Cultural studies are an important aspect of the curriculum in every classroom at Keystone Montessori School. Teachers collect and create interesting curriculum materials to teach about the land, cultures, major landmarks, and history.

One classroom of 3-6 year olds is studying Africa. In addition to geography, music, and history, they have done an interesting art project to complement their studies. The Ashante people in Ghana make hand-printed fabrics using Adinkra symbols. Each symbol has a meaning. These symbols may be stamped on fabric, and are also used on pottery and on walls.

Our students used stamps to make their own T-shirts. They used rubber stamps

with stars, trees, and animals to decorate their fabric. These symbols represent love, endurance, and adaptability.

As usual, the hands-on experiences help the children learn about the world in a way that is memorable and enduring.

Children enjoyed the opportunity to see animals up close, and even touch them. Our special guest, Curious Creatures, brought giant tortoise, tarantula, skunk, snakes, and even an alligator!

After talking about the animal, and where it lives, he gave the children a chance to observe and/or touch the animals. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed our visitors!

It is a tradition at Keystone Montessori School, that on Valentine’s Day, the elementary children Drop Everything And Read. Students come to school in pajamas, with some favorite books, a stuffed animal, pillow, and cozy blankets.

They spend the day reading.

It is a treat to spend the whole day reading (with a break for lunch, of course). This year, we invited parents and teachers to drop in and read aloud to children. The students loved this special treat.

Try it at home sometime with your family:  a day of reading. Even designate one evening for reading, and enjoy snuggling up together on the couch, or in the bed, and red (silently or aloud). It’s a real pleasure.

This is a great way for parents to see some of the lessons their children have mastered. Students enjoy the special moment of leadership and the opportunity to teach the material. They prepare by practicing the problem, and their commentary. Of course, they welcome questions from parents.

Here’s a video of the Small Bead Frame Addition. (a bit pixelated, I apologize).

Later in the year, students will offer language lessons to parents at the Elementary Language Expo.

Turkey of gratitude

Each classroom had some special activity and/or feast as part of their Thanksgiving celebrations.  In addition, children talked about what they are thankful for.  Some teachers read either How Full is Your Bucket, or The Secret Stone to help stimulate discussion about gratitude and kindness.

Making Butter

We realized that we have a LOT to be thankful for. We hope you enjoy these pictures from our classroom celebrations.

Room 3 feast

The classroom uses a curriculum from Equal Exchange to experience and discuss issues such as fairness, where food comes from, and our food system. Every Wednesday, the class includes locally-grown produce in their lunch, often sampling something they have never tried before.

During the next week or two, the elementary students will offer Equal Exchange products for sale. They will be taking orders, and the products will be here before the Winter Vacation break.

While children will be selling coffee, tea, chocolates, and other fair-trade products, we hope you will take time to look at the five minute Equal Exchange video. Talk about where your food comes from, and the lives of the many people who work hard (near and far) to bring that food to your table.

We will hand out brochures, with order forms and price information on Monday. For anyone interested, you can view the order form online.

The elementary students decided that any profit from this activity will be donated to the Lowell Wish Project, which will use the funds to provide beds for children in our local communities.

Parents of other children enrolled at Keystone are welcome to order products to support the elementary students. Stop by the reception desk and we’ll show you the order forms.

On a beautiful September afternoon, dozens of children and parents worked together to create a beautiful twelve foot mural in celebration of United Nations International Day of Peace. The mural will be on display at Keystone, and then sent to the Art Miles Project. Together with other art murals from around the world, this will be displayed on the pyramids in Egypt in 2010.

Two guests from Plimoth Plantation visited our classrooms today. Captain Standish and Master Christopher Jones (Commander of the Mayflower) showed how children dressed in colonial days. They also taught our children some songs, and let them play with colonial toys. Children enjoyed trying on the clothing of the colonies. Enjoy a few moments in our classroom with Captain Standish.