ACTIVITIES

By Anya Garcia Montessori From The Heart

Whether you’re a homeschooling mama or just looking for some fun educational activities – These interactive Montessori-based activities are sure to engage your little ones and help them along their literacy journey! From babies to Kindergarteners – There’s something for everyone!

Activity 1: Baby Steps to Literacy (Babies)

Who says babies are too young to engage in literacy activities? With Montessori, it's never too early to foster a love for language and words. One fantastic activity for babies is object-to-image matching.

Start by gathering simple objects around the house representing words common in your baby's environment. Either take pictures of these objects or find images online and print them out. Cut out the pictures. Optional: laminate them for durability.

be unable to match all the objects successfully. So, to make it easier, start with three objects at a time. You can also initially demonstrate to your child how to match objects to cards. As a child masters the skill, gradually increase the number of objects you present for matching. This sensory experience helps babies associate the words with the objects, laying the foundation for language development and vocabulary building.

Please be mindful of choking hazards and always supervise your child.

Activity 2: Sensory Salt Tracing Wonder (Toddlers)

As you interact with your baby, point to each picture, and say the word out loud, exaggerating the initial sound. Now, offer your child a basket with matching objects to touch, explore, and match. Depending on their age, they might

Toddlers are like sponges, eagerly absorbing every bit of information from their surroundings through their senses. Their curiosity knows no limits as they explore the world around them. Harnessing this innate ability, we can introduce this excellent Montessori literacy activity for toddlers that engages their senses and sparks their love for learning: tracing in salt!

[Note that coloring salt is optional and not required.]

By tracing in the textured salt, toddlers embark on a sensory journey, combining touch, visual perception, and cognitive development. As their little fingers glide through the salt, they develop fine motor skills and engage their sense of touch in a hands-on sensory experience. They feel the grains of salt, connecting with the material and deepening their understanding of shapes, letters, and the world of literacy. multisensory approach to early literacy. They see the vibrant hues, feel the grains of salt, and even hear the subtle sounds as their fingers trace along the surface.

Through this sensory-rich experience, toddlers absorb knowledge and truly internalize and retain what they learn. It's a beautiful way to stimulate their senses, enhance cognitive development, and foster a lifelong love for learning.

Offering the opportunity to trace letter shapes or numbers and prewriting strokes in the dyed salt adds another layer of engagement and skill development. Toddlers can immerse themselves in the task, feeling the contours and curves of each shape, reinforcing their understanding of symbols and building the foundation for future writing skills.

The beauty of this activity lies in its ability to captivate their attention and make learning an immersive and joyful experience. As they explore the dyed salt, their senses come alive, paving the way for a

Their fingers become familiar with the patterns with each stroke, promoting muscle memory and coordination. It's a beautiful journey where touch and visual perception intertwine, providing a holistic learning experience that transcends the mere act of tracing. Through this captivating activity, they will enhance their literacy skills and develop a deep appreciation for the joy of learning.

Activity 3: Preschool Pathways (Preschoolers)

Preschool is an exciting time of growth and discovery, where little learners take remarkable strides in language acquisition and literacy skills. As we venture into the world of Montessori literacy activities for preschoolers, let's unravel the magic of sandpaper letters.

Imagine a set of letters cut out of sandpaper, affixed onto wooden cards. Each letter is textured, inviting young fingers to explore and trace the shape while simultaneously connecting the sound to the symbol.

With the sandpaper letters in hand, you can embark on a journey of letter recognition and phonics exploration. As they hold each card, encourage them to gently trace the textured letter, feeling the roughness beneath their fingertips while saying the corresponding sound.

their toes. Engage them in conversation, asking how the texture of real sand differs from the sandpaper letters. Encourage them to use descriptive words to articulate the similarities and differences. This real-world connection enhances their sensory understanding and adds a layer of experiential learning to their Montessori journey.

Back at home, as your preschooler engages with the sandpaper letters, they can appreciate the unique tactile experience it offers. The sandpaper's texture provides a multisensory encounter, reinforcing letter recognition while fostering a deeper connection between the symbol and its corresponding sound.

But here's where the magic truly unfolds! Since it's summertime, why not take a beach adventure and compare the sandpaper letters to the real sand they encounter? Plan a trip to the beach and let your preschooler experience the touch and feel of actual sand between

With each tracing of the sandpaper letters, your preschooler takes confident steps toward reading and writing readiness. As their fingers glide over the textured surface, they internalize the shape and sound of each letter, paving the way for future word formation and reading comprehension.

So, on this adventurous path of preschool literacy, let the sandpaper letters be your guide. Combine the captivating touch of sandpaper with the real-life exploration of sand at the beach, and watch as your preschooler's understanding of

Activity 3: Preschool Pathways (Preschoolers)

Preschool is an exciting time of growth and discovery, where little learners take remarkable strides in language acquisition and literacy skills. As we venture into the world of Montessori literacy activities for preschoolers, let's unravel the magic of sandpaper letters.

