Wonderful Winter Lesson Plans

Winter and the holidays are now just around the corner, and once again, the AMC
resource participants have not let their readers down. Many of the participants
have contributed outstanding lesson plans, recipes, crafts and more that you can
use right now in your school and home classrooms. Below, are just some of the
highlights of what you will find in this issue.

Part 1

See http://www.amonco.org/winter1/montessori_winter1.pdf

In Part 1 you will discover the following:

KidzClix.net has contributed Make-A-Food-Mosaic. This fun activity incorporates
art and larger geometrical shapes. This is an excellent extension practical life
exercise that can be used with any food unit study. KidzClix has also donated a
bonus activity that children can do for FREE right at their website. Don't miss
out. Visit Part 1 for details.

Also, included in Part I is Rita Arpaia's Start with the Winners Book List. She
will show you the recipe for making just the right match for your children.
Then, take some time out to discover Mollie's Collage Paste Mix activity. Mollie
has probably used this activity many times in her Montessori classroom.

Rae, from the Creative Process, has offered three free activities that will
spark the imagination of your students. Scribble Designs, Masks and Mask Making,
Sharing Food Unit Study and a wonderful, brand new Teaching Alternative Energy
Ideas will all add some zip to your winter lesson planning.

Part II

See http://www.amonco.org/winter2/montessori_winter2.pdf

Linda, from the Storyboard , submitted the Rain Stick or Rain Maker. This fun
filled activity, designed for young children, is sensorial and an imaginative
art exercise. When the project is completed, children will enjoy making the
sound of rain with their rain sticks.

Rick, from Fun With Languages, contributed a Miami style Pistachio Poppy Seed
Cake recipe. This recipe would be a great addition to any holiday gathering.
Speaking of recipes, renowned Montessori teacher, Kathy O'Reilly, from Cooking
With Children Can Be Easy, submitted a yummy Old Fashioned Sugar Cookie Cutouts.
This recipe is also perfect for your holiday celebrations.

Part III

See http://www.amonco.org/winter3/montessori_winter3.pdf

I love the smell of baked apples. This autumn and winter try a new apple recipe.
Ginger-Coconut Baked Apples is sure to delight your family and friends. Dale,
from North American Montessori Center, has also shared the Montessori
Button-Buddy activity. Dale takes you step by step on how to present this lesson
and provides an extension exercises as well.

Richard, from LORD Company, has uploaded some FREE materials for you to use in
your school and home classrooms. Read Part II of this newsletter to learn more
about The Land and Water Forms Cards and Labels set and how to use them.

Verna, from The Music House, contributed the Aromatic Basmatic Rice with
Saffron. This delicious dish could be served at any upcoming multicultural event
or be an unexpected delicious treat for your holiday meal.

Wenda, from Birdcage Press, has provided an amazing let of free lesson planning
materials for a unit study about Renaissance and Impressionist artists.

Part IV

See http://www.amonco.org/winter4/montessori_winter4.pdf

The Scented Basket project, contributed by Mariaemma of Coaching for Learning
Success, provides an opportunity for your students to learn more about art, and
they will end up with a special holiday gift. Dianne, from Conceptual Learning,
provides yet another tasty Nutty Chocolate Pudding Squares recipe that is great
for your holiday parties. Dianne, has also graciously contributed some
outstanding Montessori Math Sequencing lessons in .pdf

Georgette, from Cantemos, has compiled information for an integrated, fun
pineapple unit study.

It's not to late for the younger children to participate in the fall squirrel
project. This is one new project that you will want to tuck away for next fall
as well. Your students are also sure to enjoy the papier mache activity
submitted by Shari of Shari and Jerry.

Dr. Borenson, from Hands On Equations, has once again contributed a free
hands-on algebra activity. In this section, you will also discover more about
the free Animals in the Winter unit study.

Part V

See http://www.amonco.org/winter5/montessori_winter5.pdf

Karen, from Fun Felt, has consistently demonstrated her creative talents. In
this issue, she has shared her Handprint Towel. This activity is a wonderful
hands-on project, with the dual effect of doing something truly meaningful with
children and helping them to create a gift with lasting memories. Karen has also
shared her special Pumpkin Pie Scented Playdough Recipe. This is sure to delight
the younger set!!

Joan, from Nation Relation, submitted a Recipe of World Tolerance. This is
something we continually need to impart to those we educate.

Ligia, from Childsake, submitted an easy to make, delicious Holiday Cheesecake.
Yum!!

Part VI

See http://www.amonco.org/winter6/montessori_winter6.pdf

Another yummy recipe that is sure to delight the chocolate lovers in your family
is Farmer's Favorite Fudge recipe. This was contributed by Larry of Farm Country
General Store.

