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
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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!
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