Sunshine Montessori

08/21/2026

08/21/2026

It is hard to believe that we have reached our final summer session! We have had such a wonderful summer filled with learning, creating, exploring, and making memories together. For our last session, we dove into the exciting world of STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics!

Week 1: Exploring the world of Art

During our first week, we focused especially on art and explored the work of several different artists. The children had opportunities to look closely at colors, shapes, patterns, and styles while creating their own artwork inspired by what they learned. It was wonderful to see their creativity and individuality shine through each project!

We began the week by learning about Pablo Picasso. The children participated in painting-matching activities and sorted examples of Picasso's artwork. We talked about how Picasso sometimes created faces that looked very different from the way we normally see them, with features appearing in unexpected places or from different points of view. We also learned that Picasso was inspired by African masks in some of his self-portraits. The children then had an opportunity to create their own colorful, abstract self-portraits inspired by his unique style.

Next, we learned about Edgar Degas, who is especially well known for his paintings and sculptures of dancers and horses. We focused on his ballerinas. The children enjoyed matching examples of Degas' artwork and observing the movement and poses of the dancers. They also enjoyed viewing a replica of his famous sculpture, The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer, and completing coloring activities. They then created their own adorable ballerinas using pipe cleaners, combining art with fine-motor skills and three-dimensional design.

We also explored the colorful work of Eric Carle. Many of the children recognized his distinctive illustrations from familiar children's books. We enjoyed reading Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle, sorting colors, and noticing how Carle used layers of brightly colored tissue paper to create his pictures. Inspired by his technique, the children made their own beautiful tissue-paper stars.

Another artist we discovered was Laurel Burch, whose artwork is filled with bright colors, bold patterns, and whimsical animals. The children participated in a fabric-matching activity, paying close attention to different vibrant colors and patterns. They especially enjoyed creating their own cat artwork inspired by Burch's wonderfully colorful cats.

We finished our artist study by learning about Jean-Michel Basquiat and a different form of art called graffiti. The children explored and sorted examples of his bold and expressive artwork and talked about some of the shapes, lines, faces, and symbols they noticed. They then had the opportunity to create their own painted masks, experimenting with color and design while expressing their individual creativity.

Throughout our art exploration, the children learned that there is no single way to be an artist. Every artist we studied had a very different style, and each found a unique way to communicate ideas through art. The children were encouraged to observe carefully, experiment, and, most importantly, enjoy the process of creating something that was uniquely their own.

Week 2: Science, Technology and Engineering

During our second week, we shifted our focus toward science, technology, and engineering and began exploring some of the amazing tools people use to observe and understand the world around us.

We started by learning about microscopes and the different parts of a compound microscope. We explored the evolution of magnification tools—from using water and glass to magnifying glasses, microscopes, and eventually telescopes. The children discovered that microscopes allow us to see things that are much too small for our eyes to see clearly on their own. We learned about both compound and digital microscopes, and the children carefully handled specimen slides as they practiced looking closely at objects and noticing tiny details. One of our favorite explorations was looking at salt and sugar crystals under the microscope. The children discovered that these everyday ingredients are much more interesting when viewed up close! Instead of simply seeing tiny white grains, they could observe the different shapes, edges, and patterns of the crystals. We also explored what happens when salt and sugar dissolve in water. The children noticed that the crystals disappeared from view, leading to wonderful conversations about how something can still be present even when we can no longer see it.

Next, we learned about the evolution of cameras, different types of cameras, and how they help us capture and preserve the things we see. The children were fascinated to explore a manual camera with a film reel, a disposable camera, a digital camera, a professional DSLR camera, and a Polaroid instant camera. The children were also introduced to the famous photographer Ansel Adams, who is known for his beautiful black-and-white photographs of nature and landscapes. Through a three-part card-matching activity, the children explored some of his work and learned about his approach to photography. The children had so much fun experimenting with a Polaroid instant camera, choosing what they wanted to photograph and watching in amazement as their pictures developed right before their eyes! They also had an opportunity to photograph our natural environment and create their own Ansel Adams-inspired photographs.

We also explored the fascinating world of kaleidoscopes. The children learned how mirrors and light can work together to create colorful, repeating patterns, and they had the opportunity to create their own kaleidoscopes. Kaleidoscopes are a wonderful example of how science and art can come together.

