I'm so late in getting this up! However, this unit, doesn't take much prep. Tihs unit is built around the folk tale, Stone Soup. We did this unit last week, and will be doing The Mitten unit this week.
First things first, plan a playdate. Invite some friends and make your own Stone Soup following the outline in the story. We did this (and I totally forgot to take pictures.) Each child brought something to add to the soup, and they REALLY enjoyed the process. As I read the story, they came up and added the indredient they had brought. The kids were not fans of the soup, so as an add-on I'm going to have Three create a recipe for a soup that he thinks he actually WILL like.
We put up our map of the world, and identified where we are on the map in relation to where France is (the story originates in France.) We talked about the ocean between us. As a result, Three became super interested in the names of places on the map and can now identify 3 of the continents.
We talked about folk tales, and what that means. That the story did originate in truth, but the details have changed over years of it being retold.
Create a recipe: We'll look at recipes in cookbooks, and then talk about what kinds of things he'd like in our soup. Then we'll make a trip to the store and buy the items, and see if that soup is yummier. :)
Discuss where the vegetables in the story come from. Potatoes and Carrots come from the garden and they grow UNDER the ground. Cabbage also comes from the garden, but it grows in a head ON the ground. Barley grows in large fields (we actually sustituted orzo for barley.) Beef and milk both come from cows. Etc.
Print out pictures of different vegetables/fruits and have the child sort them based on where they grow (under ground, on the ground, on a tree, etc.)
This leads to a discussion about healthy eating...how many vegetables we need each day, and why.
Crafts:
Paint a stone! This was a hit at the playdate.
Cut out a large "iron pot" from paper. Cut out different food items from a grocery store circular. Have the child add ingredients to their soup pot.
We revisited the letter S, but didn't do any new crafts related to it. :(
Monday, January 17, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
January Week 2
Read “The Mitten”
Play “mitten match” with all the mittens in your home. There are 6 of us, so we have LOTS. If you don’t have many (or any) mittens you could always create them from paper—plain construction paper or patterned scrapbook type paper.
Discuss what a “pair” is.
Arrange the mittens by size (Four’s mittens are smallest, Daddy’s mittens are the biggest. Etc.)
Look at pictures of the animals in the book. Discuss whether or not those animals could really fit in a mitten.
Sequencing: print/cut out pictures of the animals from the story; cut out a large mitten shape from poster board. Add the animals to the mitten in the order of the story. This would be a great felt board activity as well. Also, good for a discussion of ordinal numbers: The mouse is FIRST, the fox is SECOND, etc.
Place a small object into an adult sized mitten. Have child feel it from the outside and try to guess what it is.
Fingerpaint with mitten on! Luckily, we have a few mismatched mittens around that we will use for this, but if you aren’t that lucky…use washable paint and you’ll be fine!
This rhyme, with matching colored mitten cut-outs is mostly for Four (since Three has known his colors for what seems like forever) but knowing Three, after Four does it he’ll want to do it as well.
My poor little kitten lost her mitten
And started to cry, boo-hoo.
So I helped my kitten to look for her mitten.
Her beautiful mitten of BLUE.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Under my mother’s bed.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored RED.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Under my father’s pillow.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored YELLOW.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
On the hand of my brother’s toy clown.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored BROWN.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Under the laundry so clean.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored GREEN.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Inside a grocery bag.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored BLACK.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Under the kitchen sink.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored PINK.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Inside my favorite shoe.
And this time the mitten was just the right mitten,
For it was colored BLUE!
Read “The Three Little Kittens”
Discuss Rhyming words (kitten, mitten) and make a self correcting game.
Pictures of rhyming words, different colors on the back so that the child can check it themselves.
Discuss animals in winter (check out books from the library on this subject) and some of the modifications these animals have to help them when it’s cold. Discuss hibernation, and build an indoor “bear cave” to hibernate in.
Read “Bear Stays Up.”
Play in “snow” with polar animals (Arctic Animals Toob). The snow will be shaving cream, that I may add glitter into. Three LOVES to play with shaving cream, so I’m 100% sure this will be a HUGE hit.
Practice drawing the letters of Three’s name in the “snow” as well.
Make play dough snowmen. I’m going to use homemade play dough, since it’s seems to be softer. Three is still really working on building up those muscles.
