It’s time to prepare for back to school or back to homeschool (NOT back to school)! I’m excited to tell you about some fabulous Montessori Services materials … their large hemmed rug, small hemmed rug, and magnetic/non-magnetic activity!
Disclosure: I received the materials in this post from Montessori Services 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 Montessori Services affiliate links (at no cost to you).
You’ll see my reviews of Montessori Services practical life activities and puncher pack in earlier reviews and giveaways. You’ll find LOTS of wonderful materials through Montessori Services whether you’re a classroom teacher or homeschooler. Parents using Montessori principles at home will also find much to offer through Montessori Services or its partner site, For Small Hands, which specializes in child-size tools and materials for families.
Montessori Services Rugs
Large Hemmed Work Rug in Natural/Off-White (Photo from Montessori Services)
Small Hemmed Work Rug in Blue (Photo from Montessori Services)
I always loved the Montessori Services rugs. I used them for eight years in my Montessori school and then in my homeschool. They lasted well through both. The rugs were recently improved. They’re now hemmed instead of with fringes that could fray or get knotted.
The rugs are machine washable. I always had great luck with washing my rugs, and they still looked clean at the end of my homeschooling. The rugs also lay flat and roll up easily. I like that they’re a solid color that doesn’t clash with or take away from the materials being used.
If you haven’t used Montessori work rugs before, I highly recommend them. They’re traditional materials in Montessori schools, and they add a lot to homeschools as well. Rolling a rug is a great activity in itself. It helps develop both coordination and concentration.
And placing work on a rug on the floor identifies a child’s workspace. This is especially helpful in schools and in homes with siblings. In a school or home, rugs can help children learn to respect each other’s work when children are taught to avoid stepping on another child’s rug and to avoid disturbing another child’s work. The rug makes the concept of personal space concrete.
This giveaway includes both the large hemmed work rug in natural/off-white (Item #X552W; 42″ x 28″; $14.50) and the small hemmed work rug in blue (Item #X550B; 36″ x 24″; $11.50).
Olympic Medals Math and Geography Activity (Numbers from the 2008 Summer Olympics) on Montessori Services Small Hemmed Work Rug. Only the rug is part of the giveaway.
The above photo is from an activity that was part of my monthly post at PreK + K Sharing: Montessori-Inspired Olympic Math Activities. I tested out the small blue work rug, which provides a flat surface and is a good size for most layouts. It worked perfectly with my activity. Note: The Olympic activity on the rug isn’t part of the giveaway.
Magnetic/Non-Magnetic Activity
Magnetic/Non-Magnetic Activity (Photo from Montessori Services)
In addition to the large and small work rugs, the giveaway includes the Montessori Services magnetic/non-magnetic activity (Item #SC205; $22.00). Magnetic/non-magnetic activities are an important part of the primary (preschool) curriculum, and they’re typically very popular with preschoolers. This set has small objects and is recommended for ages 4 and up.
The magnetic/non-magnetic activity includes:
- 9 Magnetic Items
- 9 Non-Magnetic Items
- Economy Tray (T200) ($2.50)
- Plastic Box (B108) ($1.25)
- Horseshoe Magnet (SC951) ($7.50)
- Plastic Box (B104) ($0.85)
- Magnetic and Non-Magnetic Labels
- Presentation and Extension Suggestions
I really like the Alnico horseshoe magnet that’s included with the set. It has an especially strong magnetic field and would work well for a variety of activities exploring magnets … as well as for “fishing” games you can prepare to reinforce colors, shapes, letters, or numbers.
The magnetic/non-magnetic activity can be set up in just a few minutes. I learned that the labels are made with a special new material that doesn’t need to be laminated! You can bend the material and get it wet. It’s supposed to stand up as well or better than laminated paper would … amazing!
Magnetic and Non-Magnetic Activity on a Large Off-White Work Rug
If you prefer to prepare your own magnetic/non-magnetic activity rather than purchasing the set (if you don’t win it), you can purchase most of the parts separately from Montessori Services. I’ve added links to the individual parts. The horseshoe magnet is great, and I find Montessori Services trays and boxes useful for activities of all kinds.
I’ve seen magnetic/non-magnetic activities prepared in a number of different formats in Montessori schools and Montessori manuals. Some teachers have the child test and sort the materials on the tray itself. Both sizes of Montessori Services work rugs are also great for laying out the materials on the floor. The photo on the off-white rug shows one way the activity could be laid out.
