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Good morning, everyone!

This will be my last story, and I’ve chosen a bit of a long one!  I especially hope that the children who will be in first grade next year can enjoy MAMA LION WINS THE RACE, written by Jon J. Muth.  Our school named this book a Sakura Medal Picture Book, and he’s written many other prize winning stories.

I won’t write too much, you’ve got a long story to listen to!  Enjoy!!

Click here to listen to MAMA LION WINS THE RACE

Who was your favorite character, or car?

Why did the Flying Pandinis stop when Mama Lion and Tigey were on the side of the road?

Why did Mama Lion say “Or, we could not win!” towards the end of the story?

Have you ever helped a friend, even though it meant that you might not get something that you were hoping for?  It’s great to help a friend, isn’t it :).

I noticed that most of the drivers of the cars were wearing glasses for the wind and sun, you can go back and look again…  I’ve found a tutorial about making glasses out of paper.  It uses origami techniques, but be careful, the shape of the paper is not the same size as regular origami, it is American letter sized paper. And… you can’t wear these on your eyes.  You wouldn’t be able to see!!  But, you could put them ontop of your head and look cool!

 

And if you like to spend your time outside in the fresh air (with your origami sunglasses on TOP of your head!), you could enjoy brightening up your sidewalk/driveway with Red Bud Drives’ Chalk Mosaic.  Simple, but fun and great for strengthening finger muscles.

Have Fun!

How to Make a Sidewalk Chalk Mosaic

Hello, Everyone!

 

Good morning!  Let’s get you moving!   Here is a fun book filled with actions, and rhyming words!

Click here to listen, watch, and move to “Clap Your Hands”, by Lorinda Bryan Cauley.

Were you able to find some space to stand and do some of the actions?  Was there anyone who could do ALL of the actions?!  While I was reading it aloud, I was picturing in my mind all of you standing in front of me, moving :).  You can organize a Simon Says game with your family!  You could use some of the movements from the story.

Here is Jack Hartman’s song that is like… Simon Says, let’s play!

How did you do?  Do you have brothers or sisters that can play with you?

I’m curious, did you notice that there were no grown-ups in this book?!  And you must have noticed that there were animals interacting with the children AND… the animals were wearing clothes!   I guess we know that this is NOT a true story so it is called fiction, which means; “not a true story”. 

This story had a pair of rhyming words on almost every page.  Do you remember any of the rhyming word pairs?  How many can you remember if you JUST look at the illustrations, and turn the sound (my voice) off…?   

As an example, the first and second page have the words “feet”, and “seat”.  The third and fourth page has “head”, and “red”.  Can you draw a few of the word pairs, or make up your own rhyming pairs?  Have someone take your photo with your drawing, Like the principal’s challenge!  Your family can upload your photo it in the comment section below.  This is a private blog, just for Montessori families.

Now, think back inside your head to see if you can remember any more.  Maybe look at the story again WITHOUT the sound on…   If you know how to write, you can WRITE a list of the rhyming words, and have someone take your photo with your list! 

I hope that you have fun with rhyming words.

See you again!

Ms. Hoshi

 

 

Good morning, everyone.

Today’s book is a bit different; it’s not a story!  It is a book that can give you ideas to help you decide what you might want to do when you grow up! Before you listen to the book, can you talk with whomever is reading the blog with you about what YOU might want to become… Maybe you’ll find a new idea in the book…

This book shows us lots of activities and jobs that happen in various workplaces.  Some of the places they visit are a school, a construction site, and an airport.  Then they explain what grown-ups do when they work in those places.

Click here to listen to What Do Grown-ups Do All Day?

Did you find a new job that you are interested in?

Is there a job that you really would not want to do?  Why not?

Are you interested in any of the jobs that your parents, or grandparents have done?

Here is a video of jobs adults do… which one interest you?  What tools do you need to use?

For your activity today, can you draw someone who’s doing a job that you are interested in?

If you don’t enjoy drawing, maybe you’d like to have someone who’s a bit older help you write a list about the kind of work that you might like to do, and what you would need to learn to do that job…

At dinnertime, you can ask your family members what other jobs they’ve done, or what their “dream” job would be?

Keep reading, and stay well!

Ms. Hoshi

 

 

Good morning, everyone!  I’m happy that you’ve come to listen to a story today.

Today I read Over on the Farm, by Christoper Gunson.  This is a counting book that also includes ryhmes and rhyming words.  When there are ryhmes in a story, the story sometimes has a rythm.  Try to listen to the rythm of this story.  You might be able to try tapping your foot to the rythm.

A surprise guest came to visit me while I was reading on my roof, can you guess who it might be?

 

Click here to read Over on the Farm.  And to see the surprise guest!

 

Remember the “numbers and counters” work we have in our classroom.  Who can make a set like that to use in your house?  First, maybe you would cut some square papers that you could write the numbers 1-10 on.  Then you need to find some items that you can match with the appropriate number, like we do on the mat at school.

