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Montessori Monthly Themes: Amazing, Fun, & Easy to Do

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This page includes Montessori monthly themes for preschoolers including Montessori Activities by Season and Montessori Activities by Holiday. I hope this content helps you create amazing Montessori Monthly Lesson Plans! My goal is to add to this monthly content so that you have dozens of Montessori theme ideas for each month of the year!

Montessori Monthly Themes for Preschool

Montessori Month by Month Curriculum

The child's development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behaviour towards him. We have to help the child to act, will and think for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit, an art which can be practised to perfection only when working among children. – Dr. Maria Montessori

Montessori Winter Activities

It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it. ~John Burroughs, “Winter Sunshine”

Montessori New Years Activities

Montessori Martin Luther King Jr. Activities

Montessori Valentine's Day Activities

Montessori St. Patrick's  Day Activities

Montessori Earth Day Activities

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of each. – Henry David Thoreau

Montessori Spring Themed Activities

Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own. – Charles Dickens

Montessori Mother's Day Themed Activities

Montessori Memorial Day Themed Activities

Montessori Father's Day Themed Activities

Montessori Summer Themed Activities

Montessori July 4th Themed Activities

Montessori Fall Themed Activities

Unique Montessori Spring Shelf Ideas

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Spring is a time for refreshing pretty much everything in life! How often do you switch up your Montessori shelves? By season? By theme?

I am always curious and it always amazes me how suddenly children – with a little freshening up of the shelves – re-engage in the works.

Related Read: 50+ Montessori Math Resources & Recommendations

Below are five Montessori Spring Shelf ideas to get you inspired in creating your spring shelves in your Montessori environment!

montessori spring shelf ideas{Check out my Spring Activities Pack!}

Montessori Spring Shelf IdeasSpring shelves Scene

Spring Scene

I purchased four small pieces of vintage artwork a few years ago. Each picture represents a season cast upon the same house and yard. Place a spring scene on a tray, give the children a prompt to write or to draw about the scene. This prompt leaves space for loads of creativity and imagination suited to the individual child.

Spring Shelves Wildflowers

Wildflower Research

We love this book as you can see by the worn edges! We leave it out for use at any moment. I challenge my boys to identify the wildflowers in our area. Leave this book on your spring shelves. Have the child choose one of the many flowers within these pages. From that point, invite the child to research the wildflower, trace, and draw the flower.

Robin Tracing Spring Shelves

Trace a Robin

We love our robins here in the Pacific Northwest. Robin are survivors that adapt over the winter. I am always amazed by the survivors. As spring descends upon us, the robin come out in full force hunting for worms and other goodies to eat. I purchased several sets of these “Bit of Intelligence” cards covering a variety of topics. The back of the cards have all sorts of useful facts about the image. The cards are beautifully illustrated with great detail. The cards make for a perfect tracing work. Invite the child to trace (or to draw on her own) and color in the robin.

Spring Shelves Tray Bead Sort

Spring Tweezing

Simple is best. Choose the colors of spring and create a sorting work to place on your spring shelves. These discs are wooden and a gorgeous color. Younger children can simply do a hand sort while the older children will be interested in tweezing the small discs.

spring shelves pouring

Spring Pouring

An easy to put together intriguing pouring work for young children. The seeds not only make for interesting colors, textures, and shapes, they also make for a lovely sound when poured back and forth left to right in and out of the small jars.

How to make a seed mosaic

One of our favorite art activities is a seed mosaic! We did one for Valentine's Day a few years ago. Parts of the Seed is also a fun activity for kids. If you need a wonderful book list, check out this list of children's books about seeds!

I hope you enjoyed these ideas!

Marnie

Fun, Beautiful Spring Flower Fractions Math Activity

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Why not put some fun into fractions? As I have expounded on in the past, math can start early in life and math doesn't have to be boring. You can take math learning outside and even give the math lesson a cool Star Wars theme.

Gasp! 

Yes, hold onto your seats, folks. It is possible for kids to love math. Yup, I said it. Make the math activity concrete, beautiful, and fun. That's my top secret. Maria Montessori believes kids begin learning math concepts from extremely early on, like in then womb. True story.

