Halloween Poem and Dance Activity!

 

HELLO HALLOWEEN!

Click here to go to the post on Connie's Blog:

Time for a Halloween Poem and a Monster Ball!

Keep on Dancing,

Connie

MOVING IS LEARNING!

Montessori-Inspired Construction Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now 

Construction is a popular theme with preschoolers, especially with vehicle lovers. I have a new unit for construction vehicle lovers and one that also focuses on construction workers, architects and engineers, and a variety of building activities. This unit has many free construction printables and Montessori-inspired construction activities! You'll also find a construction-themed newsletter subscriber freebie at LivingMontessoriNow.com! 

You'll find many activities for preschoolers through first graders throughout the year along with presentation ideas in my previous posts at PreK + K Sharing. You'll also find ideas for using free printables to create activity trays here: How to Use Printables to Create Montessori-Inspired Activities. 

At Living Montessori Now, I have a post with resource links of Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools. 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Montessori Shelves with Construction Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with Construction Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired construction numbers, letters, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) Go to my Free Construction Printables and Montessori-Inspired Construction Activities post at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Construction Pack

Montessori-Inspired Construction Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).

More Montessori-Inspired Construction Activities

• Free Construction Vehicle Printables and Montessori-Inspired Construction Vehicle Activities
• Montessori-Inspired Construction Unit

For Vehicle Lovers, More Montessori-Inspired Transportation Activities

The Ultimate Montessori-Inspired Transportation Unit

• Montessori-Inspired Activities for Pre-Schoolers: Car Parking Game
• Free Transportation Printables and Montessori-Inspired Transportation Math Activities
• Montessori-Inspired Construction Unit
• Free Police Printables and Montessori-Inspired Police Activities
• Free Fire Safety Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fire Safety Activities
• Free Ambulance Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ambulance Activities
• Montessori-Inspired Train Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
• Free Train Printables and Montessori-Inspired Train Activities
• Free Car Printables and Montessori-Inspired Car Activities
• Super-Cool Beginning Reading Activity – Race Car Blending
• Free Car Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• Free Car Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• Fun Magnetic Vehicle STEM Trays and Activity Bags
• Spielgaben STEM Challenge: Build and Fly a Magnetic Airplane
• Montessori Resources for Land, Air, and Water Transportation Activities
• Transportation Unit Study Pinterest Board

If you'd like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout October, see my October Themed Activities for Kids.

Be sure to go to my Free Construction Printables and Montessori-Inspired Construction Activities post at Living Montessori Now for lots of free printables and activity ideas!

 

I hope you find these helpful! :)

Deb Chitwood is a certified Montessori teacher with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Studies from Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England. Deb taught in Montessori schools in Iowa and Arizona before becoming owner/director/teacher of her own Montessori school in South Dakota. Later, she homeschooled her two children through high school. Deb is now a Montessori writer who lives in San Diego with her husband of 45 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live). She blogs at Living Montessori Now.

 

Sunflower Poem and Dance Story for Young Children

                                           HELLO, FALL!    

    

My September post is a lively movement activity that celebrates autumn. The sunflower is one of my favorite flowers, and it provides the inspiration for this poem/riddle and a movement exploration.

 

            THE SUNFLOWER

        A Dance Activity for Young Children

To begin the activity, read the poem* below out loud, and ask the children to try to guess the answer. 

(*I wrote this poem as an entry in the Fall Writing Frenzy) 

             WHAT AM I?

I started as a little seed, 

Dark grey and very small.

And now that I am all grown up,

I’m over six feet tall!

The petals on my flower face,

Surround me like a crown.

I come in many hues and shades, 

Of yellow, red, and brown.

I start the day by looking east,

To greet the morning sun.

I follow it and face the west,

When summer’s day is done.

Some birds just love to eat my seeds, 

And people like them too.

I think you know my name by now, 

For each line is a clue!

SUNFLOWER DANCE STORY

Prepare: Children start this activity curled up on the floor and then respond with movement as you call out each line. Give them plenty of time between each prompt so that they can fulfill their movement ideas.

Optional: Quiet instrumental music in the background.

Begin the activity:

I’m a tiny, tiny seed.

A child planted me on a warm spring day.

I’m tucked down deep in the dark, rich soil.

Now it’s time to begin to grow.

I gently push against the sides of the seed shell.

I begin to sprout and reach through the soil.

Now I can see the blue summer sky.

I feel the warm sun and the cool rain.

I’m growing taller every day.

I’m starting to become a flower.

My petals surround my face like little flames.

I open my bright golden face to the sun.

I follow the sun as it moves through the sky each day.

All summer, bees and butterflies come to drink my nectar.

My heavy sunflower head begins to droop and nod.

Fall is here and my leaves are fading.

Birds like to eat my seeds.

The morning frost causes me to droop even more.

Winter is coming and I slowly fall to the ground.

The cold wind blows. 

My seeds scatter.

Snowflakes fall and cover the seeds.

I wait until springtime to sprout again.

