Inspired by the lessons in practicality that I receive on a regular basis from my good friend and fellow Montessorian, Jennifer, I have decided to instill our own museum of paintings in our halls. The idea is to take classic works of art (in this case, all paintings) and display them at levels that may be observed and studied by the child. I'm not sure yet as to how and where I'm going to place them yet, but have just finished cutting out 20 different pictures of paintings that I got from a book called The Story of Painting. I picked it up for 0.75 at the library book sale yesterday and its my latest TREASURE. I harvested the pictures I want for our collection and am passing it on to Jennifer so she can add to hers.
I have paintings from da Vinci, Michaelangelo, and Raphael; to Van Gogh, Degas, and Manet; to Miro, Matisse, and Modigliani. How's that for timelining it, Auntie Jo? My sister, who is an art appreciation afficianado, will love what we are setting up for the kids. Most of these are works that anyone who has even a slight interest in art will recognize (Mona Lisa, Road with Cypresses, Still Life with Fruit), but there are a good number that will hopefully invoke some discussion as well. When asked, "What do you see in The Harlequin's Carnival, Mcclellan," I'm curious as to what he will say! I was impressed that when he was shown Madonna and Child Enthroned, he identified the Baby Jesus upon Mary's lap. I mean, its all Byzantine and Middle Age-y, but that kid knows who is who! I can't wait to get these laminated (possibly framed if I can find enough that will fit from the thrift stores) and set them out!
Showing posts with label Montessori. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Montessori. Show all posts
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
MORE! TSBVI Activities
I lurrrve the TSBVI website. It has all these Montessori activities, that are particularly helpful for small children who are blind or visually impaired. Mcclellan is neither, but the sensory/auditory activities that help blind children be aware of their environment are also GREAT for those toddlers who happen to be very sensory and auditory learners!
This one, I'm so proud to say, was built from the findings of my husband's well-stocked garage. When I read that this activity required 25 washers, 5 sets of 5, in graduated sizes, I was like, "Looks like a trip to Ace Hardware!" But no, Matt had all of these, the wood and the nails in the garage. Yesssss! I think Mcclellan's really going to like the eye-candy that this work has to offer.
Shape sequencing...as I've shown. There are four cards, each with two foam shapes glued to them. There are corresponding loose shapes to finish the "sentence" on the card.
My favorite is this one with puff paint and bottlecaps. Sure, I could've used just a marker, even a colored one. But the tactile funness of the puff paint is going to be super to encourage the one to one number matching. And bottlecaps? What kiddo doesn't love bottlecaps?
And another fun, toddlercentric one: jingle bells! Here the goal is to match the two that sound the same and are of the same size (and happen to have the same color ribbon!). But even to match the opposite bells is a good lesson in differences and opposites. Multi-functional!
This week is well stocked and I'm excited to see what Mcclellan has to do and say with his work! Verity is digging our shape sorter cube and a box full of sensory balls I've laid out for her. We also went on a nature walk yesterday and filled a tray full of shells, flowers, and rocks we found while out and about. Depending on how the flowers look, midweek, we may or may not keep this work out!
This one, I'm so proud to say, was built from the findings of my husband's well-stocked garage. When I read that this activity required 25 washers, 5 sets of 5, in graduated sizes, I was like, "Looks like a trip to Ace Hardware!" But no, Matt had all of these, the wood and the nails in the garage. Yesssss! I think Mcclellan's really going to like the eye-candy that this work has to offer.
Shape sequencing...as I've shown. There are four cards, each with two foam shapes glued to them. There are corresponding loose shapes to finish the "sentence" on the card.
My favorite is this one with puff paint and bottlecaps. Sure, I could've used just a marker, even a colored one. But the tactile funness of the puff paint is going to be super to encourage the one to one number matching. And bottlecaps? What kiddo doesn't love bottlecaps?
And another fun, toddlercentric one: jingle bells! Here the goal is to match the two that sound the same and are of the same size (and happen to have the same color ribbon!). But even to match the opposite bells is a good lesson in differences and opposites. Multi-functional!
This week is well stocked and I'm excited to see what Mcclellan has to do and say with his work! Verity is digging our shape sorter cube and a box full of sensory balls I've laid out for her. We also went on a nature walk yesterday and filled a tray full of shells, flowers, and rocks we found while out and about. Depending on how the flowers look, midweek, we may or may not keep this work out!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Teaching Moments
We did our "Color Areas" activity today. I'm finding that doing focused, specific activities is proving to be a little more challenging to get started. After putzing around a bit, needing some guidance from Mom, and a lot of "watch me do it...now YOU do it," Mcclellan finally catches on and gets interested. We collected yellow and orange materials from around the house today. These included a yellow banana peel that he spied on the counter in the kitchen...
Then, in the middle of hunting for an orange something, he has been dragging a costume-jewelry necklace of Grandma W's when I heard, "Ker-chattle!" The string had broken and black and grey squares were scattered about. We paused our orange hunt and picked up every last bead. There were 48 in all...
