Summer 2001 Issue
Copyright©200-2008
all rights reserved
American Montessori Consulting
P.O. Box 5062
Rossmoor, CA 90720
Heidi Anne Spietz, Editor
ISSN 1084-743X
Copyright 2001-2008
All rights reserved
To Visit Our New Primary Montessori Resource
Section
Contents in Part I of this newsletter include:
Creative Lesson Planning - Make Your Own Multicultural Lessons
II
We are delighted to announce *many* new additions to our *Montessori
Primary Recommended Resource Section*.
Visit this new section today to find lesson planning
resources. You'll find art, crafts, practical life, manipulatives,
books, magazines, cursive
writing, music, science, social science, math, classroom accessories,
multicultural resources,
furniture, foreign language, puppets, puzzles, teacher training, learning
programs, and
much, much more. These companies offer some terrific educational gifts
as well. You'll also want to read below to learn more about these
companies
and organizations.
The Puzzle Man - Creating Heirloom Quality Wooden Puzzles Since
1981
Wood Etc. Corp. -Kindergarten/Early Childhood
Furniture and Equipment
Creative Lesson Planning Make Your Own Multicultural Lessons - Part
II
Part I of this newsletter also contains detailed information about additional multicultural lesson plans. Be sure to read both parts so that you have a set of lessons involving multicultural art, music, history, geography, literature, and languages. You can read the AMC Summer Supplement 2001 Part I by clicking here.
The Korea.net Directory site is complete, beginning with a very comprehensive look at Korean culture for teachers and ending with a series of Korean folk tales, culture and history. Another site to visit for Korean cultural information is the Korean Family Living. Destination: South Korean Unit Study provides an indepth look at education in New Zealand and South Korea. Integrate many of these wonderful ideas into your Montessori multicultural lesson planning.
Chrystelle W. Perry has created some wonderful activities and lesson planning ideas educators can use to celebrate Korean Children's Day. Click on the *Appendix* hyperlink and you'll be connected to Yut - A Traditional Korean Game Instructions Page.
Map projects help children to visualize what is being presented through reading and discussion. The World Atlas Page will help you locate any additional statistical information you need for your multicultural lesson presentation. Just click on the Graphics Map and World Atlas icons. Matt Rosenberg has compiled a most impressive collection of information about the Countries of Asia. Everything you need for primary and secondary map lesson planning is available right there.
For specific information to help children understand some of the terminology associated with maps visit the following sites: Mapmaker, Mapmaker Make Me a Map, ProTeacher! and USGS: MAPS. Information from these sites could be used in conjunction with the map making and geography lesson planning information found in Modern Montessori at Home II: A Creative Teaching Guide for Parents of Children 10 through 12 Years of Age.
Some children will enjoy using the Geo Safari Electronic Game to independently learn more about U.S. geography, world geography and animals of the world. The name 'Geo Safari' is known to many home and school educators, since the electronic version has been available for more than a decade. Now, educators can also select from other versions - the GeoSafari Multi-Media Platinum Edition (MAC) and the GeoSafari Multi-Media Platinum Edition (PC) are available now as well.
Farm Country General Store, one of the most popular internet homeschooling bookstores, carries this product. Visit the AMC Resource Directory/Farm Country General Store. When you enter the company's home page click on the *Current Features* to learn more about Geo Safari.
You can find map stands, map puzzles and other geography materials for the classroom from the AMC Resource Directory/Hello Wood
MECS has created some really exciting geography software that is perfect for multicultural lesson presentations. The owners shared the following with us: " The MECS software geography map studies exactly follow this sequence. The objective is to present the exact Montessori presentations step-by-step, as if the Montessori teacher is sitting right next to the student offering presentations and then stepping back and allowing the child to proceed on their own.
