This year long series looks at the experiences of teachers, parents, students, and Montessori education itself, as we follow a student through his first year at a Montessori Preschool. The Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year is a collection of useful stories, tips, and information that has arisen from one real student’s Montessori journey, viewed through the eyes of his Montessori Teacher, Bree Von Nes.

Montessori Moments: Insects and Creativity
My Montessori preschool students have been showing so much interest in insects over the past couple of weeks and consequently I have been trying to integrate our insect theme into every curriculum area. Jordan has been refining his fine motor control by using tongs to transfer flies into a ceramic frog and he loves the new “cards and counters” activity which I placed on the shelf – it is so much fun to watch him carefully order the Number Cards 1 to 10 and then carefully count out the corresponding amount of wooden ladybugs below each numeral.

Today, I observed a four year old Montessori student self-initiate an art project which showed great concentration and knowledge on his part.

First, he organized a tray with two pencil crayons as well as the circle frame from the metal inset stand. He then found a large piece of paper from the art shelf and took everything to a table. He carefully traced the circle frame 3 times, one on top of the other (like a snowman). Next he drew two antennae, six legs, two eyes, a mouth, and interesting decorations. I continued observing him and to my delight he asked one of the Montessori kindergarten students to help him label the body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. He then cut out his insect, taped on some string, and swayed it side to side to make it fly. The look on his face was priceless… a self-initiated masterpiece!