I would have to say that one of the most used activities I put out in my space was either the toast and butter work or the candle lighting activity I had out a few years ago. Both were wonderfully independent and the candle lighting activity was one of the ways the children who never focus were focusing for quite a long long time. Unfortunately we're not allowed to have "heating elements" in our spaces anymore, so no ironing, no toasters, nothing that emits any type of heat. What works are the children in your space really attracted to?
The one thing the kids love to do in the Practical life area is washing our baby doll. The kids named her "Sparkles". They also love the hammering of tees into the clay. The most used work has got to be the cutting of the wooden velcro fruit. That work is taken out every day. I have been surfing the net and found several blogs by Montessorians. I can't wait to try some of their works in the classroom.
Right now, in practical life, the apple pie work is probably the most popular. In art, it's the clay and sewing strips. Sensorial distance games (esp. geometry cab., color tabs and cylinder blocks) are very popular as well. My personal favorite, to present and to practice, is the function of word exercises with the farm. Btw, is calling an activity "works" part of AMS lingo? I never heard that before.
I don't know if it is an AMS lingo or not. It is just what we call it at our school. What is the apple pie work?
We've always called them "works". I don't know where it originated....maybe I should check some of Montessori's books?
Apple Pie: 1/3 cup flour sprinkle of salt 1 tbsp. oil 5 tsp. cold water Form ball and roll out dough. Use tart pan to cut bottom crust. Line pan with crust. fill with: sliced apples 1 pat of butter (about 1 tsp.) sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar Form ball and roll out dough. Form top crust or cut for lattice. Bake 375 for 20 min.