Giving credit where credit is due, a lot of these SUPER ideas came from a unit prepared by someone else--I've only highlighted here the ideas I think MY kids will like, you should check ou the source: http://momofmonkeys.wordpress.com/kindergarten-curriculum/unit-on-the-mitten-by-jan-brett/
Play “mitten match” with all the mittens in your home. There are 6 of us, so we have LOTS. If you don’t have many (or any) mittens you could always create them from paper—plain construction paper or patterned scrapbook type paper.
Discuss what a “pair” is.
Arrange the mittens by size (Four’s mittens are smallest, Daddy’s mittens are the biggest. Etc.)
Look at pictures of the animals in the book. Discuss whether or not those animals could really fit in a mitten.
Sequencing: print/cut out pictures of the animals from the story; cut out a large mitten shape from poster board. Add the animals to the mitten in the order of the story. This would be a great felt board activity as well. Also, good for a discussion of ordinal numbers: The mouse is FIRST, the fox is SECOND, etc.
Place a small object into an adult sized mitten. Have child feel it from the outside and try to guess what it is.
Fingerpaint with mitten on! Luckily, we have a few mismatched mittens around that we will use for this, but if you aren’t that lucky…use washable paint and you’ll be fine!
This rhyme, with matching colored mitten cut-outs is mostly for Four (since Three has known his colors for what seems like forever) but knowing Three, after Four does it he’ll want to do it as well.
My poor little kitten lost her mitten
And started to cry, boo-hoo.
So I helped my kitten to look for her mitten.
Her beautiful mitten of BLUE.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Under my mother’s bed.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored RED.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Under my father’s pillow.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored YELLOW.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
On the hand of my brother’s toy clown.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored BROWN.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Under the laundry so clean.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored GREEN.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Inside a grocery bag.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored BLACK.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Under the kitchen sink.
But, alas, the mitten was not the right mitten,
For it was colored PINK.
I found a mitten just right for a kitten
Inside my favorite shoe.
And this time the mitten was just the right mitten,
For it was colored BLUE!
Read “The Three Little Kittens”
Discuss Rhyming words (kitten, mitten) and make a self correcting game.
Pictures of rhyming words, different colors on the back so that the child can check it themselves.
Discuss animals in winter (check out books from the library on this subject) and some of the modifications these animals have to help them when it’s cold. Discuss hibernation, and build an indoor “bear cave” to hibernate in.
Read “Bear Stays Up.”
Play in “snow” with polar animals (Arctic Animals Toob). The snow will be shaving cream, that I may add glitter into. Three LOVES to play with shaving cream, so I’m 100% sure this will be a HUGE hit.
Practice drawing the letters of Three’s name in the “snow” as well.
Make play dough snowmen. I’m going to use homemade play dough, since it’s seems to be softer. Three is still really working on building up those muscles.
Giving credit where credit is due, a lot of these SUPER ideas came from a unit prepared by someone else--I've only highlighted here the ideas I think MY kids will like, you should check ou the source: http://momofmonkeys.wordpress.com/kindergarten-curriculum/unit-on-the-mitten-by-jan-brett/
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
January Week 1
I've been getting planning done in our "off time." And, now have the preschool month of January planned out. I'm going to share these plans with the blog world. Some of you can follow along, or just pick and choose an activity that looks good to you! Also, there is no telling if we will actually get to all of these activities....school is hit or miss with Three. Some day's he is SO into it, and will sit and do EVERYTHING I suggest. Other day's I'm lucky if he's interested for 5 minutes. The plan is a working draft of sorts. This is what I'd *LIKE* to do this week. I'll post a post-week picture entry and let you know how much we ACTUALLY get done. I throw that out there so you don't look at this plan and feel intimidated, and not give it a try. Just do what your kid is interested in, and what you think will be fun, and forget the rest!
This week's theme will revolve around the book "The Snowy Day"
Read “The Snowy Day”
Make a prediction about why the snowball did not last.
Since we had Christmas snow (and lots of it) I'm going to put away different sized snowballs (freezer) to take out and compare melt times based on size during this unit. If you don't have snow....you could freeze varying amounts of water in paper cups, and then see how long it takes different amounts of water to melt.
Sensory ideas: Instant potato flakes, vanilla pudding, ice cubes, white pom-poms, cotton balls
I love this idea, but I'm afraid I didn't prepare early enough for this. I will start now though, and since my week 2 plans also have to do with cold weather, I can use it then. Collect empty clean milk cartons paint them white and use them as ice blocks to build an ice fort. I can see Three and Four totally loving playing in an indoor ice fort. I can also see my big girls really enjoying building different forts for them to play in.
