Dear Parents,
Hope you enjoyed the long weekend!
This week, the students will be introduced to the concept that our earth is made of land, air, and water. The young child begins his/her cultural study with an understanding and knowledge of the immediate environment, learning sensorially, which is the basis of Montessori philosophy. The sand-globe and map are examples of concrete materials in the study of geography. For instance, the spinning sand globe gives the students a clear understanding of the concepts of land and water in our planet as well as provides a concrete sense of the Earth's shape and a visualization of the proportions of land and water. Further, the children will sort animal cards based on whether the animal lives on land, in water, or flies in the air.
In Language, our young friends are drawn to metal insets. This eye-catching material includes ten metal shapes—each a different geometric form—framed in pink with a blue metal inset, each featuring a knob for easy handling. These shapes, including a square, triangle, circle, rectangle, and more complex forms like the quatrefoil and ellipse, allow children to explore various geometrical concepts while strengthening their fine motor skills. Tracing these geometric shapes further help the children prepare for writing, art, designs and color combinations. It also helps with concentration and focus.
The color mixing activity using different media like play dough (solid) and colored water (liquid) remains popular. The reactions of the children experiencing the color changing right before their eyes are magical, where red and blue makes violet, while yellow and red makes orange. Seeing the children’s face light up in joy when they discover a new combination is a treat to watch.
Thank you to Ella for bringing a colorful bunch of flowers! The classroom is looking vibrant with various flower arrangements made possible by our children.
Have a wonderful week!
Morahs Uma, Kara, Kristy, and Chaya