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-
Ten Little Apples Song
Here’s a quick and easy little ditty about apples. It goes to the tune of Ten Little Indians.
The Tall and Short Tree Sort
Pouring Preschoolers
Here’s a little secret: Preschoolers can pour their own drinks. It’s true! The children gain so much independence and self-confidence by learning this self-help skill. Autonomy is something children crave at this age, and this is certainly an activity they can do on their own when appropriate parameters are set.
First of all, I use a small pitcher that they can easily lift and control. I use these little, plastic, liquid measuring cups that I picked up at the Wally Mart, and have my little ones pour their own water at snack time. I love that these are see-through so the children can watch as they and others pour (and the fact that they are extremely cheap and readily available is nice too).
What's in the Number Bag?
I’m trying something new this year, in an attempt to combine a little bit of a show-and-tell opportunity and a numeracy activity. I’m calling my experiment “The Number Bag”. You might want to try it out too, and let me know how it works for you!
My magical, mystical number bag is simply a cloth drawstring bag. The bag is sent home with a card with a number written on it (1-5 for starters), along with the activity instructions in case any parents need a reminder. The child can bring anything they want in that quantity. For example, for the number 3 they may want to bring three toy cars or three cool rocks. (I will let parents know that if their child has something really special they want to share, they are welcome to use some creativity to make it work for the number bag. For example, if the child has a new doll she wants to share, but has the number 3, you might put in three dresses the doll might wear, or a dress with three buttons, and then include the doll to share as well. Or send the doll along with two other dolls of some kind.)
What’s in the Number Bag?
I’m trying something new this year, in an attempt to combine a little bit of a show-and-tell opportunity and a numeracy activity. I’m calling my experiment “The Number Bag”. You might want to try it out too, and let me know how it works for you!
My magical, mystical number bag is simply a cloth drawstring bag. The bag is sent home with a card with a number written on it (1-5 for starters), along with the activity instructions in case any parents need a reminder. The child can bring anything they want in that quantity. For example, for the number 3 they may want to bring three toy cars or three cool rocks. (I will let parents know that if their child has something really special they want to share, they are welcome to use some creativity to make it work for the number bag. For example, if the child has a new doll she wants to share, but has the number 3, you might put in three dresses the doll might wear, or a dress with three buttons, and then include the doll to share as well. Or send the doll along with two other dolls of some kind.)
How Big is a Dino? Getting Dinosaurs Down to Size
The enormity of dinosaurs is bewitching for preschoolers. They have a hard time wrapping their minds around just how big these beasts were, and yet it is that fact that drives their fascination! When I talk to children about the sizes of dinosaurs, here are a couple of ways I demonstrate it.
Baked Doughnuts-Fit for a Parade
Ahh, doughnuts. Few treats get children so excited! I’m personally not a fan of deep fat frying. My body doesn’t react well to the smell and when I eat it much my stomach feels unsettled. That, and my hips and thighs swell in a strange sort of allergic reaction. At any rate, when I’m the cook at the wheel, I prefer this healthier recipe for baked doughnuts. If you want to, have your little chefs assist you through the entire recipe. It’s not too difficult, and those little hands always get a kick out of kneading and rolling. Observing first hand the effect of yeast is a science project in itself. And since these are baked, not fried, they’re not only healthier, but you also have a little less to worry about in the burn department. As another option, you can have the doughnuts ready, and just let the children help with the topping. Either way, this cooking activity is sure to excite your little ones as they personalize each doughnut. Turn it into a literacy activity by reading a good book like The Great Doughnut Parade beforehand, or while the dough rises!
Here’s the to-do and to-what list:
Butterfly Fold Art
Here’s a great butterfly art project that is not only fun and fancy, but reinforces small motor skills and creativity, as well as the concept of symmetry.
Prepare these supplies:
Mail Match Math!
Who doesn’t love getting a letter? To preschoolers the mail ranks up there with other anticipated special deliveries like their Easter Baskets and Christmas stockings. Perhaps the one thing more exciting than receiving mail, would be getting to be the all-powerful letter carrier! Here’s an activity that lets your children in on the fun of delivering the mail, while also reinforcing the basic math skills of numeral recognition and counting.
Create letters by writing the number name in the address spot. Place the same number of 1 cent stamps in the stamp corner. For the group I was working with, I did numbers 1-10, but you could adjust that to meet the needs of your group. Next, create houses or mailboxes by writing the numerals corresponding to your letters. These can be simple pieces of paper as I show here, or you could make actual house or mailbox drawings. (I wrote mine on colored paper, and we began by putting the numbered papers in order, and then pointed out the abc pattern created by the colors.) Put these numbered papers in your pocket chart or in the center of your circle of children. Place all of your letters in a bag like a mail carrier. Have each child take a turn being the letter carrier (add to the effect by giving them a postal hat to wear during that turn). Each child will reach into the bag to select a letter and then place it in the appropriate spot by matching the number of stamps on the letter to the numeral written on the house/mailbox. After the children have experienced this activity, you might consider putting it in your dramatic play area along with your post office theme!
