Happy Groundhog Day! I already published my post with lots of Groundhog Day Activities for Your Classroom or Homeschool. It isn’t too late to decide on an activity or activities to have some extra fun today! Now, on to my thank-you post!

From my Google Analytics report for January 2012

Thank you to all my referrers!

Top 10 Referring Sites (Not counting sites like Facebook, Networked Blogs, Pinterest, Google, Twitter, Blogger, and Stumble Upon)

1. Leptir

2. PreK + K Sharing

3. No Time for Flash Cards

4. 1+1+1=1

5. Early Education with Antek and Kuba

6. My Montessori MOMents

7. Imagination Soup

8. The Princess and the Tot

9. Toddler Approved

10. Peaceful Parenting

Thank you to all my readers!

Top 10 Visited Posts

1. Free Montessori Materials Online

2. Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Winter Activities

3. How to Set Up a Montessori Homeschool Classroom

4. Montessori Practical Life Activities

5. Montessori-Inspired Arctic and Antarctic Unit

6. How to Set Up a Montessori Preschool Classroom at Home

7. Montessori Monday – Inexpensive and DIY Movable Alphabets

8. Top 10 Montessori Principles for Natural Learning

9. Montessori Monday – Inexpensive and DIY Sandpaper Letters

10. How to Prepare a Montessori Baby Room

Thank you for helping the American Heart Association

Thank you to Jamie Reimer who organized the project, to the bloggers who contributed, and to everyone who’s donated to the American Heart Association and received a gift of The Heart Project eBook or printed book. Over 70 kid bloggers, including me, from around the world contributed to a beautiful book with 100+ heart-related photographs and projects. By simply donating $5 to the American Heart Association in February, you’ll receive your own copy of this awesome book!

Thank you to Mom Blogger eBook Contributors!

Thank you to the mom bloggers and Montessori teachers (“Moms to Many”) who submitted wonderful Montessori activities and ideas for the free eBook Mom Bloggers Talk Montessori: Favorite Ideas and Activities! And thank you to John Bowman, author of Montessori at Home, for all his work in putting the book together! If you haven’t gotten your free eBook yet, be sure to click on the image to find out how to get your copy!

Thank you for photo permissions!

Thank you to the wonderful bloggers who have given me permission to use your photos in my posts (with credit to you, a link to your post, and a comment letting you know I’m using your photo, of course)! If you haven’t seen my request for permissions, here’s a link to my post: Request for Montessori Photo Permissions.

If I may have permission to use photos from your blog, please let me know! Although I use Montessori photos most often, I also link to posts with crafts, art projects, and educational activities (especially unit studies posts with family activities). If you have posts with similar activities, I’d really appreciate photo permissions for them. I love that the photos add to the post content and also bring attention to your link.

Thank you to link-up participants!

Thank you to everyone who links up and to everyone who reads and comments on the Montessori Monday posts! I always enjoy seeing the ideas that are linked up each week, and I appreciate the encouragement you give to each other in using Montessori education at home or school.

Thank you to everyone who links up and/or visits the participants in my Family-Friendly Giveaway Linky (which you can link up with at any time but is refreshed and has outdated links removed each Sunday)!

Thank you to my sponsors!

My sponsors all have products I wish would have been around when I had a Montessori preschool and when I homeschooled my children!

Thank you to Montessori Print Shop, who has free printables (including a new free Montessori material released each month), beautiful yet inexpensive printables, a wonderful blog, and lots of great information and resources (see all the drop-down menus at the top of the page)! For more information, read my Sponsor Spotlight – Montessori Print Shop. And be sure to check out the Montessori Print Shop bundle that goes along with the Montessori at Home e-book. Montessori Print Shop is offering $60.49 worth of Montessori materials for $19.95 to everyone who purchases the Montessori at Home! Materials Bundle!

