Math Appreciation:Montessori Monday

Ken and DJ are keeping good records on the school store and even have established school store hours that are working out for them and their customers. I see them working really hard on their math even when they really don't want to. I established that math activities must be done on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays for at least one hour of the day. I don't think this is a difficult task especially when you have come across a book that inspires you to create a Math Appreciation unit.

This book has changed my whole persective how math can be presented to children. Along with using the Montessori math materials I feel confident that my children will have a strong understanding of math and a love to want to continue to learn math concepts not just because they have to.

So who are we appreciating The Man Who Loved Numbers Leonardo Fibonacci . Leonardo  Fibonacci discovered a sequence of numbers that helped explain natures' math. Some people call that the Fibonacci sequence.

For our Math Appreciation thematic studies we will be discovering how exactly the sequence works.

I also found two other books that explain the concept in a such a kid friendly.

 On our shelves I have created works that can help along the way for this week we have.....

 Discovering patterns in Nature. Pine cones to find the Fibonacci number, and the flowers to also find the numbers by counting the petals. I have coined this the "Love Me, Love Me Not" work.

To accomodate the children to do this work successful there is a tray on the shelf below that allows them to place three flowers in the vase, and there is a dish to use to place the petals as they count. Perfect activity for Ken who loves flowers!!                                                                    

 
                                        The Fibonnaci sequence work.

 DJ has been enjoying doing calculator work. DJ loves Big numbers. To aid in this love I created the Fibonnaci sequence work.

Once he understands the pattern I am sure DJ will really, really, love the calculator.

                                    The Fibonnaci Board

They will use this board to sequence the first 34 Fibonacci numbers. Unfortunately I ran out of printer ink to print the control chart. I bet they will have fun with this one!

                                                                            
                  Making a Fibonnaci Book Of Numbers

We already read Rabbits Rabbits Everywhere several times. They thoroughly enjoy it! They have made their own discoveries about Fibonacci's Rabbit Experiment while re-reading this book over and over. I remembered the beautiful post that Lori from the blog http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/. posted about a Montessori Guide who wrapped up a special lesson for her children and presented them with a "Gift". I feel so blessed to be able to homeschool these two children that I want them to feel how passionate I feel about being able to guide them. I presented my two children with a gift. They were pleasantly surprised to find the gifts on their school table.

                                                                                   

They received their very own flute just like the Pied Pied played in the book Rabbits Rabbits Everywhere.
I am linking this post to Montessori Monday hosted by http://www.livingmontessorinow.com/ and One Hook Wonder. I am also linking to love2learn2day for Math Monday.