Angela, from Wildridge Software, submitted a Hearty Fall Kale Soup recipe that
is sure to warm you up on chilly wintery days.

Now for some soapy science fun!!! You read that right. John, from Exploration
Education contributed a free Soap That Grows lesson. This lesson is in .pdf and
contains all of the illustrations, pictures and detailed lesson plans you need
to make this activity a success.

Part VII

See http://www.amonco.org/winter7/montessori_winter7.pdf

Try a unique, tasty recipe that is sure to delight your friends and family. Mary
Roberts, from Hello Wood, sums up the taste of her Onion Pie recipe with one
word…..Yum-m-m-m!!

Elaine, from Kimbo Educational, makes informal entertaining quick and easy with
her delicious Spinach Dip Recipe. Elaine also provided a literature link
activity for Three Little Kittens.

Crepes Recipe for Children can be used as part of a unit study about the French
culture. It could also be used for specific multicultural celebrations, and
would be a scrumptious addition to a holiday meal.

Marjorie Kiel Persons contributed Winter by Vivaldi. Educators can use her
complete lesson plan by customizing it to fit most age groups. Here are just a
few ways educators can use the unit study:

*Put into historical context, i.e. Baroque Period – the Pilgrims' landing at
Plymouth Rock in 1620.

*Creatively used in conjunction with art, science and geography activities

*Easily incorporated into other existing music programs

Marjorie includes links to lyrics and to a portrait of Vivaldi.
Please see http://www.amonco.org/winter7/montessori_winter7.pdf
to view this entire lesson plan.

Sharon Jeffus shared the following in the recently uploaded AMC
Fall/Winter 2008 newsletter.

"This lesson has as its goal not only to teach a little history, teaching
drawing skills, show how important art is for communication, but to encourage
children spiritually and creatively as well. C.S. Lewis's movie "The Lion, The
Witch and the Wardrobe," is truly a work of art. We are going to focus first on
the door through the wardrobe and secondly on Father Christmas and his gifts. It
is exciting to think about going into a window or door into someplace very
special. Windows are exciting ideas for art projects. Tomp d'oil is the idea of
looking back into time. Perspective is used so that it looks like you could
actually walk into the picture."

To receive a free Visual Manna newsletter just brimming with excellent FREE art
lesson plans visit Part VII.

Now, that you have some new lesson plans, delve in and begin to put some extra
sparkle into your school and home school settings. I wish you a fun filled
winter..

Many of the resource participants who contributed to this newsletter are
featured in the monthly drawings. See the AMC Montessori website for details on
how to enter. Visit http://www.amonco.org and
http://www.amonco.org/directory.html today!

Visit http://www.amonco.org/montessori_winter_handson.html to view all sections
of the newsletter.

  Please also visit American Montessori Consulting  http://www.amonco.org and
look under New and Notable for additional articles and free lesson plans.

Heidi
http://www.amonco.org

Thanks so much for posting an example of your schedule etc... it was very
helpful! I teach at 2 schools, 1,000 kids a week and record keeping etc is not
my strength!!!Thanks Teri

--- In art_education@yahoogroups.com, "Camille " <cammyoh@...> wrote:
>
> I teach in AZ and have about 900 students. I see most classes once a week
> for 45 minutes.
>
> I have tried to keep all of my classes on the same lesson. Some kids have ½
> days – or they miss a day of the week and get behind so in order to keep
> myself organized I will write a note to myself after the class on the next
> week's schedule to let me know what the class is working on. Sometimes I
> write – continue coloring…or a title of a lesson and which day we are on.
>
>
>
> I print a semesters worth of schedules and leave them blank so I can write
> down what the class accomplished and on the upcoming schedule I write what
> they will be doing the next week. It's worked well for a record keeping
> book.
>
>
>
> I also print one master schedule for the upcoming week of what lesson we're
> working on, the lesson objectives and state standards.
>
>
>
>
>
> I don't know if it will work but I was going to send an attachment to the
> group of what my schedule sheet looks like.
>

I have quite a few 7th / 8th graders that are pulled-out of Art for a gifted
program therefore missing HALF of their assigned Art classes; an every other day
scenario.  I'm not able to have them make-up the work they miss.  I feel that
it's wasting materials because they will never be able to complete projects that
are ore than one day, which happens frequently at the middle school level.  They
will also miss out on half of the instruction/preparation for the spring Art
assessment that the district I'm in gives the students. I'm searching for ideas
to address this ever growing problem.

Thanks!

