terrariums and such

So it's been a bit since I've stopped by (I wonder how many of my posts start off with this statement?!)- but I assure you I'm still around, alive and doing well :-)  Truth of the matter is we're doing really well- we finally found a house and are waiting for settlement!!! It was a looooong 6 months of hunting but well worth it. It will be another long 3 months of waiting for settlement but at least there is light at the end of the tunnel.

In the meantime I have been busy wrapping up the school year and trying to fit in tidbits of craftiness along the way....

We celebrated"Father's Day"- well I actually came down with that awful stomach bug the day before and was out of commission for the celebration and the 2 days after... but I heard it was wonderful :)

We finished studying animals in winter and moved to study the red-tailed hawk along with celebrating St. Patrick's Day. (I took plenty of pictures and had every intention of sharing- but time got the best of me!)

I finished up my last round of P/T conferences and am on the home stretch to graduation!


As for home life- Steve and I have stumbled upon an amazing outdoor/indoor garden studio that we adore.... called Terrain at Styer's. If you like anthropologie- you'd LOVE terrain! They are a bit pricey- but it's a great place to get ideas.... and...if you find stuff on sale it's a pretty good deal. I've collected a few things since our initial love connection...

This soap dish I paid full price for- but fell in love with it at first sight! It's going to look wonderful in my powder room :)

This cow door stop I bought online on sale and it is truly sublime! It's wrought iron and has a family of cows on it- so me!

This wall hanging tear drop terrarium I bought at full price- but it was totally affordable and adds a peaceful aura to our living space.

These terrariums Steve and I made! So cool right?! We took a terrarium workshop this past weekend and it was such a fun, funky date-day activity. He made the one with the woodland plants and I made the one with the succulents.

Creating terrariums is so addicting- I want to make another one! Stay tuned as I plan to have a terrarium workshop party this summer after we settle in to our new home <3

spring fever!

Ahhh....I love Spring... I love how just one nice day can give you the motivation and inspiration that was missing during the dreary months of winter. This is the season where everything awakens, blossoms, and the world is decorated with color and new life! 

I've posted a few pictures of whats new in our classroom... 

water color egg painting



tissue paper eggs

This is an extremely popular work out on the shelves right now. I drew eggs on card stock and cut strips of pastel colored tissue paper for decorating. I also provided a glue stick and scissors-so everything the child needs is on the tray. The child is then free to decorate their egg any way they please. Many of the children have made several of these and they love to come up with different designs! 

Another addition to our shelves is an extension of the sensorial work- the geometric solids. With the end of the year quickly approaching, I find myself constantly trying to keep with the third year children- making sure they are challenged! I put out the geometric solids and a tray with blue playdoh next to them. They are then able to choose a geo solid and sculpt it out of the playdoh. This is a great way to get the children interested in the solids once again! It can also be modified depending on the child's capabilty (as are most of Maria's materials!)

I apologize for the fuzzy pictures- these were taken with my phone as I had forgotten my camera at home

the butterfly game

Wow have things been busy... I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the AMS conference in Chicago this past weekend and the experience was amazing. There's something to be said to be surrounded by 3,000 fellow Montessorians who believe in and share the same philosophy of teaching as you do! (and who feel as strongly about Maria Montessori as you do!)

Let's just say the whole weekend was filled with amazing energy.

But let's get to the purpose of this post! I wanted to share with you a new, creative way to work with the short bead stair in your classroom that I learned from my current lead.

It is a game that's played by two children and the purpose is to fill both 'butterfly wings' with a complete set of the short bead stair (1-10).

I drew a simple butterfly (with triangles as wings large enough to fit the complete bead stair)on 2 pieces of felt. Each child gets a butterfly and a bowl with 2 sets of bead stairs.

Taking turns, the child rolls two dice. The child then counts the dots on dice and places corresponding bead bars on their butterfly. 

They have the option to take the sum of the dice or split it up. For example if the child rolls a 2 and a 1, they can have a 2 and 1 bead bar or  a 3 bead bar. 

They continue the game until one child fills both butterfly wings. Towards the end of the game the child may roll a number but won't be able to place any bead bars. They just pass their turn and try again next time! 

You can alter this game to make it easier/more difficult depending on the age and capabilities of the child. We added a different set of dice (to make it more challenging for the kindergartners!)