Trees and Leaves

For a college assignment we had to make our own Maths material and I was stuck for ideas so I went searching for something simple but aesthetically appealing and I found this exercise on My Montessori Journey! I changed it slightly though to include a "0" tree. Just to coincide with the time of year I used green leaves for my presentation. 

 

I love it when it is all laid out! For further extensions of the exercise I made Autumn coloured  leaves...

...and also apple trees!!

This means that the exercise will be kept appealing as it can be changed with the changing seasons! I got the tree template here. It is important that when the child moves onto Maths that their ability to count to and recognise 1-10 is well cemented. There are 55 leaves/apples, the exact amount needed to complete the exercise. If the child has too much or too little leaves left over, they will be able to see for themselves that they went wrong somewhere and will be able to correct themselves...(auto-education and control of error).  It can sometimes happen that the child can move onto the teens too quickly so having extra exercises like this to go along with the 1-10 Montessori materials, such as, the Spindle Box, the Number Rods, Sandpaper Numerals, Cut-out Numerals and Counters etc. really helps to lay that strong foundation. I've done this activity with a few children. It requires alot of concentration on the child's part but its well worth to see the sense achievement they feel when they complete it!! Also I noted with my own nephew how precisely he placed the leaves, right at the edge of the branches!

Here it is ready for the shelf (minus the tray again!!) This exercise would be worked with on a mat on the floor. Alot of Montessori materials are worked with on mats

Addition Jigsaws & Pegs

I got this idea from a friend of mine and I've seen this activity in the classroom. The jigsaw pieces are from Penneys and the pegs are from a local pound shop. I love the colourful pegs and the children seem to love them too. I know the pegs will come in handy for different exercises too!

One of the reasons I like these jigsaws is because they have their own in built control of error (as most Montessori materials should have), you can notice that each piece has a different shaped edge and only the correct answer will fit into the sum. I know its not your typical Montessori addition exercise but its something a bit different and I've seen the children spend time using it.

Here it is in a basket, ready for the shelf. The box of jigsaws also comes with subtraction jigsaws.