Of course, we couldn't finish our summer without exploring one of the children's favorite animals - dinosaurs! Through our dinosaur dig and fossil activities, the children had a chance to imagine themselves as paleontologists. They dug for dinosaur bones, carefully cleaned their discoveries with brushes, and used the pieces to form a Stegosaurus dinosaur puzzle. They also enjoyed matching different miniature dinosaur figures to their pictures, practicing the pronunciation of those wonderfully long dinosaur names, and creating their own dinosaur fossils.

The children had the opportunity to learn about, touch, and feel an amazing variety of animals, including an eyelash-crested gecko from New Caledonia, a guinea pig from Peru, a bearded dragon from Australia, a ferret, a three-banded armadillo from Brazil, an albino Burmese python, and an American alligator. The children were fascinated by the flexibility of the ferret, the incredible length of the python, the spikes of the armadillo, the softness of the guinea pig, and the rough, textured skin of the alligator. The children were thrilled to have this hands-on animal experience as the grand finale to our summer adventures. A big thank you to all the parents for your generous contributions that made this wonderful enrichment activity possible for our children!

As our summer sessions come to an end, we are so proud of everything the children have explored and accomplished. From our adventures in the garden, under the sea, and around the world in two weeks, to our final journey through STEAM, they have approached each new activity with curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm.

Thank you for sharing your children with us this summer. It has been such a joy watching them explore, discover, create, learn, and grow!

08/09/2026

Can you believe we are already more than halfway through the summer? We have been having so much fun creating crafts, learning new lessons, and singing new songs!

During this session, we have been exploring the fascinating world of ocean animals and shells. The children have been curious, enthusiastic, and eager to share what they know while discovering many new and interesting facts.

During the first week, we learned about different ocean animals and created fun crafts inspired by our lessons. The children loved naming the different types of fish they already knew and enjoyed learning to identify new fish using three-part cards. They also had a wonderful time making adorable fish using pool noodles and pipe cleaners.

One surprising fact the children learned was that corals are animals, not plants or rocks! They enjoyed differentiating and sorting rocks, shells, and corals.

We also learned about the tides and discovered that they are influenced by the moon’s gravitational pull. This led to a wonderful discussion about the importance of taking care of our oceans. We talked about how, when we visit the beach, we should always clean up after ourselves and place our trash in the proper bins rather than leaving it behind where it could make its way into the ocean and harm sea creatures.

The children especially enjoyed our mystery bag activity. They felt the shapes of different sea creatures hidden inside the bag, guessed what each one was, and then matched it to the corresponding card. Ocean-themed jigsaw puzzles were another favorite activity!

The children also had fun making crabs out of paper plates. They were fascinated to learn that crabs have blue blood. Making jellyfish from paper bowls and streamers was another favorite. The children loved watching the streamers sway in the breeze, just like jellyfish move through the ocean. We also learned that not all jellyfish sting.

Of course, we couldn't forget about dolphins, one of the favorite sea creatures among many of our students! The children were excited to learn that dolphins are toothed whales.

This week, we turned our attention from ocean animals to shells. The children enjoyed sorting shells by size, shape, and color. They also loved working with our shell basket, where they sorted similar shells and practiced counting them from 1-10.

We learned that animals with shells, such as snails and clams, belong to a group called mollusks. One particularly interesting discovery was learning about how mollusks begin their lives as eggs. The children were amazed to learn that some mollusks produce egg masses or egg strands containing many tiny eggs. The children explored different types of shells, learned how shells grow, and discovered how mollusks can be classified. We introduced three major groups: bivalves, gastropods (univalves), and tusk shells. The children enjoyed sorting bivalve and univalve shells and comparing their different shapes and characteristics.

The children also learned that shells can serve as homes for some animals. We discussed how certain creatures, such as hermit crabs, use empty shells as protective homes. We also learned that crabs can leave their old shells behind when they outgrow them and need to find a larger one.

This led to an important conversation about how we can help protect ocean animals when visiting the beach. We talked about how we should never take a shell if an animal is living inside it, because that shell is its home and taking it away could put the animal in danger. We also learned that if we find an empty shell with no animal living inside, it is generally okay to take it home, as long as we follow local beach and environmental rules. The children enjoyed learning that even something as simple as leaving a living creature's home where we found it is one way we can be kind and respectful to nature.

