Spring is fast approaching! Now is a good time to think about your shelves for the Practical life area of the classroom. It is often filled with bright colors and brings a freshness to the classroom. Exercises such as chair scrubbing is a fun way to include a bit of ‘spring cleaning’ for the children to help out in.
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Read Across America
Read Across America Day is a highlight of each school year for me and the children. This is an annual reading motivation and awareness program to celebrate books and reading that many schools, libraries, communities centers, and homeschool families take part in. It is a nationwide reading celebration. There are many different ways to involve a child’s participation in the program.
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100 Days of School
It is getting close to the 100th day of school usually around this month, or next month sometime. You can begin to prepare now for a fun-filled day of everything 100! Older children can bring in 100 objects of their choice. I send a note home with these children about a week before the 100th day. I also give some suggestions on ideas of what to bring that can help parents and children begin to think about what they can bring in to count out to the other children. Objects such as paper clips, q-tips, shells, crayons, or pennies are some ideas.
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Dental Health Month
It is that time of the year when many teachers like to include dental health lessons for the children. At times a dentist or dental hygienist visits a school to help raise awareness about the importance of oral health. With or without a visiting guest speaker, there are many fun ways to help children appreciate the importance of caring for one’s teeth.
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Nutrition
Usually during the beginning months of the school year, I like to talk with the children about good food choices. We have lessons on our bodies, exercise, and the importance of eating healthy. This sets the tone for the school year about snacks and lunches. However, talking about the basic food groups can be included anytime of the year.
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Circle Time Book/Play
During the month of December, we talk about the continent of Africa. I always introduce the children to the book, Honey Honey Lion, by Jan Brett. We also read The Hat, by Jan Brett with the season changing to Winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
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Montessori Math Materials
The math materials in a Montessori classroom are beautifully and uniquely designed. They allow for a child to successfully grasp mathematical concepts concretely as they progress towards abstract ones. Materials are developed from simple to complex. Process is taught first then facts.
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Owls
During this month, we discuss the vertebrate group of birds. It is always fun to include owls as a bird of prey to be highlighted. I always like to order some owl pellets for the children to explore.
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Trees
This is a good time of the year to begin talking about deciduous and evergreen trees. With the colors of fall beginning to fade and the leaves falling off the trees, the evergreen trees stand out. A review on the parts of a tree and why leaves change color can start off the lessons leading up to those trees that are still green.
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Color Mixing
The youngest children often come to school knowing the names of many colors or very few. Montessori color boxes are used to introduce colors to the children. A variety of activities and songs are also a fun way to help children learn colors. Hap Palmer and Frank Leto both have great songs about colors, which can be easily be found online.