Montessori activities for pre-school?

Question

What are some activities i can put into a lesson plan based off ideas of Maria Montessori? I do not actually have to do theses things. I just have to make a lesson plan. I am looking for two more activities, one preferably having to do with math. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Montessori believed cognition is developed through experience so anything you come up with for them to actually do counts. Not knowing what you've already decided, here are some ideas-

How many blocks (of whatever kind) can they pile up within one minute.

How many pebbles can they pick out of a pile and place inside a plastic drinking cup?

How many colored toothpicks can they sort by color within one minute.

Each draw and cut out own hand. Compare overall size, length, width, length of fingers, thumbs?

Same with feet.

Have one child place some pebbles, up to 5 or 10 on sheet of colored paper, have second child glance before another paper covers them. Second child guesses how many. Alternate.

Teach placement and recognition of patterns.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

A very easy math activity to put together would be what Montessori called Cards and Counters. Here is the lesson:

Numeral Cards and Counters

Purposes:

To develop the ability to sequence numerals 1-10

To associate concrete quantity with abstract numerals

To provide a visual impression of even and odd numbers

To provide a means for learning skip counting

To develop the appropriate vocabulary

Preliminary Exercises:

Work with number rods, sandpaper numerals and numeral cards

Use of spindle box

Number games

Materials:

White mat, divided into ten sections, of a size to accommodate numeral cards and counters in your environment  (Sizes are not uniform among suppliers.)

Container of numeral cards with 1 through 9 in green and 10 in blue

Fifty-five green counters in a container

Procedure:

  1. Invite a child to the lesson once the preliminary exercises have been done.

  2.  Place the cards, counters and mat on a table in front of the child who is seated on your dominant side.

  3. Keeping the container in front of the child, have the child spread the mat behind the container and place the cards randomly in a row above the mat, then move the container to the non-dominant side of the mat.

  4. Ask the child what comes first when counting and to find that numeral.  Indicate placement in far left section of mat.

  5. Have the child put one counter under the numeral one, pointing to show placement.

  6. Continue by asking the child to place the next numeral to the right of the one.  Indicate that counters are placed side by side.  After the numeral three is placed, indicate that the third counter is centered under the first two.

  Note: The teacher neither says the name of the numeral nor counts with or for the child.

  7. As soon as it is apparent that the procedure is understood, leave and observe unobtrusively.

Control of Error:

Exact number of counters

Mat to ensure correct placement of numerals and counters in columns

Observations:

Handling of materials

Placement of mat and cards

Placement of counters

Child's reaction to error

Length of work time and number of repetitions

Degree of interest and concentration

Length of period of contemplation

Variations:

Once it is observed that the child understands the number- numeral concepts, a three period lesson on "odd" and "even" may be taught.  There is no isolation for 1st and 3rd periods.

The teacher moves the cards for the even numbers above the mat and invites the child to read the even numbers in sequential order, then to read the odd numbers remaining on the mat in sequential order.

Vocabulary:

next     next to      odd      even      sequence      counters

For a photograph of this activity go to: <>http://www.nienhuis.com/index.php>

Answer 3

1) Shape, space and measure: have different 3D shape building blocks (retnagles, cylinder etc)-children explore what they can build-this is learning through play-the child is active which Montessori encourages.

2) Sandpaper Letters: children use the raised texture to explore letter shapes which enhances the letter recognition and writing their own letters.