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Seasonally Montessori: Autumn Corn and Gourd Songs With Some Free Activities!

CRISPNESS IN THE AUTUMN AIR IS EXCITING FOR US ALL, ESPECIALLY FOR LITTLE CHILDREN WHO ARE BUSY EXPLORING THE HARVEST WHILE DEVELOPING IMPORTANT SKILLS, TOO!
The harvest season is the time to find lots of Indian corn and dried gourds. These products of the harvest have a rich history in the cultures of the Americas and sharing this cultural richness with out children is both satisfying as well as helpful to the young child's development.


Photo from Adobe Stock

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF
CORN GRINDING SONGS

~ Here is a beautiful corn grinding story/song authentically performed by children from the Crystal Boarding School at the New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education Conference, 2006. 

Click Here to view on Youtube: "Corn Grinding Family."


 Corn has been an important part of life in the Native Cultures of the Americas.  I have fallen in love with this amazing film that was produced for the Student Film Festival at the Arizona State University (Tempe campus).
~ Here is a description of the video:
"Corn has sustained the culture, language and lifeway of the Navajo people. The film provides a glimpse into the intimate relationship the Navajo people have with the natural environment. Corn teaches the people the proper way to live in harmony with nature."
Click Here to view "Naa Daa Nanitin"



~ Here is a Youtube video of a session of Zuni women grinding corn. 
Click Here "Zuni Corn Grinding Session"

This Youtube video is a film of Hopi children performing and dancing the corn dance. Lovely! 
Click Here "Hopi Corn Dance 2" 



OUR MONTESSORI OUTDOOR CLASSROOM 
CORN GRINDING 

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

Photo by Carolyn at Magical Movement Company

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Tray #1
  • Autumn corn, called Indian or Flint corn. (I buy it at the grocery or the Pumpkin Patch during harvest season)
  • Tweezers
  • Containers: a small one to hold the tweezers and medium-sized one for the plucked kernels
Tray #2
  • Mortar & Pestle (I use a "Molcajete")
  • Stiff vegetable brush. I use one made from broom corn. Here is a link: Broom Corn Vegetable Brush
  • Container to hold the crushed corn for the bird feeder

 FINE MOTOR SKILLS


1. Use tweezers to pluck the kernels from the cob of Indian corn.

There are 2 trays and children often work in pairs with this work. First, the autumn corn (called "Indian corn") is set up with a pair of tweezers so that the child can pluck the kernels from the corn cob. This is a wonderful fine motor exercise! 

If the children are very young and still building the strength of their finger muscles, they can pluck the kernels with their fingers. I discovered this, when some of my littles began to do this when they were frustrated with using the tweezers! 

I've noticed that children will stay at this activity for a long time...it is quite meditational.


Photo by Carolyn at Magical Movement Company

2. Place a handful of plucked kernels in the bowl of the mortar and pestle.

After the kernels have been plucked, they are placed in a container and saved for grinding.

We use this style of mortar and pestle that you can find in Mexican grocery stores, however any sturdy mortar and pestle will work. 

Photo from Adobe Stock

3. Grasp the pestle in the dominant hand and place over the kernels in the mortar and apply pressure to crush them. Work these over the bottom of the mortar until the kernels are broken down somewhat. (They don't have to be finely ground for the birds)

4. Brush the kernels from the bowl of the mortar into a container to carry to the bird feeder.  After the corn kernels have been crushed, they are "swept" into a container with a little stiff brush and then the child will carry the ground corn over to the wild bird feeders in the Montessori Outdoor Classroom. 

Photo by Carolyn at Magical Movement Company

SOCIAL SKILLS AND LARGE MOTOR 
DEVELOPMENT
5. Two children carry the step ladder over to the bird feeder and set it firmly on the ground. Then, one child climbs up to place the cracked corn in the bird feeder.

Feeding the wild birds is a bit of a process in the bird habitat that is set up in the Outdoor Classroom.  Two children carry the step ladder over to the feeder where the kernels are added to the bird feeder. Amazing practice with large muscle development and emerging social skills, as well! 
The children sing the song, "Cooperation...Makes it happen."

Photos by Carolyn at Magical Movement Company

LANGUAGE AND MATH SKILLS

6. Extension: Use the cracked corn to compile a container of Wild Bird Seed following a recipe printed out for the children to follow.

The children love plucking the kernels from the Autumn corn so much, that we often end up with a lot  of kernels that haven't gotten ground yet. We use these to add to our Wild Bird Seed mix that the children make from reading the recipe card. 

Click here to read My Blog Article: "Mathematics & Montessori Outdoor Classroom" 
Photo by Carolyn at Magical Movement Company

ART
7. Extension: Use the dried husks to make corn husk dollies.

After the children pluck the corn cobs, there are lots of corn husks left. Making a very simple corn husk dolly is fun and perfect for the art activities in your Montessori Outdoor Classroom.

Click here to read my Blog Article: "The Outdoor Classroom and Making Art." 

Photo by Carolyn at Magical Movement Company

8. Use the cob that remains (after plucking all the kernels) to make art prints. 

~ Set up a piece of art paper and a shallow container of paint large enough to fit the corn cob. Roll the cob in the container of paint until the cob is covered with paint. Place the paint-covered cob on the paper and roll to create a print.
~ Helpful hint: If you attach a corn cob holder on each end of the cob it will be easier for the child to roll the cob without getting a lot of paint on the hands. I like to use this set from Amazon since it comes with containers for the cobs that work well as the paint container in the activity.


CHILDREN'S SONGS AND PICTURE BOOKS 
ABOUT GRINDING CORN
You may have heard this simple little "Grinding Corn" children's song. 
Click Here to see a Kindergarten group singing it:

You can really hear the song in this lovely Youtube video of an 8 year old playing the melody on the piano.
Click Here to view the Youtube video: "Grinding Corn Song with Singing"



A really beautiful rendition of this children's song can be downloaded as an mp3 from Kindermusik International at this link: "Grinding Corn" Click Here.

If you would like to have an authentic rendition of the traditional Navajo/Apache "Corn Grinding Song," you can download this mp3 song. Click Here. 

Here is a page at Amazon with picture books about corn grinding in the cultures of the Americas. Click Here

Here is the description for this traditional story. "A story of adventure! When the Navajo people are on the brink of a devastating famine, the boy Red Bird is sent to ask Spider Woman for her help. On his journey he encounters a lizard, a Gila monster, a snake, and a flock of sun-yellow birds. Will they help Red Bird find Spider Woman in time to save the crops?"

I like this one, especially, because my great grandmother was from the Cherokee tribe in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. Here is the description of this story. "Step back in time for a captivating glimpse of Cherokee life in pre-Columbian North America. Join Little Wolf and his family as they prepare to celebrate Itse Selu, the harvest festival. As night approaches the village, the magic of anticipation fills the air. The luscious feast, Grandfather's storytelling, and the sacred corn dance weave a magical tapestry of tradition."


"MAKE A GOURD RATTLE" and check out 
my FREEBIES at 
MONTESSORI MAGIC FRIDAY 
Photo by Carolyn at Magical Movement Company

I have curated TEN gourd rattle articles, videos, activities and my FREE RESOURCES!

Click Here to link to the resources and free download, "Montessori Magic Friday" at Magical Movement Company website.


My Mp3 recording of me and the children singing this Cherokee work chant is a nice way to use the gourd rattles you make with your group. You can also play regular shakers, maracas, drums, rhythm instruments and even dance while chanting this song.


There are lots more free resources at my Subscriber's Freebie Collection, including my eBook. You can subscribe to my newsletter on the sidebar of this Blog, and you will immediately receive the password for my Freebie page in your welcome email. 

SUBSCRIBE TO MY EMAIL LIST

And, if you would like to add more musical activities to your North American studies unit, you might like my Lesson Plan Activity Pack, "Musically Montessori: North American Pow Wow Music and Dance for Children." Click Here to check it out at my Teachers Pay Teachers Shop.

I am so happy to have you visiting my Blog today and I hope that you have gotten some fun ideas for your group to celebrate the season. 


Advertising Disclosure: Magical Movement Company may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. Thanks for your support! 














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Outdoorsy Montessori: Firefighter Drama Play and The Child's Work in the Reality Based Curriculum

WHO SAYS MONTESSORI ENVIRONMENTS DON'T ALLOW FOR CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN PRETEND PLAY? Whether your program is strictly reality-based or not at all, little children greatly enjoy exploring the role of being a firefighter!




HOW "REALITY-BASED DRAMA PLAY" CAN HAPPEN 
IN THE MONTESSORI ENVIRONMENT
Often, Montessori environments don't have a specified drama play area in the classroom environment. Mainly, the children are doing real work, like preparing their own snack, setting the table for lunch, placing flowers in tiny vases, as well as dusting, sweeping, and mopping in the environment. In the Outdoor Classroom, there are activities such as planting and harvesting in the garden, along with raking leaves, washing windows and scrubbing tables, chairs, tricycles, riding cars, and sandbox toys.



MONTESSORI PRACTICAL LIFE CURRICULUM
In the Montessori "Practical Life Area" of curriculum, you will find little ones practicing skills such as pouring water, squeezing sponges, tonging, scooping, lacing, and even washing baby dolls and scrubbing baby bottles! 


LEARNING FROM REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES:
"FIREFIGHTERS!"
And, virtually every Preschool environment has an annual visit to or visit from the local Fire Department, and this real experience is a wonderful opportunity to add Firefighter activities and shelf works to your environment. So, children's firefighter suits are a perfect addition to your classroom or home environment during the study of fire safety and prevention. 



During the firefighter visit, you have a wonderful opportunity to create a shelf work for your Montessori group. One of the highlights of the visit is when the firefighter shows the children how s/he suits up for fighting a fire. This not only helps children to gain trust of firefighters when they are fully suited up for a fire, but also gives children a first-hand experience of the complex process that firefighters go through when preparing for fighting a fire. 

And, don't forget to ask the famous question of the firefighter: "Why do you wear red suspenders?"


MAKE A SEQUENCING SHELF WORK 
With the photos that you take during this demonstration by the firefighter, you can assemble a sequencing work for the children.  

   



PROVIDE AUTHENTIC FIREFIGHTER COSTUMES 
FOR THE CHILDREN

Children of all ages, both genders, love firefighter costumes. And, these work well in the outdoor classroom setting since they lend themselves to large motor activities outdoors! I've discovered, over the years, that these children's costumes aren't put away after the Fall season...the children LOVE these and continue to develop skills with these suits throughout all the seasons of the year!




A variety of children's firefighter suits are available at Amazon at this link: Firefighter costumes 


A variety of children's firefighter rain boots are available at Amazon at this link: Firefighter rain boots


I have quite enjoyed watching the children over the years put on the child-size firefighter suits and then going on about their work in the Montessori Outdoor Classroom! Of course, there is the usual drama play of: coming to the rescue, running around the school yard with pretend hoses, and talking to each other with makeshift walkie-talkies. 

LARGE MOTOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

There were also plenty of occasions when the children suited up and then did ordinary activities that they saw happening in real life like: folding the laundry, "cooking up a stew", harvesting from the garden, and even jumping in rain puddles with their firefighter boots!


I like to provide several firefighter helmets and other types of helmets as well, so that children can pretend without getting suited up...when they just want to quickly put on a hat and pretend! These are great for outdoor play where there are lots of opportunities for large motor activities.



I don't think anyone can deny that firefighter suits are great for outdoor play where there are lots of opportunities for large motor activities.


LOOKING FOR SOME ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR FIREFIGHTER & FIRE SAFETY UNIT 
IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT? 
CHECK OUT MY FREE RESOURCES!

In case you are looking for some fun and FREE activities for you "Firefighter Unit", please don't miss my most recent Freebies that I added to my "Subscribers Freebie Collection" at my website. CLICK HERE to check them out and all the rest of my free resources!


You will find lots more activities, videos, picture books, and songs at my Blog Post, Musically Montessori "Stop, Drop, and Roll Around" & More Free Resources. CLICK HERE








You can also subscribe to my Newsletter email list here on the sidebar of this blog or scroll down if you are on a mobile device.


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Thank you again for visiting my Blog today and I hope that you have gotten some ideas to use with your group!


Advertising Disclosure: Magical Movement Company may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. Thanks for your support! 






















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Musically Montessori: "Stop, Drop and Roll Around" Song & More Free Resources

ARE YOU OFFERING A FIRE SAFETY UNIT FOR YOUR PRESCHOOLERS?  HERE ARE SOME FREE RESOURCES INCLUDING MY VERSION OF A "STOP, DROP AND ROLL AROUND" SONG.  


Photo from iStock

Seasoned teachers know that singing songs, dramatizing, and playing instruments are very engaging ways for children to absorb concepts. Fire safety is an important concept that can be presented to young children in these ways and I've curated some free resources for you right here in this post!


SONGS TO SING
When you have some older Preschoolers in your group (5 and 6 yr olds), they will be able to do this song and activity after you have demonstrated it yourself. Then, the younger children (3 and 4 yr olds) will enjoy participating when they have seen how it is done.

In my mp3 download below,  you can listen to the way I tell the story of going camping, discovering there is fire on my clothes, and then...stopping, dropping and rolling around to put the fire out.

At group time, the first time I introduce the song, I myself do the actual motions in the little story. I pretend to be walking along, then discover fire on my clothes, then I sing the song while doing the motions: "Stop, drop and roll around...roll around...roll around. Stop, drop and roll around...if fire gets on your clothes." 

To download my rendition of this song:
2. You will land at my dropbox, where you can preview the song
3. There is a link in the top right hand corner of the page where you can click Download. (or, there is a series of dots ... where you can click to access the drop down menu to find Download) The mp3 of the music will download to your computer.
4. I prepared this song so that you could hear the melody I sing and how I tell the little story. 



Here are the words to the song:


In my groups, I have always kept a Classroom Songbook. This is usually a 1/2 in binder with several pages (preserved in sheet protectors) of the words to our favorite songs. The above song words page is part of my FREE FIREFIGHTER ACTIVITY UNIT at my Subscriber's Freebie Collection at my website: Magical Movement Company.

When you join my newsletter email list, you can access all of my free resources at my Freebie Collection. These include many of my musical activity units, my mp3 music downloads, and my eBook, "Musically Montessori: The First Lessons." 

It's easy to subscribe by filling out the quick and simple form on the sidebar of this blog. Or scroll down if you are on a mobile device.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST


Another "Stop, Drop, and Roll" song that I really like is this one from Victor Johnson performed in the following Youtube video.   



You can download Victor's song at Amazon by clicking this link: Fire Safety Songs by Victor Johnson. His album has some other songs that give children important information about fire safety. 

****IMPORTANT note: There are several important safety lessons to teach children. There are times when you DON'T want to stop, drop and roll, but rather, you want to get out of the building! Actually, the "Stop, drop and roll" practice is taught for when fire happens to get on your clothes, since running with fire on your clothes will feed the fire and make it worse.  However during a fire, it's important for children to know how to get out of the building first, and so you will be practicing fire drills often with your children.


BEST FIRE SAFETY PRACTICES FOR CHILDREN
To find out more about best fire safety practices for children CLICK this link: CA Fire Safety For Children. There is even a free  lesson plan you can download from that site.  

DRAMATIZING
As you will learn from my mp3 above, I first introduce the "Stop, Drop and Roll Around" Song as a little dramatization. Acting it out appeals to young children, and also gives them a chance to practice exactly how to stop, drop and roll...if fire gets on your clothes. This little drama play is very engaging for the children.

I discovered some nice extensions for creating reminders that can be incorporated into the children's drama play. 

Here is a lovely FREE resource at Teachers Pay Teachers.

This activity pack below is also a FREE resource at Teachers Pay Teachers. The little scenarios can easily be acted out by the children.



PLAYING INSTRUMENTS

Many Preschool groups have a visit from or a visit to the Fire Department during this time of year. And, if your group hasn't already learned this sweet little action song, then you can teach them during your Fire Safety Unit.


After the children know the song, you can introduce triangles or finger cymbals for the children to play during the "Ding, ding" parts of the song. You can hear how Lynn Kleiner does this in the video below:


Playing instruments along with singing this little song, is a lovely "performance piece" that the children can create for their families or just for fun in your classroom.


BOOKS WITH SONGS

To reinforce the Stop, Drop and Roll Activity, I have placed this book in the book corner and read it to the children during story time. I recommend reading it through yourself before placing it in the environment, to see if you think it is appropriate for your age group. 


When I was preparing this Blog post, I was so disappointed to find that the ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK (and song) in our toddler group has gone out of print and very difficult to purchase these days. 

Since becoming a music specialist in 2013, I have not been a classroom teacher for a while, and so I didn't know that this book is no longer available. If you happen to have it around, I would definitely make copies and laminate it since you can't actually purchase it nowadays! Our group always enjoyed hearing the wonderful recording of the song that is actually sung by the author.  

In case you can't access the actual book, you can have it read (and sung) to your child at this Youtube video HERE. 




MORE FREE RESOURCES ON THIS TOPIC


For your language area, this is a shelf work that can be filled out by the older Preschoolers who are well established in their letter sounds after working with the Montessori sandpaper letters and moveable alphabet. 


And, please don't miss my newest free resource at my Subscriber's Freebie Collection! 

You can also find this free download at my Montessori Magic Friday Special on my Facebook page HERE.


More Montessori Resources That Aren't Free






I am so happy to have you visiting my Blog today and I hope that you found some useful free resources for your Fire Safety activities with your group!


Advertising Disclosure: Magical Movement Company may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. Thanks for your support! 







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