Spring Fractions

“The child in the postnatal (or psychological) period of his embryonic life, absorbs from the world about him the distinctive patterns to which the social life of his group conforms….He absorbs in short, the mathematical part…..the little child’s need for order is one of the most powerful incentives to dominate his early life.” Dr. Montessori, The Absorbent Mind

Montessori Math Philosophy

Here are a few things Maria Montessori had to say about Math:

  • Our brains are naturally drawn to precision, to organize, to compare, to create order out of disorder, to classify and to quantify patterns and relationships.
  • Human beings are born with a propensity to naturally be driven to calculate, to reason and to create within their environments.
  • Guidance and a well-prepared environment are needed, or the capacity to perform such thinking is eventually lost.
  • A child’s environment & life experiences must lend to the innate mathematical mind.
  • Exposing a child to these concepts early in his life is vital to the later development of more complex math concepts.

Spring Fractions Math Activity

In the spirit of making math fun and attractive to kids, I created this Spring Fractions activity as part of my Spring Activities Bundle. Children color in the petals based on the fraction given on the page next to the flower.

Spring Themed Fractions Activity

“The focus is not on the answer – it’s on how your child gets the answer. This is contrary to the usual way we operate in the adult world, where results are the primary goal to be reached.” ~ Michael Duffy, Math Works

Spring Fractions

Download Spring Fractions for Free

 

Montessori Math Materials You Might Enjoy

Enjoy!
Marnie

Fresh New Ideas for Winter Montessori Shelves

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Do you want to know what I truly love about Montessori Practical Life? I will tell you a secret…come a little closer…most trays can be made simply using items you have lying around the home. Variations seem endless and easily adaptable to months, seasons, interests, and holidays. Check out these fresh new ideas for your Winter Montessori shelves.

Montessori Winter Trays

christmas winter montessori tray
Large Bead Stringing is popular and ridiculously effectively early childhood Montessori Practical Life Work. Easy to cater to the various festive seasons throughout the year, this tray includes green and red large beads with lace for stringing.

Christmas Winter Montessori Tweezer Transfer
This pearl tweezer activity is a perfect winter fine motor activity for kids. Children who have mastered dry pouring, wet pouring, spooning, and tonging are ripe for this work. Plus the sound of the pearl dropping into the small dish is wonderful for young ears.

montessori winter tray SNOWFLAKE PAPER HOLE PUNCHING
You can't go wrong with adding this snowflake paper punch to your shelves. We love paper hole punching work. It works fine motor skills and is a great variation on pin poking. Simply include a plain piece of paper and a bowl or bag for collecting the snowflakes to use in an art project or sensory tub. Another idea is to include punch cards for numeration, letters, or sensorial pattern making.

montessori winter CHRISTMAS WINTER TRAYS
This adorable tray is a simple tweezing activity with a sweet twist. A great precursor to spring works and discussions around bird habitats and winter behavior. I picked this nest and eggs up at Michaels Crafts. Simply set up with tweezers, tongs, or even as a hand transfer.

MONTESSORI CHRISTMAS TRAY

Take green and red mini jingle bells in a small dish, add tweezers or tongs, and two obvious sorting areas. Invite the child to the work. The kids will adore the mini bells and the sounds of the holiday.

MONTESSORI JINGLE BELL TRAY

It is difficult to see in this image above but there is a bowl of mini silver jingle bells and a plastic ornament.  My 1.5 year old can't get enough of taking one bell and popping it into the ornament. For older children, add tweezers to really work fine motor skills.

montessori winter trays

I love these mini spools. Not only are they green and red, perfect for the holidays, but they are so versatile. In this tray, we use a tweezer to sort the red and green spools into their respective “napkin rings”. I have also used these spools for small bead stringing.

Montessori winter soft and hard sort

We adore this tray! There is the isolation of color with white, plus the sorting between soft cotton balls and hard small beads. Adding tweezers or tongs is a nice final touch on the tray but not necessary especially with younger children!

So, what do you think about my secret? Do you like these fresh ideas? I hope so. I will be in touch soon!

Marnie

Montessori February Shelves

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Changing up your Montessori shelves can be fun or overwhelming. Hopefully, I will help you make it fun by providing you with a few ideas I've brainstormed over the past few weeks. This post includes ideas for a Montessori February Theme. Enjoy!