Expand the Activity:

Use this same format for dancing about other types of plants, and other nature themes, such as the metamorphosis of a tadpole to a frog, and a caterpillar to a butterfly. 

Keep on Dancing, 

Connie

MOVING IS LEARNING!

                                    

                        

Montessori-Inspired Fall Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now 

Fall activities are lots of fun to prepare for welcoming in the new season. So I have a new unit with free fall printables and Montessori-inspired fall activities! You'll also find a fall-themed newsletter subscriber freebie at LivingMontessoriNow.com! 

You'll find many activities for preschoolers through first graders throughout the year along with presentation ideas in my previous posts at PreK + K Sharing. You'll also find ideas for using free printables to create activity trays here: How to Use Printables to Create Montessori-Inspired Activities. 

At Living Montessori Now, I have a post with resource links of Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools. 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Montessori Shelves with Fall Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired fall numbers, letters, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) Go to my Free Fall Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fall Activities post at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Fall Pack

Montessori-Inspired Fall Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).

More Montessori-Inspired Fall Activities

• Montessori-Inspired Fall Playdough Activities
• Fall Activities with Water Beads
• Free Fall Songs and Rhymes for Circle Time
• Fall Sensory Bin with Practical Life and Math Activities
• Nature Trays and Nature Tables
• Montessori Nature Tray Sorting and Counting for Toddlers and Preschoolers
• How to Prepare a Simple Fall Playdough Tray
• Free Fall Playdough Math Pack (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• Montessori-Inspired Playdough Math Activities for Fall {Free Printables}
• Fun Shoe and Coat Tricks for Toddler and Preschooler Independence
• 50+ Creative Ways to Use Materials Found on Your Nature Walks
• The Ultimate Guide to Montessori-Inspired Leaf Resources and Activities
• Montessori-Inspired Owl Unit with Free Printables and Activities
• How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a Mini Fall Unit
• Allow Time for Child-Led Activities This Fall
• Montessori-Inspired Apple Unit
• 30+ Apple Sensory Tubs
• Free Apple Printables and Montessori-Inspired Apple Activities
• 20+ Apple Phonics Activities
• Fall Sensory Bin with Practical Life and Math Activities
• Fun with Montessori Apple Coring, Slicing, Spreading, and Sharing
• Free Apple Printable for Ten Apples Up On Top Activities (Instant Download)
• Ten Apples Up On Top Sensory Bin & Table (Free Printables)
• Ten Apples Up On Top Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
• Free Fall Playdough Math Pack (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• Montessori-Inspired Playdough Math Activities for Fall {Free Printables}
• Free Seasons of an Apple Tree Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• Free Tree Songs and Educational Videos {Learn about Trees, Apple Trees, and Seasons}
• Free Apple Printables and Activities for a Montessori-Inspired Apple Unit
• Montessori Apple Color Matching for Toddlers and Preschoolers
• Montessori Apple Fraction Activities for Multiple Ages
• Free Apple Songs and Educational Videos
• Free Apple Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• The Best Apple Books for Kids
• Free Apple Picking Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• Historically Accurate and Culturally Sensitive Thanksgiving Printables for Preschool Through Elementary
• How to Use Flint Corn (Ornamental Corn) for Montessori Practical Life and Language Work
• Apple Unit Study Pinterest Board
• Kids’ Fall Activities Pinterest Board

If you'd like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout September, see my September Themed Activities for Kids.

Be sure to go to my Free Fall Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fall Activities post at Living Montessori Now for lots of free printables and activity ideas!

I hope you find these helpful!

    

Deb Chitwood is a certified Montessori teacher with a master’s degree in Early 

Childhood Studies from Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England. Deb taught in Montessori schools in Iowa and Arizona before becoming owner/director/teacher of her own Montessori school in South Dakota. Later, she homeschooled her two children through high school. Deb is now a Montessori writer who lives in San Diego with her husband of 45 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live). She blogs at Living Montessori Now.

Montessori-Inspired Medical Worker Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now 

Community helpers make a great theme at the beginning of the school year. This year, medical workers are even more important than usual. So I have a new unit with free medical worker printables and Montessori-inspired medical worker activities! You'll also find a medical worker themed newsletter subscriber freebie at LivingMontessoriNow.com! 

You'll find many activities for preschoolers through first graders throughout the year along with presentation ideas in my previous posts at PreK + K Sharing. You'll also find ideas for using free printables to create activity trays here: How to Use Printables to Create Montessori-Inspired Activities. 

At Living Montessori Now, I have a post with resource links of Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools. 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Montessori Shelves with Medical Worker Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired medical worker numbers, letters, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) Go to my Free Medical Worker Printables and Montessori-Inspired Medical Worker Activities post at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Medical Worker Pack

Montessori-Inspired Medical Worker Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).

