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A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification

Montessori Original Project-Geography: Costumes Around the World

UMA student, Tracey Corbishley from Christchurch, New Zealand shares this beautiful Geography activity that she created for her UMA original project.

Materials used:
1. Tray
2. Mat
3. Bag titled ‘felt costumes’.
Inside is a large felt board and a booklet. Booklet contains a picture on each page depicting a male and female in their country’s national dress. Each page is labeled with the country’s name as well as each article of clothing with its correct name.
4. Box titled ‘felt costumes’.
Inside the box is divided into nine different compartments incorporating: robes (and felt bodies), pants, skirts, tops, headwear, hair, footwear, jewellery and accessories.

Tracey writes:

What I learned from creating this original project:
I really wanted to create an activity that did not use cards this time. I’m also a perfectionist and found it quite challenging (but interesting) to find the best ways to decorate the felt to look as close as possible to the pictures. I was quite amazed at the amount of plastic containers there are in the shops. Since my materials and crafty bits are still in boxes, I went searching for plain storage options of natural materials and found that quite difficult. Everything is plastic and brightly colored. I enjoyed working on something totally different and my 12 year old daughter has enjoyed working with this activity as well.

Brief overall summary of my demonstration:
My neighbor’s daughter, Claire, is 4 years old and not a Montessori child, so she found it hard to sit still and watch, She was very keen to touch all the felts. I waited till she was paying attention and them demonstrated the activity to her. When I let her work at the activity I sat back and watched, noting with interest her smile on her face as she carefully held all the pieces, talking quietly to herself, whether they were the right piece, comparing to the picture and then deciding yes or no.

What I learned from the child’s response:
Felts have always been interesting for children to work with. Claire was no exception. Although she could not read the written words, she was still interested in making up the correct outfit that matched the booklet.

A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification

Audio Interview with Lori Bourne of Montessori for Everyone!

UMA's weekly interview is with Lori Bourne of Montessori for Everyone- Creator and seller of high quality materials for the classroom. In this interview, I ask Lori about the genesis of her business and what she has discovered in being a web-based enterprise. Lots of content.

Find them on the web at: http://montessoriforeveryone.com

A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification

A Montessori Moment ! Exercise.

Here is "A Montessori Moment" podcast for the week:

A few additional resources:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4097/is_200407/ai_n9456103/?tag=content;col1
http://www.pecentral.org/LessonIdeas/SearchResults.asp
http://www.yogamovement.com/resources/kidyoga.html
http://www.newchildmontessori.com/yoga.html

Do you have resources to share? Let us know.

A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification

Materials Presentation: Sequencing Exercises!

Here are four sets of sequencing exercises, submitted by UMA graduate, Darlene Mullen of Silverdale, Washington.

Thank you Darlene!

A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification

Sequencing and Matching Exercise, Pam Morgan

Pam Morgan of Elkin WV shares with us the beautiful, natural materials she used to make a sequencing and matching exercise, using cross sections of tree limbs. It was a joint project, in that her husband had made the tray by hand. Thank you, Pam, for inspiring us to utilize the beauty of creation, so that we might, in turn, inspire the children to appreciate and value their natural environment.

A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification

Just Published: "The Self-Awakened Child" series

Jonathan Wolff, mentor/trainer, has just published THE SELF-AWAKENED CHILD SERIES, a dynamic character education program (for teachers and parents) he created to build self esteem, critical thinking, and healthy relationships in children 3 - 9 years old.

Each of the 15 books in the series focuses on a specific quality of character: “Acceptance,” “Assertiveness,” “Compassion,” “Courage,” “Creativity,” “Forgiveness,” “Honesty,” “Kindness,” “Loyalty,” “Peace,” “Respect,” “Responsibility,” “Self-Discipline,” “Trust,” and “Unity.”

Each book features exercises specifically designed to help children reach the full expression of their character that have been tested in the heat of battle by parents and teachers around the world with proven success. The books can be purchased separately ($12/each) or as a series ($165).

To order: http://www.jonathanwolff.org/catalog.htm . If you order the series by June 30th, you will receive a complimentary copy of CENTERSTONES, an illustrated collection of affirmations that develop clarity, calmness, courage, concentration, confidence, cheerfulness and compassion in children 3 - 9 years old.

A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification

Interview with Jonathan Wolff, Montessori Educator and Leader

Right now, so many Montessori schools are faced with the challenges of a downward economy and all the issues that come with it. What an encouragement to interview Jonathan Wolff, a leadership and educational consultant, with over 30 years experience in dealing with the complex school and societal issues. In this interview, he was insightful and down to earth about what we can explore with our staff, parents and children within our schools and our Montessori community. Much to consider!

Here's the interview:

For more about Jonathan, go to his website at: http://jonathanwolff.org

A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification

UMA Audio Cast Tip of the Week- Plant a Garden!

Our Tip of the Week is:

Additional Resources:
* kidsgardening.org
*gardeningwithkids.org

A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification

From our Archives: Geography- Alaska

Once again, here is a lesson/project from our archives from one of our graduates, Laura McIntyre of Lincoln, California.

Thanks again Laura!

A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification