Snapshots
May 2018
Spring has been hopping at North Shore Montessori! We have all appreciated some warmer weather and more outdoor time. A few weeks ago, we thoroughly enjoyed making a Beaver dam with Mr. Johnny; the weather and enthusiasm were perfect!
We had been talking a lot about Beavers in class. We read books and watched videos about how Beavers make their lodges and dams. We also learned some interesting facts about beavers. One thing that stood out to the children was that the beaver's front teeth are orange and that they grow continuously so that they don't get worn down. Children learned why Beavers make dams and the materials needed. They also learned how a beaver's dam actually modifies the natural environment, creating a home for frogs, fish and birds.
When Mr. Johnny observed the class' interest he invited us to take the lesson a step further and help us recreate a dam outdoors. The children broke up into groups, searching for leaves and twigs. Some children gathered some dirt and added water to make mud, to act as glue. Then we made layers of each natural material until a wall was made. Lastly, we added water to see if the wall would hold and thankfully it did!
A fun experiment for all!
We have also been learning about Life Cylces such as: the butterfly, the frog and the plant.
In addition, we have been talking about Vertebrates and Invertebrates. We have mainly focused on the Vertebrate Animal Kingdom which is made of five sections: Mammals, Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles and Birds.
Lastly, another major theme has been learning about different kind of plants. We have studied the Parts of a Plant and focused on flowers and different plants that we eat.