Montessori Compass is a software application to help Montessori teachers and schools (preschool-grade 5) keep records and communicate with parents easily and efficiently. It gives parents a personalized connection with the Montessori classroom. Montessori Compass is offering a 60-day free trial for my readers when you use the promo code LivingMontessoriNow! For more information about Montessori Compass, formerly MontessoriBuddy, read the MontessoriBuddy Sponsor Spotlight.

Thank you to Total Yearbooks, who has competitive pricing (including bulk pricing) for yearbooks for homeschools, sports teams, preschools, and other schools as well as books for sports memories, graduations, weddings, baby memories, and more. The yearbooks can easily be put together online through templates ready to go. You also have the option to upload a PDF or jpgs created with digital scrapbooking software and print books through Total Yearbooks! For more information, read my Total Yearbooks Sponsor Spotlight.

Thank you to John Bowman and Montessori at Home, with the newly revised eBook Montessori at Home: The Complete Guide to Doing Montessori Early Learning Activities at Home, and the condensed version in paperback Help Your Preschooler Build a Better Brain: Early Learning Activities for 2-6 Year Old Children. In the e-book, you get over 250 Montessori early-learning activities for use at home with 3-7 yr. olds. Read my review of Montessori at Home for more information.

Thank you to my newest sponsor, Maestro Classics, who has award-winning CDs that introduce children to classical music through stories. Each CD is performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel; Peter and the Wolf; Tortoise and the Hare; My Name is Handel; Juanita the Spanish Lobster; Swan Lake; Casey at the Bat; Sorcerer’s Apprentice; and Juanita la langosta! Maestro Classics offers Special Packages, Educational Materials, and Kids Club!

Thank you to Jessica from Keys of the Universe, who sponsored a wonderful giveaway in January: Half Off Keys of the Universe Elementary Montessori Training ($150 Value) OR 2 Montessori Elementary Albums ($90 Value)!

Thank you to Kids Can Do It, who sponsored my latest giveaway of 5 award-winning character books for elementary kids written by Sandra McLeod Humphrey!

Thank you to my affiliates!

Please check out my products page for my affiliates, who have wonderful products! I only become an affiliate for companies with products I believe in. I really appreciate if you go through my affiliate links when you’re ordering because I’ll receive a small commission. It won’t affect your order or prices in any way (unless you go through a discount link of mine and receive a better price than normal!)

I’m an affiliate for My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software, iTunes, App Store, Hearth Song, Magic Beans, Melissa & Doug, Plow & Hearth, Problem Solvers, Christian Book, Inspire 4 Less, and Barnes and Noble.

Thank you to my affiliate My Memories, who sponsored the giveaway in August of My Memories Suite 2.0 digital scrapbooking software and continues to offer a special My Memories coupon code for all my readers (and your friends and family). If you use the coupon code STMMMS48784 at My Memories upon checkout, you’ll receive a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store – a $20 value!

Thanks again, everyone! Have a fun Groundhog Day and a fabulous February!

I’m excited to be a contributor for a wonderful book and cause – The Heart Project eBook and printed book created as a fundraiser for the American Heart Association! The collaborative project was the brainchild of Jamie Reimer from hands on : as we grow in honor of a very special little girl.

Jamie brought together over 70 bloggers to create a beautiful book with 100+ heart-related projects. There are projects to create, cook, play with and display in your home! Thanks so much to Jamie for all her work in making this project come to life!

By making a donation to the American Heart Association, you’ll receive this amazing collection of photographed heart projects from bloggers all over the world. Please join us in our efforts to raise $1000 for the AHA by Valentine’s Day!

Sneak Peak Inside The Heart Project Book:

Turning Valentine Crafts into Montessori-Oriented Activities

Make a donation to the American Heart Association and receive The Heart Project eBook as a gift!

eBook: US $5. Make a donation of $5 to the American Heart Association and receive The Heart Project eBook as a free gift! (Note: the book is only available for donation through February.)

Beautifully Printed 8.5 x 8.5″ Version:  US $20. $5 of every book sold will be donated to the American Heart Association!

Donate:  If you’d like to make an extra donation to the American Heart Association (or a donation without receiving the book), please click the yellow donate button below. Every bit helps!

