Cowles Montessori Crier

“Human flourishing, as Maria Montessori put it, means becoming a person of one’s time and place with the means and wherewithal not only to function within but to shape society (NCMPS, 2019).”

“All humans (CHILDREN and ADULTS) flourish in society (ENVIRONMENT).” - Cowles Montessori Vision

Spring Break has been extended due to COVID-19

• Iowa Governor Reynolds recommends that all Iowa schools close for four weeks
• Break has been extended through Sunday, April 12th
• Students are currently scheduled to return on Monday, April 13th
• Clink on this link to stay updated about closures: https://www.dmschools.org/coronavirus/

5. Can't Stop the Feeling - Justin Timberlake

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru0K8uYEZWw

4. Give Love - Andy Grammer

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tsHpb_JZX8

3. I Lived (special message video) - One Republic

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0rxydSolwU

2. I'm Alive - Michael Franit

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVlJ2RaSycE

1. Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKdl-GCsNJ0

Looking for something new and fun to do with your student and family while not leaving the comfort of your home? Virtual field trips are an AMAZING option for you! Virtual field trips allow you and your student to explore many museums, zoos, national landmarks, and places all over the world from the comfort of your couch! Below is a list of just some the amazing adventures you can take for free from the couch!

Zoos

• Panda Cam at the National Zoo https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/panda-cam
• Animal Cams at the National Zoo https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams
• San Diego Zoo Cams https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams
• Edinburgh Zoo Cams https://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/webcams/penguin-cam/#penguincam

Aquariums

• Georgia Aquarium https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/ocean-voyager/
• Shedd Aquarium https://www.sheddaquarium.org/educators/virtual-field-trips

Farms

• Farm Food 360 https://www.farmfood360.ca/
• American Egg Board https://www.aeb.org/eggs-in-schools/classroom/farm-to-table-virtualfield-trips

Planetariums

• Star Atlas https://staratlas.com/

Museums

• Boston Children's Museum https://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/museum-virtual-tour National Museum of Natural History https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
• Louvre (in France) https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne#tabs
• NASA Langley Research Center https://oh.larc.nasa.gov/oh/
• National Museum of the United States Air Force https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
• National Museum of Natural Science, Belgium https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/museum-of-natural-sciences-rbinsbelgium/9AFyJISW8f6HhA

National Parks

• Great Lakes National Park https://www.greatlakesnow.org/educational-resources/virtual-fieldtrip/
• Yellow Stone National Park https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm

Landmarks and Cities

• Ellis Island http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/webcast.htm
• 360 Cities https://www.360cities.net/
• The Great Wall of China https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china
• Easter Island https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/easter/
• Ancient Egypt https://discoveringegypt.com/
• Mars https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/

Below you’ll find a list of ideas to incorporate learning while at home during our extended Spring break. We support your decision to help your child grow in whichever ways you prefer right now. This list is intended to be a list of tools, not a list of requirements or assignments. Your little one will remember this time at home for years to come. We encourage you to use this time however you see fit. Please don’t fret about taking our role as your child’s educator. But do know we support you continuing to foster your child’s love of learning and quest for understanding.

Keep in touch and take care,

Ms. Thompson, Ms. Lindsey, Mrs. Kenninger, Ms. Andlauer and Ms. Ashley

- Lower Elementary Teachers

Mathematics Cooking:

• Following a recipe. Practicing measuring.
• Conversions: How many 1/4t are in a 1/2t?
• Reading a thermometer.
• Reading a clock.
• Card games (Here is a cool resource - https://www.weareteachers.com/math-card-games/? fbclid=IwAR1YAuMppNI0OFVjJGYVvl2rcZCfz2BrJaAcR6IXvdWfu3rZVnt_d0t7qac
• Counting money. Creating a shop and having someone in your home come and make purchases. Practice counting and giving change.
• Create your own survey. Create a graph with your results.

Integrated Activities:

• Homework Bingo (attached below)
• Ridgeline Montessori at Home, Weeks 1 -4. (attached below) These tasks are fun and incorporate a variety of skills.

Online Resources:

• https://www.mobilemontessori.org (free app with a range of curriculum. You can upgrade and pay for more access) We love the geography work, fraction work, roman numeral work, and math fact work.
• http://elementarystudentresources.dmschools.org/ (Access to Lexia, Fraction Nation and Fast Math) Your child’s login information (username and password) is their student id number. You can locate your students id number here:
• https://sis.dmps.k12.ia.us/campus/portal/desmoines.jsp
• https://mysterydoug.com/mysteries/germs-sanitizer (Great resource for science related topics)
• https://jr.brainpop.com (Variety of topics - we like the health section)
• Indoor Scavenger Hunt (shown below)
• Outdoor Scavenger Hunt (shown below)

#WeAreCowles

Email: todd.johnson@dmschools.org
Website: cowles.dmschools.org
Location: 6401 College Avenue, Windsor Heights, IA, USA
Phone: 515-242-7818
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowlesMontessori/
Twitter: @CowlesDMPS