Children are always active during December, as they are eagerly anticipating the upcoming holiday celebrations. Use the power of the December holidays to draw them into the practical life area for their needed concentration skills.
Hanukkah Menorah and Kwanzaa Kinara
Have children practice hand transfer activities by putting out a Hanukkah menorah and Kwanzaa kinara. Children can place candles in the candleholders, and gently remove them. Turn this into a cultural lesson by demonstrating the proper order in which candles are placed.
For the menorah, the shamesh is always in the middle, and is used to light the other candles. Remaining candles are lit from right to left, so they can be placed in the menorah from right to left.
For the kinara, specific colors of candles are also used. A black candle sits in the center of the kinara. Next, a red candle is placed directly to the left of the black candle. A green candle is then placed directly to the right of the black candle. Continue alternating until all of the red candles are on the left, and all of the greens are on the right.
Another activity can be polishing a menorah or a kinara. Some schools are still able to allow the use of traditional polishes. Others have moved to more natural cleaning measures. Use lemon juice, or baking soda and vinegar on a metal candelabra. Use oil or even lotion on a wooden candelabra.
Screw in Light Bulbs
Children can practice twisting skills by screwing in light bulbs. These light bulbs can be twisted into place on strands of lights or in an electric menorah. Some of these light bulbs do not screw into place, instead requiring to be placed just right within a socket to light. This can serve as a sort of hand transfer activity.
Decorate a Christmas Tree
Set up a miniature Christmas tree, complete with ornaments for children to hang on it. They can decide how they want to decorate their tree and change it up each time. Children can also practice putting hooks back on ornaments, as they have a tendency to fall off during storage.
Children can also practice stringing beads, either for tree decoration, or personal decoration. Have them make their own, in the tradition of Kwanzaa, or string some of traditional colors.
Wrap Presents
Practice wrapping presents in boxes of varying sizes. Consider using cloth instead of paper, or recycle the daily newspaper. Also practice the art of putting gifts into appropriately sized gift bags, complete with tissue paper.
A similar idea would be to match greeting cards with envelopes. Practice putting the cards into the envelopes and tucking in the flap.
Set the Table
Montessori children already are proficient in setting a table for their snacks and meals. Expand on this care of the environment piece by adding items for setting the table. Have children create a centerpiece with fruit or flowers. For Kwanzaa, the table is often decorated with muhindi, or ears of corn that represent the children in the family.
Children can also weave their own mkeka to be placed on the tables. The mkeka is a traditional Kwanzaa placemat. Weave on a loom, through material, or make a placemat by weaving paper.
Use Traditional Colors
Set up traditional practical life activities, using traditional colors from each holiday. When thinking of Hanukkah, use blue and white. Christmas, of course, uses red and green. Kwanzaa colors include red, green, and black. Think of this while setting up traditional transferring and water exercises.
Intersperse cultural lessons about December holidays into Montessori practical life activities. Children will be naturally drawn to them. They can also allow children to fulfill their need to engage in the holiday madness.
TLE 101
Andrea Coventry - Andrea Coventry is a Montessori child, now Montessori educator, with 25 years' experience with children, publishing online since 2007.
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