For those unfamiliar with Montessori, it is a style of learning that focuses on intrinsic motivation and independence within a community. The materials are conceptual, exquisite, beautiful, and promote the natural unfolding and deeper understanding of concepts through the visual presentation of mathematical and language functions.
Milwaukee Wisconsin is top in the country for both its Montessori program and Montessori teacher training.
I was asked to bring my personal skills in art/design/murals to the walls of our new cafeteria with drawings inspired by Montessori materials. I was charged with the duty of creating a composition based on these tools of learning. The process entailed drawing materials, inking them via light table, scanning the inkings, converting them to both color and black and white, and finally rearranging the black and whites into compositional arrangements to be projected via transparency onto the walls.
Below are the images that I have created in connection with our program. All of the rights to these images belong Vanessa Devaki Andrew. If interested in using these images, please contact madamchino@yahoo.com
BEAD BOWL
ONE BEAD
TWO BEAD
THREE BEAD
FOUR BEAD
FIVE BEAD
SIX BEAD
SEVEN BEAD
EIGHT BEAD
NINE BEAD
TEN BEAD
BEAD CHAIN TICKETS
BEAD CHAIN TICKETS
PRISMS
SHAPES CABINET
TRIANGLES SET
BINOMIAL CUBE
BARS
PINK TOWER
STAMP GAME
BELLS
MUSIC NOTES
WORD SHAPES
WORD SHAPES BOX
GRAMMAR BOXES
SANDPAPER LETTERS
SANDPAPER BOX
The final image will have a Montessori quote made out of sandpaper letters and a beadchain boarder! It will be completed with the children. In the mean time, we took advantage of General Electrics Volunteer Day and used their employee volunteers to commence with the project.
These are the transparencies that were created:
The day of installation:
The mural is currently waiting for further quotes and student involvements! In the mean time, please visit my other more frequented blog: www.madamchino.blogspot.com
