A few new Practical Life activities are on the shelf this week. Below is a tonging activity with green marbles. We've had something like this out before. To make it more challenging this time, I put the marbles into a deeper jar (usually I just put them into a shallow bowl). This requires more dexterity with the tongs and deeper concentration. This has been a popular activity with both my first and second year students this week.
The next activity is a total "Miss Laura" experiment, much like the recent rainbow making activity. Luckily, it's been a success. I've had variations of flower arranging out most of the year. For March I decided to fill a little glass jar with glass marbles and add a small tray (actually intended to hold sweet corn) with feathers. The children simply insert the feathers into the marbles and place the "vase" somewhere in our classroom to decorate. They are LOVING this. I'm surprised, actually, because I feared it would gather dust on the shelf.
Yay! I can't wait to set up the feather arranging lesson this week! Thanks for the fun idea!
Posted by: anne | March 01, 2009 at 07:34 PM
I, too, would love to know where you got the bear gripper. Too cute!
Posted by: Stacey | February 27, 2009 at 08:45 PM
I love this feather idea! I know my little guy would be thrilled with something like this, also love your idea with the pipecleaners/beads below! Such great ideas! Thank you!
Posted by: Jamie | February 27, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Hi, I love your blog! I am in teacher training, turning 40 and trying to find lots of ideas for practical life. I have two boys in a Montessori school here in England (we are American living here for a while...) So, my question is.. where do you find the bear shaped soap gripper? I can't even find a rectangular shaped one. Thanks, I'll be follwing this website! Love it!
Posted by: Angela | February 26, 2009 at 04:38 PM
I love the little shaped bead trays you have...have you seen them for purchase online anywhere?
Posted by: Alissa | February 26, 2009 at 07:51 AM