Rocking...

I don't know about you, but in my family rock collection is a favorite past-time. My boys simply LOVE collecting any type of rock they can find, so this book is really great for them. It not only provides a lot of information, but it can be read independently by my 7 year old, and helps both of them achieving some sort of organization in their ever-growing collection.

You can download this free book (in a .pdf file) here: The first book of rocks

Have fun!!!

Microscope books

Here is a great collection of public domain books on the subject of microscopes, their history and activities you can do with them at home. Just click on the picture below to get the links. Enjoy!!

Free poetry book

Getting ready for National Poetry month? In case you did not know, that is the month of April, according to the Academy of American poets. Is there a better way to celebrate the love of music and beautiful words than enjoying a little sample of the wonderful poems the English speaking world has produced?

That is what you'll find in this volume of selected poems for children. This collection progresses from little poems written for children in the past centuries, to examples of the best British and American poems both past and present. Hope you enjoy!!

You can download "100 Poems for the classical child" for free from my blog. I have 2 versions, one for Kindle and one as a pdf, just in case you want to print the work. 

100 poems for the classical child (Kindle version)


100 Poems for the classical child - .pdf file (you will need Acrobat Reader)


All materials for personal use only. Thank you!

And, if you are interested in more Kindle books for children, see here. I am planning to add more titles soon :)

Living books

One of the main tools used in Charlotte Manson’s educational approach, ‘Living books’, have always been very attractive to me. These books, unlike normal text books, are texts written in first person form by a single author with a lot of passion about the subject written.

Living books are engaging to read as well as understandable and interesting.

I have been working to make some of these books more accessible, in particular the ones that retell classic works of literature, together with the ones that  help understand a particular historical period either by fictional narrations or by biographies of actual historical figures.

Some of these beautifully written books are almost 100 years old, but have lost none of their charm, and the beauty of the language is hard to find elsewhere, at least as far as children's literature is concerned.

The idea of using living books that retell a classic is really a very fruitful one: you get the benefit of a well written, engaging book paired with the introduction to works of literature that have formed the backbone of our civilization. The children grasp the main plot and the characters, and thus the ground is prepared for a later time when the classical work is to be read in its entire form.

As a secondary benefit, children are exposed to a richness of lexicon and variety of sentence structure that highly benefits their literacy, their cultural background and their vocabulary and expression.

Here are the links I have adapted to the Kindle format, with the added value of artwork from well know artist which have depicted the stories throughout the ages, thus incorporating some art study to the main literature and history line.

HISTORICAL FICTION

 LITERARY CLASSICS

BIOGRAPHIES

I hope to publish many more, so I'll keep you posted.


NOTE:  If you do not own a Kindle, you can read these books in your computer. 

Free audio book: How the Grinch stole Christmas

I don't know how long this offer will last, but I downloaded it today and the kids had a blast :). This is an audio book from Audible.com : How the Grinch Stole Christmas for Free and no membership is required.

Details here:

Paper paper paper

Many Montessori materials, at least here in the US, include 3D realistic depictions of objects of interest going from famous buildings and landmarks to means of transport to wildlife. It is a bit challenging (not to mention expensive or prohibitive) to reproduce that at home, but I have found this website has a nice alternative: print your own 3D (scaled!) models and build them at home. All you need is a color printer, some paper and a pair of scissors and glue. OK, and lots of patience, but it is really a great project to "illustrate" any lesson.

Here is the link: 3D paper models

Check out some examples:

 

We are currently working on this one:

Spelling ... and a great tool...

Today we were working again with our movable alphabet. It has become a really helpful tool whenever my 6 year old feels like writing without having to actually practice his handwriting...

It has been one of our most used Montessori  materials, and it definitely has a liberating quality to it. Since children this age (especially boys) are not particularly inclined to practice their handwriting, they need to find some other tool for those times when they feel like composing sentences or even short stories, and the alphabet certainly helps.

Here I have added some great resources explaining how to use it,  and some helpful extension activities for it:

Montessori Mom Movable alphabet

Movable alphabet Video

Simply Montessori DIY

Lesson Plan

Album page for movable alphabet

Language work - the object basket

Object basket

Materials:

* a beautiful basket, filled with around 20 miscellaneous small objects from around the house. Miniatures of any kind are always a very welcome addition. Try to avoid plastic if you can... you can also use stuff collected during walks - a nice rock, a feather, a shell, a pine cone, you get the idea... Objects should be rotated periodically, to keep interest in the material.

* a mat

* (for + 4) strips of paper, a pencil

Activity for + 3:
Take one object at the time, and ask the child to name it. You can do a 3 period lesson with any object your child cannot name. Arrange it on the mat tidily.
To make it a game, you can place the objects he/she can name on a column on the right of the mat, and the ones he cannot on the left. (after naming them yourself). Then you can count how many he got, and placed them all back in the basket to start again. This helps them try to learn the new names, and it's fun! Go on as long as the child is interested.

Activity for +4. (language + reading and writing activity)
Arrange the first row of your objects, and ask the child to set the rest on the mat. Then, ask him to name them. When he can do all the objects confidently, then you can add a writing activity.
Tell him you are going to write down the name of an object you are thinking of. That will be his clue. Then he can tell you what it is. Write down the object's name in a piece of paper, let him study it and tell you what it is, by placing it under the object.

You can take turns, so that next time he has to write. (This is particularly useful for children, like my own, that do not necessarily enjoy writing for practice's sake. )