During this multi day  class, students will have the opportunity to learn about the various parts of a mountain and river through Montessori themed materials and follow up activities. Learners will take part in slideshows with each lesson. Each class will be devoted either creating models or writing descriptive paragraphs about mountains and rivers. Learners will have the opportunity to share their models and writing with one another. 

Meeting 1, April 7
Mountain, Theme 1(building) This lesson will center around the parts of a mountain. We’ll travel virtually to Colorado and study the parts of Pike’s Peak. Students will have 3 part cards to assist them in learning parts such as base, slope, crest and summit. This information will then be applied to create a clay based, labeled model of a mountain.

Meeting 2, April 9
Mountain, Theme 2 (writing) This class will focus on writing a descriptive paragraph about climbing a mountain. We’ll use the 5 W’s of writing to create interesting and descriptive sentences. An interactive slideshow with images and video clips of mountain climbing will be used to spark creative ideas. Learners will be encouraged to share their written journeys with each other. 

Meeting 3, April 14
River, Theme 1 ( building) Students will experience learning about the various parts of a river through Montessori materials and hands on, student centered activities. Learners will become familiar with the terms, source, meander, mouth, bank, upper part and lower part. Creating this water form with clay or other materials will allow students to apply what they have learned. Flags with labels will be made with toothpicks, paper and tape to mark each part of the river. 

Meeting 4, April 16
River, Theme 2 (writing) Learners  will take a virtual trip down the Animas River in Colorado for an exciting white water rafting adventure. An interactive slideshow with short video clips will inspire creative writing about riding the rapids on the river. Students will use their river vocabulary in their writings, which can be shared with the group. 

This multi day  class will present a wonderful opportunity for students to learn more about the unique characteristics of mountains and rivers in Colorado. 
Students should have some experience writing sentences, shaping dough, and cutting paper with supervision for this class.