February shelves

“One of the reasons why children feel a sense of calm and repose (spiritually) in the Montessori school is because it is an environment where everything has its proper place and must keep to it.” ~ E.M. Standing

February Shelves

Montessori February Shelves

Practical Life – February Shelves

Science – February Shelves

Geography – February Shelves

  • US Landmark match
  • Study of Washington D.C.

Math – February Shelves

february shelves

(Image Source: Instructables.com)

Engineering – February Shelves

Cupid bow and arrow using simple materials such as crafts sticks and blocks like this super cool bow and arrow from Instructables.com

Art – February Shelves

Sensorial – February Shelves

  • Heart sticker or stamp pattern cards
  • Size sequencing hearts like this beautiful sizing hearts set from Etsy
  • Red and pink color grading paint samples or tonal painting strips (free from the hardware store!)
  • DIY Wooden Heart Memory Game – I used the wooden hearts I purchased from Amazon for a variation on cards and counters. Then I thought about what my boys love right now. They love Star Wars. So, I found mini stickers and applied pairs to the wooden hearts. The boys had a lot of fun with it.

February shelves

Language  – February Shelves

  • Valentine Key Language 3 Part Cards
  • February Themed Rainbow Letters
  • Cupid & Arrow Match – Help the cupid hit his target worksheet with pink, blue, and green level reading (you can apply this idea to other learning areas, too, such as math).
  • “Fill my Heart” Word Families is simple. You have a heart shaped bucket, envelope, dish, or 2D heart for the child to “fill”. For example, if your looking for words in the “at” family, the child would find the appropriate images and glue (or fill) the heart with those images.

These ideas are just a start. I will update as I plan out for President's Day. In the meantime check out this President Day Activities post for ideas!  Oh, and I cannot forget about Groundhog's Day!

Thanks for stopping by…

Marnie

The Life Cycle of a Pumpkin – Fall Paper Plate Activity for Kids

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The life cycle of a pumpkin is an engaging topic to add to your home and classroom.

Fall is an inspiring time of year. Children head back to school, gardens are ending their harvest, and in many parts of the world, the air is cooling. In other words, it's time for a cozy sweater and a bit of warm cider. Heading to the pumpkin patch is always an exciting time.

I've got loads of pumpkin activities on this blog but I particularly love this pumpkin craft for many reasons. This fall activity is inexpensive, easy, creative, and kids learn life sciences! Children will learn all about the life stages of a pumpkin and a little botany to boot! 

The Pulp of a Pumpkin - Parts of a Pumpkin

Did You Know these Pumpkin Facts?

  • Pumpkins are native to North America and are one of the oldest domesticated plants. 
  • The word pumpkin is derived from the Greek word pepon, which means “large melon”.
  • Pumpkins have male and female flowers. You can eat these flowers! They are good for fighting colds, helping your bones, and strengthening your eyes with Vitamin A.
  • Honeybees play a significant role in fertilization. 
  • Pumpkins are a warm weather crop and are typically planted in July.
  • 95% of the US Crop of pumpkins are grown in Illinois.
  • All pumpkins are winter squash.
  • The color of pumpkins derives from orange carotenoid pigments.
  • Although pumpkins are typically orange, they can be yellow, white, green, and red.
  • According to science, the pumpkin is a fruit.
  • The largest pumpkin ever recorded was over 1800 pounds.

 

The Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

The Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Craft

A pumpkin's life starts by planting the seed in the warm ground. Then, once the seed drank up all sorts of water and sunshine, a sprout will pop up through the soil. Next, you'll watch the leaves and vine grow larger. Finally, pumpkin flowers blossom from the plant. The female blossom produces a green pumpkin that ripens to an orange pumpkin. 

A Male Pumpkin Flower

A male pumpkin flower. 

Did you know that you can use the seeds from a mature pumpkin to grow more pumpkin plants during the next growing season?

I learned this pumpkin craft in Montessori training as part of our Botany unit. The idea is that you combine an activity with learning to ignite the child's desire and interest to learn more. Kids are fascinated with the cycle of seeds grow to sprout to green pumpkin to orange pumpkin, especially since often the pumpkin's life ends in jack-o-lanterns or dessert (or both!). Add this pumpkin sewing activity to your fall theme!