If you’ve forgotten how to do the numbers and counters, I’ll give you a little reminder.  After you lay the number cards in a line (1-10), below each number, you need to put that many pieces, of one item,.  For example; under the number 5 card, you could lay 5 coins, 2 at a time, so one would be left by itself on the bottom row.  I wonder what item you might be able to use under the number 10?  Take a photo to share with us.

That’s all till next time!

See you again,

Ms. Hoshi

Hello everyone.  Todays story is a bit of a long one… And a bit unbelievable! Harriet was living… “way up in the school roof”!  See-I told you, unbelievable!  Her teacher never noticed that Horrible Harriets’ new friend, “Mr. Chicken” (whom she had made in a pot!), was scaring everyone….

Click here to listen to HORRAY FOR HORRIBLE HARRIET

Would you like to be Harriets’ friend?  Why, or why not?  How does she get along with her classmates?

Here’s a challenge for you if you are five or six years old.  Can you try to watch the video WITHOUT sound, and retell the story to someone in your family?  You can tell them what was happening by looking at the illustrations and remembering the story that you listened to.

Everyone can try to draw your own picture of a chicken to hang on your refrigerator or in your room!  What color was Mr. Chicken? Was he the same size as a real chicken?

After you’ve tried once to draw by yourself, now for a second attempt, can you try to draw along with “Art for Kids Hub” and three year old Austin (his drawing is on the left)?  You can see that he’s done a pretty good drawing by listening to the instructions.  Try it, I’m sure that you can draw it also.  Does it look different than your first drawing?  Which of your drawings do you like the best?

Some people think that homemade chicken soup is nutritious, and helps you feel better if you have a cold or the flu.  I found this recipe that you could help your family cook together.  If you don’t like chicken, you can leave the chicken out and make it a hearty vegetable soup.

Toddler Approved Alphabet Chicken Soup

 

 

 

Good morning, boys and girls. I’m glad to see that you’ve come to hear the story.  This story was a favorite in our family… This story was written 90 years ago, and the drawings in this edition of the book were the original, 1930 illustrations.

When you come upon something that you need to do, but it seems to be a bit too difficult for you complete, you can remember this story and say to yourself, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can”; and maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to succeed after trying harder and believing in yourself!

Click here to listen to THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD

Things to think about and discuss…

Ask your parents if they knew this story. If they did know it, maybe they can tell you some memories they had of themselves reading it when they were younger. Or, they can tell you about one of their favorite childhood stories.

How many trains were there? What words did the author use to ‘name’ the trains?

Take a minute to look at the page that says “And there were cars full of toy engines, airplanes, tops, jack-knives, picture puzzles, books, and every kind of thing boys or girls could want.” Do those toys look like your toys now, or are your toys different from these, I wonder? Did your parents have any of the toys on this page?

Maybe you can say the “I think I can-I think I can-I think I can” part of the story together with whomever is reading it with you…

For the craft today…

Can you draw (or make using a milk carton), one of the train engines from this story? You can choose from the little train (who couldn’t get over the hill), the Shiny New Engine (who came first), the Big Strong Freight Engine(who came second), or, the Little Blue Engine (who was the last train to come). Take a look at them again in the story video.

I hope that you enjoyed the story today! See you next time :).

I think I can–I think I can–I think I can–I think I can-I think YOU can!

Ms. Hoshi

 

Hello, again, boys and girls!  Today I will be reading a very popular book among young children, the title is, GOODNIGHT MOON.  This story was written by Margaret Wise Brown and the pictures were drawn by Clement Hurd.  Margaret Wise Brown loved animals, and usually had an animal in each of her stories.  After she was finished with a story, she asked the person who would be drawing the illustrations for the story to draw them as if a child had drawn them.  She thought that the children would enjoy the stories more if the drawings (we call them ‘illustrations’ in books) were like drawings that they can draw…  If you enjoy drawing, maybe you could try to draw your own illustrations to one of your favorite books?  You could post a photograph of your drawing of your illustration in the comment section below.

The reason that I enjoy Margaret Wise Brown’s stories is because she writes in a rhythmical pattern.  When you listen to me read, see if you can find a beat in the sound of the words, a bit like the rhythm to a song.  Can you can tap your foot on the floor; or your hand on your on your thigh (which is the top part of your leg), to the rhythm of the story?

Click here to listen to GOODNIGHT MOON

Things to think about…

How is the telephone in the story different than phones that your parents have now?

What are the two kinds of animal paintings in the rabbits bedroom?

What differences do you notice between pages 9 & 10 (where the words are “Goodnight moon”), and pages 29 & 30 (where the words are “Goodnight noises everywhere”)?

Here is a fun looking moon craft from the website “Choices for Children”.  Hopefully you’ll have the materials that you need in your house already… A large black paper, a cardboard box, lots of white paint, and flour.

