Montessori School of Wellington

🌿🌲🌳Nature Scavenger Hunt🌳🌲🌿

The children enjoyed exploring the outdoor environment as they searched for different items found in nature.

Along the way, they made many interesting observations and asked thoughtful questions. They noticed leaves with holes and wondered which insects had eaten them. They discussed the differences between a snail and a slug, observed flowers, sticks, rocks, and insects, and watched a black bird building a nest with dry grass. The children were also excited to spot a rabbit and wondered why some leaves felt softer than others.

The scavenger hunt encouraged close observation, concentration, and curiosity about the natural world. The children worked together to identify and collect items, shared their discoveries with friends, and practiced using descriptive language to talk about what they found.

The Casa children maintain, clean, and organize their environment. Folding aprons and cloths is a daily activity.

Hello everyone,

Here is a list of books that deal with real-life situations that are excellent for children to relate to.

Sometimes when we can’t find the right words to explain situations, the right book can be a lifesaver.

**Courtesy of Groundwood Books - The Feeling and Healing Collection**
Navigating Family Issues

Away – Emil Sher (Being Away from Loved Ones)
Because I Already Loved You – Andree-Anne Cyr (Child/Sibling Loss/Death)
The Big Bad Wolf in My House – Valerie Fontaine (Domestic Violence & Physical/Emotional Abuse)
Bitter and Sweet – Sandra V. Feder (Moving Homes/Schools)
Louis Undercover – F***y Britt (Alcoholism)
The Voyage – Veronica Salinas (Moving to a New Country)
We Are Lions! – Jens Mattson (Childhood/Sibling Illness)
Weekend Dad – Naseem Hrab (Divorce & Seperation)
Navigating Death, Loss, Grief

The Funeral – Matt James (Understanding Funerals)
Good Night, Commander – Ahmad Akbarpour (PTSD, Loss, Revenge)
Grandmother’s Visit – Betty Quan (Death & Spirits)
Helen’s Birds – Sarah Cassidy (Rembering Loved Ones & Honoring Them)
Last Week – Bill Richardson (Understanding Assisted Death)
Malaika, Carnival Queen – Nadia L. Hohn (Continuing Life without a Loved One)
Maybe a Whale – Kristen Pendreigh (Continuing Life without a Loved One)
The Remembering Stone – Carey Sookocheff (Connecting to Sentimental Objects & Remembering Loved Ones)
Developing Emotional Awareness

Happy Birthday To Me – Thao Lam (Emotional Awareness & Regulation)
The Serious Thought – Jonal Taul (Awareness of Thoughts & Perspective
Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox or Sometimes I Feel Like a River – Danielle Daniel (Emotional Awareness & Regulation)
Navigating Specific Emotions

Angry Me – Sandra V. Feder (Anger)
Game Face – Shari Green (Managing Anxiety & Pressure)
The Homesick Club – Libby Martinez (Feeling Homesick)
The Invitation – Stacey May Fowles (Pushing Past Anxiety)
Jane, the Fox & Me – F***y Britt (Bullying/Body Insecruities)
Peaceful Me – Sandra V. Feder (Feeling Peaceful & Finding Peace)
The Store Window – Jairo Buitrago (Empathy/Compassion)
A Place for Pauline – Anouk Mahiout (Independence)
Violet Shrink – Carmen Mok (Anxiety/Social Anxiety)
Walk with Me – Jairo Buitrago (Bravery, Safety, Strength, Independence)
Navigating Culture and Identity

Alone: The Journey of Three Young Refugees – Paul Tom (Culture & Relocation)
Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings – Francie Latour (Culture)
A Feast for Joseph – Terry Farish & OD Bonny (Culture)
Greetings, Leroy – Itah Sadu (Culture)
I Have the Right to Culture – Alain Serres (Culture)
The Last Two Crayons – Leah Freeman-Haskin (Culture)
Mustafa – Marie-Louise Gay (Culture)
Shi-shi-etko and Shin-chi’s Canoe – Nicola I. Campbell (culture)
Two White Rabbits – Jairo Buitrago (Culture)
When I Found Grandma and When I Visited Grandma – Saumiya Balasubramaniam (Culture)
Fostering Inclusion and Acceptance

Aunt Pearl – Monica Kulling (Homelessness, Depression, Mental Illness)
A Boy Named Queen – Sara Cassidy (Individuality & Uniqueness)
Every Wrinkle Has a Story – David Grossman (Aging & Storytelling)
A Family Is a Family Is a Family and A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid – Sara O’Leary (Different Family Dynamics and Accepting Others as They Are)
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress – Christine Baldacchino (Overcoming Rejection)
My Mother Was a Nanny – Laura James (Acceptance of Our Varying Roles and Traits)
The Scooter Twins – Ellen Palmer (Disability)

In our Montessori prepared environment, experiences like this support concentration, patience, and a deep respect for nature. The children learn through real observation, following the natural curiosity of the absorbent mind.

🌻Inside Our Work Cycle🌻

Watching the children move confidently through their work cycle reminds us how capable and curious they truly are. Each activity supports independence, concentration, and a genuine love for learning.

Over the next few weeks, we will be observing all stages of the butterfly life cycle from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly!

Stay tuned for updates as we watch this transformation unfold before our eyes.

ButterflyLifeCycle