More Montessori-Inspired Community Helper Activities

• Talking with Children about 9/11 – Ideas and Activities
• Free Police Printables and Montessori-Inspired Police Activities,
• Community Helpers Activity Trays and Sensory Tubs
• Free Fire Safety Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fire Safety Activities
• Free Ambulance Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ambulance Activities
• Montessori-Friendly Community Helper Resources
• Montessori-Inspired Activities with Community Helper Figures and Free Printables
• “Look for the Helpers” Mister Rogers Word Art Freebie
• Free 9-1-1 Songs for Kids {Non-Scary Emergency Preparedness}
• Free Emergency Preparedness Songs for Kids {Character Education Resources}
• Free Water Safety Songs for Kids
• Montessori-Inspired Fire Safety Unit with Free Printables and Activities
• Free Fire Safety Songs and Educational Videos
• The Best Fire Safety Books for Kids
• Free Fire Truck Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• Free Firefighter Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• How to Teach Children Fire Safety in a Non-Scary Way
• Community Helpers Pinterest Board

More Montessori-Inspired Anatomy Activities

• Montessori-Inspired Skeleton Activities
• “All About Me” Free Printables and Activities for Back to School
• Handwashing Activities for Kids – Free Songs and Lessons
• Free Skeleton Printables and Montessori-Inspired Skeleton Activities
• Hands-on Fun with Montessori-Inspired Human Skeleton Activities
• Free Brain and Growth Mindset Printables and Montessori-Inspired Brain Activities
• Brain Hemisphere Hat and Montessori Activities to Learn about Parts of the Brain
• Free Brain Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• Free Brain Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• Free Heart Printables and Montessori-Inspired Heart Activities {Human Heart and Valentine Hearts}
• Montessori-Inspired Heart and Circulatory System Activities
• Montessori-Inspired Heart Unit {Hundreds of Human Heart and Valentine Heart Resources}
• Free Heart and Valentine Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Instant Downloads)
• The Best Heart Books for Kids {Human Heart, Love, and Valentine’s Day Books}
• Human Body Unit Study Pinterest Board

If you'd like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout August, see August Themed Activities for Kids.

Be sure to go to my Free Medical Worker Printables and Montessori-Inspired Medical Worker Activities post at Living Montessori Now for lots of free printables and activity ideas!

I hope you find these helpful! :)

Deb Chitwood is a certified Montessori teacher with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Studies from Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England. Deb taught in Montessori schools in Iowa and Arizona before becoming owner/director/teacher of her own Montessori school in South Dakota. Later, she homeschooled her two children through high school. Deb is now a Montessori writer who lives in San Diego with her husband of 45 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live). She blogs at Living Montessori Now.

Montessori-Inspired Fruit and Vegetable Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now 

I love focusing on good nutrition at any time of year. Summer is my favorite time for a fruit and vegetable unit, though, when farmers' markets are open in many places with lots of super-fresh fruits and vegetables! Today, I have hands-on fruit and vegetable activities for you! I also have a new fruit and vegetable pack (newsletter subscriber freebie at LivingMontessoriNow.com)! 

You'll find many activities for preschoolers through first graders throughout the year along with presentation ideas in my previous posts at PreK + K Sharing. You'll also find ideas for using free printables to create activity trays here: How to Use Printables to Create Montessori-Inspired Activities. 

At Living Montessori Now, I have a post with resource links of Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools. 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Montessori Shelves with Fruit & Vegetable Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired fruit and vegetable numbers, letters, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) 

Go to my Free Fruit & Vegetable Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fruit & Vegetable Activities post at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Fruit and Vegetable Pack

Montessori-Inspired Fruit and Vegetable Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).

More Montessori-Inspired Fruit and Vegetable Activities

For more Montessori-inspired fruit and vegetable activities, check out these posts with lots of activities and resources:

• Free Eat-a-Rainbow Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities
• Free Fruit Rainbow Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download
• Free Eat-a-Rainbow Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
• Montessori-Inspired Fruit Unit
• Montessori-Inspired Vegetable Unit
• Montessori-Inspired Food Art
• Montessori-Inspired Fruit Matching and Tasting for Toddlers
• Healthy, Yummy, Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins
• Kids’ Kitchen: Berry Yummy and Healthy Protein-Rich Popsicles
• Cutting a Banana Practical Life Activity for Toddlers
• Healthy, Frozen Raspberry and Yogurt Desert (Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free)
• Ants on a Log Food Fun Preparation for Preschoolers
• Fun with Montessori Apple Coring, Slicing, Spreading, and Sharing
• Yummy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Delicious and Nutritious Vegan, Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie or Pumpkin-Pie Squares
• Super-Healthy and Super-Yummy Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie
• Favorite Gluten-Free Sweet Spinach Muffins {AKA Green Monster Muffins}
• Kids’ Food Fun Pinterest Board

If you'd like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout July, see July Themed Activities for Kids.

Be sure to go to my Free Fruit & Vegetable Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fruit & Vegetable Activities post at Living Montessori Now for lots of free printables and activity ideas!

I hope you find these helpful! :)

Deb Chitwood is a certified Montessori teacher with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Studies from Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England. Deb taught in Montessori schools in Iowa and Arizona before becoming owner/director/teacher of her own Montessori school in South Dakota. Later, she homeschooled her two children through high school. Deb is now a Montessori writer who lives in San Diego with her husband of 45 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live). She blogs at Living Montessori Now.