spring Points, Chasse and more.
http://kimboed.com/seasonsings.aspx#.UycuKl5aO0c
New! Season Sings
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall -30 active songs from Hat & Jacket, Pants & Boots to Jump in Puddles, Spring Flowers, 10 Little Goblins. All fun and developmentally appropriate for early childhood teachers & kids! 29 songs
http://www.amonco.org/spring5/montessori_spring.5.pdf
GO GREEN! Integrated Action/Music/Literature Activities
Download free French, Spanish, German, Italian and
Chinese songs with translations
http://www.amonco.org/spring6/montessori_spring6.pdf
Art Resources
Draw some life into your springtime cart lesson planning projects
Your first stop should be to Excellence in Education.
EIE Art Supplies
http://www.excellenceineducation.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=EIE&Category_Code=CRFT
Crafts Kits and Supplies
Springtime and Holiday Art Lesson Planning Resources
With Mother’s Day and summer camp just around the corner, it’s time to think of some fun group craft projects. Bountiful Spinweave offers pootholder looms, backstrap looms, and knitting kits etc. See http://bountifulspinweave.com/kids-page.php#.UyczuV5aO0c
http://prekandksharing.blogspot.com/2013/05/montessori-inspired-flower-math-activities.html
Flower Activity
http://beautifulsunmontessori.blogspot.com/2009/04/color-theory.html
Color Theory
http://montessoritraining.blogspot.com/2011/04/studying-artists-and-their-works-in.html#.Uydb315aOvs
Studying Artists and their Works in the Montessori Classroom
http://www.justmontessori.com/montessori-curriculum/week-31-day-5/
Mondrian Art
http://www.amonco.org/spring2/montessori_spring2.pdf
Crayon Resist Projects
http://www.amonco.org/spring2/montessori_spring2.pdf
Flower Themes, Flowers in Art Picture-A-Day and Time Lapse Photography Ideas
http://montessoritraining.blogspot.com/2009/04/easter-and-springtime-integrating.html#.UydaZV5aOvs
Easter and Springtime Activities
Montessori Easter Activities
http://www.amonco.org/spring4/montessori_spring4.pdf
Making Grass-Eggshell People
http://www.amonco.org/spring4/montessori_spring4.pdf
Marble Design Paper
Nature Art
Looking for some additional interdisciplinary spring themed lesson planning ideas? Please see https://montessori21stcentury.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/spring-into-reading-writing-and-other-expressions-2/ Spring into Reading, Writing and Other Expressions.
Enjoy!
Heidi Anne Spietz
www.amonco.org