Money Donated:

Bonus donation:

Craftprojectideas.com is contributing $1 for every eBook sold this month! So, in addition to your $5 donation, Craftprojectideas.com will donate another $1 on your behalf (up to $500)!

Please stop by the Craftprojectideas.com Facebook page and tell them thank you for being so generous!

Giveaways

Giveaways are happening every day from now until the 14th! Be sure to check them all out! These giveaways are from Heart Project bloggers who are generously donating their projects from the eBook or something related to their heart project.

There are also special giveaways from Melissa & Doug, Fudoo Boards and CraftProjectIdeas.com. Check back each day to enter that day’s giveaways!

Fundraiser Auctions:

Melissa & Doug - 4 Trunki with Teddy Bear Auctions!

• Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10

• Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10

• Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10

• Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10

Fudoo Boards -3 Fudoo Board Kits for Auction!

• Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10

• Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10

• Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10

Contributing Bloggers:

Thanks so much for making a difference!

I’m a fan of using special events to add some fun to your classroom or homeschool. Last March, I had a post with lots of calendar resources for creating special events based on the date: Enliven Your Homeschool with Some Calendar Fun. It’ll be Groundhog Day on February 2, and that’s a perfect holiday for adding some fun activities to your classroom or homeschool.

Kids’ Groundhog Day Activities Pinterest Board

I have a Kids’ Groundhog Day Activities Pinterest Board filled with activities of all types for a number of ages and levels. Plan a Groundhog Day celebration, or just add an activity your students or child would enjoy. If you have a homeschool, your child can even help you pick out the activity or activities.

Montessori-Inspired Groundhog Day

Since Groundhog Day is typically only celebrated for one day, it might seem like too much work to create a special activity tray for a preschooler. For a one-day homeschool event, I recommend keeping things simple unless you’d enjoy planning a more elaborate event. And you may always keep an activity out longer than one day if you wish, especially if your child enjoys the activity.

If you’re creating a hands-on activity tray using a printable, you could just use thick, glossy photo paper rather than laminating the activity. If there won’t be a tremendous amount of use, it saves the time and expense of lamination. After Groundhog’s Day, you can save the activity for another year when you might find a way to extend the activity for a higher level if needed.

Have fun!
Linked with The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions at Milk and Cuddles and Crystal & Co. and Thrifty Thursday

Heart Pin Punching (Photo from Leptir)

It’s time to prepare some Montessori-inspired Valentine’s Day activities! Fortunately, there are already lots of 2012 Valentine’s Day resources available. Here I’ll be listing posts from 2012 (and from 2011 after my last year’s post was published). I’m adding to this post throughout the season.

Montessori-Inspired Valentine’s Day Printables

Valentine's Day Cards and Booklet (Image from Montessori Print Shop)

Montessori Print Shop has Valentine’s Day materials available for purchase.

My Heart Counting Book 1-10 (Image from Montessori Workjobs)

Montessori Workjobs has a free 1-10 Valentine Heart Counting Book.

Montessori-Inspired Activities

I had a post from last year with lots of helpful resources: Activity of the Week – Montessori-Inspired Valentine’s Day Activities.

Last week’s Montessori-Inspired Kindness post has some activities that work well for Valentine’s Day.

Bead-and-Pipe-Cleaner Addition Activity

I have Montessori-Inspired Bead-and-Pipe-Cleaner Valentine Math Activities.

Montessori-Inspired Valentine's Day Math Activity (Photo from Leptir)

Leptir has Valentine’s Day Activities (4 – Photo at the top of this post) and Valentine’s Day Activities (5).

Valentine's Day Sensory Bin (Photo from 1+1+1=1)

1+1+1=1 has a Valentine’s Day sensory bin along with printables that can be made into hands-on activity trays. There’s also a link in the post to heart-themed tot trays.

The Iowa Farmer’s Wife has a Valentine’s Day sensory bucket.

Valentine's Day Water Bead Transfer (Photo from Jada Roo Can Do)

Jada Roo Can Do has water bead sensory play and transfer.

