Planet Mobile

Materials:
A used-mobile
8 stereofoam balls in different sizes
1 ball for the star
Poster colours
String
Toothpicks
Wire

Steps:
1. Insert the toothpicks through the diameter of the stereofoam balls.
2. Paint the balls based on the colour of each planet. The toothpick functions as the handle when painting.
3. Dry the planets.
4. Take off the toothpicks.
5. Insert the wire through the diameter of the planets and the sun.
6. Bend the wire on each end.
7. Tie a piece of string on each planet and sun.
8. Replace the hanging ornaments on the mobile with the planets.
9. Hang the sun on the mobile center.
10. Hang the mobile on the bedside.

My son (26 months old) helped me painting the stereofoam balls. He did it only for 5 minutes but enjoyed an activity he created himself. He mixed some watercolours in the bucket in the bathroom. He ran back and forth to pinch the watercolour in the living room and dipped it in the water to see the colour changing. He reported what colour he was having at that time.
I let him do it while I painted the rest. I finished making the planet mobile myself for two weeks. If you have older children, they will be great help and this activity can be their art project.

Extension activities
1. Ask the child to point out the planet based on our questions: Which is Mars? Which is Earth?
2. Ask them to touch each planet while saying its name.
3. Sing planet song.
4. Give additional information: Mars is the red planet. Jupiter is the biggest planet. Saturn has a ring. We life on Earth. The first planet is Mercury, etc.
5. Asking some information: what is the biggest planet? Why is Mars red? What planet do we live in?

The older your children are, the more complex information you can give.

Photo will be uploaded soon.

Land and Water Forms Activities

Here are some Land and Water Forms activities. I gave a pair trays everyday so that he will remember them easily.

LAKE AND ISLAND

He was working on his den. We talked about the differences between land and water and what animals live there. He filled the tray with waterbeads in the water area.  He somehow insisted on putting the hippo, tiger and lion in the water. He said they were having a bath.

DIY: LIGHT BOX

I adore how Motleytoddler made her light box, therefore I followed her instructions to make an affordable one but I also made some adjustments.

Materials:
container (IDR 24,000 or USD 2)
silver spray paint (IDR 24,000 or USD 2)
tape
LED emergency lamp (IDR 35,000 or USD 2)
tissue paper

Steps:
1. Tape the outer edge of the container to avoid stains when spraying the paint
2. Spray silver paint around the inner side of the container and let it dry
3. Spray the silver paint once again, let it dry
4. Peel off the tape
5. Cover the container lid with tissue paper
6. Put the LED emergency lamp in the container
7. Close the lid of the container
8. Put any toys or media you want to explore on it

DONE!! All cost less than USD 7. Seriously?

Applying silver paint is to avoid the light goes through the sides of the container. I couldn't find frost spray paint for the lid as motleytoddler's suggested so I changed it with tissue paper. I could finish the project in 15 minutes because the paint dried fast. I'm overjoyed to see the result and can't wait to surprise my son 😍❤️💕.

This is not purely montessori method. It's more on reggioemilia method, but montessori also has geometic solid materials. I combined the geometic solids activity with the light box to improve my son's sight sensory.