The software map studies offer the beginnings of the wonderful style of whole multi discipline geography projects that are so very fun, motivating and successful with our students. For example, the student begins learning the names of the countries with three period lessons using not only map puzzle pieces but the actual written word labels. Even a 5 year old has the opportunity to learn to read the labels in a three period format at the same time they're manipulating the maps. When children have solid knowledge of the "whole" and are truly excited to learn more and more, that's where the fun continues. Some of my most successful continent projects within my classroom included: the study of flags, capitals, animal and plant life, kinds of people and how they met their fundamental needs, art, music and cooking projects, study of government., weather, landforms, biomes etc.
The new MECS World Continent Geography Folders and Command Cards extend the software lessons for integration of Hands-on Materials and contain varied activities for each of the seven continents. This Montessori styled curriculum is my own innovation designed for ages 6 to 9 and 9 to 12, and it has been refined over 18 years in my work with children in the classroom. The objective of these activities is to offer independent guidance as children move through activities using the Montessori idea of " Geography Map Command Cards" to incorporate research and the writing process with little assistance. Students learn the basics of incorporating research projects with a first draft which lead to teacher/parent conferences for final draft work etc.."
Visit the AMC Resource Directory/ MECS to learn more about the entire MECS product line.
Many of the lesson plans in this section follow Bloom's Taxonomy. As many educators know, there are similarities between the Montessori Method and Bloom's Taxonomy. See Fall/Winter 1996 AMC Montessori Newsletter for detailed information.
Searching for Additional Multicultural Resources?
Nation Relation is a full-color card matching game that introduces the world and cultures to young children. Children play by finding matches and relationships among the nation cards. Children are able to compare and contrast cultural similarities and differences. Nation Relation is perfect for your multicultural presentations. Younger players receive practice matching pairs, sharpen visual perception skills and sort shapes; older players use abstract reasoning and concentration skills to find *relationships* between the nation cards and learn location of nations on the globe. For additional information visit AMC Resource Directory/Nation Relation.
Kimbo carries the following multicultural products:
Kim 9128 - Multicultural Rhythm Stick Fun
Children tap their rhythm sticks to the music of Puerto Rico,
West Africa, Japan, Vietnam, Israel, India and more.
KIM 9123 - Children Of The World
Simple circle, line and partner dances and games. Authentic
melodies and original songs from Africa, Japan, China, Mexico,
Puerto Rico, Russia, Italy, Greece and more.
KIM 9130 - Joining Hands With Other Lands
Multicultural Songs and Games
Children learn about other lands - food, celebrations including
birthdays, language(s) spoken and more.
KIM 7037 - Folk Dance Fun
Simple folk dances such as Irish Jig, Mexican Hat Dance,
Greek Zorba Dance, German Clapping Dance and more.
KIM 9132 - Songs About Native Americans
To learn more about the complete product line visit the AMC Resource Directory/ Kimbo.
The Learnables® carries a wonderful selection of foreign language
materials.
The International Linguistics Corporation offers The Learnables®, a
foreign language program which allows the student to progress at his own
rate. No special teacher guides or manuals are used. The lessons are
audio recorded, allowing the student to listen to the pronunciation of
every word and sentence. The student is exposed to grammar naturally, as
he learns the language. The following languages are currently offered:
Chinese, Czech, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and
English as a Second Language. Visit the AMC Resource
Directory/
The Learnables® for more information.
Harrisville Designs offers the Kente Cloth Kit based on the
traditional kente cloth of West Africa and the Navajo Kit.
The latter is a design adapted a nineteenth century Navajo blanket
in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum
of Natural History. For details and to see the complete product
line visit the AMC Resource
Directory/
Harrisville Designs.
Fun Felts offers a special International Heritage Collection
Karen of Fun Felt recently shared the following with us:
"Experience the culture of Germany, Japan, Mexico, India, and more
through the costumes that fit our felt Girl Dolls. This set includes
15 felt costumes that you cut out, sashes identifying the country for
the dolls to wear, and literature that includes games, recipes, and
information about each country." Visit the AMC Resource
Directory/
Fun Felt for additional information about the entire line of products
available.
Jaye, of Creative Care, is well known for her craft packs which delight teachers and young children alike. Tuck away the following creative craft for the next Cinco de Mayo.
