Montessori and Education headlines

Here are some recent headlines grabbed by our automated news feed.

Sidewalk Chalk Art

Chris Dunmire has a 10 step plan to get your child ready to create beautiful sidewalk art. You can find a recipe for sidewalk chalk here.

How to Introduce Playdough

In Montessori classrooms you introduce everything to your students. We introduced playdough to the children very similar to this. Grab some playdough, roll it into a snake. Coil the snake into a circle. Make a pancake. It’s great therapy!

Super Cool Doll Furniture

I wish I could make this furniture for myself! How to Make Styrofoam Egg Carton Doll Furniture has great directions and photos for this fun doll furniture.

Egg Carton Art

Egg Carton Critters has some cute ideas for your recycled egg cartons. Here are some more links- Egg Carton Animals Egg Carton Animal Disguises Crazy Crawlers Egg Carton Lady Bugs (Lady Birds) Egg Carton Crab Egg Carton Snake Egg Carton Allegator Egg Carton Ant Egg Carton Tulips Egg Carton Flower Wreath Egg Carton Daffodil Egg Carton Flowers

Summer Projects

These are some fun summer projects and games for your children.

California

I’m back from California. The weather was beautiful and the Pacific Ocean was a spectacular sight for a land-locked person! We went to Santa Barbara for my niece’s graduation and celebrated my mother’s 83rd birthday. Life is good.

Free Moon Reading Cards

Anytime is a great time to observe the phases of the moon. Here are some free Montessori reading cards of the moon phases.

Free Summer Concerts

Colorado Springs is a great place to find free concerts. Here is a list of local, free concerts for the summer of 2009. Check out your local message board or paper to find free concerts for a summer of musical joy. (I love outdoor concerts because you can bring your kids and dog!)

Free Planet Reading Science Cards

These free Montessori nomenclature cards have beautiful graphics of our 8 major planets.

Montessori Tackle Box

Using a tackle box with lots of Montessori materials is the way to go. It’s compact and so easy to use. Check out Teaching from a Tackle Box for a great deal.

Giant Moa Rebuilt Using Ancient DNA From Prehistoric Feathers

Scientists have performed the first DNA-based reconstruction of the giant extinct moa bird, using prehistoric feathers recovered from caves and rock shelters in New Zealand.

CPAP Treatment Linked To Lower Mortality In Stroke Patients With OSA

Stroke patients with obstructive sleep apnea who undergo treatment with continuous positive airway pressure following their stroke may substantially reduce their risk of death.

Successful Initial Safety Tests For Genetically-modified Rice That Fights Allergy

In a first-of-its-kind advance toward the next generation of genetically modified foods — intended to improve consumers' health — researchers in Japan are reporting that a new transgenic rice designed to fight a common pollen allergy appears safe in animal studies. 

Stirred, Not Shaken: Bio-inspired Cilia Mix Medical Reagents At Small Scales

Engineers used a novel underwater manufacturing technique to successfully build biomimetic cilia. The hairlike appendages mix tiny volumes of liquid to speed up biomedical reactions.

Will IVF Work For A Particular Patient? The Answer May Be Found In Her Blood

For the first time, researchers have been able to identify genetic predictors of the potential success or failure of IVF treatment in blood. New research helps explain why IVF works for some patients but not for others.

New Class Of Black Holes Discovered

A new class of black hole, more than 500 times the mass of the Sun, has been discovered by an international team of astronomers.

Microalgae As A Source Of Alternative Energy

Scientists are researching the potential of mass production of microalgae as a crop.

In Pursuit Of A Happiness Gene

The pursuit of happiness characterizes the human condition. But for those suffering from stress, money trouble or chronic illness, a positive outlook on life can be difficult to find. Now, a researcher says we should look to our genes.

Salamanders, Regenerative Wonders, Heal Like Mammals, People

The salamander is a superhero of regeneration, able to replace lost limbs, damaged lungs, sliced spinal cord -- even bits of lopped-off brain. Based on experiments on genetically modified axolotl salamanders, researchers show that cells from the salamander's different tissues retain the "memory" of those tissues when they regenerate, contributing with few exceptions only to the same type of tissue from whence they came.

