I've been asked about Infant and Toddler Montessori resources. There certainly isn't a ton out there in comparison to the 3-6 age range. Here's my top favorite places to find stuff:
An earlier post I put together of lots of different resources...
Comprehensive Lists of what your child should be doing or have mastered according to different levels. If you are doing this at home, this is a great list to have to give you some direction on how to sift through tons of material out there on what you can do with your child. Plus, there are a lot of free materials from Montessori For Everyone that are helpful in doing some of the things on the list.
Ecology is the study of our environment and our role within it. To be honest, I have to get excited about this one myself. I am still on a rebellious "I don't live in Germany anymore and I am NOT going to recycle because I don't HAVE to!"... kick. Oh, the plethora of German trash receptacles is a memory I am gladly forgetting. Plus, I've read much on how ineffective some of our recycling programs can be and I get a little perturbed. Hence, I need to be able to have a good attitude about this and do some things to set an example for Hannah bear to want to take care of and be a good steward of God's Creation!
Day One: Introduction
Pretty simple: pictures of...
clear water, slime on water, clear skies, smog in the skies...
clear snow, soot in the snow, clear land, littered land.
Present these cards explaining what each card is and relate it to the word and definition of ecology. Lay cards out next to each other and observe. Put them away.
"Geology is the study of the Earth, the materials of which it is made, the structure of those materials, and the processes acting upon them.(geology.com)". That includes studying the earth's history. To be honest, I didn't like this class in college. It was really, really hard! But! Now, I know why I took it. Before, all rocks would have looked just like rocks to me (in case they do to you, too, trust me, they're not)!
Day One: Rock Hunting
Our neighborhood wasn't so great for this. This is all we came up with by the end of our walk. And, to be honest, Hannah is not so interested in gathering rocks and much more so in helping me walk Lily, the dog. But, had we been in a better place with more interesting rocks, I am sure the story would have been different. You can do this with rocks, pebbles, sand, and soil, too.
Day Two: Tonging Rocks
This carries over into the practical life area with using tongs. I have two kinds depending on the ability Hannah has to be able to pick up these rocks. You can also spoon pebbles, whisk sand, and...
scrub a rock! Now, this was up Hannah's alley. I was able to clean up the whole kitchen while she scrubbed this little rock clean!
Botany is the study of plants! There's no better time to start learning about plants than when they are out all around us during the summer!
Day One: Introduction-Concrete
What do all living (learn living vs. nonliving) plants have in common?
Food, air, water, and reproduction.
We went through each section and talked about how plants (that are alive) need each of those four things.
It was great that we had a big window right behind us to see multiple different plants.
We also talked about God/Jesus creating all of these plants and went over the Creation story in Genesis. We related her watering the plants outside with her tin can to God watering all of the plants outside with rain. It helped me reinforce why we pray and thank God for our food before we eat it--because God provides all plants with food, air, water, and the ability to reproduce so that we can eat, enjoy, and be satisfied by them!
Day Two: Introduction-Abstract
Simple: Picture control cards of different parts of plants.
Present cards looking at them one by one, saying it's name, that "x" is a plant, and botany is the study of plants, and then laying them out side by side. Put them back when finished.
A tree trunk, pine nuts on a tree, and fruit on a tree...
Chestnuts, leaves, branches, and roots...
Pine stems, a flower, more roots that look different, and a stem.
Well, I've finally cracked open my Montessori Albums I've been putting together for about a year. My class ends pretty soon and I've still got a bit to print off and add, but I have enough now to get started. In case you don't know, I have taken an online course (a 2 year program condensed into 1 year) through WorldWide Montessori Online. Check out the site for more complete information. I have really loved it. The albums begin from 2.5 years through age 6. I am right in the stage of figuring out what Hannah can start and be ready for and what is just slightly too early. I think at this beginning stage I will just try some things and see what she's ready for now. I want to get into a routine of doing lessons throughout the day to work out the kinks before the baby is born.
Before you begin any science activities with your children I really recommend reading a few posts done by Montessori For Everyone. I highly respect her work and her blog.
Day One: Introduction: Concrete Objects-Flashlight
This was really simple: a flashlight and a control card.
I presented the flashlight and showed Hannah the pieces one by one laying them out as she sees them on the control card. Then, I put it back together.
Her turn to explore. This was very fascinating to her for most of the day.
When it didn't work (the light) I asked questions to help lead her to draw conclusions that it was because it wasn't put back together correctly. There are a plethora of open ended questions you can ask. My biggest temptation in these activities is to focus on her being able to do it correctly rather than letting her discover go through the process of figuring it out on her own. Resist the temptation to do it for them!
I printed off a picture to make my own control card.
Day Two: Introduction: Abstract-Flashlight
Again, a very simple concept. Abstract pictures of many types of flashlights to view.
Present the activity viewing each one and laying them out side by side, then put them back again.
As can be expected, this is not as exciting as the first lesson, but she did take interest in them especially once I told her that Daddy made them for her. She saw him looking at the pictures last night on the computer to print off for us today. She thought they were his pictures this morning. When she found out they were made for her she thought they/she was so special!
2 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted 1/2 cup sugar (*I substituted 1/2 c. sorghum syrup) 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 cups milk 1/2 cup molasses
Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture.
Dissolve baking soda in milk; stir in molasses. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon into a greased and floured 9- x 5-inch loafpan.
