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.
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)
Alerting Activity ABC Cards, Act Like an Elephant Action Cards, and 3-Part Movement Cards (photo) from Training Happy Hearts
Movement Cards (2 different sets) from The Home Teacher (Set 3 is from Homeschool Share, so be sure to download the ABC Exercise Cards from there.)
Alphabet Movement Cards (Photo from Chasing Cheerios)
Alphabet Movement Cards (as used by Chasing Cheerios) from ABC exercise cards at Homeschool Share.
Making Body Shapes (with Printable Body Shape Cards) from Childhood 101
Paper Plate Pushing (Sample lesson) from Montessori Movement Matters
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 (roundup at my Bits of Positivity blog)
Montessori-Inspired Movement Activities
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 (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)
Movement Activities (Photo from Carrots Are Orange)
The Sensitive Period for Movement – Yoga and Montessori at Home: Movement (photo) from Carrots Are Orange
Montessori Movement from Confessions of a Montessori Mom Blog
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.
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy! I’m also one of the coauthors of the book Learn with Play – 150+ Activities for Year-round Fun & Learning!
And don’t forget one of the best ways to follow me by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You’ll get two awesome freebies (and a monthly subscriber freebie) in the process!
lydia says
August 6, 2012 at 5:08 amThanks very much for this great list. I am linking back to you from my blog.
Deb says
August 9, 2012 at 10:52 pmThanks for your kind comment, Lydia! And thanks so much for sharing my post on your blog! 🙂
Martianne says
August 6, 2012 at 5:58 amI 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!
Deb says
August 9, 2012 at 10:57 pmThanks 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. 🙂
Melissa says
August 6, 2012 at 8:32 pmThese 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.
Deb says
August 9, 2012 at 10:45 pmThanks so much, Melissa! Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby boy … it’s great to see you here again! 🙂
Neel says
August 7, 2012 at 5:38 amThanks for the article and tips..
Deb says
August 9, 2012 at 10:46 pmMy pleasure, Neel. Thanks for the comment! 🙂
Barb says
August 9, 2012 at 11:21 amI love these ideas. I never thought of applying Montessori concepts to physical activity.
Deb says
August 9, 2012 at 10:48 pmThanks, Barb! I think Montessori concepts can be applied to almost anything … and movement is definitely an important part of Montessori education! 🙂
Jenni Mullinix says
August 10, 2012 at 6:04 amGreat list of resources!
Deb says
August 11, 2012 at 10:34 pmThanks so much for your kind comment, Jenni! I loved finding such awesome resources online! 🙂
The fairy and the frog says
August 11, 2012 at 2:06 amThanks for all the ideas 🙂
Deb says
August 11, 2012 at 10:35 pmThanks! Have a great weekend! 🙂
María says
August 13, 2012 at 2:11 pmHi Deb! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and time with us. This article about movement was just what I needed.
Kind regards
Deb says
August 14, 2012 at 9:45 pmThanks for your kind comment, María! I’m so glad to hear my post was helpful for you! 🙂
melani Fuchs says
August 15, 2012 at 10:44 amHi!
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.
[email protected]
Melani Fuchs
Deb says
August 19, 2012 at 4:26 pmCongratulations on your book, Melani! Thanks for letting us know about it! 🙂
Rebecca says
August 17, 2012 at 11:08 amThis looks like a wonderful way to get movement into your week.
Thanks for linking to the Sunday showcase.
Deb says
August 19, 2012 at 4:27 pmThanks, Rebecca … and thanks for hosting Sunday Showcase! 🙂
Ami says
January 30, 2016 at 8:17 amHi 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
Deb Chitwood says
January 31, 2016 at 1:31 amThanks 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