Adventures in Family has Montessori-inspired Valentine’s trays.

Valentine's Day Writing Activity (Photo from Barefoot in Suburbia)

Mama of Many Blessings has Valentine’s Day activity trays and practical life.

About a Girl has Lovehearts Art.

Mama to 4 Blessings has a post with Valentine’s activities and crafts, including a special activity with heart-shaped chocolate boxes.

Barefoot in Suburbia has a number of Valentine’s Day activities, including Valentine’s Day handwriting work.

The Preschool Experiment has a number of Valentine’s Day activity trays and a Valentine’s Day sensory bin.

Kids’ Valentine’s Day Activities Pinterest Board

I have a Kids’ Valentine’s Day Pinterest board with lots of Valentine’s Day crafts and activities. They aren’t necessary Montessori-inspired activities, although many can be turned into hands-on activity trays.

Are you planning any Montessori-inspired Valentine’s Day activities?

Montessori Monday Link-Up

If you have some Montessori activity trays/lessons to share, please link up below. It’s fine to link up a post from your archives – and you may link up anytime during the week! Please place the Montessori Monday button (using the code from the right sidebar) in your post or put a link back to this post.

Thanks for participating! (Note: If you have a giveaway on your blog, please add it to my Family-Friendly Giveaway Linky Page!)

Linked to AfterSchool Linky Party, Pinterest Tuesday, The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions at Milk and Cuddles and Crystal & Co. , What’s on the Tray Wednesday, Thrifty Thursday, Living Life Intentionally Linky Party, Preschool Corner, Fun Stuff Fridays, Show-and-Share Saturday, Link & Learn, and The Sunday Showcase at Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas and Classified: Mom.  

Study of Claude Monet (Photo by Julie at The Adventures of Bear)

Even though I’m definitely drawing/painting-challenged, art appreciation is one of my favorite subjects to teach. Montessori education has wonderful ideas and resources for helping children develop an appreciation of art from the earliest age.

Montessori principles encourage parents to expose children to fine art from birth on. Dr. Montessori wanted parents and teachers to provide famous artists’ works hung at eye level for the child to learn a natural appreciation of art. A Montessori home or classroom is specially prepared to bring order and beauty into the child’s environment as well as give opportunities for children to enjoy their own individual art expression.

Montessori Ideas on Art Appreciation

Montessori Philosophy and Practice: 1-3 years – Art from Michael Olaf

Montessori Philosophy and Practice: Age 3-6+ years – Art from Michael Olaf

Art and Montessori from Birth to Age 12 from Michael Olaf

Why Should Children Study Art? from Montessori for Everyone

Studying Artists and Their Works in the Montessori Classroom from North American Montessori Center

Montessori Art from Muddle Puddle Home Education

Montessori Mama on Making and Teaching Art at The Artful Parent

Celma Perry on “Art Appreciation in the Montessori Early Childhood Classroom”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Montessori Art Appreciation Materials

Free artist cards from Montessori Materials

Free Montessori Art Cards For Homeschoolers from That Resource Site

Child-Size Masterpieces by Aline D. Wolf (available for purchase … the art appreciation materials I used in my Montessori school and my family used and loved)

“Child-Size Masterpieces for Art Appreciation”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Emotions in Art Lessons (Photo from Montessori Workjobs)

Montessori Art Appreciation (free emotions in art cards) from Montessori Workjobs

Michelangelo Art Book (Image from Montessori Print Shop)

Artist Cards (available for purchase) from Montessori Print Shop

Artist Cards (available for purchase) from Montessori for Everyone

Art Appreciation Materials (available for purchase) from Montessori Services

Free Downloads: Montessori Art Cards and Art Appreciation from Affordable Montessori Homeschool Resources and Free Downloads

World’s Greatest Artists Unit Study (free printable) from Confessions of a Homeschooler (great printable that would be very useful in an art appreciation unit)

Essential Materials for the Montessori Art Curriculum by Andrea Coventry at Yahoo Voices and Touch the Art Board Books Article by Andrea Coventry at Children’s Books @ Suite 101

Montessori-Inspired Art Appreciation Activities

A Montessori Approach to Homeschool Art (what my family did)

Art Appreciation Posts from The Adventures of Bear (Photo at the top of this post from Artists and Art – Claude Monet)

Art Appreciation at Home (Photo from The Montessori Child at Home)

Art at Home from The Montessori Child at Home

Project Montessori at Home: Displaying Art from Carrots Are Orange

Toddler Art Appreciation from Little Red Farm

John James Audubon, Astronomy: Van Gogh, Mozart & Mother Goose, Children’s Art Gallery, and A. A. Milne: Winnie the Pooh from Pirate Ships and Sealing Wax

Picasso Study (Photo from Living Life Intentionally)

Picasso and Famous Artist: Monet from Living Life Intentionally

Artist Posts from Little Acorns

Cubism (Photo from United Montessori Association)

Art: Cubism to Quilt from United Montessori Association

Artist Baskets from Montessori Mama

Art Appreciation in a Montessori Classroom from Montessori Plus School

Montessori Art History Lessons from American Montessori Consulting

Have you prepared an environment and/or activities for teaching art appreciation?

Linked to AfterSchool Linky Party, Living Life Intentionally Linky Party, Pinterest Tuesday, The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions at Milk and Cuddles and Crystal & Co. , Thrifty Thursday, Preschool Corner, Show-and-Share Saturday, Link & Learn, and The Sunday Showcase at Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas and Classified: Mom.

UPDATE: The giveaway is now closed and a winner has been chosen. See the announcement at the end of this post right below the Rafflecopter form! Please check out Kids Can Do It for fabulous character books for Kids!

I’ve had lots of giveaways for parents of preschoolers, and now I’m excited to host a giveaway of 5 autographed character books (ARV $74) for parents and/or teachers of elementary-age kids! The giveaway of award-winning books by Sandra McLeod Humphrey, a retired clinical psychology, is hosted by Kids Can Do It.

Here are the award-winning books in the giveaway:

1. If You Had to Choose, What Would You Do? is for ages 8-12.

2. It’s Up to You… What Do You Do? is for ages 6 and up.

3. More If You Had to Choose, What Would You Do? is for ages 7 and up.

Children today are faced with extremely difficult ethical decisions. It’s essential that we as parents and teachers help them learn to make decisions that will help them grow into responsible, moral adults. Each of the books in this series has 25-26 short stories with thought-provoking, ethical questions at the end of each story.

Just a few of the types of questions asked:

Does it really matter how you win?

What should you do if you saw someone who lost money on the street and your best friend insists that you keep it?

If your sister makes you promise not to tell that she’s doing something wrong, should you tell your parents?

What is more important: How much money a person earns or how much he helps other people?

4. Hot Issues, Cool Choices is for ages 10 and up and addresses issues of peer-pressure and bullying. The book has 26 short stories and asks thought-provoking questions at the end of each story.

5. They Stood ALONE! 25 Men and Women Who Made a Difference is designed for ages 9-12, although it can be of interest to a much wider age range.

They Stood ALONE! Is Sandra McLeod Humphrey’s newest book – and my favorite! Books like this were some of my family’s most-used and loved character-education materials when I raised my children. Each chapter starts with a picture, quote, and “Imagine this” scenario for kids to contemplate the life situation of each of the 25 inspirational individuals. The book gives examples of individuals who had the courage to go against the thinking of their time and ultimately change the world.

Sandra McLeod Humphrey has a lot of experience working with kids and uses that experience for the extremely important subject of character education, helping children learn to make moral choices. Her books are perfect for reading aloud and discussing the important issues that are raised. (Note: Sandra McLeod Humphrey has even more character books at Kids Can Do It!)

Disclosure: I received a copy of each of the giveaway books in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and any opinions expressed are my own.

