GTMS Life > News May 4, 2022

PADM: Blossoming in Spring

Hellp PADM Families! We are so excited about the new season and all the beautiful blooming nature that surrounds us. Nature is an important part of a Montessori environment- even one in the middle of a city center such as ours. We are fortunate to be in a tree-lined neighborhood with many opportunities to experience […]

Hellp PADM Families!

We are so excited about the new season and all the beautiful blooming nature that surrounds us.

Nature is an important part of a Montessori environment- even one in the middle of a city center such as ours. We are fortunate to be in a tree-lined neighborhood with many opportunities to experience nature firsthand. Additionally, in keeping with Montessori philosophy, we bring nature into the building as much as we can. As with all material in the classroom, we offer the children many hands-on experiences with elements from nature. In this blog post, we will share some of the ways we have been introducing nature this month.

Observation of natural objects

This month, we talked about Elk Neck State Park and observed rocks and driftwood. The children were invited to look closely with a magnifying glass and to explore gently with their hands. There were photos and a pamphlet of local wildflowers and trees for the children to compare.

Herb Grinding

We also introduced an herb grinding work. The children use a mortar and pestle to grind lavender, chamomile, and spearmint. We hope to eventually have enough to use as part of a tea making work in the future. The children have enjoyed grinding and the sensory experience of smelling the fragrant herbs as they are being crushed.

Flower Arranging

We always have flower arranging work available. This is possible because each week a different family brings in a beautiful bouquet for the children to use. This is a classic example of a Montessori practical life material. The child selects a flower, a vase, and a doily then measures the flowers and trims them as needed to fit in their vase of choice. They can then decorate our space with fresh flowers! It’s a beautiful way to develop practical skills and refine their aesthetic sense.

Exploring Nature at Sister Cities

We are so lucky to be so close to Sister Cities. The park is designed to emulate the environment that surrounds the Wissihickon Creek. As such, there are native trees, bushes, and plants that attract pollinators and birds. Our weekly excursions offer us a chance to observe the way the local flora and fauna respond to the seasons. Recently, the park has been transformed from a log-filled playscape to a manmade pond. Since the change, the children have enjoyed watching leaves float, pretending to fish, attempting to skip rocks, and so much more.

Springtime Haikus at Logan Circle

One lovely Friday afternoon, Ms. Allison, Ms. Maggie, and the Kindergartners took a walk to Logan Circle to observe the signs of spring around us- the tulips blooming, the sun shining, the fountain spraying, etc. We took that inspiration and wrote springtime haikus. The profound poems the Ks wrote further inspired us to create a whole class project! Each child in Primary ADM was invited to write a haiku about spring. We plan to compile them into a book that will be sold at the auction.

Keep your eyes peeled!

Special Kindergarten Opportunities

Sunflowers: The Kindergarteners have been tending to their sunflowers this month and soon will be repotting them to take home!

Tree Tending with Ms. Erika: The Ks had an opportunity to do some tree tending right around the corner from the GTMS North campus. Ms. Erika showed them how to loosen the soil and add mulch to keep the young trees healthy.

Neighborhood Clean Up for Earth Day: On Earth Day, the Ks helped our environment by collecting litter around our block. Using plastic tongs, they collected debris on the sidewalk. While cleaning up our neighborhood, they all remarked on how much trash we found in a small area and how much they wished people would be more careful with their garbage.

We hope you have enjoyed seeing the ways we have been incorporating nature and the coming of this new season. To close us out, please take a peek at a few more shots of the children in the classroom and at recess!

Thanks for taking a peek into our classroom this past month!

Before we sign off, we’d like to share some important dates coming up!

Dates to remember:

  • 5/20 (6:00-10:00)– GTMS Auction at Victory Brewing Company PURCHASE TICKETS HERE: https://e.givesmart.com/events/mYu/
  • 5/27 (11:45)– WHOLE SCHOOL EARLY DISMISSAL
  • 5/30 (All Day)– NO SCHOOL
  • 6/16 (All Day)– Last Day of School (REGULAR DISMISSAL)
  • 6/17 (10:00)– K Recognition Ceremony- Kindergartners arrive at GTMS North from 8-9 am
  • 6/20 (All Day)– NO SCHOOL
  • 6/21 (All Day)– First Day of Bridge Camp at the East Campus (2121 Arch St)

THANKS!

Ms. Allison, Ms. Maggie, Ms. Danielle, Ms. Diana, Ms. Jamie, Ms. Kate, and Ms. Kelly

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