Make some paper snowflakes. Discuss how every snowflake is different. Look at snowflakes through a microscope on this site: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/gallery/2009/jan/07/1
Use snowflake stampers to make a snowflake scene.
Use doll sized shoes to make “drag marks” in shaving cream snow.
For snack:
http://mama-jenn.blogspot.com/2010/01/edible-tortilla-snowflakes.html
Snowman pancakes: different sized pancakes, raisin eyes, fruit buttons, orange slice for a mouth, sprinkle with powdered sugar "snow"
Make marshmallow snowmen! (if you get them damp they stick together!)
Powdered sugar doughnut holes--edible snowballs!
Have an indoor “snow ball” fight. Either with cotton balls, or balled up newspaper.
Sequencing: Building a snowman cards.
Make snowflake from pipe cleaners and beads…use it as a patterning exercise.
Rhyming words (or whatever skill you are working on: item/numeral match, upper/lower case letter match, etc.) snowmen: a different rhyming word on each part of the snowman, make self correcting with a different color on the back of each.
Talk about all the types of clothes we wear in the snow.
Glue together this snowman: http://www.eslkidstuff.com/Worksheets/snowmancraft.gif
Snowflake stickers counting book. Make a book and put the numerals that you are working on (1-10, or skip counting, whatever!) at the bottom of each page. Have the child peel and stick the right number of snowflake stickers to each sheet. (I have yet to get snowflake stickers, but I do have snowflake stampers, and I may just use that. I do have to make a trip to the store....so I may get snowflake stickers if I can find them.)
Song: (sung to tune of "Are You Sleeping"
"It is snowing, it is snowing,
On my head, on my head
I need a hat, I need a hat,
On my head, on my head"
Vocabulary: As you sing name the body part in the above song, let the children pick out the correct article of clothing to finish the verse. For example, if you say feet...they would pick boots.
Glittering Snowballs (I'm going to be honest...I like this idea in theory...but I'm honestly not sure I'm going to make these. But I share in case you in the blog world are braver than I.)
What You Need:
Balloon
Glue
Yarn
Glitter
What You Do:
Blow up a small balloon for each child.
Have them dip yarn pieces into a mixture of glue and water.
Then have them put the yarn over the balloon. Have them do this until the balloon is mostly covered. Finally,pour glitter over the balloon and let dry. When it is dry you can pop the balloon and remove it. These are fabulous snowballs for a winter theme.
We'll be talking about letter S, as well. We will have a scavenger hunt around the house for S items and add them to our alphabet book. We'll learn about snakes, and where snakes are in the winter. We'll make a S-snake craft, and visit the museum to look at some snake skin.
Practice finger writing letter S in shaving cream, instant potatoes, or other sensory medium.
This week's theme will revolve around the book "The Snowy Day"
Read “The Snowy Day”
Make a prediction about why the snowball did not last.
Since we had Christmas snow (and lots of it) I'm going to put away different sized snowballs (freezer) to take out and compare melt times based on size during this unit. If you don't have snow....you could freeze varying amounts of water in paper cups, and then see how long it takes different amounts of water to melt.
Sensory ideas: Instant potato flakes, vanilla pudding, ice cubes, white pom-poms, cotton balls
I love this idea, but I'm afraid I didn't prepare early enough for this. I will start now though, and since my week 2 plans also have to do with cold weather, I can use it then. Collect empty clean milk cartons paint them white and use them as ice blocks to build an ice fort. I can see Three and Four totally loving playing in an indoor ice fort. I can also see my big girls really enjoying building different forts for them to play in.
Make some paper snowflakes. Discuss how every snowflake is different. Look at snowflakes through a microscope on this site: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/gallery/2009/jan/07/1
Use snowflake stampers to make a snowflake scene.
Use doll sized shoes to make “drag marks” in shaving cream snow.
For snack:
http://mama-jenn.blogspot.com/2010/01/edible-tortilla-snowflakes.html
Snowman pancakes: different sized pancakes, raisin eyes, fruit buttons, orange slice for a mouth, sprinkle with powdered sugar "snow"
Make marshmallow snowmen! (if you get them damp they stick together!)
Powdered sugar doughnut holes--edible snowballs!
Have an indoor “snow ball” fight. Either with cotton balls, or balled up newspaper.
Sequencing: Building a snowman cards.
Make snowflake from pipe cleaners and beads…use it as a patterning exercise.
Rhyming words (or whatever skill you are working on: item/numeral match, upper/lower case letter match, etc.) snowmen: a different rhyming word on each part of the snowman, make self correcting with a different color on the back of each.