1. Cut out the shape of a sombrero from yellow construction paper.
2.Above the brim of the sombrero glue red pom poms alternating with
dyed
green wheel macaroni.
3. Glue a computer print out label saying Cinco De Mayo- May 5th on the
brim of the sombrero.
4. Adhere a Mexican flag sticker to the top of the sombrero and glue
a
red, white and green crepe paper strip hanging off the bottom of the
sombrero (these are the colors of the Mexican flag)
Creative Care "No Excuse Craft Packs" contain everything you need to complete a craft and all the preparation for the activity is done including the cutting of construction paper pieces. For additional information visit the AMC Resource Directory/Creative Care.
The Puzzle Man
Ed and his wife, Suzanne, have been making wooden puzzles and selling them at craft fairs and through the mail for over 20 years. Y´They can now offer their customers the convenience of seeing and ordering online!
Ed comments, "All puzzles are individually hand-crafted with quality and education in mind. We use only the highest quality, furniture grade plywood that is domestically made from replenishable forests."
The Puzzle Man offers a wide selection of products including shapes
and colors, personalized name puzzles, name and number puzzles, name and
picture puzzles, alphabet and number puzzles, arithmetic puzzle, picture
puzzles, art puzzles, puzzle maps of the United States, Africa, China,
Europe, California, Mexicoand more! The continent and country maps
are excellent for multicultural lesson presentations. Many of
these geography maps are detailed with the name of the state/country
under each piece, and the name of the capital on the back of each piece.
Through using these hands on materials children see the location of one
locale to another. These experiences actually solidify geography and
cultural history school and home classroom presentations.
Many Montessori teachers and homeschoolers purchase products from The Puzzle Man for multiple uses. The puzzles are perfect for independent work, as the child manipulates the pieces to discover patterns, color, sizes and shapes. The puzzles are used in group settings as well. You can see the extensive selection and order online. For additional information please visit the AMC Resource Directory/The Puzzle Man..
Wood Etc. Corp
For the past 25 years Wood Etc. Corp has served the educators nationwide. They have come to rely on the fine product line because of the durability and fine craftsmanship offered. Some of the characteristics of Wood Etc. Corp include 11 ply Baltic Birch, dadoes and rabbet joints on units for added strength, glue and screws on stress areas, 1/4" thick indented and recessed backs on all storage units, 2" and 2 1/2" heavy duty industrial casters on all shelving units, two coats of tough environmentally safe, water base clear finish, and full 270 degree piano hinges on all kitchen units to help eliminate pinch points.
The owner recently shared the following with us: "Established in 1976, Wood Etc. has become the largest manufacturer of early childhood furniture and equipment in Texas and the 3rd largest in the country. Over the years, our primary way of selling our products was through school catalog companies and school dealer companies. We are looking into additional way of selling our products. We feel that we provide the best quality products at the lowest prices anywhere in the country.
Our storage units are ideally used to organize the classroom as well as
any place there is a
need to put things neatly away. We have dozens of units for all types of
needs.
Our library units are a great way to store and display books.
Housekeeping units are ideal for dramatic play. Easels and art centers
are used to promote creativity. Our line of kindergarten and early
childhood furniture is very extensive. Not all items are listed on the
web site."
For additional information please visit the AMC Resource Directory/Wood Etc. Corp..
Have you visited our resource center?
We have just added many new resources. You'll find everything from ABC Feelings to Zoophonics
Don't forget to bookmark this page for lesson planning!
Don't stop now!! Read Part I of this newsletter. You'll discover some additional multicultural lesson planning ideas and resources for your home and school classrooms. Don't forget to bookmark this page for lesson planning!
American Montessori Consulting
P.O. Box 5062
Rossmoor, CA 90720
Heidi Anne Spietz, Editor
The AMC Montessori Newsletter
Summer Supplement 2001-2005
all rights reserved
Copyright c2001-2008
For comments about this issue please contact
For general questions about American Montessori Consulting
Heidi Spietz at
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American Montessori Consulting