Best Way - Montessori Math Activities | eHow.com

Best Way - Montessori Math Activities eHow.com

Fractions

I just used some cardstock (you can laminate if you 'd like) and made a little puzzle to help with the concept of fractional parts.

Rounding to nearest Hundred

To help my child learn the concept of rounding to the nearest hundred I used two sentence paper strips to make a number line from 100-900. I cut out 2 x 2" squares of card stock and wrote on some random numbers. We made a little game out of finding which 2 hundreds the given numbers were in between, laying the given number on the number line. Then I marked off the "middles"...150, 250, 350 in red...explaining that if the tens place of the given number is 5 or above then you round up to the next hundred. For example 252 would be rounded up to 300 since the tens place is a 5 or above. I presented this to my daughter by placing the numbers under the correct answer.

Homemade Montessori Counting Beads

Instead of using the very expensive traditional Montessori gold beads/rods, I decided to make my own beads using natural wooden beads on natural hemp string. I have only gotten as far as beads for 1-10 as seen in the photo. You can find supplies at your local craft store. I tried to tie the knots as close as I could to the beads on each end just so that when you line them up that it is a very clear pattern that the next number is one bead larger, etc. This time I lined them up to look like a Christmas tree for the holiday season.

Autumn themed Sequencing 1-10 activity

My 3 year old really enjoyed this simple yet colorful sequencing activity using some decorative fall leaves. I used a permanent marker to write numbers 1-10 on the leaves and used some strips of card stock to present to him the numbers in order.

ABC Montessori song

When singing the ABC's I like to use a different song to help the child learn through phonetic sounds versus the name of the letter. For example if the child is doing a push pin activity on the letter "a" we could sing a song that says:
apple... apple... a ..a ..a ..(using the short a sound)
or
ant... ant... a.. a.. a ..

If presenting the letter b:
baby... baby... b.. b ..b..
book... book... b.. b.. b

Guide to Montessori Grammar Symbols | eHow.com

Guide to Montessori Grammar Symbols eHow.com

100 Best Blogs for Homeschooling Moms | Online Education.net: The Best Online Education Programs

100 Best Blogs for Homeschooling Moms Online Education.net: The Best Online Education Programs

Watercolor Art Activity -Alphabet

Materials: Scotch tape, watercolor paints, watercolor paper, paintbrushes, water

Tape out the letter you want to create on the watercolor paper. Have the kids paint around the taped out letter. After the paint has dried you may remove the tape. You can use the child's initials too!

How to Make a Lapbook | eHow.com

This is a wonderful idea to try out! Making a lapbook with your child. Your child will retain the information much easier than just reading a book.

How to Make a Lapbook eHow.com

Montessori Sand Letters Activity: Montessori Language Activities | eHow.com

Montessori Sand Letters Activity: Montessori Language Activities eHow.com

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Montessori Movable Alphabet Activity: Montessori Language Activities | eHow.com

Montessori Movable Alphabet Activity: Montessori Language Activities eHow.com

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The Tens Board Montessori Material: Montessori Math Methods | eHow.com

My Homemade Montessori Tens Board! I used red card stock. See the demonstration video below using the typical Montessori wood materials. I try to use a less expensive alternative.

The Tens Board Montessori Material: Montessori Math Methods eHow.com

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The Hundreds Board Montessori Material: Montessori Math Methods | eHow.com

The Hundreds Board Montessori Material: Montessori Math Methods | eHow.com

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Counting 1-5 (Age 3)

I presented this using a placemat and wrote 1-5 on cutout cardstock. You can use any type of counting objects. I used unifex cubes. This place mat was great since it has a square pattern on it to keep the cubes in a "box". I let my son count out the cubes himself and line them up under the appropriate box. You can use this activity to help discuss odd/even numbers as well.

Pushpin Activity Board

Make your own work foam board for you pushpin activities! Just use a thick foam piece of board and stick a few colorful pushpins on the top for easy access.

Montessori-Push Pin Activity

I love this Montessori activity. When I taught at a Montessori school in Naples, Italy we used this activity every morning in the 4 year old preschool class. The kids knew when they arrived that they would go pick out a push pin and a square of carpet or foam along with the daily shape. This is great for those fine motor skills and to help with concentration.

After a child uses a push pin to punch holes in the outline of a shape such as shapes of continents, letters, numbers, circles and so on...then he/she removes the surrounding paper to reveal the completed shape! The completed shape can be used for a craft or building a map as seen below!