Talk about all the types of clothes we wear in the snow.
Glue together this snowman: http://www.eslkidstuff.com/Worksheets/snowmancraft.gif
Snowflake stickers counting book. Make a book and put the numerals that you are working on (1-10, or skip counting, whatever!) at the bottom of each page. Have the child peel and stick the right number of snowflake stickers to each sheet. (I have yet to get snowflake stickers, but I do have snowflake stampers, and I may just use that. I do have to make a trip to the store....so I may get snowflake stickers if I can find them.)
Song: (sung to tune of "Are You Sleeping"
"It is snowing, it is snowing,
On my head, on my head
I need a hat, I need a hat,
On my head, on my head"
Vocabulary: As you sing name the body part in the above song, let the children pick out the correct article of clothing to finish the verse. For example, if you say feet...they would pick boots.
Glittering Snowballs (I'm going to be honest...I like this idea in theory...but I'm honestly not sure I'm going to make these. But I share in case you in the blog world are braver than I.)
What You Need:
Balloon
Glue
Yarn
Glitter
What You Do:
Blow up a small balloon for each child.
Have them dip yarn pieces into a mixture of glue and water.
Then have them put the yarn over the balloon. Have them do this until the balloon is mostly covered. Finally,pour glitter over the balloon and let dry. When it is dry you can pop the balloon and remove it. These are fabulous snowballs for a winter theme.
We'll be talking about letter S, as well. We will have a scavenger hunt around the house for S items and add them to our alphabet book. We'll learn about snakes, and where snakes are in the winter. We'll make a S-snake craft, and visit the museum to look at some snake skin.
Practice finger writing letter S in shaving cream, instant potatoes, or other sensory medium.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Another Christmas Craft and Random Cuteness
This craft is one I modified from this link: http://yellowmums.blogspot.com/2010/12/must-be-santa.html
Instead of doing it on tile, I used green construction paper. Green card stock would have worked better, but all I had was red and white.
Step 1: Paint child's hand white (or have them paint it themselves...Three painted his own, I painted Four's for him.)
Step 2: Press hand onto paper/cardstock/tile. Sorry the pic is blurry, I was trying to press his hand AND take the shot...and he was probably moving to boot!
Step 3: We used the red cardstock instead of red sticky backed felt. Cut out a santa hat shape, and glue it on.
Step 4/5: We used beans for eyes because I couldn't find our googly eyes...I'm not sure if we used them all or I just misplaced them. Either way...the beans worked ok. They were hard to stick though because they were small. Larger beans would have rocked. Then we added cotton "fur" trim to the hat, and a ball on the end.
Three's finished project:
Random cuteness abounds!
Instead of doing it on tile, I used green construction paper. Green card stock would have worked better, but all I had was red and white.
Step 1: Paint child's hand white (or have them paint it themselves...Three painted his own, I painted Four's for him.)
Step 2: Press hand onto paper/cardstock/tile. Sorry the pic is blurry, I was trying to press his hand AND take the shot...and he was probably moving to boot!
Step 3: We used the red cardstock instead of red sticky backed felt. Cut out a santa hat shape, and glue it on.
Step 4/5: We used beans for eyes because I couldn't find our googly eyes...I'm not sure if we used them all or I just misplaced them. Either way...the beans worked ok. They were hard to stick though because they were small. Larger beans would have rocked. Then we added cotton "fur" trim to the hat, and a ball on the end.
Three's finished project:
Random cuteness abounds!
Three's first experience with hot chocolate, after the first snow fall of the season (which was only about an inch, and didn't stick but was still SO exciting!) Luck of the draw managed to capture this priceless face!
We had snow last year, but Four was only 6 months old, so it was still a whole new experience for him. I <3 snowflakes on eyelashes (yes, these are a few of my favorite things.)
The same day as the snow, was the day of our town's Christmas parade. One danced in the parade with her dance company. Here are Two, Three and Four waiting on the curb for the parade to begin. 
And, here is One in the parade!
We had snow last year, but Four was only 6 months old, so it was still a whole new experience for him. I <3 snowflakes on eyelashes (yes, these are a few of my favorite things.)
The same day as the snow, was the day of our town's Christmas parade. One danced in the parade with her dance company. Here are Two, Three and Four waiting on the curb for the parade to begin.And, here is One in the parade!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Christmastime Crafts AND Baby "School"
Santa craft. One did this project with Three while I was at a doctor visit with Four. It's a piece of white printer paper, a piece of red construction paper and cotton balls. :)
I picked up this reindeer mask for Three at the craft store (for $1,) they had reindeer and snowmen, he picked the reindeer and was SO excited to paint it.