The crafts this week were especially popular! The children made shell necklaces, shell frames, decorated shells, and shell impressions in clay- fossils. These hands-on activities gave them an opportunity to explore the shapes and textures of shells while expressing their creativity.

We also discussed how Earth looked very different long ago and how large areas of land that are now mountains were once covered by water. The children were fascinated to learn that fossils and impressions of shells can be found high in the mountains and in places such as the Grand Canyon.

It has been wonderful watching the children explore, discover, create, and share their excitement about the ocean world. They have learned so many new facts while developing their observation, sorting, counting, and problem-solving skills.

As we wrap up our ocean-themed session, the children are already looking forward to our last summer session: STEAM! They will have the opportunity to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics through exciting, hands-on activities.

We can't wait to see what they discover next!

08/09/2026

07/25/2026

07/25/2026

We hope you are having a fabulous summer- we certainly are! Over the past two weeks, we had an amazing time traveling around the world and exploring different countries, cultures, traditions, and foods.

Our journey began in Canada, the country closest to us. We located Canada on the map and learned about its flag with the large maple leaf at its center. The children enjoyed creating their own Canadian flag decorations, reading books about the country's people and wildlife, and learning about the Indigenous peoples of Canada. They discovered inukshuks, stone structures traditionally built by the Inuit people to help with navigation, as well as totem poles, large wooden carvings that have served many cultural purposes for Indigenous communities. The children explored the Canadian cultural basket, sorted inukshuk and totem pole picture cards, and created beautiful, colorful inukshuk artwork using oil pastels. To complete our Canadian experience, everyone enjoyed fresh pancakes topped with delicious Canadian maple syrup.

Our next destination was Australia. We identified Australia as the world's smallest continent and counted its states and territories. The children learned about the Australian flag and noticed its similarity to the flag of the United Kingdom because it includes the Union Jack. They enjoyed learning about Australia's unique wildlife and created popsicle-stick puppets of their favorite Australian animals.

Since we had learned about the Union Jack, our next stop was England. The children located England on the map of Europe and discovered that it is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom, along with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. They learned that while the United Kingdom has the Union Jack as its national flag, each country also has its own unique flag. The children explored discovery baskets filled with artifacts from England, created replicas of the Buckingham Palace Guards and royal crowns, and especially enjoyed tasting digestive biscuits, a popular snack often served with tea. They also matched pictures representing famous landmarks and aspects of English culture before creating artwork inspired by Big Ben.

Our adventure then took us to Kenya. The children located Kenya on the map of Africa and learned about its colorful flag featuring the Maasai shield and spears. They had the opportunity to examine a mporro, a traditional Maasai beaded necklace, before designing their own using paper plates and markers. The children explored African rhythms by playing the djembe, a traditional African drum, and even made their own djembe crafts. Since Kenya is well known for its coffee, they used a hand-crank coffee grinder to grind coffee beans to coffee powder. The children practiced scraping cinnamon sticks using a grater. As they worked, the children observed the texture of the cinnamon change into fine shavings and enjoyed its rich, fragrant aroma. They also enjoyed tasting fresh mangoes, one of Kenya's most widely grown fruits. In addition, the children learned about Wangari Maathai, the environmental, social, and political activist who became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. They discovered how she founded the Green Belt Movement, inspiring millions of trees to be planted throughout Kenya.

Next, we traveled to Peru. We located Peru on the map of South America and explored its national flag and coat of arms. The children learned that it features a vicuña, a wild relative of the llama, a cinchona tree, known for producing quinine used to treat malaria, and a cornucopia overflowing with gold coins to symbolize Peru's rich mineral resources. We discussed the important role llamas play in Peru by carrying goods and providing wool, and admired their colorful decorations. The children had fun creating their own brightly decorated paper plate llamas, exploring artifacts in the Peruvian cultural basket, grinding corn with a mortar and pestle, and tasting Peruvian corn. The corn was such a hit that many children asked for seconds!

