Lesson Ideas

The Hidden Lessons in Puzzle Play; Shape, Space, and Skill

Jul 1, '25

Adding puzzles to the shelves of the classroom promotes the development of shape recognition, improves fine motor movement and teaches problem solving.  Shape RecognitionPuzzles vary is size and shape. Some include actual recognizable shapes like squares, circles, and triangles, while others connect in more abstract ways. No matter how the pieces...

Puzzle Power: Building Brains, One Piece at a Time

Jun 24, '25

In early childhood, puzzles are more than just play, they’re a hands-on, brain-building bonanza. In a Montessori environment, puzzles are thoughtfully chosen, beautifully made, and purposefully placed across the classroom to support all areas of development. They help children refine their sense of order, develop spatial awareness, strengthen fine motor...

Curiosity in Action; Montessori and the Magic of STEAM

Jun 17, '25

In a Montessori classroom, science isn’t just a subject, it’s a way of seeing the world. Dr. Maria Montessori believed that even the youngest children are natural scientists, full of curiosity and ready to explore. When we introduce STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) to toddlers and preschoolers, we’re...

Rotate, Refresh, Repeat: Making the Most of Toddler Play

Jun 3, '25

Welcome to this month’s edition of Toddler Tuesdays! Today, we’re looking at ways to keep toddlers engaged without constantly giving them new toys and materials. One day, your toddler is stacking the same blocks over and over but then the next day, they won’t even look at them! While it...