Recently i took a crayon medium and im going to high school in a couple of weeks
to talk about my art, i would like to write a "how to" book and how I use
crayola crayons as one of my mediums,do u think that people would take interest
in it
Check out my art at http://www.whitebirdbooks.com  I HAVE A LINK ON MY WEBPAGE
THAT SHOWS 2 OF MY CRAYON PICS

AFTER YOU GO TO http://www.whitebirdbooks.com CLICK ON THE MY ARTWORK PAGE BY
J.M. WHITEBIRD AND IT WILL BRING U TO THE PICS

Hi, I also hold art club once a week, tonight, in fact.  I had to limit the
number of students to 30.  These are 4th, 5th and 6th graders.  I have a parent
that is going to start helping me next week.  We meet from 3:30 til' 5PM and of
course all transportation is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.  I
did a 6 week trial last year toward the end of the year just to see if it was
doable.  The ideal number of kids was 24-30 and that was with a helper.  More
than that was just too much.  I've tried a number of projects and tonight for
instance, we painted T shirts that were donated to us along with the acrylic
paint.  I'm really frugal (aren't we all, lol) and beg borrow and steal whatever
I can get my hands on.  The PTA gives me some operating capital and I can use
the non-consumables in my art room.
I'll send a follow-up post with the projects that were successful as well as the
ones that seemed like a good idea at the time.  My advice is get a couple of
helpers and provide written instructions for all projects so you aren't
inundated with "now what do I do, how do I do this? I need help!"  I'm really
proud of you for doing this!  The kids need a creative outlet and you're really
making a big difference in their lives!  God bless you!  Anna Lewis, Fort Smith
Public Schools, Fort Smith, AR

--- In art_education@yahoogroups.com, Elizabeth Adams Marks <eaamarks1956@...>
wrote:
>
> "I had my "informational meeting" today for those interested in Art Club and
had 40 kids show up! If anyone has ANY suggestions at all about how to organize,
projects to do, etc, I will be so grateful! "
>  
> I had 45 6th-8th graders in art club on our first night this year.  We started
with a contract of expectations that the students signed. I listed three or four
requirements, and the kids voted on two more - no gum or soda in the art studio,
plus they agreed to help each other like a family.  We meet for 1 hr and 45
minutes every other week.  On our first night, I showed them how to make a
stitched handmade book from cardboard, duct tape, and three sheets of 80 lb
white paper.  I also put out copies of tesselations, markers and crayons to work
on while I was helping each group.  During the next meeting, we set up four work
stations: printing, painting, collage and free draw.  The students moved at will
to each station while they added images and text to their books.  I have one
adult assistant to help her daughter who is blind, and to assist with passing
out materials as needed.  She and I both help her daughter with adaptations for
projects, but
>  she mostly assists her daughter while I help the other students.  This coming
week, we will have two shibori dyeing stations for crazy socks to sell for a
fund raiser, plus two mixed media stations to finish a collaborative project we
are working on with another school.  I have 27 drafting tables set up in four
rows.  Most of the students stand or take turns sitting on stools.   The
students and I love the mixed age groups.  If a 6th grader has a good idea,
those around him or her follow their lead.  And everyone pitches in to
clean during the last 10 minutes before we leave together to
catch the afterschool bus or meet up with parents.
>  
> Elizabeth Adams-Marks
> St. Louis, MO
> Art Education - Handmade Paper
> Book Arts - Illustration
>  
>
>
>
>  
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  
>

I think i need some opinions on my crayon drawings, my website is w
http://www.whitebirdbooks.com CLICK ON MY ARTWORK PAGE AT THE BOTTOM AND IT WILL
SHOW MY ART.

How very sad and  nervy that it would be "ok" to pull gifted kids out of your
class on a regular basis.  I would be pretty ticked about that myself.  I mean,
the kids are either in your class, or they are not.  Is it the same kids they
keep pulling out?  Does this happen every week?  I can't believe your admins
would let this happen to your class.  That's sad and very frustrating, I'm sure.
Hope they can find another way to see their gifted kids in whatever program they
are pulling them out for.  I would feel like I was trying to lasso jello!
Linda

