Montessori-Inspired Activities for Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

I’ve always loved Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton. Today, I want to share a number of Montessori-inspired activities that focus on concepts from the book. The Maestro Classics Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel CD would also be perfect as part of a music appreciation study along with a literature-based study.

 

Disclosure: I was given a copy of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel CD from Maestro Classics. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you.

Montessori-Inspired Activities for Concepts from Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

In the homeschool music curriculum guides at Maestro Classics, you’ll find a number of ideas for a unit study of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. Just look for Curriculum Guides under the Education tab at the top of the site! I’ll share some Montessori-inspired activities here for preschoolers through early elementary as well.

Check out the Five in a Row Link-Up at Delightful Learning with Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel Activities from a number of blogs. Montessori-inspired activity trays could be created with many of the activities linked up at Delightful Learning. And many of the blogs shared a fun food-preparation activity that would fit in perfectly with a Montessori-inspired unit.

Homeschool Share has free Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel Unit Study and Printables. The unit study and printables could be used with ideas from my post “How to Use Printables to Create Montessori-Inspired Activities.”

Land and Water Forms – (to go with landforms in the book)

Montessori-Inspired Fun with Land and Water Forms (my roundup post)

Square and Cube Activities – (to go with the four square walls and four square corners of the cellar in the book)

DIY Geometric Shapes

Inexpensive and DIY Geometric Solids and Extensions

Solid/Liquid/Gas Activities – (to go with the concept of steam energy from the book)

Solid, Liquid, or Gas Free Printable from The Hands-On Homeschooler

States of Matter Cards and Control Chart available for purchase from Montessori Print Shop

States of Matter Sorting available for purchase from Montessori for Everyone

Matter Materials available for purchase from Montessori Services

Simple Science: The Three States of Matter for Toddlers from Montessori Messy

States of Matter from Leptir

States of Matter Lesson from Just Montessori

States of Matter from Homeschool Escapade

Preschool Science {Introduction of States of Matter} from Carrots Are Orange

States of Matter Lesson at Trillium Montessori

States of Matter: Solid, Liquid, Gas from The Homeschool Den

The God with No Hands (Montessori Elementary) from Discovery Moments

First Great Lesson: God with No Hands from What DID We Do All Day?

“God Who Has No Hands”: The Foundation of Our Curriculum from We Don’t Need No Education

Great Lessons, Cosmic Education Links and More from Montessori Mom

The Great Lessons: God Who Has No Hands from Monteaco

The Beginning – The First Great Lesson from Miss Barbara

Music Appreciation

The Maestro Classics Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel CD (or MP3/PDF) is perfect for a study of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

“Virginia Lee Burton’s classic American storybook, a childhood favorite for generations, is brought to life with this beautiful new music for orchestra and Irish bagpipes.

“In the story, Mike Mulligan refuses to give up his aging steam shovel Mary Anne as they travel to find one last job together. A tale of loyalty and friendship, perseverance and good ideas, this musical CD won a Parents’ Choice GOLD award.”

This CD is delightful! I always liked the story of Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne. I can’t think of many things more fun than sitting cuddled up on the sofa with kids, looking at the book Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel while listening to this CD. I really enjoyed the addition of the Irish bagpipes, which fit perfectly with the story.

“About the Author” by Bonnie Ward Simon is fascinating. I especially enjoyed the “About the Music” track by composer Stephen Simon. Although Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel is a book for young children, even adults will have fun learning why Stephen Simon made his choices of instruments.

Bonnie Simon also gives suggestions for actions to accompany the track with music without narration. The CD is recommended for ages 4+, although many 3 year olds would enjoy listening to the narrated music to accompany the book as well as joining in with the actions to the music alone.

Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!

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