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France: École Maternelle Learning Resources

Looking for learning resource inspiration? In this article, we’ll look at an extensive list of preschool/kindergarten learning resource ideas.

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France École Maternelle Learning Resource Ideas

France’s rich cultural and artistic heritage combined with its diverse geography provides a plethora of resources that can be integrated seamlessly with Reggio, Steiner (Waldorf), and Montessori philosophies for an École Maternelle:

New Resources

  1. Manipulatives & Sensorial Materials:
    • Montessori materials like pink tower, broad stair, and cylinder blocks.
    • Steiner-inspired wooden playsets, perhaps depicting scenes from French fairy tales like “Bluebeard” or “Sleeping Beauty”.
    • Tactile boards using fabrics like French lace, silk, or linen.
  2. Language Materials:
    • Sandpaper letters for the French alphabet.
    • Movable alphabets for constructing French words.
    • Storytelling sets based on fables by La Fontaine or classic French children’s literature.
  3. Practical Life Materials (Montessori):
    • Pouring and transferring exercises using French grains like wheat or lentils.
    • Dressing frames featuring clothes with typical French closures, like those on a Breton shirt.
    • Practical life exercises involving preparation of simple French snacks.
  4. Mathematical Materials (Montessori & Waldorf):
    • Bead bars, bead chains, and golden beads.
    • Waldorf counting materials, perhaps shaped like iconic French symbols like the Eiffel Tower or croissant.
  5. Natural Materials:
    • Seashells from the French Riviera.
    • Leaves, seeds, and bark from trees like the plane tree, oak, or chestnut.
    • Stones and sand from different regions – from Normandy’s cliffs to the Pyrenees mountains.
  6. Arts and Crafts:
    • Watercolor sets, pastels, and natural clay.
    • Craft kits for creating miniature French landmarks or artworks inspired by French artists like Monet or Matisse.
    • Materials to create traditional French crafts, like Provencal quilts or Alsatian pottery.
  7. Music & Movement:
    • Traditional French instruments like the accordion or cabrette.
    • French children’s songs, rhymes, and dances.
    • Props for traditional dances from regions like Brittany or Gascony.
  8. Cultural & Science Materials (Montessori & Reggio):
    • Montessori puzzle maps of France’s regions.
    • Animal figures representing native French wildlife.
    • Project stations exploring topics like the French Revolution, great French inventors, or French explorers.
  9. Books & Literacy:
    • Classic French children’s literature, from “Le Petit Prince” to “Babar”.
    • Nature books exploring the flora and fauna of France’s diverse regions.
  10. Outdoor Equipment:
    • Gardening tools for growing typical French plants and herbs, like lavender or rosemary.
    • Traditional games equipment like pétanque or palet Breton.
    • Sand and water play setups.

Recycled Resources

  1. Old Clothes: Traditional French attire from various regions for tactile exploration or dress-up.
  2. Used Newspapers: For art or language materials.
  3. Cardboard Tubes or Boxes: For crafting or structural play.
  4. Old Kitchen Tools: Particularly those used in traditional French cuisine.
  5. Fabric Scraps: From haute couture or local fabric markets for crafting or tactile exploration.
  6. Used Glass Jars or Bottles: For sensory jars, storage, or art projects.
  7. Old Coins: For counting, sorting, or exploration of French history.
  8. Bottle Caps or Corks: For art projects, counting, or construction.

Local Resources & Crafts (France-specific)

  1. Savon de Marseille Crafting: Simple soap-making kits or explorations.
  2. Lavender Crafts: Such as sachet-making or oil extraction.
  3. Basque Espelette Pepper Planting Kits: Introducing children to gardening and local agriculture.
  4. Marinière Painting: Decorating traditional Breton striped shirts.
  5. Miniature Perfume Crafting: Reflecting the traditions of Grasse, the perfume capital.
  6. Camargue Salt Experiments: Exploring salt extraction processes or crystal formation.
  7. Crepê Making Kit: Tools to allow children to mimic the making of this traditional pancake.
  8. French Lace Crafting: Simple lace-making tools or kits for beginners.

A blend of these resources within an École Maternelle in France can introduce children to a rich understanding of their cultural, historical, and natural environment. This, combined with the principles of Reggio, Steiner, and Montessori, can offer a comprehensive and well-rounded early childhood education.

 

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