Montessori Newsletter
Volume 8/9
Published by Montessori for the Earth

 toddler, preschool, elementary

In This Issue . . .

Elementary Montessori Lesson Club
Introduction to Botany
Gardening Books & Materials for Kids
Montessori de Santa Cruz
MONTEACO 6-9 Albums
New Montessori Homeschool Chat times
Montessori & Homeschool Links
Stuff for Montessori and Homeschool WEBMASTERS!

Browse my Plant and Gardening Room for more books and activities for families!

Children's Wheelbarrow

2-12 yrs. &  up  "This little wheelbarrow is the tool of choice for hauling flowers, grass clippings, toys, and other treasures. Not only does it look like a real wheelbarrow, it is a real wheelbarrow, with a red steel tray, a black triangular steel undercarriage, and finished hardwood handles..."

The Montessori Elementary program (appropriate for 6 to 9 year olds) offers Montessori and homeschool lessons and activities in pictures and text including language, math, science, and history;  plus e-mail correspondence with a trained Montessori teacher. Your membership includes:

*Montessori philosophy and methodology including "How to Create a Montessori Elementary
  Environment" and "The Elementary Child"
*Language lessons and activities including grammar, word study,
  sentences, and reading
*Free Math lessons and activities (a work in progress)
*Fractions & Geometry lessons and activities
*History--Evolution and Cosmic Education lessons and activities
*Science lessons and activities
To learn more click here!

“Introduction to Botany” an excerpt from
COSMIC EDUCATION by Ursula Thrush

Preparation of the Environment

The ideal environment has a garden, which is fenced, so that it is completely safe for the children. Have it reflect as much as you can the world, which consists of a cultivated part, an uncultivated part (wild part), and a concrete part. To have a pond or a stream is nice, but might limit the child's freedom or safety.

First of all, the concrete or cement should be close to the building so that the children can function there when the weather is damp and muddy,

In the wild part, assist nature, if necessary, to have wild flowers, ferns, bushes, and big trees with big branches to climb on.

The cultivated part should be such that the children are able to use it for exploration and for work. Arrange it into plots for flowers, vegetables and fruits, separated by paths. Be careful of the widths of the beds so that the children can reach everything. Have a garden shed into which are neatly arranged all of the things needed for a garden. Naturally, all the tools should be child-sized. Have wheelbarrows, rakes, spades, etc., anything that might be needed. Teach the child how to use each tool and how to maintain it. Be patient, this takes a long time to accomplish. Work slowly up to the stage where the child can responsibly work with the hose, etc., then clean it, roll it up, and put it back in its place again. Each tool must have a place of its own, just as in the classroom each material has a place of its own. And they have to be kept in the same good condition,

In the inside environment, keep plants and cut flowers around the room. Have a nature table. The purpose of the nature table is to be the focus of attention, not a dust collector (similar to a bulletin board). The table should have a washable top on which not more than three or four items are displayed at one time. When these items have been looked at, explored, and explained, remove them and bring out new ones. Don't have a nature table unless you attend it, and remember that long-term experiments do not work well with small children. The maintenance of the environment indoors from a botanical point of view is just as important as outdoors.

Again we have the exercises of practical life. Outdoors, they are picking up papers, sweeping leaves, cutting faded flowers, weeding, and eventually pruning. Pruning is a psychologically very important exercise to make the child understand that sometimes we have to cut away parts of a plant to help it grow.

Indoor practical life exercises are watering plants, dusting plants, washing and cleaning and only then spraying them, changing water for cut flowers, cutting their stems, removing wilted flowers from the bouquet, arranging flowers, washing vases, and cleaning the saucers under the potted plants. These are Sensorial Keys that will help the child make order among thousands of plants, Points of Consciousness which will urge him in his exploration. Remember you are not teaching botany, you are planting seeds of interest and giving pointers to the child to make his exploration easier.

The late Ursula Thrush was the directress (and founder) of The Montessori School of the Golden Gate and Montessori Teacher Training Center in San Francisco, as well as the chair of the Peace Education Task Force of the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. She has developed Peace 101 for classroom education.  Her writings have been widely published in Montessori publications.

Recommended Plant and Gardening Books & Activities:

A Child's Garden : Enchanting Outdoor Spaces for Children and Parents
by Molly Dannenmaier FIVE STARS!

In My Garden :  A Counting Book
by Ward Schumaker

Browse my Plant and Gardening Room for more books and activities for families!
 
 

Montessori de Santa Cruz

Situated in a beautiful desert valley in southern
Arizona, Montessori de Santa Cruz is a vibrant,
multi-cultural school and community in search of
teachers at all levels to inspire young people and
share a vision of the future. Our 90 students, their
families and 10 full-time staff are committed to open
communication, Montessori practice, peace education
and an egalitarian work environment featuring
fully-equipped classrooms, strong parent support,
competitive salaries, integration with the local arts
community and a stunning natural environment. 45
minutes to Tucson, 30 minutes to Mexico. Here is an
opportunity to give the best of yourself and celebrate
your personal and professional growth. Letter and
resume to Paul Docken, Montessori de Santa Cruz, P.O.
Box 4706, Tubac, AZ 85646.

Paul Docken
Montessori de Santa Cruz
P.O. Box 4706
Tubac, AZ 85646
520-398-1148 or 520-398-0536
fax: 520-398-0776
mailto:montessoridesc1@theriver.com

6-9 Elementary History & Math Albums!
http://www.moteaco.com/albums.html
Contact: Don Jennings
mailto:don@moteaco.com
Montessori Teachers Collective

NEW Montessori and homeschool chat times!
Chat with Montessori and homeschoolers every Monday and Saturday night 9-10!
Enter here!

Browse Montessori and Homeschool Books and Educational Materials! UPDATED!
*Homeschool books!*
*Montessori books!*
*Parents, books for*
*Peace & Conflict Resolution!*

Montessori Homeschool E-mail Newsletter Archives now open!