Sparkle Writing Words (A- E) List # 1

Here is a great list of "Sparkle" words -great words for writing. I give this list to my 3rd grade child when she is writing in her journal or doing a writing assignment. This gives her some great ideas and makes it easier to keep on writing. I found these ideas on http://mellissaforney.com/

affirm- to agree with
altercation- an angry argument
anecdote- a short, entertaining story
astound-amaze
balk- to refuse to go ahead
bedlam-a noisy, confusing environment
behemoth- huge
benevolent- kind, generous
bliss-happiness
brilliant- quite intelligent
captivate- to gain everyone's attention
cataclysmic- the absolute worst
catastrophe- a sudden and total disaster
complacent- willing to please
culpable- deserving blame
dilemma- in a troublesome situation
discombobulated- confused, mixed up
doubt- to think something might not be true
embellish- decorate by adding detail
empathy- the ability to share another person's feelings
enhance- to improve, to decorate, to embellish
enthrall- to captivate, to fascinate
epitome- a person or thing that shows typical qualities
eradicate- wipe out, destroy
exacerbate- make worse
exuberant- over-the-top happy

First Writing Book

What a great find! I just happened to be looking online for more Montessori style learning toys/books and came across this great board book for young toddlers learning their letters.

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Letters-first-writing-Making/dp/1577912489/ref=pd_ybh_12?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0VSJAES7JV6FB1TXRV5Z

Grow a Lily Pad-Claude Monet

Grow a Lily Pad in a glass bowl! You can add a lesson about Claude Monet. Use some pastels to color a picture of waterlillies.

http://nature-gifts.com/

Michelangelo's Box

Materials: Large cardboard box (big enough for a child's playhouse) and art pictures or printed famous paintings. You could use images of the Sistine Chapel or any other art! Glue or tape pictures inside the top of the box and have kids lie down and look up at their artistic ceiling using a flashlight. A great time to include a lesson on Michelangelo and read a book about him!

Homeschool Centers

I have realized how difficult it is to teach a 3rd grader and keeping a toddler happy and involved in learning as well. I began making centers around the house, changing them every day to make it a new adventure especially for my 3 year old boy. Please post comments any other ideas on more centers! I will run out of ideas soon! Here are some of my center ideas:

Reading Center (use a pop-up tent or bean bag chair)
Building Blocks
Wedgits building blocks
Wooden puzzles
Dinosaurs (a basket of play dinosaurs and a dinosaur book)
Cutting wooden food (Melissa and Doug)
Sandpaper letters
Car center (with play rug)
Legos or Lincoln Logs
Puppet center (have some cardboard or boxes to create a puppet show theater)
Craft center (glue, paper, scissors, etc)
Tool center (plastic or real tools such as large bolts and nuts) Great for their fine motor skills.
Lacing (age 3 +) -you can use large beads or rigatoni uncooked pasta
Nature center (rocks, leaves, magnifyling glass)
Herbs (smelling and matching fresh or dried herbs)
Hop scotch (indoor mat set)
Airplanes
Musical Instrument Center
Cutting Center (Kumon cutting activity book with safety scissors)
Measuring cups/spoons with dry beans or pasta (scooping exercises)
Big cardboard boxes for building
Exercise mat with music
Electronic educational game center ( I limit this activity)
Drawing/coloring center (provide nice crayons, colored pencils, markers)
Mr. Potato Head
Pet doctor center
Large vehicle center (vs. matchbox cars)

Melissa and Doug

I love products from Melissa and Doug! They have some great puzzles for toddlers developing their language, sensorial, practical and fine motor skills.

Homemade Playdough

Here is a great homemade playdough recipe. It is fun to mix up a batch and explore different colors!

3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups salt
3 cups (colored) water -use food coloring
3 Tablespoon vegetable oil
2 Tablespoon Cream of Tartar

Mix all ingredients in a large pan on medium heat stirring constantly. Stir until the mixture becomes a dough like consistency. Remove from heat and knead real well. Let cool completely before storing in an air tight container or zip lock bag.

Homeschool Ideas-Toddler Sandpaper Alphabet

For ages 3 +: You can make your own sandpaper alphabet (concept from Maria Montessori) by using sticky felt letters and placing them on a pre-stretched canvas (decoration for child's bedroom as well) or a display board. You can use your own custom colors (acrylic, non-toxic paint). There are many creative ideas on how to display the alphabet...possibly using the grid pattern as I did or place each letter in a painted bubble floating on the canvas but making sure the alphabet stays in order.
During "teaching" time, have your child trace the letter in the direction of how the letter is written, saying the sound (before the name of the letter) 3 times out loud. I would stick to only doing a maximum of 3 letters each lesson. The child will visualize the letter, hear the sound and feel the shape! A great sensorial and language activity.