Lifecycle of a Pumpkin Craft - Materials

Materials Needed for the Paper Plate Pumpkin Craft

  • Two small orange paper plate
  • Yarn, string, or ribbon 
  • Scissors
  • This lifecycle page from atozteacherstuff.com
  • Markers or Crayons
  • Glue stick
  • Green or brown sticky back felt

Lifecycle of a Pumpkin Craft - Printable

Life Stages of a Pumpkin 

  • Pumpkins Seed – The first stage of a pumpkin's life where soon the seed grows to break the surface of the soil)
  • Sprout
  • Plant
  • Pumpkins Flowers – A beautiful bright yellow flower that is sure to attract your children
  • Green pumpkin (juvenile)
  • Orange pumpkin – The pumpkin is fully grown, ripe, and ready to be picked most likely from a pumpkin patch. 

The Stem of a Pumpkin - Parts of a Pumpkin

Approach

  • Print out the life cycle coloring page from atozteacherstuff.com
  • Color in the stages of the lifecycle talking about each stage as you go
  • Cut out the stages of the lifecycle
  • Take your piece of yarn, string, or ribbon and fold each stage over and glue to secureLifecycle of a Pumpkin Glue
  • Cut a stem out from the stick back felt
  • Place on top of one of the small orange paper plates
  • Take the other small orange paper plate and cut a small semi-circle at the top
  • Place that plate bottom down on top of the other plate with the stem
  • Glue together
  • Insert a string with lifecycle stages on it
  • Invite children to pull the string out to see the sequence of the lifecycle

Lifecycle of a Pumpkin Craft
Additional Pumpkin Crafts & Pumpkin Activities for Kids

Pumpkins Crafts & Pumpkin Activities for Kids - Math

  • Pumpkin math with pumpkin erasers 
  • Measure the circumference & diameter of a pumpkin
  • Count pumpkin seeds
  • Weigh pumpkins
  • Size order pumpkins by weights
  • Bake pumpkin seeds
  • Dye pumpkin seeds
  • Make a pumpkin seed mosaic
  • Story sequencing cards
  • Pumpkin Tissue papercraft

Types of Pumpkins - 3 Part Cards

Songs about Pumpkins

Five Little Pumpkins 

Music and Lyrics: Copyright 2007, 2014 Super Simple Learning®
Video: Copyright 2015 Super Simple Learning®

One little pumpkin smiling smiling.
One little pumpkin smiling smiling.
One little pumpkin smiling smiling.
One little pumpkin is happy.

Two little pumpkins pouting pouting.
Two little pumpkins pouting pouting.
Two little pumpkins pouting pouting.
Two little pumpkins are grumpy.

Three little pumpkins yawning yawning.
Three little pumpkins yawning yawning.
Three little pumpkins yawning yawning.
Three little pumpkins are sleepy.

Four little pumpkins crying crying.
Four little pumpkins crying crying.
Four little pumpkins crying crying.
Four little pumpkins are sad.

Five little pumpkins laughing laughing.
Five little pumpkins laughing laughing.
Five little pumpkins laughing laughing.
Five little pumpkins are playing.

Five Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, “Oh my, it's getting late.”
The second one said, “There are witches in the air.”
The third one said, “But we don't care!”
The fourth one said, “Let's run and run and run.”
The fifth one said, “We're ready for some fun!”
Then OOOhh went the wind,
And out went the lights,
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

I'm a Little Pumpkin (to the tune “I'm a Little Teapot”)

I'm a little pumpkin
Orange and round.

Here is my stem,
I grew in the ground.

When I get all cut up,
Don't you shout!

Just open me up
And scoop me out!

Children's Books about Pumpkins

Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Craft - Books about Pumpkins for Kids

The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons

Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Craft - Books about Pumpkins for Kids

Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper

Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Craft - Books about Pumpkins for Kids

The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin by Sonali Fry

Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Craft - Books about Pumpkins for Kids

From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer

Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Craft - Books about Pumpkins for Kids

Pumpkin Time by Erzsi Deàk

Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Craft - Books about Pumpkins for Kids

Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White

Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Craft - Books about Pumpkins for Kids

Pumpkin Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington

Other Life Cycle Crafts and Fall Activities