Our final destination was Japan. The children learned that Japan is an archipelago and located it on the map of Asia. They noticed that Japan's flag was the simplest of all the flags we studied, featuring a single red circle representing the sun, reflecting Japan's nickname, the "Land of the Rising Sun." The children listened to traditional Japanese folktales and learned a Japanese version of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." They explored a cultural basket containing a geisha doll, a traditional wooden musical toy, Japanese yen, Japanese fan and postcards with Japanese stamps. Since Japan is famous for its delicious cuisine, the children learned about popular Japanese foods using three-part matching cards and even sampled seaweed, which received mixed reviews! They sorted kokeshi nesting dolls by size, practiced transferring noodles (yarn) with chopsticks, and learned about Mount Fuji and Japan's beautiful cherry blossoms through art activities. The children also enjoyed learning about Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day), celebrated on May 5, and created their own colorful koinobori (carp streamers), imagining them flying against the beautiful backdrop of snow-capped Mount Fuji and blooming cherry blossoms.

If you and your child would also like to explore art, music and food around the world please check out the Lowell Folk Festival happening on July 25th and 26th. More details can be found at https://lowellfolkfestival.org/pages/event-schedule

After our exciting journey around the world over the past two weeks, we are looking forward to slowing down and diving into our next adventure- Under the Sea! We can't wait to explore ocean habitats, fascinating sea creatures, and all the wonders waiting beneath the waves.

07/18/2026

07/18/2026

We asked the children to predict who they think will be the Soccer World Cup champions! Each child cast their vote by coloring the flag of the country they were cheering for. Now the excitement begins- let's see if their predictions come true!

07/12/2026

We were so happy to welcome our children back to school for Summer Camp! Our first session, "Garden Explorers," was a delightful journey into the beauty of nature. Throughout the week, the children explored the outdoors and participated in a variety of hands-on, nature-inspired activities that sparked curiosity, creativity, and a love for gardening.

The children began by learning about the different garden tools used for gardening through Montessori Three-Part Cards. They were then able to apply this knowledge while planting seeds in our garden. They explored the life cycle of a plant- from seed to sprout, root and shoot, and finally to a blooming plant. Each child planted grass seeds in a small pot and is excited to bring home and care for their very own "grasshead." Together, the children also planted flowers, herbs such as basil and sage, and vegetables including beans, bell peppers, and tomatoes in our planter boxes. Throughout the summer, they will continue nurturing their garden by watering and caring for the plants, and they will enjoy watching them grow and eventually harvesting the fruits of their labor.

As part of their botanical studies, the children learned about the different parts of a flower through a flower dissection activity. They carefully observed and identified the corolla, stamens, pistil, ovaries, and anther, gaining a deeper understanding of how flowers are structured. They also expressed their creativity by painting ceramic flowers in the colors of their choice. Each unique creation turned out beautifully!

No gardening adventure would be complete without learning about pollination. The children discovered what pollination is, why it is important, and the vital role bees play in this process. Bees are some of nature's busiest helpers and are among the most important pollinators. As they fly from flower to flower collecting sweet nectar, tiny grains of pollen stick to their fuzzy bodies. When bees visit another flower, they carry the pollen with them. This special process, called pollination, helps flowers produce fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Many of the foods we enjoy, including apples, strawberries, pumpkins, cucumbers, and blueberries, depend on pollinators like bees.

Through stories, songs, crafts, and hands-on activities, the children explored the fascinating world of bees. They made adorable bees using tongue depressors and pipe cleaners, painted rocks to resemble bees, and acted out the movement of pollination by pretending to be busy bees flying from flower to flower. They also learned about the life cycle of a bee and identified the different parts of a bee, developing an appreciation for these remarkable insects and the important work they do.

Our "Garden Explorers" session was a wonderful blend of outdoor discovery, scientific exploration, and artistic expression. It left the children with a deeper appreciation for the wonders of nature and a strong sense of pride in the garden they helped create. Families can continue the learning at home by taking nature walks to observe bees, butterflies, and colorful flowers. Encourage your child to appreciate these helpful pollinators from a safe distance while recognizing the important role they play in keeping our environment healthy.

We are excited for our next Summer Camp adventure as we begin "Around the World in 2 weeks!" We can't wait to explore new countries, cultures, traditions, music, art, and foods with our young adventurers. Stay tuned for another exciting journey filled with learning and fun!