Learning through Play and Experience

Falling Leaves Parachute Activity

October 16, 2009 by notjustcute Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Music and Movement, Positive Guidance and Social Skills

Parachute activities are always enticing to kids. They’re great for building motor strength and control, as well as self-control. They also strengthen the child’s ability to listen to and follow directions and to work with others as a group, all great social skills. Parachutes don’t have to cost much. I picked up a small, 6 foot version, to be used in small spaces and with groups of 10 or less children for about $10 (see where to order it here). You could also just use a bed sheet instead of a parachute.

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Autumn Leaves Song

October 15, 2009 by notjustcute Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Music and Movement 2 Comments

Here’s a song you probably already know, but just in case you don’t I’ll share it with you! It’s so simple and perfect for the season. As we sing, I have the children float their hands back and forth down to the ground like falling leaves. Here’s the song:

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Book Activity: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

October 14, 2009 by notjustcute Filed Under: Building Readers, Create, Learning through Play and Experience 3 Comments

If there is one book that I think every child should own……OK, I could never decide on just one book, but if there was a short list of books that every child should own, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault would definitely be on that short list! It is not only a great way to introduce the letters of the alphabet, but it also differentiates between uppercase and lowercase letters, all in a rhythmic, rhyming fashion, which makes the whole experience so fun it’s nearly addictive. Plus, all that rhyme and rhythm is great for building phonological awareness (read more about that peculiar sounding term here).

Before reading this book with children, it’s a good idea to practice the text first, so that you can read it aloud smoothly and with the right “em-PHA-sis on the right syll-A-ble”, as my mom always says. Also, while reading this story, it’s really helpful to point to each letter in the illustrations as it is introduced in the story, reinforcing to the child the letter shape and letter name.

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Which One Do You Like Best? A Preschool Apple Taste Test

October 13, 2009 by notjustcute Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Snack Time 2 Comments

Preschoolers love it when you ask for their opinions! Tell them you have a dilemma. You’re trying to figure out which kind of apple tastes the best, but you’re not sure. Ask how you could figure that out? They may suggest (perhaps with some guidance) that you have a taste test!

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Happy Children

October 12, 2009 by notjustcute Filed Under: Building Readers, Learning through Play and Experience, Music and Movement Leave a Comment

Once you’ve done your Four Seasons chart, you can extend the discussion (perhaps the next day) by singing the “Happy Children” song. What makes this song so great, is that it’s written, in part, by the children!

Start out with your Four Seasons chart, as well as five pieces of paper. On one paper write the title, “Happy Children” and perhaps add some quick drawings of smiling children. On the next paper write, “Happy children in the spring time…” Repeat this line on the other papers, substituting for the four seasons (“summer”, “fall time” or “autumn”, “winter”).

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These are the Four Seasons!

October 12, 2009 by notjustcute Filed Under: Get Outside, Learning through Play and Experience, Music and Movement 1 Comment

Here’s how I like to teach the four seasons to preschoolers. Using chart paper, draw a circle, divide it into fourths, and label it with the title and the seasons as you see in the picture above. Then, using the cards on this PDF download-

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread Recipe

October 12, 2009 by notjustcute Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Snack Time 3 Comments

As I’ve mentioned before, it’s a rare thing to find a snack that every child likes. While I hesitate to give a definite guarantee on this one, I don’t think I’ve had a child yet who has refused it!

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Ten Little Apples Song

October 10, 2009 by notjustcute Filed Under: Building Readers, Learning through Play and Experience, Music and Movement 1 Comment

Here’s a quick and easy little ditty about apples. It goes to the tune of Ten Little Indians.

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A Camping We Will Go!

October 10, 2009 by notjustcute Filed Under: Get Outside, Learning through Play and Experience 2 Comments

Kids love the adventure of camping! Particularly when it comes to camping in a dramatic play scenario, anything can happen! When I set up a camping theme dramatic play area this week, my own 3 year old asked, “And where is the bear?” I could guess he already had a storyline brewing. In the course of a few days, he and his friends camped, chased bears, were bears, and in a strange twist, even turned their tent into a tank and joined the military. (I told you anything could happen!)