Let Out the Sunshine

I spent some time reading this book today in preparation for a conference session I am giving next month concerning art at the early childhood level.  The book has a great introduction, theory, and actual art presentations and sequence.  I found myself underlining, making notations, and jotting down ideas of ways to inspire teachers to allow for art to happen in a Montessori setting.  Several times throughout my reading I noted that the child should have a beautiful, peaceful, well lit area to create.  This should be a place fully prepared by the teacher, but then the child is allowed to be independent in choosing the activity, creating, and the clean up process.

Give them a warm inviting area, without adult involvement and they will create.

Just before bedtime this evening I was caught off guard by my 5 1/2 year old.  "Mama, I need to have some glue in my room."  Me, "ughhhh no!" (without even taking a second to think). Humphrey, "Mama, I really need some glue in my room!!!"   Me, "You have a nice art area downstairs where you may have glue, why do you think you need it in your room?"  Humphrey, "Mama, I need to create" (said in a dreamy voice).

Let Out the Sunshine, you have created an inner dilema for me.  Thanks a lot!

Story Problems

After dinner tonight, Papa and Humphrey (5 1/2) worked on story problems...she got out of reading a book to him, but he won out on hearing her read :)

 

 

Ryan needs a hole 6 feet deep.

He has already dug 4 feet.

How much further does Ryan have to dig?

2 feet

 

Matthew has 4 oranges.

Katelyn has 5 oranges.

Kristen has 2 oranges.

Ryan has 1 orange.

How many oranges does the whole family have?

12 oranges

  

Magoo and Papa and Mama each have 2 mittens.

How many mittens do they have all together?

6 mittens

  

I have 10 fingers.

Some of my fingers have owies on them.

4 of my fingers do not have owies.

How many of my fingers do have owies?

6 fingers

 

Anna has to practice her violin.

She has to spend 3 minutes on each of her songs.

She has 3 songs to practice.

How many minutes will Anna have to practice her violin?

9 minutes

 

Magoo needs to shampoo her hair for 2 minutes.

Then she dumps water on her head for 2 minutes.

Then Humphrey begins to shampoo her hair for 3 minutes.

Then Humphrey dumps water on her head for 1 minute.

How long does it take for the 2 girls to get their hair washed?

8 minutes

 

Wendy had 12 inches of snow on her driveway.

She used a shovel to remove 8 of the inches.

How many inches of snow are left on Wendy’s driveway?

4 inches

 

 

Humphrey is helping Papa work on the shop.

Papa needs a board 6 inches long.

Humphrey found a board 8 inches long.

How many inches does Humphrey need to cut off that board to get the size Papa needs?

2 inches