Hopscotch Montessori School

🌍 Caring for Our Planet

Last week, we began by reading I Love the Earth by Todd Parr, a book that celebrates the beauty of our planet and reminds us how important it is to take care of it. The children listened thoughtfully, and the conversation that followed was full of ideas and care.

To put our learning into action, the children worked together to sort different materials into three categories: compost, recycling, and trash. We talked about where each item belongs and why, and the children did such a wonderful job with this activity!

We also discussed how recycling allows materials to be used again, and how composting uneaten food helps reduce waste and returns nutrients to the earth. During our walks to the park, we carried food scraps to the outdoor compost, giving the children a hands-on way to practice caring for the planet. Through stories, sorting, and real action, our children learned that even small hands can make a big difference 💛

🌙 Moon Phases

Last week, we turned our eyes to the night sky and explored the fascinating world of the moon. The children discovered that the moon doesn't stay the same throughout the month — it goes through different phases. We learned new vocabulary words like "waxing" and "waning," and followed the moon's journey from a thin crescent to a full, glowing circle and back again.

Our little scientists were especially excited to create their own fizzy moons! Using baking soda paint and vinegar drops, they watched with delight as their moon art bubbled and fizzed — a simple but magical chemical reaction that brought their learning to life.

It was a beautiful reminder that the sky above us is full of stories waiting to be explored ✨

☁ Learning about clouds and how they form

We discovered the different types of clouds and how they form. To bring the lesson to life, we conducted a simple but fascinating demonstration using hot water, hair spray, and ice cubes to observe how mist floats above. The children watched closely, captivated by the process.

We explained that this happens when warm air rises into the atmosphere, expands, cools, and clings to tiny particles of dust or smoke. The children were fully engaged, actively participating in the steps and recalling them with confidence — a beautiful sign of how deeply they absorb these hands-on experiences.

Montessori Parent: Sensorial Development at Home (Part 2)

Welcome back to our exploration of sensorial development! In Part 1, we talked about supporting your child's sense of touch and hearing through simple, everyday experiences. Now let's turn to sight, taste, smell, and movement — the other essential senses that help your child build a strong foundation for learning.

👀 For sight, keep spaces simple and uncluttered so they can focus, use high-contrast black and white cards for infants and simple colorful objects for toddlers, and let them watch light, shadows, or leaves moving outside.

👅 For taste and smell, let babies smell fresh herbs, fruits, or flowers, offer toddlers a variety of safe, real foods with different flavors, and invite them to smell food before tasting.

🤸 And for movement and balance, give space for free movement — a floor mat instead of baby containers, crawling through tunnels, climbing over cushions, or rolling on the floor — and let toddlers carry small objects, push child-sized furniture, or walk barefoot on grass.

You don't need expensive toys or complicated setups to support your child's sensorial development. What matters most is real experiences, materials, and time to explore.

Our theme, "The Earth Beneath Our Feet," took us on an exploration of the planet's hidden layers. Through discussions, books, and hands-on activities, the children discovered that our world is made up of four distinct layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. Each layer has its own unique characteristics, and the children were fascinated by what lies beneath the surface.

To bring the concept of layers to life, we explored sensorial activities: carefully pouring different colors of sand to create layered designs. This quiet, focused work helped the children practice concentration and control of movement while visually understanding how layers build upon one another. The children also painted the layers of the Earth and worked together to place them in the correct order — reinforcing their learning in a fun, collaborative way 🎨

We even brought our learning into the kitchen! The children baked homemade granola and created yogurt parfaits inspired by the Earth's layers — with the granola sprinkled on top to represent the crust. It was a delicious and memorable way to connect our classroom studies to real life.

It was a wonderful week of hands-on exploration, creativity, and discovering the fascinating world beneath our feet! 🌍

Last week, we took a closer look at one of nature's most hardworking little creatures — the honey bee. We learned how these tiny insects play such a big role in our world. To bring our learning to life, we created a larger-than-life honey bee art project. The children carefully tore small pieces of yellow and black paper and covered the bee's body, creating its signature striped pattern. It was a wonderful exercise in patience, fine motor skills, and attention to detail 🐝

To add a three-dimensional touch, they used soft cotton balls to form the bee's fluffy wings. The contrast between the textured paper body and the airy, delicate wings made each artwork unique and full of character.

Through art, science, and careful hands-on work, our children deepened their appreciation for these busy pollinators — and created something truly beautiful along the way 💛

Last week, we talked about different types of weather, the changing seasons, and how our clothing choices help us adapt throughout the year. The children shared their observations and connected their learning to their own experiences.

To bring our exploration to life, we conducted a special science experiment: creating rain in a jar. The children watched closely as colored water slowly passed through the "cloud" and began to fall like rain. It was a simple but powerful demonstration of how precipitation forms, and the children approached the invitation with concentration, wonder, and careful observation.

It was a wonderful week of curiosity, discovery, and hands-on learning as the children explored the world around them!

This program thoughtfully nurtures your child’s natural development — guiding them from early movement to confident walking, and from curious exploration to meaningful participation within a supportive community.

📩 Enrollment for the 1st session (September - October) is open! For more information, please contact [email protected] or call 212-774-1907.

☁️ Last week, we looked up and explored the world above us — air, wind, and weather

Our theme took us high into the sky, and we brought it down to paper through a beautiful art project. The children began by painting with different shades of blue, layering light and dark tones to create a sky full of depth and movement. Using bright yellow paint and orange oil pastels, they added a warm, glowing sun with rays that stretched outward in every direction.

To complete their artwork, the children stretched out soft cotton balls and glued them onto the paper, creating fluffy clouds that seemed to float across their skies.

Through this project, the children explored color, texture, and composition while deepening their connection to the world above them. And of course, they had a wonderful time bringing their own skies to life! 🎨