Now for the Giveaway:

What You Will Win: 1 Lucky Winner in the U.S. will win 5 Autographed Character Books (ARV $74) for Elementary-Age Kids. The winner may choose how the books will be autographed.

Who Is Eligible

This giveaway is open to anyone 18 and older in the U.S. 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 Tuesday, January 31. 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 Wednesday morning, February 1. I read all your comments and appreciated the 326 entries! A winner has been selected using Random.org through Rafflecopter! 

The winner of the 5 Autographed Character Books (ARV $74) for Elementary-Age Kids is Wendy Rozema!

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

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

“I would love to win these for my kids!  both my kids love to read!”

CONGRATULATIONS, Wendy!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH to Kids Can Do It for sponsoring the giveaway – and thank you to everyone who entered!

Linked with Contest Girl and Free Sweepstakes and Contests

Montessori-Inspired Love Sticker Tray

Happy Chinese New Year – and welcome to the 100 Acts of Kindness week 2 challenge!

If you haven’t started the 100 Acts of Kindness Project through Toddler Approved, it isn’t too late to start. You have plenty of time to do 100 acts of kindness before Valentine’s Day.

Toddler Approved had the kindness challenge for week 1: Kindness Challenge #1: Saying Thank You. If you missed it, there’s no reason you can’t do more than one kindness challenge at a time. Just do the 100 acts of kindness in whatever way works for your family.

This week’s challenge: choose 5 Montessori-inspired ways to give love to relatives. (It can also be one Montessori-inspired way to give love to 5 relatives.) It doesn’t matter if you normally use Montessori education at home or not. Regardless of the age of participants in your family, you can easily make these Montessori-inspired acts of kindness.

1. For younger children, prepare an activity tray or table.

The sticker tray at the top of this post is something you can easily put together and keep on a low shelf for your child to use whenever he or she chooses to create a card for a relative.

I don’t have markers, scissors, or glue on the tray because I had a central location on a shelf for those supplies. You could add those to your tray if you wish. The tray just has lace doilies (mine are in a napkin holder that has sentimental value as it was from Finland and belonged to my grandmother), paper for cards, 5¾ x 8¾ greeting card envelopes (available at office supply stores), and a supply of stickers in a container.

You could put together a simple tray like that or a tray with the materials for any Valentine’s Day craft. The accessible tray is helpful because it allows your child to choose to do the activity and to repeat the activity when he or she wishes, an important Montessori principle.

Montessori-Oriented Pipe-Cleaner-and-Bead Valentine's Day Activity

I have a post with ideas for turning Valentine’s Day crafts into Montessori-oriented activities.

Valentine Writing Tray (Photo from The Work Plan)

The Work Plan has a Montessori-inspired Valentine writing tray.

Valentine Placemats Tray (Photo from Little Wonders' Days)

Little Wonders’ Days has a Montessori-inspired Valentine placemat tray.

If you have room for a table instead of a tray, you could have a Valentine card-making work table or area, Valentine sun catchers table, or another craft area similar to one at My Montessori Journey.

2. For any age, let your child help choose the activities. Choice is an important part of Montessori education, and the project will have the most meaning if your child is an active participant in choosing what you’ll do.

3. Follow your child’s interests. Following the child is one of the main principles in Montessori, and you can consider this a Montessori-inspired activity (with any age) if it’s an interest-led activity. If you’re doing this activity with adults, make sure you’re choosing activities of interest to whoever is participating.

My daughter, Christina, talking to me on Skype

For example, if someone is interested in technology, you might want to create a video for a relative, create a digital scrapbook page or album, or create memories together on Skype. Help Your Child Create Unforgettable Cards and Gifts through Digital Scrapbooking is a post I wrote with ideas for following that interest. Creating Memories Together on Skype is a post I published which tells about one of my family’s favorite ways to share love from a distance.

If your family is celebrating Chinese New Year, you might like to choose a Chinese New Year activity or activities to give to a relative.

I have a Kids’ Chinese New Year Activities Pinterest board filled with activities to choose from.