Disclosure: I received a large hemmed work rug, small hemmed work rug, and magnetic/non-magnetic activity 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: The giveaway is now closed.
What You Will Win: 1 lucky winner in the U.S. or Canada will win the Montessori Services large natural-colored hemmed work rug, small blue hemmed work rug, and magnetic/nonmagnetic activity (Total ARV $48)!
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 the rugs and magnetic/non-magnetic activity (and be sure to click the green “ENTER” on the Rafflecopter form to let me know you left your blog post comment and to open up the optional entries)! 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.If you still have questions about the Rafflecopter form, here’s a 52-second video with quick directions for entering through Rafflecopter.
You must complete the Mandatory Entry to qualify for any additional entries. The giveaway closes 10:01pm MST on Thursday, July 26. Best of luck! 
UPDATE:
It’s Friday morning, July 27. I enjoyed reading all your comments and really appreciated the 854 entries! A winner has been selected using Random.org through Rafflecopter!
The winner of the Montessori Services large natural-colored hemmed work rug, small blue hemmed work rug, and magnetic/nonmagnetic activity (Total ARV $48) is Billie R.P.!
I’m very happy for Billie, who had multiple entries! (Note: Billie, you have 48 hours to respond to my email, or a new winner will be chosen.)
The comment for Billie’s mandatory entry (why she wanted to win) said:
“I have two young children 15 months and 2 and a half. I am building my classroom and this would be a fantastic addition!”
CONGRATULATIONS, Billie!!! MANY THANKS to Montessori Services for sponsoring the giveaway – and thank you to everyone who entered!
As always, thanks so much to all my blog sponsors!
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I would give this to my friend that homeschools. She would LOVE to be able to use this with her kids. Great learning tool!
I love the mop and bucket from Montessori Services, too cute
I would love to win this for my daughter to continue the Montessori style teaching with a little help
I like their Root-Vue Farm
This would be a great help! I’m gearing up to incorporate more montessori into our (home)(pre)school.
My son attends a Montessori preschool so these told would be great to have in our home.
Would definitely use these materials with my two young kids and also bring them out for our playdates with my babysitting co-op!
Wow, you always have such great giveaways! I want to win either the rugs or magnetic/nonmagnetic activity because they are both something I could actually use now or in the very near future with my daughter. Thanks, Deb!
I am a little obsessed with everything right now but if I had to choose one reason…I was just researching first reader books on magnets. Our home would love these items as we build our homeschool materials! TY!
I would so love these rugs and the magnetic nonmagnetic activity since I have two children who are home schooled. The littlest one has issues with leaving his sisters work alone and these rugs would be a perfect way for him to see his boundaries. I also think both of them would be able to explore the concept of magnetism which we will be studying this year anyway.
WOW its great fantastic idea i read and look your i always loved the montessori rug services
I’ve seen magnetic/non-magnetic activities prepared in a number of different formats in Montessori schools but your idea is best.
I like their Language Activity Sets
I would love to win because we are moving my son from a montessori school to homeschool. He is used to using the work rugs from school and Id love to continue this with him. The magnet set looks fun as well.
I would love this for my classroom at home. I am just starting a classroom for my 22 month old and the rugs would be a great start 🙂
Would love to win the since we are just starting out. Thanks for the opportunity.
This is a really nice giveaway. I really would like to see for myself what the difference is with this rug and a local store brought rug. The reason I would want to win the magnetic set is because every time I try to put this activity together it never looks right. The way this is put together is just right and would get chosen as work a lot more often than mine. Thank you for this opportunity!!
Tomorrow is my last day of our summer of training for 3-6 AMS credentials. We will then start the exciting task of setting up a classroom and any materials we can win would just be icing on the cake!
I would love to win because our home is about 700 square feet so the only place I have for my son to work is in the kitchen. This means I have to have setup/put away items (like a rug) to designate in his mind when it time to work and when it’s time to cook. Physical boundaries like a rug and a fold up table or chair would really help his little mind to understand when it’s time for him to learn and when the kitchen is just a kitchen.
I’d like to win because I have one child that is perfectly content to be alone and leave everyone’s stuff alone and I have another child that likes to be in everyone’s everything all the time. I think my second child could benefit from having a physical boundary like a rug.
i like all of the practical life items. i actually plan to order some of the child sized pitchers and things they are a very good price and not easy to come across in a regular store
i would like to win this set because i am just getting started out with montessori at home with my autistic son and we don’t have anything yet so these would be my first official materials