Language Extensions
Presented by Sanford Jones

This workshop explores the various ways in which the adult can introduce the child to the areas of nature and culture, through practical activities, exploration, classification and research. The material is appropriate for those children who are in their last year of the Primary classroom and possibly the first year of Elementary.

A highlight of this session is the viewing of a 30-minute DVD which our Montessori materials company, Youth Opera International, Inc. produced in 2010, “At Home in Nature: Biology in the Montessori Classroom”. The video provides a “how-to” hands-on approach to setting up both indoor and outdoor environments for the study of biology, including “going-out” experiences, the Botany Cabinet, selection of plants and animals, display of the Time-Line of Life, building an outdoor herb, vegetable and flower raised bed garden, preparation of healthful foods, nature walks, recycling and composting.

The content of the workshop, by subject area, is as follows

• HISTORY-Current Events; Stories, Poems and Songs; Books and Card Material, Rocks, Fossils and Artifacts; Dramatic Activities; Research and Expression.
• GEOGRAPHY- Globes and Maps; Picture Folders; Land and Water Forms; Flags and Capitals.
• GEOLOGY-Things Found in the Earth; Identification of Rocks and Minerals, Fossils and Artifacts.
• BIOLOGY -The Indoor and Outdoor Environments, Inorganic and Organic, Plants and Animals, Zoology: Vertebrates and Invertebrates; Botany: Vascular and Non-Vascular, Arrangement of Classroom Specimens; Riddles; Exploring Nature; Art Activities; Poetry, Stories, Songs.
• ART- Skill-Building Activities: Control of the Hand, Discrimination of Color, Shape, Form, Texture, Art Appreciation, Art Activities.
• MUSIC AND MOVEMENT-Development of Listening and Locomotor Skills; Rhythm; Pitch; Intensity; Form; Culture.

This session provides a comprehensive outline for the teacher to implement more fully the study of nature and culture through the teacher’s own in-depth study. The more knowledge and skills that the teacher gains, the better he or she is able to implement those areas that might otherwise suffer neglect or omission. Handouts will include examples of checklists and materials inventory. Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothing and soft shoes, suitable for movement and dance activities.

This session is designed to help teachers keep the flame of learning alive for your “senior citizens”, and set the stage for more formal studies at the Elementary level.