Baking Cookies (Photo from Kitchen Counter Chronicles)

If your child likes baking, bake something for a relative like the cookie-baking activity by Jen from Kitchen Counter Chronicles at Toddler Approved.

Valentine's Day Jar of Hearts (Photo from The Outlaw Mom)

If your family is interested in Valentine’s Day and enjoys crafts, make something like the Jar of Hearts from Outlaw Mom.

I have a Kids’ Valentine’s Day Pinterest board with lots of Valentine’s Day crafts and activities to choose from.

I also have a Kindness Projects Pinterest board with kindness projects to choose from.

UPDATE: JDaniel4′s Mom has interest-led and practical life activities for helping others: Acts of Kindness – Montessori Style.

I’d love to hear what your family chooses to do!

Montessori Monday Link-Up

If you have some Montessori activity trays/lessons to share, please link up below. It’s fine to link up a post from your archives – and you may link up anytime during the week! Please place the Montessori Monday button (using the code from the right sidebar) in your post or put a link back to this post.

Thanks for participating! (Note: If you have a giveaway on your blog, please add it to my Family-Friendly Giveaway Linky Page!)

Linked to AfterSchool Linky Party, Pinterest Tuesday, The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions at Milk and Cuddles and Crystal & Co. , What’s on the Tray Wednesday, Thrifty Thursday, Living Life Intentionally Linky Party, Preschool Corner, Fun Stuff Friday, Show-and-Share Saturday, Link & Learn, and The Sunday Showcase at Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas and Classified: Mom.

Peace Table (Photo from Mommy Moment)

Peace education is an important part of Montessori education. On Monday, I linked to lots of resources with Montessori peace education inspiration/philosophy: Montessori Inspiration for Martin Luther King Day. Today, I want to share links to peace education activities that can be used throughout the year for peace education and conflict resolution. You’ll find activities for toddlers through elementary level.

“Educating for Peace: the Essence of Montessori”

Resources for Educators and Parents from Teaching for Peace

The Peaceful Montessori Classroom: Environmental Design, Montessori and Imagination: the Second Plane of Development, and Introducing and Exploring The Five Great Lessons in Montessori Elementary (with additional links within post) from North American Montessori Center

The Top Five Peace Items for the Montessori Classroom by Andrea Coventry at List My 5

Free Elementary Online Albums for Montessori Great Lessons (Helpful for a Peace Education Curriculum)

Great Lessons for 6-9 at Monteaco

Link to an elementary history album with the Great Lessons for 6-9 at Mondorfment

Lesson ideas and links for the Great Lessons from Miss Barbara

Peace Table

Peace Table from Mommy Moment (photo at the top of this post)

Peace Table from Montessori Mama

Peace Table for 100 Acts of Kindness (Photo from The Work Plan)

Peace Table for 100 Acts of Kindness from The Work Plan

Peace Table (Image from Barefoot in Suburbia)

Montessori Monday – Introducing the Peace Table from Barefoot in Suburbia

Peace Table Cards (Image from Montessori Print Shop)

Montessori Peace Table and Art Cards (blog post) and Peace materials (available for purchase) from Montessori Print Shop

Teaching Peace Education with a Peace Table by Andrea Coventry at Bright Hub

Set up a Peace Table at Home by Andrea Coventry at Rochester Montessori Education Examiner

Peace Rug

Conflict Resolution for Children – The Peace Rug: A Montessori Method for Resolving Conflicts by Kathy Campanella at Yahoo Voices

“What is the Peace Rug? Child’s View Montessori”

Other Peace Activities

Montessori Peace Lesson (Image from Montessori Opportunities)

Activity of the Week – Montessori Education Week Peace Lesson

Friendship Flower Activities (Images from North American Montessori Center Printables)

Activity of the Week – Friendship Flower Activities

Peace Cards (free download) and World Peace Day Activities from Little Acorns

Peace Activities (available for purchase) from Montessori Services

Peace Box, Toddler Conflict Resolution, Peace Corner, Affirmation Cards,  Classroom Affirmations, Peaceful Feet, Creating a Center-PEACE, Thursday’s Center-PEACE, Making Peace Mandalas, Healing Hugs, and Who Is Missing? from Montessori Mama

Peace Bag, Making Silence, Love Light Pins, Our Peace Shelf, The Peace Rose, The Peace Rose Song, from My Montessori Journey

Enjoy a Peaceful Classroom With These Peace Art Projects by Andrea Coventry at Bright Hub Education

“Light a Candle for Peace”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Montessori School “We Offer You Peace”

Click here to view the embedded video.