Bake at 325° for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan, and cool on a wire rack. Yield: Makes 1 (9-inch) loaf (We made 2 smaller loaves with this recipe)
Southern Living, OCTOBER 2004 Diane E. Onachila, Hendersonville, North Carolina
Chunky Minestrone (pg. 219 of SL cookbook pictured above)
14. oz. of chicken broth
14.5 oz. of diced tomatoes
3 cloves garlic
15.5 oz. cannelloni beans (we used red kidney)
10 oz. spinach (we used fresh and not drained, thawed like they suggest)
1 c. water
1.5 c. chopped onion
1 medium carrot, chopped
1 medium zucchini, quartered and sliced
2 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup uncooked shelled pasta
2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
*Combine first 11 ingredients in a 4 quart slow cooker (we cooked on low in traditional soup pot on the stove).
*Cover and cook on LOW 5.5 hours. Add pasta, and cook on LOW for 30 more minutes (we waited and added the spinach in at this time, too). Sprinkle each serving with cheese.
Wanna go for a free coffee date? Click the link and get a free 12 oz. beverage at Borders good through 7/2/09. I will be going there right now for a coffee date by myself! Yahoo! The only thing better would be a babysitter and my hubs ;)
Earlier this week our bird nest hatched two babies
(we don't know where the other three eggs went...).
Unfortunately, I came outside one afternoon to find the second one on the ground (he didn't look healthy when he was born to begin with) and I had to tell Hannah what it was-sad ;(
Hannah and I spent the morning sewing and ironing together.
Here is her makeshift iron- we have yet to find a "real" substitute.
I loved my baby burp cloths my SIL made for me when we had Hannah that had a ribbon strip sewn along the bottom seam. I wanted to make some myself and have been dying to follow this tutorial for some time now. I had all of these ribbons and extra fabric pieces on hand (including the cloth diapers) and so this is what I came up with today.
Since I never got to use my original burp cloths (Hannah never spit up-seriously) I took some of the leftovers I had from today and added them to the top strip (green, yellow, and pink are the original-hope that's okay with you J!). I can't tell if I am excited to use these or not considering what has to come up in order for them to be used! :)
I just found out from Baby Cheapskate that Coupon Cravings is informing people that Parents Magazine is offering (for a very limited time) a free 2 year subscription just by signing up with no strings attached. I don't always care for the parenting advice this magazine publishes, but I do like the activities and the advertising for all the things I never knew I never knew ;) Anyhow, it's free, right?! Better get it quick!
We have been trying to teach Hannah a few things in order to prep her for a new sister in the house.
Crying. There will be lots of it! What to do about it?
We rented this book from the library that goes through feeding, playing, bathing, and helping a baby take a nap in order to help meet some physical needs they baby may have in order to curb crying.
Dressing. We've been putting clothes on and off of babies and Hannah has been putting them to bed using her bedtime routine. This is a great way for her to practice buttoning, lacing, putting a coat on, etc. on a soon to arrive sister. I am hoping that this will give her an outlet of wanting to help when the baby is born rather than being frustrated that she is not getting all of my attention.
We've also been practicing how to hold a baby a.k.a. with the head supported.
She already knows how to rock and sing the baby a lullaby. She has done that since she was 7 months old, naturally.
And the new rule: you can throw any toy down the stairs you want EXCEPT for her babies. They are to be carried and always treated gently, with love.
Any other words of advice for things we can do in preparation?
We started a compost bin and I wish I would have read more before doing ours about what TO and NOT to compost. Here is a quick, helpful beginners guide to composting. Of course, you can make it as complicated as you want to get certain types of compost if you want to be a uber stellar composter for your garden. If that's the case, you'll have to go to the library or internet for that. Check out this link: Squawkfox: How To Compost Without Raising A Stink.
We shared a good Father's Day with my husband yesterday...
Here he is standing up at our church service with many other Dad's--I think he is the youngest one up there (possibly in the church) by about 5 or 6 years!
We relaxed with yummy food, a few gifts, and some naps...
And Daddy had the honor of dancing all around the house with Hannah by her request. He wouldn't let me capture him on film so this is only one half of the party. I cannot express you to enough how much this little girl adores her Daddy. He's the perfect one for her! We love you, babe!
3/4 pound bacon, chopped (use real bacon for this recipe and not turkey b/c you need the remaining fat-- also get nitrate, processed, and preservative free)
2 large leeks, coarsely chopped white ends only
1 white onion, finely chopped
1 shallot, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
10 cups water
5 large russet potatoes, peeled, diced, and reserved in cold water
2 tablespoons chicken base (no MSG)
2 cups whipping cream (or milk if you want a thinner consistency)
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
2 cups Fontina cheese, grated
2 cups cheddar or Swiss, grated
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
garnishes: croutons and bacon bits
*In a large soup pot, cook bacon until crisp. Remove and drain. Reserve 2 TBS. of grease.
*Add reserved bacon grease, leeks, onions, shallot, and garlic and saute over med. heat for 10 min.
*Add water, potatoes (drained), and chicken base, and boil until potatoes are soft, about 20-30 minutes.
*Mash potatoes with wire whisk in pot with liquid. Add whipping cream and Worcestershire sauce and all but 1/3 cup bacon (I reserved all the bacon to put into individual bowls). Heat over medium heat.
*Add grated cheeses and continue cooking over medium-low heat, stirring with a wire whisk, until cheese is melted. Watch closely so it does not burn.
*Ladle into warm soup bowls. Garnish with croutons, bacon, (I added more cheese & fresh chives).
This was very good. I served it with fresh bread. A nice small salad on the side would be delicious, too!
I've been asked about Infant and Toddler Montessori resources. There certainly isn't a ton out there in comparison to the 3-6 age range. Here's my top favorite places to find stuff:
