My granddaughter and I are continuing to have lots of fun with the new Little Passports Early Explorers edition! I’m a Little Passports affiliate and ambassador. As an ambassador, I received a 3-month subscription to the Early Explorers Edition of Little Passports.
Today, I want to share some ideas for using a Montessori-inspired approach with the Early Explorers music package.
All opinions are honest and my own. (Note: my Little Passports posts contain affiliate links at no cost to you.)
I love the excitement Little Passports can bring to any study of geography. It can work well in a home with children of multiple ages. In my previous Little Passports posts, I shared ideas for using the Little Passports World Edition with preschoolers. Now there are even more options with the new Early Explorers subscription, which is designed for ages 3-5. (Note: the World Edition is recommended for ages 5-10, and the USA Edition is recommended for ages 7-12.)
In my post today, I’ll share some Montessori-inspired ideas for using the Early Explorers landmarks package with both toddlers and preschoolers.
Little Passports Early Explorers Subscription
Instead of following Sam and Sofia to various countries around the world as in the World Edition, preschoolers follow the adventures of Max, Mia, and their dog, Toby. A different world theme is used each month:
- Landmarks
- Music
- Animals
- Food
- Art
- Natural Wonders
- Oceans
- World Coins
- Space
- World Discoveries
- Dinosaurs
I previously wrote about the first month’s package, the Traveler Kit. It contains:
- An orange suitcase
- Wall-sized world map
- 20-page passport/activity booklet
- Luggage tag
- Stickers and wall decal
Contents of the Early Explorers Music Package (photo includes the suitcase from the first month’s Early Explorers Traveler Kit)
Contents of Little Passports Early Explorers Music Package Plus Suitcase from Package 1
After the first month, each package contains:
- 20-page activity booklet
- Souvenirs (World Sing-Along CD from Putumayo Kids this month)
- Flashlight adventures
- Stickers and wall decals
Using the Early Explorers Map with Toddlers
Matching Animals to Little Passports Early Explorers Map
I like this activity for young toddlers each month. I happened to have some Beanie Babies that matched the animals pictured on the world map. In the photo my granddaughter, Zoey, (17 months at the time) had fun adding Beanie Babies to their matching place on the map. Matching some of the animals on the world map with whatever type of stuffed animals or large animal replicas you have could be a fun way for your toddler to join in the Little Passports Early Explorers map activities each month.
Using Little Passports Early Explorers Music with Preschoolers
Since Early Explorers is designed for ages 3-5, you’ll generally be able to use any of the activities with that age group. Of course, I would still follow your child’s interests. Just have your preschooler do the pages in the activity booklet that he or she is interested in. Many preschoolers prefer hands-on activities to paper-and-pencil activities, so it’s fine for your child to do activities by pointing at the correct answer. And it isn’t essential to complete the whole activity booklet. More important will be any related hands-on activities you can do with your preschooler.
Landmarks Review and Map Matching Activity
See my Montessori-Inspired Little Passports Early Explorers Activities – Landmarks.
Adding Landmarks to the Little Passports World Map
You could review the landmarks from last month’s package. Be sure to point out the drums pictured on the continent of Africa.
World Sing-Along Activities
Zoey and I both love the World Sing-Along CD. With older preschoolers (and elementary-age children), you could identify the country associated with each song on a map or globe.
Using Sand Blocks at 19 Months
(Note: The pictured rhythm instruments are NOT part of the Little Passports music package.) I kept many of the rhythm instruments from when I owned a Montessori school. I made a music basket with some of the rhythm instruments, and Zoey and I played a variety of rhythm instruments along with the CD. With older children, you could switch instruments after each song.
Playing the Drum at 19 Months
I let Zoey choose which instruments to use and when to switch to a different instrument. We’ve had fun with the rhythm instruments on more than one day, and Zoey asks to use them each time she visits now.
Dancing to “Waltzing Matilda” at 19 Months
Zoey also had fun dancing to “Waltzing Matilda.”
The songs on the CD have catchy tunes and are a great way to introduce world music. I especially love the song “That’s What Friends Are For.” It’s a lovely indie-style song which encourages friendship and empathy toward others.