Click here for the Moon craft project.

See you again, soon!

Ms. Hoshi

 

Good morning, everyone!

I’m happy to see that you’ve come to listen to the story, and do a craft.  Today I will be reading The Invisible Boy.  The author, Trudy Ludwig likes to write stories that help children learn to get along with each other, even though they might have some differences.  In this story, she shows “how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish.”

Click here to watch: The Invisible Boy

Maybe you could talk about the following ideas with whomever read this story with you…

Did you notice something interesting about Brian’s clothes?

When the children were choosing teams, Brian was left out of the game.

When the children were eating lunch together, all the children were happily talking about the fun they had at Madison’s birthday party; Brian’s clothes were black and white…

Do you remember what the book said?  Everybody had fun, except for Brian because he wasn’t invited. Do you think that the children could have talked about something different that wouldn’t have made Brian feel left out, or sad?  Can you say, “let’s talk about something else now”, if you realize that someone feels left-out?

Have you ever felt left out of a group?  If so, how did that make you feel?  Were you able to tell them that it made you feel sad?

Do you think that you would be able to invite someone to join you, if they look sad or lonely?

How about when J.T. and the other children were making fun of the food that Justin brought to school?  Justin was sad, but Brian made him feel happy again by doing what?  If you don’t remember, you can listen to the story again and you’ll find the answer.  I know that we have friends in our classrooms that eat Bulgogi, right?  I LOVE Bulgogi, it’s yummy, healthy, Korean food!

Did you notice any changes in Brian’s clothes?  How were they changing?  Why were his clothes changing colors? Who made Brian feel less invisible?  What did Justin do to make him feel less invisible?

I thought this was a nice story about a quiet boy, who found two new friends, and then he felt happier.  Nobody wants to be lonely, right?  Let’s try to be kind to everyone.  Maybe you’ll make someone happy that they know a kind person like you!  It’s wonderful to see children being kind, and reaching out to help another child during school.  We are lucky to have lots of kind, helpful children in our classes :).

Here is an interesting colorful Suncatcher Craft from Babble Dabble Do that looks fun to make.  I have a feeling that you might like to make more than one, and include your brothers and sisters as well, possibly!

You will need these materials:

White liquid glue, lots of it!

Food coloring, or liquid watercolors

Toothpicks

Plastic lids (lids from tubs of yogurt, sour cream)

Hole puncher

String

Would you like to post a photo of your suncatcher in the comment section of the blog?

Thank you for coming to the Montessori Blog this morning for a story, and a craft.

I hope that you enjoyed it!

Ms. Hoshi

Good morning again St. Maur Montessori children and families!

I’m very happy this morning to share another story with you.

I have chosen a book that most of you know, because I want YOU to help me read this story!  Your parents will be surprised, but I know that many of you know the rhythm, and the rhymes from Dr. Seuss’, THE CAT IN THE HAT.

Today, can you draw a hat that looks like the one that the Cat in the Hat is wearing?  Or maybe you’d like to make one out of colored paper, scissors and glue?  Maybe you could draw/make your hat…. ontop of a cat?!

What are some activities that ‘real’ cats enjoy doing?  Are those activities similar to what the cat in this story does?  What things does this cat in the hat do during his day?

Would you like to share a picture of your drawing, in the comment section with us?  Or maybe you have a real cat in your house that you could show us…?

Click here to see Ms. Hoshi read “The Cat in the Hat”

Good Morning!

I hope that you are enjoying watching the stories with your family.  Our Montessori team is enjoying using this new media to share with you.  Have you been doing some of the crafts, or activities that we have suggested?

Today I will read for you, “Mr. McGee and the Big Bag of Bread”, by Pamela Allen.  She has written THIRTY TWO picture books for children!  Mr. McGee seems to like to go to the zoo.  Have any of you gone to the Noge Zoo with your family before?  I hope that your trip to the zoo did not end up the way Mr. McGees’ trip does….

 

Click here to watch Mr McGee and the Big Bag of Bread

 

Do you remember the questions that I asked you while I was reading?

Can YOU ask some questions about the story to whomever was watching it with you?

Do you think that we should throw bread to the animals at the Noge Zoo?

Of course, not, right?!  Most animals should not eat bread, they are not human!

 

Activity time:

I thought that this activity looks fun for our younger students, it’s especially challenging if you turn it upside down to empty the container after it’s filled!

Pom Pom Drop and Shoot: Toddler Play

I expect that most of you have play dough at home, or could make some with your family.  This next one is a math, and smash activity!

Count and Smash Play Dough Math Activity

Are you helping your parents with chores in the house?  I always set the table for our family dinner when I was you age… Maybe you can lean how to do something which could be helpful to your family?

We’re all looking forward to seeing you again after the Spring Break, vacation.

Ms. Hoshi