Robin Work

I had seen this idea on Pinterest a while back and decided it would make a nice spring work.  I cut a piece from our basement carpet scraps and put it in a tray with a small "nest" and some pieces of brown yarn (worms).  We've been noticing all the robins around our yard and Ada can identify them from other birds so I printed off a few google images to reinforce her knowledge- and she loves to "teach" her sister, so it was perfect.  For the record, this is more of a loose interpretation of Montessori, but it works for us.  I love the pictures of the chicks and the eggs.

Sorry- couldn't get this one to rotate.

She pretends she is the mama bird delivering worms to her baby chicks.  We extended this to pretend that we were mama and baby birds.  I got to be the mama, then I was the baby and she would fly around the living room and bring back worms for me.  The best was when Emma joined in but instead of making her beak with her hands over her mouth, she made little clasping hands over her little eyes.  Too cute!  It was a fun time.

I would describe my self as someone who is striving to have a simple, prepared environment for the girls.  But we do not have one of those neat little organized spaces like you will see on some of the Montessori or Waldorf blogs.  But I try.  Another thing that I saw at Ada's school that I loved was the mats used to do work on.  It's a nice visual cue to others that you are doing work, it's contained and I just like it.  The girls do too.  We have one of those little rag rugs that we use (from back in the day of our Maynard house) and a beautiful quilt that was made by a dear Aunt when Ada was born.  They work perfectly.  Emma will pull out a mat and I help her get it layed out.  Sometimes she works just like Ada and does her work, puts it back on the tray and shelf.  Sometimes I help her put it away.  I figure it's all good practice for school.

Here's the beauty in action...

This particular time the mats stopped a serious session of "NO EMMA, THIS IS MY WORK" I sometimes let them work it out on their own.  Sometimes I intervene, and this time I simply put out the other mat and put the stacking blocks on top.  Then, instant quiet and play.  LOVE!