Hidden Musical Instruments Flashlight Adventures Tray
Hidden Musical Instruments Flashlight Adventures Tray
I love the flashlight adventures that come with the Early Explorers packages. You can easily put together a flashlight adventures tray on an inexpensive bamboo paper plate holder or another tray each month.
Hidden Musical Instruments Flashlight Adventures
Continent Map Activities
I shared a number of continent activities in my post about the first package (Traveler edition): Using Little Passports Early Explorers with a Montessori-Inspired Approach. Continent activities would work well each month. In Montessori education, we introduce Montessori globes and then the world continent map. (The links contain ideas for DIY versions.) Any hands-on activities you do with globes and the continent map will be a great extension to the Early Explorers activities.
Check out each of the related continent educational resource boards (which include resources for the related countries included in the Little Passports World Edition packages). The Montessori-Inspired Global Adventure Pinterest Board has lots of activities that would work well with the Early Explorers subscription.
The Pinterest boards contain ideas and activities that can be used to create continent boxes and complete unit studies for a variety of ages to go with your Little Passports packages. I add geography resources to Pinterest each month. Here are links to each of the Pinterest boards in the order the continents are introduced through Little Passports:
Montessori-Inspired Global Adventure (introductory geography resources and 7-continents activities)
*South America Educational Resources
*Australia Educational Resources
*North America Educational Resources
*Antarctica Educational Resources
More about Little Passports
You can sign up for 3 months ($13.95/month with a one-time payment of $41.85), 6 months ($13.95/month with a one-time payment of $83.70), 12 months ($10.95/month with a one-time payment of $131.40), or monthly ($11.95/month, billed monthly and can be cancelled any time).
The USA Edition for 7-12 year olds has the same payment plans and prices as the World Edition. For the first month, the USA Edition subscription starts with the Discovery Kit which comes in a custom Sam and Sofia USA Portfolio and includes:
- An introductory letter from Sam and Sofia
- USA Field Guide
- USA Scratch Book
- USA Wall Map
- Disposable Camera and Photo Scavenger Hunt
Every month after the first month, your child will visit 2 new states and receive:
- A 32-page activity-packed journal covering 2 states
- Stickers
- Pop-out Models
- Postcards
- Access to more information and activities online
You can find out more and subscribe at Little Passports.
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These kits look ideal for my very hands-on 5yr old son, and it is great to see a giveaway open to us here in Scotland. Thanks!!
My son has made more continent maps than we can hang. He would be thrilled!
Love the idea of this product introducing the ‘world’ to children at an early age…would be interested in having my daughter try it out!
I would love to win because one of my son’s favorite parts of home school is geography, especially anything that is hands on. I know that he would love this!
I would love to win this for my 3 boys. We are a family who loves to travel, and I would love for them to experience all the knowledge and fun through Little Passports. I’ve read great things about this program, but we have not tried it yet.
I think both my kids (3& 5) would enjoy these materials.
I think the coins, dinosaurs and music will add great dimension and interest for the students in my classroom
I would love to use this in my preschool class. We have to follow a school district curriculum that is very bland and I would love to expand it with quality Montessori activities.
This looks wonderful! My son would enjoy this. He’s loves finding different countries and continents on our globe.
My son always loves to learn more about animals and dinosaurs around the world. Excited to see those included in the Early Explorers sets.
Oh my kiddos would love this!
My 3 year old would love this. He enjoys learning about maps and geography.
Would love to experience these with my 2 girls (3.5 and 1.5)- I think they’d REALLY enjoy them!
Love your resources and am about to listen to your interview on the Be the Best Parent You Can Be summit! I want to win this for my kids as we will be travelling this summer and it would be great to have these activities to follow along.
what a wonderful looking product
We would love to win this and for my soon to be preschooler who loves to learn about the world and different places.
I would love to teach my granddaughter geography in a fun way.
Little Passports would be great for my little 6 year old. She is a very anxious girl who is often afraid to try new things. She is however a very curious girl and so Little Passports is a perfect medium to boost her confidence and help her with experience new adventures and explorations.
I have wanted to try this for a while–this is a great endorsement!
I would love to learn more about Australia–my kids are fascinated by it!
I would love to win because it would be an enriching experience filled with memories but also because learning an take place anywhere!