--- In art_education@yahoogroups.com, david grant <dagrant41@...> wrote:
>
> This is a situation that probably happens quite often in many middle schools.
The students that I have usually come late which means I have to give
instructions all over again. If your students are pulled at some point during
the class ...feel blessed. As for the assessment, let the students take it home
to complete if possible or else just give a participation grade. I hope this
helps.
>
> --- On Tue, 10/27/09, PenelopeL <penny_lee53@...> wrote:
>
> From: PenelopeL <penny_lee53@...>
> Subject: [art_education] missed  Art classes
> To: art_education@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 11:07 PM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  
>
>
>
>
>
>                   I have quite a few 7th / 8th graders that are pulled-out of
Art for a gifted program therefore missing HALF of their assigned Art classes;
an every other day scenario.  I'm not able to have them make-up the work they
miss.  I feel that it's wasting materials because they will never be able to
complete projects that are ore than one day, which happens frequently at the
middle school level.  They will also miss out on half of the instruction/
preparation for the spring Art assessment that the district I'm in gives the
students. I'm searching for ideas to address this ever growing problem.
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>

This is a nice video to introduce students to the work of Vincent Van Gogh.
http://journeysinart.blogspot.com/2009/10/starry-starry-night.html

Hi All

We are nearing the end of the first report card period and I am curious to know
how other teachers handle art grades. Do you have any strong examples of strong
content assessments or rubrics you use?

Thanks!

Cescely

Hi Cescely, check out www.rubristar.com for templates for rubrics.  There may or
may not be one specifically for art but they are easy to change.  I use a lot of
rubrics for the older kids because it shows them exactly what my expectations
are for excellent work down to sub-par work.  It is also a more efficient way to
line up the lesson plan with student learning expectations for my state.
Because I teach elementary school I give "S," "U," or "O,s" (satisfactory,
unsatisfactory or outstanding).  K - 3 almost always get straight S's.  All they
have to do is put forth some kind of effort as it is more about the process than
the product.  Grades 4-6 I begin making it more about the product; however, they
still get mainly S's.  A U is when they do little or no work and, of course, an
outstanding is above what is required, excellent craftsmanship finished in a
timely manner.
Hope this helps.


Anna Lewis
Art Instructor K-6
Barling Elementary/
Bonneville Elementary
Fort Smith Public School Distrct
>>> "cescelyhill" <cescely.hill@...> 10/29/09 3:23 PM >>>
Hi All

We are nearing the end of the first report card period and I am curious to know
how other teachers handle art grades. Do you have any strong examples of strong
content assessments or rubrics you use?

Thanks!

Cescely

Thanks so much Anna! I will check out rubistar.com

Greetings Yudhi,

Please share your Indonesian lesson plan with the group. Include images of
student work, too, if you have them. You can share lessons and images in the
Files section of the list - OR you can send them to me and I will get them
shared for you. First here on the list - then on Incredible Art Department
website. Teachers are always looking for good cultural lesson plans.

Regards,

Judy Decker

--- In art_education@yahoogroups.com, Yudhi Pramudya wrote:
>
> i have an indonesian lesson plan, indonesian traditional art and craft
>

Hi all!

I'm a senior art education student. Our class is teaching two lessons to a fifth
grade classroom in the area. The work of art I'm using to teach with is Jean
Louis Millet's "La Maternite". My main concept is going to deal with how artists
use different techniques and colors to create different emotions. I'm going to
play a powerpoint "Jeopardy" game with the kids also, with different colors and
paintings as the questions and they have to tell which emotion is being
portrayed. Can anyone give me pointers on some of the things you might include
when you're teaching a lesson on artistic emotion? This lesson is due two weeks
from today. Thanks for any of your suggestions!

Debby

PS. If you'd like to use the "Jeopardy" powerpoint in your class, there's a full
template with the game already made where you just fill in your answer slides,
and its FREE. Here's the link:
http://www.jmu.edu/madison/teacher/jeopardy/jeopardy.htm

I put a art contest on my website and kids can win a copy of my new book that
was released today, and they can win other stuff, but i would if teachers would
encourage children to take part in it. I want to teach Native American culture
through art.

ITS AT www.whitebirdbooks.com

Hi Every one
Here is the invitation for my next exhibition. It will be an opening reception
November 14 between 6 and 9 p.m. at the HVG Arts Group.
116 Pinehurst Ave, NYC.
Save the Day.

Thank you

Nelson

Hi Everyone
Here is the invitation for my next exhibition. The opening reception will be
November 14 for 6 to 9 p.m. at the HVG Arts Group.
116 Pinehurst Ave, NYC.
Save the Day.

Thank you

Nelson

http://artatthecenter.blogspot.com/2009/10/dreams-for-our-community-community-ar\
t.html

A recent post to our blog about a community art event we did in collaboration
with a local non-profit.
I still feel very happy when I look at the pictures, it was sort of amazing how
in only two hours it was able to feel like a real working community of artists.
I am very intersted in how collaboration and creating community art can be a
motivator. We welcome any thoughts, ideas, feedback, shared experience.
Kathryn
Art at the Center