Sunday, August 14, 2011

Montessori Thesis / Practical Life and Math

My Montessori training center, MECA-Seton in Chicago, had monster requirements of their future graduates. We made vast quantities of materials for approval by sage, Celma Perry.  Our final opus was a Montessori thesis. Here is a condensed version of mine posted in parts for you to view.
 I was working on my masters in clay when I discovered Montessori.

Montessori Clay

Practical Life and Math in Clay
What better complement to flowers than the earthiness of a clay vessel.
Wheel thrown and hand built vases





Miniature pitchers for rice or water pouring exercises


Matching pitcher and bowl sets


Tweezer  Sorting Exercises

Tiny squares are paired according to dots of color




Extruded geometric and decorative colored-clay shapes are grouped according to likeness


Matching Exercises

I carved the original pattern into a plaster stamp to decorate these clay slabs with leaf and flower motifs.



Clay rings paired according to natural clay color.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Children's Open Studio Art in Clay

Cool Video at the bottom of this post!



Braided clay coil handle basket



Alien with gun!




Dinosaur!




I was busy and ignoring this kid and when I turned 
around he had made this tea pot! 





The Wrestler #1





Lidded Stamped Jar made by a three year old.





Wrestler #2






Easter Basket




Japanese stamps that actually say office things like, 
"out going mail"! 
I bought them at an office supply store in Tokyo and my Japanese friends thought I was crazy.






Beautiful Coil Pots by four and five year olds.







See the video here:


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Red Rods Old But Forever Good ! / Sensorial Extensions

Cleaning my office and found these OLD photo negatives.
Hope they are new and fresh for others.














I keep these photos in a small booklet for the kids to look at and copy.
I have had to refresh the booklet many times from being worn out from use.
Even parents love viewing the choices.
If you don't have this in your class just recreate the designs and take your own photos.
















































Monday, August 1, 2011

Show Me the Art!

When parents visit a preschool that advertises itself as an art active environment I ask parents to demand,"Show me the art!" 
A school should have their art on display for all to admire each day. Here are the permanent displays that one can witness at my school. Of course, paper projects come and go.



This is all student work.









How is that for kindergarten work?









An ode to Montessori with Italian Montessori lira.











Clay owl in the wreath.





Basement window.


Plate ledge of our old house filled with art.

The clay peg board alphabet letters were made by me.

These last plates were done as a cooperative project between myself and the kids. Kids and parents watched me throw on the potter's wheel. I threw plates and bowls. Later, the kids made hand-prints or attached clay letters or animals to my thrown pieces! 

So, Parents!
Ask, "Show me the art!"

See our art on this video!