Catching Up With Our 5 Year Olds ~ Part 1

Our classrooms are buzzing with the joyful sounds of children engaged in meaningful, challenging work.  Here are some of the activities our five year olds are working with.  These photographs were taken during the last week of October and the first week of November.

(Note:  The Montessori casa/preschool program is a three year program with children enrolling before the age of four.  The children in the photographs have been with us for anywhere from 2 1/2 to 3 years.)

Writing Numbers to 1000+

R. is challenging himself to write his numbers to 1000 and beyond.  In the pictures below he is writing his numbers from 301 to 400.  He is currently writing his numbers in the seven hundreds.

Writing Stories

Our five year olds always have so much to say and story writing is one way of expressing themselves.  Here is J.'s story about her dog Milo.  She is using the Story Alphabet.  This material enables children to practice their spelling, organize and express their thoughts as well as introduce them to the proper use of capital letters and punctuation.

J.'s story on the mat.

 

J. has copied the story from the mat onto pink-lined paper.  She has also drawn a picture.

A very proud looking J. with her completed work.

The Puzzle Maps

M. is exploring the Puzzle Map of Europe with the use of the atlas.

In the Montessori classroom, children are introduced to the Land and Water Globe, the Continents Globe and the Puzzle Map of the Continents when they are 2 1/2 to 3 years old.  When they can identify all of the continents, they are free to explore the Puzzle Maps of each individual continent as well as their own country.  Emphasis is placed on learning the names of the countries in our home continent of North America as well as learning the names of the provinces and territories of Canada.

Using the Dictionary

M. is using the dictionary to find words beginning with certain letters.

The Subtraction Finger Chart

L. is using the Subtraction Finger Chart to solidify her knowledge of her subtraction facts. 

L. has taken a subtraction question from the box of questions.  The question is placed above the board '12 - 7 =  '.  If she knows the answer she can say it and use the board to confirm it.  If she does not know the answer, she places her right finger on 12 and her left finger on - 7.  She then moves her right finger down and her left finger across until the two meet at the answer, 5.  She then writes the question and the answer in her math book.

Part Two coming soon.