Alzheimer's Symptoms Reversed: Blood Stem Cell Growth Factor Reverses Memory Decline In Mice

A human growth factor that stimulates blood stem cells to proliferate in bone marrow reverses memory impairment in mice genetically altered to develop Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds.

Emerging Techniques Put A New Twist On Ankle Repair

People with ankle injuries who do not respond successfully to initial treatment may have a second chance at recovery, thanks to two new procedures.

Antibiotics Take Toll On Beneficial Microbes In Gut

In mice, scientists have shown two types of antibiotics can cause moderate to wide-ranging changes in normally diverse, beneficial gut microbes. The findings have implications for minimizing diarrhea in vulnerable patients, and for treating inflammatory bowel disease and C. difficile.

Biogenic Origin For Earth's Oldest Putative Microfossils

Microbes and bacteria were the first living organisms on Earth, and they can be preserved in Archean silica-rich rocks. One such outcrop from western Australia, dated to 3.5 billion years ago, may hold the oldest "microfossils."

Barriers Hinder EMS Workers From Using Best Resuscitation Practices, Study Finds

Local laws, insurance reimbursement and public misperceptions impede emergency medical services (EMS) workers from using best resuscitation practices, according to a new study.

Plants Save The Earth From An Icy Doom

When glaciers advanced over much of the Earth's surface during the last ice age, what kept the planet from freezing over entirely? This has been a puzzle to climate scientists because leading models have indicated that over the past 24 million years geological conditions should have caused carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to plummet, possibly leading to runaway "icehouse" conditions. Now researchers report on the missing piece of the puzzle -- plants.

Celiac Disease Four Times More Common Than In 1950s

Celiac disease, an immune system reaction to gluten in the diet, is over four times more common today than it was 50 years ago, according to new findings. Undiagnosed celiac disease is associated with nearly quadrupled mortality.

Analysis Of Drug-eluting Stents Data Demonstrates Safety, Efficacy In On-and-off-label Use

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation has announced the results of the largest meta-analysis to date comparing mortality rates for drug-eluting stents versus bare metal stents. The study also compared the rates of myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization.

Experts Call For New U.S. Research Effort To Identify Which Health Care Services Work Best

A new report from the Institute of Medicine recommends 100 health topics that should get priority attention and funding from a new national research effort to identify which health-care services work best.

Plants, Roots, Stems and Leaves

PLANTS — FactMonster.com Plants are one of the five kingdoms of living things. They are made up of many cells and are usually rooted in soil. Their green leaves capture sunlig (tags: why plants have roots) The Root of the...

Snails & Slugs

Land Snails pictures of land snails (tags: garden snails pictures) Snails & Slugs Remarks on snails and slugs found in typical backyards. (tags: snails)

Mollusk Gastropod, The Snail

Gastropods stomach-footed Moolusks, Class Gastropoda, Subclass Probranchia (tags: snails prosobranchia opisthobranchia) Gastropod Family Index Gastropod (Snail) Family (tags: snail slug gastropod) mollusk family - definition of mollusk family by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia. Definition of mollusk family...

Free Snail Stories & Poems

Bedtime stories from Farmhouse Fables UK. bedtime stories for young children (tags: free snail online book) Snail Tales Stories about snails and slugs, poems, literature links, (tags: snail poems) Snail story for kids snail story for kids, Slimy the snail...

Facts & Anatomy of the Snail

ANIMAL KINGDOM :: MOLLUSKS :: SNAIL :: ANATOMY OF A SNAIL image - Visual Dictionary Online anatomy snail internal (tags: snail) Snail Printout - Enchanted Learning Software Snail Printout. The Snail is a gastropod, a soft-bodied invertebrate that is basically...

Snail Crafts and Lesson Plans

Homemade Play-clay « The School Down the Lane recipe clay snail (tags: clay snail) Eraser Clay Snail - Sculpey Clay Projects All Sculpey products with an extensive list of step-by-step instructions for hundreds of clay projects for all ages including...

