Lessons Last Week

Our time has been very spontaneous around here!  They say, "I want to work."  And off we go!!  This may be my longest post this year!

The tots are loving matching these days.  This work is really for big sis (thus the appeal) for initial sounds, but we find a good purpose for picture to picture matching.  I love watching them work together.

I took this photo while playing I Spy with Bean.  She likes playing this in the car, too!  Makes the trip to ballet a little more purposeful!   Pictured here, we did this for the initial sounds /h/, /r/, and /m/.  Below is the lesson, from my album. 

I Spy With My Little Eye

Area

General~  Language

Specific~  Oral/Auditory Development

Materials

3 little objects

Container

Aims

Direct~  To enjoy the sounds of our language.  To become aware that words are composed of sounds.  To listen for the sounds in words.

Indirect~  To hear the component sounds of words

  

Preparation

Sounds games

 Age 

First year Montessori student

 Presentation of Lesson

Invite the child, and tell them the name of the game

Lay the three items out on the workspace horizontally

“I spy with my little eye, an object that begins with the sound ___”

Continue with all three

Invite the child to repeat

Return work to shelf

Work of the Teacher

Points of Emphasis

Saying I spy with my little eye an object that begins with ___

Pronounce sound correctly and clearly

 Language

Name of the game

Name of the objects

  

Points of Interest

Objects

I Spy Game

Work of the Child

Points of Conscious

Words begin with sounds

Words are made up of sounds

 Control of Error

Teacher

Another child

 Variations

Change objects

Extensions

Playing the game outside and inside the classroom with the environment

Ending sounds

Middle sounds

On black Friday, we stayed home.  It was wonderful, and we got a lot of work in.  I introduced the winter sets basket.  It certainly called to them!!!  

We also got our tree this weekend.  I gave Bean a lesson on how to water it.  She was concentrating so hard in this picture.  What a big job!

To learn the names of the letters in her name, I made this work from our movable alphabet.  I simply traced her name, colored it in, and kept the letters in this cute little bag.  Even her sisters tried it!

Peanut loves her knobbed cylinders.  They will most likely stay out year round because of their popularity and the fact that sensorial is the basis for so many other areas.

Control Of Error, Pouring

One of my favorite things within Montessori is the built in control of error.  For my little tots, it's most prevalent now in Practical Life.  They adore anything involving water, as all little ones do, so the pull towards water pouring is strong.  The control of error for water pouring is water on the tray (or in the picture here, on the floor, on the sleeves, on the table).  The key here is to teach the lesson carefully. Also, keep in mind that exploration happens and spills are okay and need to be handled with love, care, and kindness.  Teaching the child how to handle their own messes effectively is one of the main aims of practical life.

From my album..............NAME OF ACTIVITY:  WATER POURING

AREA
General:       Practical Life

Specific:        Physical Skills- Pouring

MATERIALS:

  Tray

  2 glass pitchers of equal size

  Colored water (on left, filled ¼ way)

  Little Towel

AIMS

Direct:            Coordination, Concentration, Independence, and Order

Indirect:         Mastering pouring from one pitcher to the next.  (one to one pouring)

Preparation: Tray carrying, dry pouring.

AGE:              First year Montessori student.

PRESENTATION OF LESSON: 

  Grasp pitcher on the left with the dominant hand.  

  Place subdominant hand under the spout.

  Looking into the center of the pitcher, pour slowly and steadily

  Wait for the very last drop to go in.

  Wipe the spout with cloth.

  Repeat several times, depending on the child/children to decide how many times.

  Tidy the work.  (Check for spills, and wipe.)

WORK OF THE TEACHER

Points of Emphasis:

  Placement of hand on pitcher, with fingers under the handle and thumb on top.

  Be sure to wait for the last drop.

  Pour with the spout.

  Wipe spout.

  Pour slowly and steadily.

  Lift pitcher above empty pitcher for pouring.

Language:

  Spout

  Idea of Full and Empty

  Idea of Slow and Steady

  Color of the water

POINTS OF INTEREST:  Attractive materials, sound of water.

WORK OF THE CHILD:

Points of Consciousness:  The arms, wrist, and hand control the pitcher.  The spout makes it easier to pour water.

CONTROL OF ERROR:  The amount of water the teacher prepares the work with is geared toward the success of the child.  Spilled water on the tray can be wiped up with the little towel or sponge. 

VARIATIONS:  Changing the tray, water colors, or pitcher.

EXTENSIONS:  Change pitcher size, or add more water.   Pouring can be done in cooking and snack preparation, garden care, and science experiments.  Pouring can be done between vessels varying in size and shape.  Adding more vessels can make pouring more challenging.

Notes:

Talk about the ground rules for the colored water, and also how the teacher created it.

Items New To The Shelves

Water pouring, pasta sorting, wipe away writing, chalkboard mat, and rock painting!