Practical Life Activities for Valentine's Day
Variations Using Hearts and Colors in the Montessori Classroom
Feb 9, 2009
The Practical Life area of the Montessori classroom provides the foundation for the learning throughout the rest of the classroom. Reengage the children in this area with fun twists for Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day Colors
The colors mainly associated with Valentine's Day are red, pink, white, purple, and magenta. Incorporate all of these colors into the Practical Life area. Choose dishes and trays in these colors. Use colored water. Take time to sort through the general stash of beads and pompoms and isolate these colors in clear, white, or wooden containers. Pour the beads and water back and forth. Use a variety of tools to transfer them. Use Valentine’s Day colors in fuse bead activities.
Heart Shapes
Now is the time to break out all of those hear-shaped bowls, trays, beads, and plastic ice cubes. If the containers are heart-shaped, then simply use plain beads or water. Use a mix of heart shapes and Valentine's Day colors for variety. Put out heart-shaped fuse bead trays.
Stringing and Sewing
Children can practice their sewing skills starting with simply stringing heart-shaped beads or Valentine's Day-colored beads. Look for a heart-shaped sewing card. If you cannot locate one, make your own by laminating a piece of thick cardstock or paper cut in a heart-shape. Punch holes along the edge. Sew heart-shaped buttons onto a piece of felt. Sew together heart-shaped pieces of felt or other material to make a tiny pillow. Draw a heart-shaped pattern for the child to follow or embroider.
Folding and Rolling
Practice towel-folding by providing small colorful towels and washcloths. Fold Valentine's Day-themed clothing. Practice rolling red, pink, and purple napkins and put on napkin rings. Match and roll colorful, thematic socks.
Clipping
Use thematically-colored clothespins to attach to a basket. Clip them to a heart-shaped basket or bowl. Han Valentine’s Day socks on a mini clothesline.
Find paper clips that are topped with a heart to clip onto a few sheets of white or pink paper. Use plain or colored regular paper clips to clip along the edge of a heart-shaped laminated piece of tag board or cardstock.
Polishing
Find small wooden hearts at a crafts store. Polish them with lotion or petroleum jelly. Polish glass heart paperweights, bowls, or mirrors with white vinegar. Scrub plastic hearts with Ivory soap and a toothbrush.
Flower Arranging
Roses speak of love. Ideally the children should have access to real long-stemmed roses, de-thorned, in white, pink, and red, with Baby’s Breath. As these tend to be expensive, though, colorful carnations or silk roses can be used. Children can arrange the bunch in a larger vase, or cut down longer stems to fill bud vases around the room.
Food Preparation
Spice up the food preparation area by changing the serving plates and trays. Look for red and pink food preparation ideas here.
Use these Valentine’s Day-themed ideas to draw children back to the Practical Life area. Help them reengage in the foundation that will lead to success throughout the rest of the classroom and in life.
 |
 |
