Lesson plans are meant to be flexible for adjustments and substitutions as I incorporate the Reggio Emilia philosophy of nurturing children’s interests through deeper understanding; I do this by observation of interests as they play, work with Montessori materials, and participate in learning activities. I use these observations to facilitate new (previously unplanned) activities and materials for topics they have expressed an interest in. After the month has been completed, a workbook with the lesson plans that were done is emailed to parents along with a summary of the child’s experiences, work samples, and how they met learning and socio-emotional objectives.
August 2019
Our monthly learning theme is based on the book by ABC Mindful Me by Christiane Engel. Along with learning about family, friendship, health, and feelings, the month is filled with mindfulness activities with fun, active learning.
Parent/family participation activities are emailed separately and are highlighted in green.
| Week 1: My Family | Me | Parents and siblings | Grandparents | Aunts and Uncles | Self-Directed |
| Monday 8/5 | Tuesday 8/6 | Wednesday 8/7 | Thursday 8/8 | Friday 8/9 | |
| Circle and Story Time | Children choose | Story: Mixed | ABC Mindful Me: C is for Compassion – The Pout Pout Fish | Story: Bear’s Busy Family | Avalon Summer Swim Party – supervised water play all day! |
| Nature-based Learning | Self-Directed | ||||
| STEM | ABC Mindful Me: A is for awareness – nature walk | ABC Mindful Me: B is for Breath – blowing bubbles | ABC Mindful Me: D is for Dreams – building a dream catcher | ABC Mindful Me: E is for Energy – high and low / excited and calm | |
| Recess 101 and Sports | Red light, Green Light | Basketball throwing and catching | Hide and Seek | Soccer | |
| Music and Theater | Piano: white and black keys games, finger positions on keys. Song and movement: Hands Hands, Fingers Toes | ||||
| Arts and Crafts | Triangle Picture, Circle Handprint, Rectangle Footprint | Birthday celebration | Family Tree | Family Tree | |
| Week 2: My Friends | Making friends | Kindness | Conflict | Sharing | Self-Directed |
| Monday 8/12 | Tuesday 8/13 | Wednesday 8/14 | Thursday 8/15 | Friday 8/16 | |
| Circle and Story Time | Adventures of Frog and Toad | Adventures of Frog and Toad | Adventures of Frog and Toad | Adventures of Frog and Toad | Adventures of Frog and Toad |
| Nature-based Learning | Self-Directed | ||||
| STEM | Partner Projects | ABC Mindful Me: G is for Giving – donation of fruit | ABC Mindful Me: H is for Helpful – working in the garden together | ABC Mindful Me: I is for Inspire: painting with nature | Full Day of the Montessori and Reggio Emilia Programs |
| Recess 101 and Sports | Nature Walk | 4-square | T-ball and catch | ABC Mindful Me: J is for Joy – playing with balloons | |
| Music and Theater | Piano: white and black keys games, finger positions on keys. Song and movement: Hands Hands, Fingers Toes | ||||
| Arts and Crafts | ABC Mindful Me: F is for Feelings – painting rock faces | Art free time | Calming sensory bottles | Art free time | |
| Week 3: My Health | Nutrition | Five Senses | Body | Clothing | Self-Directed |
| Monday 8/19 | Tuesday 8/20 | Wednesday 8/21 | Thursday 8/22 | Friday 8/23 | |
| Circle and Story Time | Story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar | Interactive Story: Goldilocks and the Three Bears | Children choose | Children choose | Children choose |
| Nature-based Learning | Self-Directed | ||||
| STEM | ABC Mindful Me: K is for Kindness: animal care (feeding and water) | ABC Mindful Me: M is for Meditation – sounds and sight | ABC Mindful Me: O is for Outdoors – outdoor play and exploration | ABC Mindful Me: Q is for Quiet – loud and quiet games | Full Day of the Montessori and Reggio Emilia Programs |
| Recess 101 and Sports | Red light, Green Light | Basketball throwing and catching | Hide and Seek | Soccer | |
| Music and Theater | Piano: Forte (loud) and Piano (soft) game. / Song: If You’re Happy And You Know It… | ||||
| Arts and Crafts | ABC Mindful Me: L is for Love – picture collage of food we love! | ABC Mindful Me: N is for Namaste | ABC Mindful Me: P is for Present – creating a mandala (circle of patterns) | ABC Mindful Me: R is for Relaxation – music and free style art | |
| Week 4: My Feelings | Happy and Sad | Excited and Worried | Anger and Love | (END OF UNIT) | Self-Directed |
| Monday 8/26 | Tuesday 8/27 | Wednesday 8/28 | Thursday 8/29 | Friday 8/30 | |
| Circle and Story Time | Story: Winnie the Pooh | Story: Winnie the Pooh | Story: The Small Pig | Children choose | 1-on-1 assessments |
| Nature-based Learning | Self-Directed | ||||
| STEM | ABC Mindful Me: S is for Sleep – making a knot blanket for resting | ABC Mindful Me: U is for Universe – Cat in the Hat Outerspace story | ABC Mindful Me: W is for Walk – observation using our senses | ABC Mindful Me: Y is for Yoga – concentration and balance | Full Day of the Montessori and Reggio Emilia Programs |
| Recess 101 and Sports | Nature Walk | 4-square | T-ball and catch | Par Cor Gymnastics | |
| Music and Theater | Piano: Forte (loud) and Piano (soft) game. / Song: If You’re Happy And You Know It… | ||||
| Arts and Crafts | ABC Mindful Me: T is for Thankfulness – what makes us happy – picture | ABC Mindful Me: V is for Vegetables – working in our veggie garden | ABC Mindful Me: X is for X Marks the Spot – geocache in backyard | ABC Mindful Me: Z is for Zen – creating zen tool boxes | |
Avalon Childcare and Preschool 