How we make stuff

Articles about how we concept ideas, write words, draw pictures and — most importantly — test our ideas! We believe that kids are driven by passion and that they learn by doing — playing. And we believe the concepts, games and activities should be evidence-based, meaning tested and proven in the real world.​

Parker Woods Montessori mural close up. Caterpillar dreaming of becoming a butterfly mini-story.
How we make stuff

Success — More monarch butterflies and more young readers

Pictured above is the incredible tile wall installed this school year at Parker Woods Montessori. This could tile mosaic could last a 1000 years. I hope my book lasts half that long! Below we highlight some more projects that coincided with our Make-A-Book Project. It was a busy year. Many

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Mirabella the Monarch book, bookmark and cookie
How we make stuff

Butterfly Book Celebration

Finally, the best part of the whole project — the book celebration. Many people told me it was a smash hit. It was amazing to see how proud all the students were to sign their pages in the book. And we were all honored to have hundreds of community members

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PWM teacher student releasing monarch
How we make stuff

Help Save the Butterflies

And make the world a more beautiful place Monarch Resources The #1 site for everything about monarch butterflies: monarchwatch.org including how to track the butterflies. How to plant a butterfly garden or waystation. How to fix a butterfly’s broken wings Monarch Migration Google Earth Tour Educator resources by grade. Cincinnati

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Monarch butterfly made of people school photo
How we make stuff

Making of the Monarch Butterfly School Photo

This is another one of my favorite all-time photographs. Unlike the past 3 photographs where I was standing on the roof of the school, this is photographed using a drone. Technology has really improved in just a few years. The photograph is by Scott Stoll with Tim Spanagel of MasseyGreenAVP.

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glow show spider
How we make stuff

Butterfly Project Updates

There has been a lot of progress happening with the monarch butterfly book and all the related projects. Here are a few highlights, including the mosaic wall by PTO co-president and artist, Kate Demske, called “Faces of Parker Woods Montessori Self-Portrait Mural” with drawings by kids made into 4×4″ tiles.

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Monarch butterfly garden black light art show after 20170224
How we make stuff

Collateral Projects for the Monarch Butterfly Book

Classroom Activities and Upcoming Celebration Above is a hint of what is coming to Parker Woods Montessori Science Fair. This fantastic blacklight butterfly garden. An amazing art show by Suzanne Nall and the students. Just one of the great activities going along with our upcoming book: Mirabella the Monarch. Below

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Student illustrations for Mirabella the Monarch's Mysterious Migration
How we make stuff

Illustrations for Mirabella the Monarch

Make-A-Book Project Update Summary: Illustrations are done (except for our make-up session). Ms Nall, the art teacher, has been great to work with. I learned an incredible amount about teaching from her, not least of all crowd management. And her personal teaching style is visible in the student’s drawings. I

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Butterfly Ballot Boxes 20161122
How we make stuff

Character Creation Contest

The Make-A-Book Project begins at Parker Woods Montessori I’m excited to announce that the new book will be about the monarch butterfly, which is truly one of the most amazing animals (insects are animals, too) on the planet. The monarch butterfly migrates from Canada to Mexico. It takes 4 generations

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Kenyan school children jump for joy when they got their Falling Uphill books.
How we make stuff

Falling Uphill in Kenya

Inspiring dreams Finally, it took two months for my package of books to arrive in Kenya. I marked the package “educational material for children,” and luckily no one stole it as often happens. I love how the photo captures them jumping in the air, just like they are falling uphill.

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Dream Workshop afternoon with Faces Without Places
How we make stuff

The Dream Workshop Pilot Program

We tested the Dream Playbook in over a dozen schools. We called it our “Dream Workshop” but it was so much fun that the students called it “The Dream Club.”

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