During winter, there are new materials for Montessori learners to explore, including some for learning about the different types of snowflakes and the snowflake life cycle. The learners discover snowflake shapes such as a simple star, branched star, stellar dendrite, plate, and hexagonal plate snowflake. In another new material, learners can“fish” for ice in a bowl of water with ice cubes in the shape of stellar dendrite snowflakes. This fun activity is also a challenge requiring concentration, motor control, and coordination.

In the Montessori studio, learners are introduced to different artists to encourage creativity, self-expression, and imagination as well as to enrich their vocabulary. One such artist is Yayoi Kusama, also known as “the princess of polka dots.” Much of Kusama’s artwork uses polka dots because she believes that polka dots help her art (and herself) become part of the larger universe. 

Because learners spend much of the day productive with work and activities, it is important they take the time to nourish and rest their bodies with snacks and breaks throughout the day. During morning circle, two learners are chosen as snack helpers to help prepare and put together snacks for learners to eat during the morning work cycle. 

As Halloween approaches, the Montessori learners have been focusing on the human body. During morning circle, the learners compared X-rays of human bones to pictures in a book and arranged the X-rays to construct a skeleton. Learners took turns comparing and arranging the X-rays.