Practical Life in the Toddler Environment Angela Roberts, Toddler Director Nora Faris, PhD,...

Practical Life in the Toddler Environment

Angela Roberts, Toddler DirectorNora Faris, PhD, Associate Head of SchoolThe Montessori School, Chattanooga, TN

Purposes for Practical Life

• Allow toddlers to develop independence & skills that they can use to function in their classroom and home environments

• Lessons should be practical, purposeful, and designed to build focus

• Provide toddlers with the opportunity to develop good work habits, understand order, gain a sense of accomplishment

Guidelines for Toddler Practical Life

• The children choose any lesson that they have been shown

• Toddlers can work the lessons as long as they want to

• The children need to use the lesson for its intended purpose

• Young toddlers may work the lesson where they desire (shelf, floor, rug)

Two-Year CurriculumYear A Academic Year B Academic

Planes, Trains, AutomobilesVegetablesPetsCare of SelfChildren of the WorldBeachZoo Animals

Specialized Vehicles, BoatsCommunity HelpersClothing/Dress for SeasonsBirdsFarmFruitBugs

Seasonal Studies

August Back to SchoolSeptember Tree, Acorn, AppleOctober Bats, Owls & PumpkinsNovember ThanksgivingJanuary Snowmen & SnowFebruary Hearts & Valentine’s

March Clovers & St Pat’s DayApril Bunnies & SpringMay Flowers June Summer July America & 4th of July

Preliminary Exercises

• Object transfer• Removal and Replacement of lids• Pouring• Folding• Carrying a tray

Care of Environment

• Watering plants• Sorting (silverware, keys)• Scrubbing animal, vegetables• Sweeping• Dusting

Care of Self

• Dressing frames• Wiping nose• Brushing hair• Putting shoes on/taking off• Brushing teeth• Washing hands• Changing clothes

Grace & Courtesy Lessons

• Greetings• Social Conventions• Table Manners• Talking quietly

Food Preparation

• Naming• Slicing• Peeling• Spreading• Chopping• Juicing• Using napkins• Cleaning up after eating

Gross Movement

• Fold nap blankets• Carry baskets• Animal Walks• Wider balance beam/railroad tie• Shaking a parachute• Balance bean bag on different parts of the

body• Ball blast game

Fine Movement

• Mixing & sorting beans• Spooning• Tonging• Pouring• Finger transfer

Resources

• For Small Hands Catalog-age appropriate kitchen tools, cleaning tools, etc.)

• Plan Toys-natural wood toys for language activities, food prep lessons, general practical life).

• Seasonal items (i.e., erasers, large pencil toppers, wooden objects) from places like Target, Walmart, and Hobby Lobby, Oriental Trading, and Michaels.