Cutting up Fun! Scissor Work

Cutting up fun with paper! Caroline LOVES to to cut with scissors. However to avoid unintentional haircuts, this work can only be done when mommy can supervise. To prepare the environment, I drew lines on the colored paper construction paper and then cut the paper into 1- inch wide strips. Then I gave Caroline the lined 1-inch strips of paper and scissors. After we cut the paper into various shapes, Caroline used them to create abstract art work.

Cutting Practice Printable:

DLTK

Activity Village

Cutting Work: Take Two

I love Montessori Print Shop and Montessori for Everyone. These cutting strips (pictured below) are FREE and printable from Montessori Print Shop. After Caroline cut them into squares we pasted them on to card stock and they are now being mailed and delivered to "special" people.

Map of the World with Animals

I first saw Zoo Animals and Where They Live on mymontesssorimoments.com. Then I started an internet search to see how other people were approaching this lesson. These two sites had great ideas: Felt Board World Map and Toddler World Map with Animals, but a little too much work for this mama.

So this is the way we are going to approach the lesson. First I printed this Map of the World, which is free and printable. You will need several copies: One copy for you to color in the continents using the montessori colors. Then I decided it was too much work and I went to Montessori Printshop and paid to print it.

I do not have all the animals like Zoo Animals and Where They Live. I am still trying to round up some of the animals that I know we do own.

Before I introduced the cards, I placed the animals into a bin on the shelf. Caroline enjoyed playing with the animals. She even drew this picture of her giraffe.

The next lesson will be to set up and match the cards and then match up the animals.

Skeleton Fun with Noodles

First, let me say I love Disney's Family Fun magazine and this is where the project idea originated. I did change it slightly, because we do not eat a lot of pasta and I didn't want to spent a lot on pasta. I went to the dollar store and bought Ziti and small shells.

A B

A: This is my version of the Skeleton noodle man.

B: This is the tray I have the prepared with small shells, elbow, ziti, and beans. Also I have black card stock with the skeleton outline and Glue with a dixie cup and Q-tips.

Finally Caroline shows off her skeleton person.

Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary Vertebrates Field Trip

This year Devon is using the Bob Jones Science Level 3, which begins with vertebrates and invertebrates. From vertebrates the subject went into the five types of vertebrates: fish, birds, mammal, reptiles, and amphibians. This gave me the idea to plan a field trip to Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary. After calling the center and planning a date with the Naturalist Shannon, we were set.

The 35 parents, students, and siblings were divided into two groups. Our group took the outside tour first. On the naturalist asked the children to play "I-Spy" and look for evidence of animals. First we spied Cypress Knees, which are roots that grow up and come out of the ground.

We also discovered poison ivy growing on tress and learned that it doesn't bother the animals and give them rashes like

us.

We found evidence that a bird was on the boardwalk by the evidence left behind. Then we began to look up for the bird or any evidence that it may have a nest in the surrounding trees.

Continuing on our walk, we found raccoon tracks, a frog,and these mud piles thatwerehome to crawfish. The raccoon tracks were around these crawfish homes, which made us believe that they eat the crawfish.

We then met the Hawk that was injured and now lives at the Sanctuary, because it can not live in the wild.

The second part of the trip included stations set up inside the nature center.

What lives in the Pond?

The kids were asked to use "cup" hands and see what was living in the pond water. Behind them in a tank was a 20 year old Albino Snapping Turtle. He was a big hit with all the kids.

So, this wasn't a "station" but my Caroline LOVED these stuffed critters.

Amphibian Station

This station had a two frogs and several tadpoles to watch. It also had cards with frog facts and how far the frog could jump. Most kids could jump as far as a Bull Frog.

Skull Station

This station had skulls to pick-up and observe and determine, if the animal had K-9 teeth or not and to guess what type of animal the skull belonged too. We were able to see a bear, deer, beaver, skunk,and possum skull.


Which Beak is BEST?

For this station, the kids were asked to use various tools to gather food and determine which tool was best for what job. For example, a small test tube filled with water was provided and a pipet and a spoon to test which would be best. The pipet would represent the hummingbird beak and the small test tube a flower. This could even be used as a lesson in its self and then you could discuss the various beaks of birds.

Bat Bones

This station had a bat skeleton poster attached to the all and four turtle shells on display. The kids were to compare the bat skeleton poster, the turtle shells, and our human skeleton.

At the end the naturist gave the kids a live animal show featuring a painted turtle and king snake.

Puff ball Magnets

I saw these Puff ball magnets on Mama Jenn's blog and fell in love with them. I went to Walmart and bought the magnets and puff balls. Next I visited the local Dollar Store for cookie sheets and more puffballs.

Today I just let Caroline play with them and create. The picture on the left is her Rainbow. Her first masterpiece was a smiley face.

More Creative ideas for Puff ball magnet fun:

ABC Do-A-Dot Pages

Magnet Pages by Letter from Making Learning Fun

Magnet Mosaics from Making Learning Fun