Montessori games for 3 year olds

Using Scales and Balance Pails

Yesterday I wrote about one of our action trays with scales (balance bucket) and some coloured glass beads, shells and wood pieces. Below are some other Montessori and Inquiry-Based learning ideas that I adore. These activities are also really simple to put together. Our scales were around $15, or you can use kitchen scales, and we simply use stuff we already have at home! So a number of these examples use natural materials but I also like the concept of using standard size blocks (#8) where the blocks are of equal weight. I adore the sensory table for younger kids (#6). I presume I'll try a set up like #3 next, where the child has various materials to consider and record - it seems excellent for some additional mathematics and literacy abilities!
1. Balance bucket with loose parts at How we Montessori (on our shelves here).
2. Maths In the Playground at An idea on Tuesday.
3. Magnet Trays and Scale Weighing at Learning Cente of Dundee Omaha, Nebraska
4. Fall Inspired Weighing Task with Equilibrium Scales at Montessori from the Heart.
5. General Math Provocations at Welcome to Primary.
6. Equilibrium Scales in the Sensory Table for An Regular Story.
7. Balance scales at How we Montessori.
8. Exploring Measurement Through Play - Mass at Suzie's Home Education Thoughts.

Geoboard - Three Ways

Otis has been home from school for the past three days, so we have pulled out a couple of new actions! Above is a standard geoboard together with the additional turn of utilizing grid paper. The kid draws contours on the paper then makes the shapes on the plank. When using the geoboard Otis generally makes arbitrary contours and occasionally creates a picture or small scene. Above he's using a transparent plank on the light table. I made Otis this natural geoboard - inspired by this post at Fairy Dust Teaching. I adore how this is a little rustic and makes the child think a little differently about making the shapes. It seems somewhat more brilliant too!

Child day care toronto

Montessori Sea Shell Actions You Will Love!

My kids adore tasks that involve natural materials. Where there is something for them to hold, feel, touch. Where there is something that is interesting, with fascinating little details. Today I'm featuring some Montessori Shell Actions whom I understand you'll adore. Above and below is a shell sorting task that I presented to Otis this week. The kid sorts the shells (into the big jars) into Univalve or Bivalve.
The Shell Poster (left in top image) is from Montessori Stuff and the Univalve/Bivalve sheet is from Montessori for Everybody.
Cleaning a big shell - Brosser un gros coquillage at Le blog de Sylvie d'Esclaibes. This is an incredible notion, nearly all of our shells are unclean and could do with an excellent scrub! Matching shells to cards - Apprendre avec des coquillages at Les ateliers de Céleste Pédagogie Montessori et instruction biologique. This post has a free download of the shell cards. Another example of matching shells to cards are available at Les aventures chez nounou Marie. I believe they're using the lovely shell set and matching cards from Michael Olaf! The cards hold the name of the shell which introduces the language element and permits the parent or caregiver to supply the kid together with the right lingo. This is from one of my favorite nature tables (which included tons of shells) where Otis is making imprints with the shells into sand. I remember one of Caspar's favourite tasks when he first began in his Cycle One classroom (in Canberra as a three-year old) was a tray with all different forms of shells as well as a simple magnifying glass. There's some thing special about sea shells!

Geometry Love- Montessori Materials for Geometric Shape Work

You could have guessed following yesterday's post, that we have been doing plenty of geometric shape work around here! and I am frequently asked about them. So I Have compiled a quick list of another geometric shape building sticks and pieces that might be helpful for a Montessori house or classroom!
1. Learning Edge Linking GeoStix (Australia here).
2. Learning Resources Geometric Shapes Building Set (similar Australia here).
3. Geo Strips (Australia here) (you are able to see Otis using the Geo Strips in this post).
4. Wikki Stix Basic Contours Creative Fun Kit.
5. Learning Resources Transparent Anglegs (the Anglegs come in different sizes too!).
6. Montessori Geometric Stick Material (Australia here) (I love this picture from Westside Montessori School of the Montessori Geometric Stick work, with a brief description).