Imagine a set of letters cut out of sandpaper, affixed onto wooden cards. Each letter is textured, inviting young fingers to explore and trace the shape while simultaneously connecting the sound to the symbol.

With the sandpaper letters in hand, you can embark on a journey of letter recognition and phonics exploration. As they hold each card, encourage them to gently trace the textured letter, feeling the roughness beneath their fingertips while saying the corresponding sound.

But here's where the magic truly unfolds! Since it's summertime, why not take a beach adventure and compare the sandpaper letters to the real sand they encounter? Plan a trip to the beach and let your preschooler experience the touch and feel of actual sand between their toes. Engage them in conversation, asking how the texture of real sand differs from the sandpaper letters. Encourage them to use descriptive words to articulate the similarities and differences. This real-world connection enhances their sensory understanding and adds a layer of experiential learning to their Montessori journey.

Back at home, as your preschooler engages with the sandpaper letters, they can appreciate the unique tactile experience it offers. The sandpaper's texture provides a multisensory encounter, reinforcing letter recognition while fostering a deeper connection between the symbol and its corresponding sound.

With each tracing of the sandpaper letters, your preschooler takes confident steps toward reading and writing readiness. As their fingers glide over the textured surface, they internalize the shape and sound of each letter, paving the way for future word formation and reading comprehension.

So, on this adventurous path of preschool literacy, let the sandpaper letters be your guide. Combine the captivating touch of sandpaper with the real-life exploration of sand at the beach, and watch as your preschooler's understanding of letters and language blossoms like a seashell in the sun.

Activity 4: Splashing into Sight Words (Kindergarteners)

Kindergarten marks a significant milestone in a child's educational journey, where they take their first steps into the world of reading and writing. As we immerse ourselves in the realm of Montessori literacy activities for kindergarteners, let's dive into a delightful and interactive sight word adventure using paper towels, watercolor markers, and spray bottles.

To embark on this watery escapade, you'll need a paper towel roll and a set of vibrant watercolor markers.

Choose a few sight words that your kindergartener is working on and write each word in large, bold letters. (If you have a writing kindergartner, offer for them to write the sight words.)

Now comes the thrilling part! Hand your little one a spray bottle filled with water (you can also use droppers, too) and encourage them to read the sight word and spray it with water.

transforming the paper towel into a magical canvas of color.

Engage in a conversation as they spray each word, asking questions like, "What does this word say?" or "Can you find this word in a sentence?" This interactive experience deepens their connection to sight words, making learning an immersive and memorable adventure.

Through this activity, kindergarteners combine the joy of writing and the excitement of sensory play. They develop fluency in recognizing and reading sight words while honing their fine motor skills through tracing and spraying. It's a hands-on approach that fuels their enthusiasm for literacy and fosters a sense of ownership over their learning journey.

Encourage them to read each sight word aloud before spritzing it with a gentle spray of water. As the water droplets interact with the words, the sight words come to life,

So, get ready to splash into sight words with paper towels, watercolor markers, and spray bottles. Witness the magic unfold as your kindergartener brings words to life through their colorful creations. With every spray and every word they read, they embark on a pathway towards confident reading and a lifelong love for language.

Anya Garcia, the founder of Montessori From The Heart, is an educational coach, a blogger, a digital creator, and an influencer. On Instagram, she built a community with over 400,000 followers where she helps parents utilize the benefits of pivotal sensitive developmental periods from birth to age six. Anya holds a Juris Doctor Degree (J.D.); however, she found her true calling in

Early Childhood Education

and turned from an attorney at law to stay at home mom. She raised both of her children, the Montessori-Way, homeschooling full time until they started kindergarten at a Montessori school. Her passion lies in helping parents, caregivers, and educators to seize the golden age opportunity and uncover the magic of childhood by leveraging the potential of the child's Absorbent Mind.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Activity 1: This activity is part of the Spring Course: Click Here for Link

Activity 2: More details are on the blog: Click Here for Link

Activity 3: This activity is part of the Language Course: Click Here for Link

So there you have it, my fellow adventurers on the Montessori literacy journey! Engaging in these hands-on and playful activities keeps your children's literacy skills sharp and thriving. Remember, the key is to make learning enjoyable, relatable, and accessible. So let your little ones climb the literacy ladder and watch them reach new heights in their educational journey! Happy climbing!

Website: eschool.montessorifromtheheart.com

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Contact: montessorifromtheheart@gmail.com

Activity 4: This activity is part of the Monthly Calendar Kids Activities Plan: Click Here for Link