All About Canada Montessori Inspired Activities

This All About Canada Country Pack provides an engaging and hands-on learning experience for preschool and primary students. This educational tool helps children learn about geography by exploring Canada, its culture, people, landmarks, animals, and flag. It improves their geographical knowledge, cognitive skills, fine motor skills, mastering of some early mathematic concepts and encourages curiosity.

about CANADA for kids

Canada is a country located in North America. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, including huge mountains, forests, lakes and rivers. The official languages are English and French, and the currency is the Canadian dollar. Some of the most famous Canadian icons include maple syrup, hockey, and the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police). Canada is also home to many amazing animals, such as moose, polar bears, and beavers. The capital city is Ottawa, and other major cities include Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.

BENEFITS of learning about Canada for preschool children

parts of a plant sorting activity printable
  1. Cultural Awareness: Learning about Canada helps preschool children broaden their horizons and become more culturally aware. They will learn about different customs, traditions, foods, languages, and more.
  2. Geography: Learning about Canada helps preschool children understand geography. They learn about provinces, territories, and major cities. Children can also learn about the different natural landmarks in Canada, such as the Rocky Mountains and Niagara Falls.
  3. History: Preschool children can learn about Canada’s history, including how different groups of people arrived in Canada and how the country became independent. This can help them develop a sense of national pride and knowledge of their past.
  4. Social Skills: Learning about Canada can help preschool children develop social skills, such as empathy and tolerance. They learn about diversity, and this can help them understand and respect differences in other children.
  5. Multilingualism: Learning about Canada can also introduce preschool children to other languages, such as French and English. This helps them develop an appreciation for other cultures and learn new words in other languages.

CANADA – themed hands-on activities for kids

  1. Maple leaf art:

Take some real or fake leaves. Use paint, crayons, or markers to make maple leaf designs on paper.

  1. Maple leaf sorting:

Gather different sizes of maple leaves and place them in a basket. Give the child a sorting tray and ask them to sort the leaves by size and color.

  1. Canada flag collage:

Take a large piece of paper or cardboard and the Canadian flag. Cut out pieces from old magazines, newspapers, or tissue paper to create a collage of the flag.

  1. Inuit art:

Learn about Inuit culture and create Inuit-inspired art using oil pastels, white crayon, or chalk on black paper.

  1. Canadian animal matching:

Create a set of picture cards with Canadian animals such as beavers, moose, and polar bears. The child can match the animal cards to their corresponding word cards.

  1. Canadian coin sorting:

Gather a variety of Canadian coins and place them in a basket. Give the child a sorting tray and ask them to sort the coins by size, color, and denomination.

  1. Canada day parade:

Have a mini Canada Day parade with paper flags, instruments, and homemade float decorations.

  1. Canadian map puzzle:

Create a puzzle of the Canadian map using cardboard and a map template. The child can learn about the provinces and territories while assembling the puzzle.

Remember, Montessori encourages hands-on exploration and discovery, with child-led learning and discovery, so let your child be creative and have fun!

All About CANADA Preschool Country Pack

Clip-on Cards. Clip-on cards can be a fun and interactive way to teach children a variety of skills. For example, you can create clip-on cards with letters or numbers and have children clip them onto a corresponding picture or object. This can teach letter recognition and counting skills. You can also use clip-on cards for matching games, where children match pictures or words to their corresponding partners. Another idea is to use clip-on cards for categorizing activities, where children clip cards onto different categories such as animals, food, or plants. The possibilities are endless, and the hands-on nature of clip-on cards can make learning more engaging and effective for children.

3 Part Cards. Montessori 3 part cards are designed to help children develop their visual and language skills. They consist of three parts – a picture, a label, and a corresponding card with only the picture. The child matches the label to the picture and then to the corresponding card with just the picture, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of the concept and expand their vocabulary.

Three-part cards can be used to teach a variety of subjects such as animals, plants, continents, and different parts of speech. This activity is used in Montessori classrooms to help children develop concentration, observation, and vocabulary comprehension skills.

  1. Introduce the topic: Start by talking to the children about the topic of the 3 part cards. For example, if the cards are on farm animals, talk about the different kinds of animals that live on a farm. This will help build the children’s background knowledge and make the activity more engaging.
  2. Demonstrate the process: Show the children how to use the cards by laying out a set and explaining what each part of the card represents. For example, you might say, “This is the picture of the cow, this is the label that says ‘cow’, and this is the card with just the picture for the child to match.”
  3. Practice together: Walk the children through the process of matching the cards together. Use a clear and slow pace, and encourage the children to ask questions if they need clarification. Once you’ve done a few sets together, let the children try the activity independently.
  4. Scaffold as needed: Some children may need extra support in matching the cards, while others may be ready to move onto more complex activities. Identify each child’s needs and provide scaffolding as needed to help them be successful.
  5. Offer extensions: Once the children have mastered the basic process of matching the cards, offer extensions that will encourage deeper thinking and engagement. For example, you could ask the children to sort the cards into different categories or use the cards as a basis for a writing or drawing activity.

Information Picture Cards. Montessori picture information cards provide a unique opportunity for children to learn about various subjects in a hands-on manner. These cards feature a large, clear image with detailed information about the subject below the image. To teach with these cards, start by selecting a few that are relevant to the child’s age and interests. Show the child the picture side and discuss what they see, encouraging them to ask questions. Then, read the information together, repeating key facts or asking comprehension questions. Encourage the child to handle the cards independently and use them as a reference tool for further exploration and learning.

Cutting strips. Cutting strips are a great tool to teach kids cutting skills. To use them, first, find a quiet and clutter-free workspace. Then, show the child how to hold the scissors properly and how to move them along the lines on the strips. Start with simple straight lines and then move on to more complicated shapes. Encourage the child to cut slowly and carefully, praising them for their effort and progress. As the child gains confidence, they can move on to real-life cutting tasks like cutting vegetables or fabric. Remember to always supervise the child while they are cutting.

Sequencing picture puzzles. Sequencing picture puzzles with numbers can be an effective way to teach preschool children the concept of sequencing and counting. To use this tool, start by choosing a simple puzzle that focuses on a sequence of numbers, such as counting from 0 to 10. Display the puzzle pieces in front of the children and encourage them to take turns putting them in order. As they work on the puzzle, ask questions that prompt them to identify each number and describe how they are arranged. Through this process, children will develop their counting and sequencing skills while having fun with a hands-on activity.

Here is what’s included:

  • Picture infographic poster
  • Corresponding cards
  • Cutting strips
  • Information and picture cards x 18
  • Student booklet (B&W)
  • Flag poster
  • Flag coloring worksheet
  • Map poster
  • Map coloring worksheet
  • Country alphabet poster
  • B&W sequencing puzzles (numbers)
  • Landmarks 3 Part Cards
  • Animals 3 Part Cards
  • Color sequencing puzzles (numbers)

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About Anastasia - Anastasia is an early childhood teacher and the founder of Montessori Nature - a blog about Montessori living and learning and nature-based explorations. With many years of experience working in a Montessori environment and homeschooling her children, she directed her passion for all things Montessori and nature into creating educational resources. You can learn more here and browse her printables on Teachers Pay Teachers.