Maple leaves in beexwax

Maple leaves are too beautiful not to be used for home decoration. However, soon after they start to wilt. This can be proponed by laminating them in beeswax.

Me and my DD collected left overs of beeswax candles. She grated them with a small child-sized grater.

Then I heated water, poured it in a bowl and put the bowl with already grated beeswax inside. Soon the wax started to melt.

Then she carefully, watching to to put fingers in the hot wax, immersed leaves in the wax, took out, put them on a napking to cool down and for wax to harden.

When all the leaves were coated, she put them in a vase.

Rock theme

Book "A rock is lively" has been a great hit at our home. My son had me reread it multiple times. It inspired him to ask me to explore rocks deeper. First we studied rock cycle. I used grated crayons to show formation of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks. To show sedimentary rocks, the crayon pieces were pressed together strongly, for metamorphic rocks - crayon pieces were put onto aluminium foil and then into bowl filled with hot water. For igneous rocks, we did the same as for metamorphic rocks, but heated a bit longer and stirred a little to show how all the colors mix together. Then we went deeper into details - I got a set of 15 rocks - 5 from each type - igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks from amazon. I made three-part cards to match this set. Download your free printable here Another good activity to add to rock theme is matching rock types to landmarks. See Carrots are Orange page to dig deeper into this.

Montessori Math shelves at 3

This is what our Math shelve for my 3 year old daughter currently looks like. She is learning her numbers 1 to 10. She can count items, but does not know all the symbols yet.

This is counting and number matching game, where kiddo has to count dots on the ladybug. Then she is putting a clothespin at the number, then turning the picture around - if she is correct clothespin matches previously glued dot. This is free printable from a wonderfull collection of printables at The Helpfull garden.

Number puzzle comes from etsy shop Dominna. I chose this to help my DD learn sequence of numbers 1 to 10.

This shelve features DIY sandpaper numbers. They are textured and my girl traces them to sensorly learn how to write them. If you're not DIY person, you can purchase a set from amazon. Montessori number work book is an alternative, it also has textured numbers to learn tracing, my girl loved this one. Then there is colored bead stair for counting with a tray. Printable again is from the Helpfull garden. We use it for mathching beads to numerals. At last there is an inverse puzzle in ladybug theme again. You have to count dots on the ladybug and then put the pieces from smallest to largest in the puzzle holder.

Montessori dressing station with Ikea furniture

This is our dressing station at the entrance. Self-serving dressing stations should be made so that kid can reach all the items needed to dress himself/herself up. This is used by both of our DD and DS.

All the furniture to set this up is bought from Ikea. I chose colorful KROKIG hooks for outdoor jackets. Little shelf is from BESTA series with additional shelf. Box with compartments to keep accessuaries organised is from SCUBB series.

Little child sized stool is from MAMMUT series. At the bottom shelf I compiled a tray for self-help shoe cleaning. There is a polisher, a brush, a clouth and an apron.

DIY Montessori sound bags

Sound bags are about introducing your child to beggining sounds of words. Each bag contains several items that begin with a given sound. I have sewn each letter on the bag – vowels in pink and consonants in blue. You can have a different color scheme but make sure that all of your materials are in the same scheme. To make alphabet bags you will need 26 bags – one for each letter in the alphabet. You can sew on the letters or save your time by writing them on with fabric markers. Then fill the bags with small items that have a begining sound matching each letter. I bought rail and hooks from Ikea to display bags.

Montessori gift guide for 1 year olds

1. Circle sorter – first puzzle to get idea on shapes 2. Montessori Object Permanence Box with Tray and Ball - A child has to drop the little ball into the hole in the box. The ball will roll out of the box and into the attached tray thus allowing the child to experience object permanence by seeing that the ball did not just disappear. 3. Push and pull wagon – babies love to walk, push and pull at this age 4. Rainbow Sound Blocks 5. Stacking toy – wooden rainbow stacking toy 6. Box with blocks - a one – year old is excited about opening and closing the box 7. Pop up toy with concealed springs 8. Stacking toy – wooden rainbow stacking toy 9. Beeswax Block Crayons – you can start introducing painting with those safe beeswax block crayons.

Montessori human body anatomy study

Usborne Human Anatomy book - great book for beginners with fun flaps to keep the interest up Human torso - cheap enough to afford, quite small but good enough to sparkle the interst Experimental kit - involves studying fingerprints, building stethoscope, learning about 5 senses and a lot more. Free Montessori 3 part cards from Max and Naoli.

Drawing leaves with Montessori Botany cabinet

We had a great chance to borrow Botany cabinet from our Montessori friends. Soon after tracing the leaves, we went outside collecting different shapes of leaves. Then I gave her a large sheet of paper and she traced them. She observed vein patterning and tried to draw them again.

After drawing several leaves she took watercolor to add some color.

It would also be great to add study of leaf anatomy by working with Montessori leaf puzzle, but we'll leave this for another time.

Great practical life excercise for 5 year olds - making loom bands

My son received a band from his friend and wanted to make one by himself. A great challenge for him to start using crochet hook. He really has wanted to start chrocheting but holding the hook and the piece of thread has been too hard for him. This gives a good chance to isolate concepts.

My 3 year old could not do the crocheting part, but really enjoyed putting rubber bands on loops and taking them off after I did the crocheting part.