UPDATE: My Montessori-Inspired Kindness post has more ideas to promote love and kindness.

Do you have a favorite peace education activity?

Linked to AfterSchool Linky Party, Living Life Intentionally Linky Party, Pinterest Tuesday, The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions at Milk and Cuddles and Crystal & Co. , Thrifty Thursday, Preschool Corner, Show-and-Share Saturday, Link & Learn, and The Sunday Showcase at Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas and Classified: Mom.

What do you think? Please join me at Imagination Soup. I’m the guest poster there today, discussing three options for Montessori education in your family. Read my article at Imagination Soup.

Celebrating Skin Color with Paint (Photo by Jessie from The Education of Ours) at Mommy Moment

It’s Martin Luther King Day and a perfect time to focus on peace and kindness. Peace education was important to both Maria Montessori and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Following are some wonderful posts from Montessorians promoting peace.

Montessori Inspiration and Ideas for Martin Luther King Day

Celebrating Skin Color with Paint Activity (Photo by Jessie from The Education of Ours at Mommy Moment)

Celebrating Skin Color…..With Paint!!!! by Jessie from The Education of Ours at Mommy Moment

What We Have Been up To, including Martin Luther King speech activities for elementary level from We Don’t Need No Education

“The Child is Both the Hope and Promise for Mankind” at Parenting Tree (about Montessori, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and peace)

Montessori and Peace in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Montessori’s Education for Peace from Confessions of a Montessori Mom Blog

Montessori Peace Education: Martin Luther King, Jr., Montessori Students and Community Service, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Montessori Elementary Studies: Civil Rights, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service: January 16, 2012 from North American Montessori Center

We Have to Be Compassion and  Maria Montessori, Champion for Peace from Vibrant Wanderings

Historic Figures Set – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (available for purchase) from Montessori for Everyone

Peace Makers cards, including Martin Luther King, Jr. (available for purchase) from Montessori Print Shop

Introducing and Cultivating Peace in our Homes and Classrooms from Simply Montessori

Teach Peace Instead of Anti-Bullying from Educating for Peace: Andrew Kutt’s Blog

Promote Peace and Peace Education (blog) By Chandrani Warnasuriya

Kids’ Martin Luther King Day Activities Pinterest Board

I have a Kids’ Martin Luther King Day Activities Pinterest Board with Martin Luther King Day activities for all ages. They aren’t necessarily Montessori activities, but they’re wonderful activities to celebrate this special day.

On Thursday, I’ll have a roundup of Montessori-inspired peace education activities.

100 Acts of Kindness Project

A fantastic family project for Martin Luther King Day and every day from now through Valentine’s Day is the 100 Acts of Kindness Project through Toddler Approved. My adult kids, kids-in-love, and I participated in the project last year (Join the 100 Acts of Kindness Project and Make the World a Happier Place with Acts of Kindness). We’re participating again this year. Weekly kindness challenges are posted every Monday morning (including mine next Monday). Here’s this week’s challenge: Kindness Challenge #1: Saying Thank You.

Montessori Monday Link-Up

If you have some Montessori activity trays/lessons to share, please link up below. It’s fine to link up a post from your archives – and you may link up anytime during the week! Please place the Montessori Monday button (using the code from the right sidebar) in your post or put a link back to this post.

Thanks for participating! (Note: If you have a giveaway on your blog, please add it to my Family-Friendly Giveaway Linky Page!)

Have a happy – and peaceful – Martin Luther King Day!