Montessori Salmon Lifecycle Puzzle

This unique Montessori Salmon lifecycle puzzle was created from original drawings and designs by Puzzle Heads Educational Products.  Pacific salmon have a fascinating lifecycle involving seemingly incredible odds of endurance and survival. Much like the incredible migrations of Monarch butterflies, Pacific salmon embark on journeys of thousands of miles from their natal streams out to the ocean and back again.

Studying the salmon lifecycle is a common theme in many Pacific Northwest city schools and as far north as Alaska. Some children are even able to observe the spawning salmon in nearby streams and rivers. If you are not fortunate enough to live close to such areas, then our comprehensive learning materials certainly bring this education right to your classrooms.

This salmon lifecycle puzzle is part of the Puzzle Heads Limited Editions series created in collaboration with the CHILD Grant Partnership (Bristol Bay Borough, Chugach and Lake and Peninsula School Districts in Alaska, USA). The salmon in this puzzle is a Pacific sockeye salmon in its spawning form. The puzzle series also includes a Grizzly Bear puzzle, a Fireweed puzzle and a Salmonberry puzzle.

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What is Nomenclature?

Students in Montessori schools learn about the things around them through nomenclature studies. Nomenclature is a way of naming the “parts of” something. Therefore, Montessori puzzles are usually cut into the various shapes and parts of the object to aid in this aspect of learning.

A comprehensive printable download is available here to further expand on the lifecycle concepts.

These learning features are equally valuable in any educational environment, from preschools to homeschools and everything in between. Children love to learn the real words for things and are quite comfortable using them in everyday language.

How are the Puzzles Made?

As with all Puzzle Heads Originals products, each one begins as hand drawn artwork created in our studios. Once each image is perfected, it is transferred into a digital image for use in the printing process. Once printed, each and every puzzle is cut by hand and each piece carefully sanded to silky smoothness.

Knobs used on the pieces encourage the development of the pincer grip, in preparation for holding a pencil and learning to write.

These puzzles are constructed from solid Baltic Birch plywood, not pressboard or Masonite. As a result, they will never get rounded corners or “fraying” on the edges. You are purchasing an heirloom quality product that withstands rugged classroom use and will last through many hand-me downs at home.

Features

• 12 knobbed pieces
• Pieces cut to match the salmon nomenclature 3 part cards, lifecycle worksheets and many other materials in the printable download found here
• The parts of the salmon lifecycle featured in this puzzle are:
  Spawner salmon cut into 6 pieces (this is a Pacific sockeye salmon)
  Eggs
  Eyed Eggs
  Alevin
  Parr
  Smolt
  Adult Salmon
• Approximate Size: 9-1/4″ x 10-3/4″ (23.5cm x 27.5cm)

Recommended Age

3 years+

Preschool, Homeschool and Montessori Casa programs

Handmade in Canada.