The brilliant new idea had struck me by then, but not wanting to deter from our regularly scheduled programming, we finished up our Color Areas. Then, "Mcclellan," I said, "We are going to sort." After the same putzing about, he was well into sorting black squares onto one plate, grey on another.
"I'm sorting, Mama!" he called. And he got 24 grey squares on one plate. 24 black on the other! This teaching moment brought to you by an accident and a broken something turned into a beautiful, purposeful work activity!
Again, this was something that just can't be planned! I'm getting better, really I am!
Then, in the middle of hunting for an orange something, he has been dragging a costume-jewelry necklace of Grandma W's when I heard, "Ker-chattle!" The string had broken and black and grey squares were scattered about. We paused our orange hunt and picked up every last bead. There were 48 in all...The brilliant new idea had struck me by then, but not wanting to deter from our regularly scheduled programming, we finished up our Color Areas. Then, "Mcclellan," I said, "We are going to sort." After the same putzing about, he was well into sorting black squares onto one plate, grey on another.
"I'm sorting, Mama!" he called. And he got 24 grey squares on one plate. 24 black on the other! This teaching moment brought to you by an accident and a broken something turned into a beautiful, purposeful work activity!
Again, this was something that just can't be planned! I'm getting better, really I am!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Anti-art and Sniffing
I've come to the saddening, undeniable conclusion that my son just does not. like. to. paint. Ever since he was a baby, finger painting, he's not been enthused about the messiness, the gooeyness that is painting. He would just give me a look that said, "This stuff just does not belong on my hands, Mom." The same holds true today. He seems to love to get messy just so he can go wash up. Crazy kid. We painted our cans for our chimes and he was not a fan. We'll see how the actual assembly goes later this afternoon.
On a positive note, he did love the playdough (and always has) he was left to while I prepped his sniffing jars. Maybe a sculptor?
Our sniffing jars are a hit! I used cleaned-out sprinkle jars with the little shaker caps on them, and filled each jar with a cotton ball doused in something smelly.
Butter, wine, coffee, mint, vanilla, and smoke (each from a flavoring or the direct source). My favorite is when he grabs the butter scent, smells, and says, "Kropsu!" Kropsu does have a considerable amount of butter in it...
His little toddler fingers are having fun with the screw-off lids too. Success!
On a positive note, he did love the playdough (and always has) he was left to while I prepped his sniffing jars. Maybe a sculptor?
Our sniffing jars are a hit! I used cleaned-out sprinkle jars with the little shaker caps on them, and filled each jar with a cotton ball doused in something smelly.
Butter, wine, coffee, mint, vanilla, and smoke (each from a flavoring or the direct source). My favorite is when he grabs the butter scent, smells, and says, "Kropsu!" Kropsu does have a considerable amount of butter in it...
His little toddler fingers are having fun with the screw-off lids too. Success!
Monday, April 13, 2009
"Hiatus"
Well, I'm at it again. With our extremely successful garage sale last weekend and the move happening in two weeks, I'm just no good at housekeeping. Let alone lesson planning. The only solution? Hiatus!
So my only official plans for the next two weeks include getting out of the house at least once a day (even if that just means to the thrift store or to buy eggs), and doing at least one "work" activity daily. Today we borrowed from the TSBVI site's "Poke and Peek."
POKE & PEEK
Focus: encourages fine motor development and eye-hand coordination.
Materials:
We're talking a good ten minutes of one happy, focused toddler. And when he suggested the use of his new tongs, I brought out more little Dixie cups, as the pincing of toothpicks wasn't so much easy for a 2-yr-old...
And then to up the skill level, little steel sorting cups. We're talking another good ten minutes or so. (The addition of the silicone mat was solely for the purpose of sound damping during Verity's nap.)
Now, if only I could come up with something motivating to get us out of the house on this gray, wet, 40-degree day...
So my only official plans for the next two weeks include getting out of the house at least once a day (even if that just means to the thrift store or to buy eggs), and doing at least one "work" activity daily. Today we borrowed from the TSBVI site's "Poke and Peek."
POKE & PEEKFocus: encourages fine motor development and eye-hand coordination.
Materials:
- colander
- tin bowl
- coloured toothpicks
Procedure: Invert the colander. The child will insert the toothpicks into the holes. Add a tin bowl underneath the colander and it will give auditory feedback to the child.
We're talking a good ten minutes of one happy, focused toddler. And when he suggested the use of his new tongs, I brought out more little Dixie cups, as the pincing of toothpicks wasn't so much easy for a 2-yr-old...
And then to up the skill level, little steel sorting cups. We're talking another good ten minutes or so. (The addition of the silicone mat was solely for the purpose of sound damping during Verity's nap.)
Now, if only I could come up with something motivating to get us out of the house on this gray, wet, 40-degree day...
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