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Montessori-Inspired Movement Activities

August 6, 2012 By Deb Chitwood 22 Comments

Previous article: Thank You’s for July 2012
Next article: How to Help Your Child Treasure Books

Movement activities, both large- and fine motor, are naturally part of Montessori education. Still, it’s helpful to add some activities that focus primarily on movement.

Montessori-Inspired Movement Activities

Here are some Montessori-inspired movement activities and printables. They aren’t all part of the traditional Montessori curriculum, but these are movement activities that are popular in many Montessori schools. They would generally work well for homeschools, and you can even do some of them along with your child!

Montessori-Inspired Movement Printables

3-Part Movement Cards (Photo from Training Happy Hearts)

3-Part Movement Cards (Photo from Training Happy Hearts)

Alerting Activity ABC Cards, Act Like an Elephant Action Cards, and 3-Part Movement Cards (photo) from Training Happy Hearts

 ABC Exercise Cards from Homeschool Share (subscriber freebie).

Making Body Shapes (with Printable Body Shape Cards) from Childhood 101

Paper Plate Pushing (Sample lesson) from Montessori Movement Matters

Simple and Fun Frog Leap Activity for Kids (Instant Download) from Fit Body Full Life

Free Kids’ Dice Fitness Printables (a series of free printables that work well on a Montessori-inspired tray) from Christina Chitwood

The Ultimate List of Free Yoga Pose Printables for Kids

The Ultimate List of Free Yoga Pose Printables (roundup at my Bits of Positivity blog)

Montessori-Inspired Movement Activities

Montessori Walking on the Line for Toddlers

Montessori Walking on the Line for Toddlers. Also check out Activity of the Week: Walking on the Line and Outdoor Line Hunt and Walking on the Line.

Montessori-Inspired Physical Fitness for Preschoolers

Montessori-Inspired Physical Fitness for Preschoolers (my post)

Movement in the Montessori Infant/Toddler Environment, Montessori Musings: Development of Movement in Children, Independence and Movement: Montessori Preschool, and Independence and Movement: Montessori Elementary from North American Montessori Center

Can Montessori Principles Be Used to Teach P.E.? (my post about child-led P.E. in our homeschool)

Olympic Unit Study Pinterest Board

You’ll also find lots of movement activities for kids as well as for families on my Olympic Unit Study Pinterest Board.

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Previous article: Thank You’s for July 2012
Next article: How to Help Your Child Treasure Books

Filed Under: Activities - Practical Life, Activity of the Week, Montessori Monday Tagged With: Activity of the Week, Exercise with Your Child Week, Montessori, Montessori Monday, Montessori Physical Education, Montessori-Inspired Movement Activities, Movement Activities

Previous Post: « Thank You’s for July 2012
Next Post: How to Help Your Child Treasure Books »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. lydia says

    August 6, 2012 at 5:08 am

    Thanks very much for this great list. I am linking back to you from my blog.

    Reply
    • Deb says

      August 9, 2012 at 10:52 pm

      Thanks for your kind comment, Lydia! And thanks so much for sharing my post on your blog! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Martianne says

    August 6, 2012 at 5:58 am

    I have not taken part on Montessori Monday in so long b/c the way we have been living and learning, though still Montessori-inspired at it’s core on many levels has not been looking Montessori re activities and materials. Without our home environment in shape, I got disheartened and moved away from many typical Montessori activities. however, I am still extremely inspired by Maria’s work and hoping to apply much of “traditional” Montessori again in the near future.

    In any case, it was a delight to find your comment on my movement cards today and then to click over here to see so many fantastic ideas. I admittedly had stopped browsing Montessori blogs recently b/c after a string of computer, I have a backlog of emails and computer things to catch up on and when I took breaks during limited computer time to click over to Montessori blogs, I began to feel discouraged. I WANT to be doing so much of what I see others doing, but found myself telling myself that what is “right” is not always right “right now”. So,there’s my true confession.

    Now that I have stopped by again, I am feeling less discouraged and more inspired once more. Not sure why, but am glad to have my old attitude back and want to thank you for being a catalyst.

