Montessori Services Practical Life Activities Review and Giveaway!

The giveaway is now closed. Please see the update right below the Rafflecopter form for the announcement of the winner. And don’t forget to check out Montessori Services for awesome Montessori materials with free shipping in the US on orders of $50 or more throughout March 2012! (Offer not valid for drop-ship items.) To redeem online, enter FREE SHIP 50 in the coupon box during checkout.

It’s Montessori Education Week, a perfect time for a giveaway of $52 worth of practical life materials from Montessori Services! Montessori Services has been a favorite Montessori supplier of mine since I first worked in Montessori schools that purchased many of their materials from Montessori Services.

When I started my own Montessori school in 1980, Montessori Services was the company I ordered rugs, trays, and numerous practical life materials from. When I homeschooled my kids, I used those same materials, still in great condition after eight years of use in my Montessori school.

Whether you’re a Montessori teacher or homeschooler, you’ll find lots and lots of wonderful materials through Montessori Services! While practical life materials of all types have always been a specialty of Montessori Services, you can find everything from books to elementary materials. Parents using Montessori principles at home will find lots to offer through Montessori Services or its partner site, For Small Hands, which specializes in child-size tools and materials for families.

My Impressions of the Spooning and Small Tong Activities

I always loved Montessori Services trays, containers, and utensils …  and these were the usual high quality I expect from Montessori Services. When I opened the spooning and small tong activities for review, it took me approximately 5 minutes to set up all 5 trays. Every utensil, tray, and grain or pompom was included (along with plenty of extra grains and pompoms for refills).

NOTE: For a preschool, it’s best to place the transferring tool vertically between the small containers to enable right- or left-handed children to easily grasp the tool. If you have right-handed children in a homeschool, it works well to place the tool vertically or as pictured.

Spooning Activities from Montessori Services

Spooning Activities

The spooning assortment contains:

• Demi-spoon
• Wooden mustard spoon
• Mini-ladle
• 2 glass bowls
• 2 wooden dishes
• 2 small soufflé dishes
• Clear acrylic tray
• 2 medium-size trays
• Grains to transfer

I couldn’t help but think how cute the split-pea spooning activity would be for St. Patrick’s Day!

Small Tongs Activities from Montessori Services

Small Tongs Activities

The small tong activities set contains:

• Strawberry huller
• Sugar tong
• 2 oyster cups
• 2 lotus dishes
• Clear acrylic tray
• Medium-size tray
• Pom poms and black beans to transfer

I’m impressed with the variety of small and medium trays and small containers in the sets, which can be used for numerous activities of all types. Small and medium trays are often difficult to find, and these are attractive as well as easily stackable for storage. It would be simple to rotate the objects to transfer throughout the year and according to the holiday. These are extremely versatile and useful sets!

Disclosure: I received the spooning activities set and small tongs activities set in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and any opinions expressed are my own. This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Now for the Giveaway:

What You Will Win: 1 lucky winner in the U.S. or Canada will win both the Montessori Services Spooning Activities Set (ARV $32) AND the Small Tong Activities Set (ARV $20)! 

Who is Eligible:

This giveaway is open to anyone 18 and older in the U.S. and Canada. The first entry is mandatory. You must leave a blog post comment telling why you want to win (and be sure to say you did that on the Rafflecopter form)! After you’ve completed your mandatory entry, there are lots of optional entries. You have many chances to win! (Note: For the extra entries, you may count ways of following that you already do. For example, if you previously “liked” Living Montessori Now on Facebook, you may still count that for your “like” Living Montessori Now on Facebook entry!)

It’s easy to enter giveaways with Rafflecopter! Just follow the directions to enter. You must complete the Mandatory Entry to qualify for any additional entries. The giveaway closes 10:01pm MST on Thursday, March 8. Best of luck!
Here’s a 45-second video with quick directions for entering through Rafflecopter:

How to Enter Rafflecopter Giveaways from Rafflecopter on Vimeo.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

UPDATE:

It’s Friday morning, March 9. I enjoyed reading all your comments and really appreciated the 1,217 entries! A winner has been selected using Random.org through Rafflecopter! 

The winner of the Montessori Services Spooning Activities and Small Tongs Activities is Pia from Learning Montessori!

I’m so happy for Pia, who had multiple entries! (Note: Pia, you have 48 hours to respond to my email, or a new winner will be chosen.)

The comment for Pia’s mandatory entry (why she wanted to win) said:

“I always look for simple, quality materials to add to our practical life shelves and montessori services offer just that.”

CONGRATULATIONS, Pia!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH to Montessori Services for sponsoring the giveaway – and thank you to everyone who entered!

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