Montessori Monday

Last week was interesting as I only put out a couple of new lessons since I was sick.  Normally I put out anywhere between 5-7 new lessons each Sunday night, in addition to the regular Montessori materials that stay out all the time on our shelves.  The first day we did lessons Short Pants crabbed a bit about the lack of new material, but it turned out quite nicely as it reminded him to work with materials he'd been overlooking. 

His favorite lesson of the week was using a slotted spoon to scoop animals from our continent boxes out of a bin of sand.  He did this several times, switching out for different animals.  Short Pants thought it was *very* silly to be scooping penguins from Antarctica out of sand!  He had loads of fun finding and naming all of the animals; it was a good review:

 
 
He also built a huge "robot" using the pink tower and brown stair:

Ignore the crazy wolf-boy bangs - he doesn't want to get them cut!

We also played the penny game.  Very easy - use an empty egg carton and take turns dropping pennies untill each depression has a coin.  I stood on my knees and Short Pants stood to make it more challenging.  And yes, I *did* catch him cheating a few times!  ;)

 
 
I also convinced him to work with the geometric solids for a bit.  We used our matching cards that I purchased from Montessori for Everyone.  We only got about halfway through this lesson - Short Pants just doesn't seem to be a fan of the geometric solids *or* the geometric cabinet:

 
 He also worked for a tiny bit on a lesson that I've seen all over blogland recently - using tweezers to remove kernals from Indian corn.  Short Pants isn't so much of a fan of this lesson either.  I've been trying to use the fact that we'll try popping the corn afterwards to entice him, but no dice.  At this rate we'll only have about 5 pieces of popcorn!  I'm planning on leaving this out for next week again and doing it with him:

Short Pants explored his phonics drawers again - I had him pick a few drawers and then we dumped all of the objects out and he sorted them back into the proper drawers.  I'm really happy that I went to the trouble of gathering the miniatures because he's been having so much fun with them:

 
Another fun lesson for *me* was watching Short Pants work with all four knobbed cylinder sets at the same time - something I'd been asking him to do off and on for months.  I think he kept refusing because he was a bit intimidated, and he did ask me to do the first few with him.  After that he was off like a shot and was more than happy to match them back up himself.  I guess I don't blame him for being intimidated; that's a lot of cylinders!

 
He also picked walking on the line, which he always loves.  He walked while banging his rhythm sticks and also while carrying a bell.  Next time I'll see if he wants to try a bean bag on his head:

 
 
Working with the globe and continents map was another hit (as always):

 
Short Pants also spent quite awhile working with his number rods.  I LOVE our number rods.  Instead of just doing what I call the "meaningless number chant" that many kiddos do, the number rods have actually taught him the meaning of the quantities since he has to point to each section and count it on every rod.  He's actually counting and not just saying the numbers:

 

We also played the "Smack It' game with the sandpaper numerals (I call out a number and he smacks it!).  Short Pants spied our spindle box while I was sorting through the storage drawers, and since I explained that he has to know what all the numerals look like before he can use it, he's become highly motivated as of late!  

 Thanks for reading!

Comments

[Zonnah]

I have been working at a local Montessori School for only four months, but in that time I have never seen a kid use the geometric solids. Just thought that might make you feel better :)

[Mari-Ann]

I so look forward to these posts. Looks like Short Pants had another great Montessori Monday! Love that he thought it was silly for the Antarctica animals to be in the sand. :)

I just ordered a bunch of Montessori materials (thanks for your list, btw!!) and cannot wait to get them. :)

[One hook wonder]

LOL - that does make me feel better! Geometric solids must just be a bummer all around. ;)

[One hook wonder]

So glad the list was helpful! I can't wait to see what your little guy thinks of his new materials.

[Karen]

Always enjoy your montessori monday posts!!! I love montessori materials, so I can't wait to see my princess working with them like that!!! Short Pants had a wonderful and busy monday!!!! I LOVE IT!! Thanks for share it with us!!

[One hook wonder]

Thanks Karen. I love knowing that my posts are helping other mamas come up with lessons for their little ones since I get SO much inspiration from blogs myself. :)