Land Snails

The Apple Snail (Ampullariidae) Website Information about apple snails (Ampullariidae): ecology, care, anatomy, species and genera, FAQ, literature, photographs, diseases and more. (tags: snail reference biology science) LAND SNAILS The land snail is one of nature's marvels. But many of...

Black Holes

NASA - NASA Achieves Breakthrough In Black Hole Simulation scientists have reached a breakthrough in computer modeling that allows them to simulate what grvitational waves from merging black holes look like. (tags: astronomy black math) Properties of black holes Einstein's...

What is a Black Hole?

What is a black hole? - Articles - Black Hole Encyclopedia What is a black hole? (tags: black hole astronomy) Black hole - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia What is a black hole? (tags: astronomy black hole)

About the Moon

Sun, Moon, Stars & Planets Theme for Preschoolers - Child's Play Family Daycare - Crafts & Activities, Songs, Finger Plays, Nursery Rhymes, Recipes space lessons ideas (tags: space) Preschool Sunday School Lessons Free Preschool Sunday School Lessons, He's Got the...

Sidewalk Chalk

Sidewalk chalk is easily purchased at your local box or dollar store. Your children will have hours of creative fun using it in a safe place, such as your driveway, patio or sidewalk, as a large canvas. You can make...

How to Make a Sock Puppet

It's time to find those odd socks and make sock puppets. Here are some links for unique ideas and directions for making puppets. Luv this giraffe puppet idea!

Algebra and Quantity

I used to spend hours with my mother's cooking school scale. It was a great way to figure out what items weighed the same, regardless of their size and shape. I like this wooden scale. You could use other small...

Earth cycles

Earth Cycles by Michael Ross is a fabulous book. I has an overview of the cycles of the earth and moon. Day cycles, season cycles, moon cycles and year facts put everything into an easy to understand perspective. I checked...

Moon Books

Here are some great books I checked out from the library. This book is simply written and easy to understand. It shows where the moon is located with basic facts about the moon and its surface. The Moon Book by...

Dwarf Planets

What is a dwarf planet? Find out here! I found these books at my local library. This first one is an easy reader. This book is for older elementary to middle school with a complete overview of Pluto in our...

Glow in the Dark Paint

You can purchase glow in the dark paint at your local craft stores. Sometimes they are available at the big box stores.

Glow in the Dark Solar System

This is such a fun idea, a glow in the dark painting project of the solar system. This would be a fun family craft day activity.

Why Isn't Pluto a Planet?

"In 2006, astronomers decided a planet needed to be the only large object in its area. Pluto shares its space with hundreds of other objects. Some of them are as big or bigger than Pluto." Why Isn't Pluto a Planet?...

Super Fun Mama

Super Fun Mama has great links and ideas for moms and teachers. The photos are beautiful and inspiring!

Home Free

Home Free is a blog about handwork and living a beautiful life, which is all very Montessori. I like the finger knitting pictures and instructions and walking with her two year old grandchild. Check out all the beautiful handwork ideas...

Let's Explore

Let's Explore is a colorful and illustrated blog for early learning using art and the senses. What a fun, learning environment!

My Montessori Journey

My Montessori Journey has clever ideas for holidays and special days. The ideas are fresh and creative, and your preschool children will love doing these activities. The photos are inviting too!

Good Tree Montessori Homeschool

Good Tree Montessori Homeschool has beautiful pictures and lessons for Montessori at home. Check out the archives for lots of helpful ideas.

Sew Liberated

Sew Liberated has handmade Montessori manipulatives. The items are so inviting for children. Nice textures to feel and beautiful images to see.

Montessori and Me

Montessori and Me is a blog about Montessori training. It's so helpful explaining terms, ideas and Montessori jargon.

Unplug Your Kids

Wow! Unplug Your Kids has everything from easy to make homemade looms to fun science/magic lessons. Love it all!

What Do We Do All Day?

What Do We Do All Day? is short and sweet with tired and true ideas for younger children. I love the salt volcano.