    I also wanted to share a few other resources folks might find helpful:

    An old book, but worth getting ahold of if you can borrow a copy: Jack Capon’s stuff, such as what I wrote about at http://traininghappyhearts.blogspot.com/2010/10/perceptial-motor-lesson-plans-level-1.html

    And two resources meant for sensory integration, but great for all that my kids love, both of which can be set up on trays or in workboxes with a Montessori twist,active imagination, which I reviewed here: http://traininghappyhearts.blogspot.com/2012/01/active-imagination-activity-book-review.html

    and Move About Activity Cards, which was reviewed here: http://special-ism.com/moveabout-activity-cards-a-review/

    Blessings!

    Reply
    • Deb says

      August 9, 2012 at 10:57 pm

      Thanks so much for your kind comment, Martianne! I’ve missed you! I’m so happy I could be a catalyst. I didn’t rotate my Montessori materials nearly as often as many Montessori homeschoolers do. I think there are so many ways to use Montessori at home … feel free to find the balance that works best for your family. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Melissa says

    August 6, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    These are awesome and timely ideas! Now that I’m physically recovered from birthing, I’m looking to move, and my toddler is always happy to join me 🙂 She’ll love doing some of these things together.

    Reply
    • Deb says

      August 9, 2012 at 10:45 pm

      Thanks so much, Melissa! Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby boy … it’s great to see you here again! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Neel says

    August 7, 2012 at 5:38 am

    Thanks for the article and tips..

    Reply
    • Deb says

      August 9, 2012 at 10:46 pm

      My pleasure, Neel. Thanks for the comment! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Barb says

    August 9, 2012 at 11:21 am

    I love these ideas. I never thought of applying Montessori concepts to physical activity.

    Reply
    • Deb says

      August 9, 2012 at 10:48 pm

      Thanks, Barb! I think Montessori concepts can be applied to almost anything … and movement is definitely an important part of Montessori education! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Jenni Mullinix says

    August 10, 2012 at 6:04 am

    Great list of resources!

    Reply
    • Deb says

      August 11, 2012 at 10:34 pm

      Thanks so much for your kind comment, Jenni! I loved finding such awesome resources online! 🙂

      Reply
  7. The fairy and the frog says

    August 11, 2012 at 2:06 am

    Thanks for all the ideas 🙂

    Reply
    • Deb says

      August 11, 2012 at 10:35 pm

      Thanks! Have a great weekend! 🙂

      Reply
  8. María says

    August 13, 2012 at 2:11 pm

    Hi Deb! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and time with us. This article about movement was just what I needed.
    Kind regards

    Reply
    • Deb says

      August 14, 2012 at 9:45 pm

      Thanks for your kind comment, María! I’m so glad to hear my post was helpful for you! 🙂

      Reply
  9. melani Fuchs says

    August 15, 2012 at 10:44 am

    Hi!
    I am new to this type of web page but I am excited to begin to use them. I enjoyed the sites for Montessori Movement ideas. I have recently completed a book and wanted to let you know about it.
    Movement Matters
    A Movement Album for Early Childhood Programs

    It is a Montessori Album with lesson plans for teaching Fundamental Movements in the classroom; implementing independent movement practice through concrete materials on a Movement Shelf; and over 50 Large Group Activites as well. Really wonderful resource for teachers as it is written in Montessori lesson plan format. It also has invaluable chapters on leading movment in the classroom, and information to support movement assessments for children in the sensitive period for movement.
    Hope you can look it up and find it useful.
    info@activeplaybooks.com

    Melani Fuchs

    Reply
    • Deb says

      August 19, 2012 at 4:26 pm

      Congratulations on your book, Melani! Thanks for letting us know about it! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Rebecca says

    August 17, 2012 at 11:08 am

    This looks like a wonderful way to get movement into your week.

    Thanks for linking to the Sunday showcase.

    Reply
    • Deb says

      August 19, 2012 at 4:27 pm

      Thanks, Rebecca … and thanks for hosting Sunday Showcase! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Ami says

    January 30, 2016 at 8:17 am

    Hi Deb,

    The link for the movement cards is http://www.homeschoolshare.com/ABC_Exercise_Cards.php

    Unfortunately, the link posted takes you to The Home Teacher (where the pdf has been taken and uploaded)

    Thanks so much

    Reply
    • Deb Chitwood says

      January 31, 2016 at 1:31 am

      Thanks SO MUCH for letting me know, Ami! I hate when that happens, since I always try to link to the original source. I’ve fixed the link. Deb

      Reply

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