Three wanted to play with this too when I broke it out this week (it's been awhile since he's done this activity,) so when he was done with his own stuff he sorted the chips by color and then put them in the container.
Transferring with a spoon: Two bowls, a large spoon and whatever medium you would like to transfer. We chose pom poms. Put the poms in one bowl and demonstrate how to move them to the other with the spoon. In this picture the spoon was in use, and blurry, my apologies. But you get the gist!
For this activity, he has a crunchies container that I cut a square hole in the lid of, and a bowl of poms. He takes the poms from the bowl and pushes them through the hole in the lid.
This is a great activity. This is the first time he's done this one, and he really liked it. You need an empty spice container (the kind with the "sprinkle" holes in the lid,) and toothpicks. I had to lay the toothpicks out one by one, because he doesn't have the motor skills yet to pick up just one from the pile. But, working on this type of thing will help build those. He took one toothpick and pushed it through one of the wholes in the lid of the spice container. He tried it two different ways, in his lap and flat on the table. In his lap was much easier.
I picked up this reindeer mask for Three at the craft store (for $1,) they had reindeer and snowmen, he picked the reindeer and was SO excited to paint it.
Baby "school":
Four has begun really wanted to do things when Three and I are doing school. So, I've had to break out his own school things.
This is poker chips (picked up from Dollar Tree) and an empty wipe container with the slot in the top. Four takes the chips and slides them through the slot that you pull the wipes through.
Three wanted to play with this too when I broke it out this week (it's been awhile since he's done this activity,) so when he was done with his own stuff he sorted the chips by color and then put them in the container.
Transferring with a spoon: Two bowls, a large spoon and whatever medium you would like to transfer. We chose pom poms. Put the poms in one bowl and demonstrate how to move them to the other with the spoon. In this picture the spoon was in use, and blurry, my apologies. But you get the gist!
For this activity, he has a crunchies container that I cut a square hole in the lid of, and a bowl of poms. He takes the poms from the bowl and pushes them through the hole in the lid. 
This is a great activity. This is the first time he's done this one, and he really liked it. You need an empty spice container (the kind with the "sprinkle" holes in the lid,) and toothpicks. I had to lay the toothpicks out one by one, because he doesn't have the motor skills yet to pick up just one from the pile. But, working on this type of thing will help build those. He took one toothpick and pushed it through one of the wholes in the lid of the spice container. He tried it two different ways, in his lap and flat on the table. In his lap was much easier.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Oh What Fun...
I made this first item because Three asks EVERY DAY how many more "night nights" until Christmas??? This will be something he can do every day, and see how much longer he has. I picked up some Xmas stickers at A.C. Moore (a craft store) for .75. I got out a piece of red construction paper, and used one of the stickers as my guide. I then traced the sticker 24 times, and added a Merry Christmas for Christmas day.
Countdown chart:
December 1 kicks off the season of giving! The first gifts are always new ornaments for the tree.
Three helps Daddy put up the tree!
Seriously, if Four were any cuter, his life would be in constant danger because I could just eat him! This is the first time he's helped me in the kitchen, and he was "sneaking" a taste!
Countdown chart:
December 1 kicks off the season of giving! The first gifts are always new ornaments for the tree.
Three helps Daddy put up the tree!Seriously, if Four were any cuter, his life would be in constant danger because I could just eat him! This is the first time he's helped me in the kitchen, and he was "sneaking" a taste!
Our elf, Rudolph, arrived the day after Thanksgiving!
3rd location where Rudolph was found!
A pinecone craft, Four wanted in on the action.
Painting the pinecone with white paint, to give it a snow affect:
Adding glitter:
One sparkly pine cone!
3rd location where Rudolph was found! A pinecone craft, Four wanted in on the action.
Painting the pinecone with white paint, to give it a snow affect:
Adding glitter:
One sparkly pine cone!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Big Kid Links
Gravity:
http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/fallingwater.pdf
http://homeschooling.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=homeschooling&cdn=education&tm=220&gps=487_199_1276_569&f=20&tt=13&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/Experiments/gravity.htm
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/coleytech/webquest/Save%20our%20Gravity/gravitywebquest.html
Ancient Greece:
http://greece.mrdonn.org/persianwars.html
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/htmlver/characters/f_pericles.html
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/history/peloponnesian.htm
Maya, Inca, and Aztecs:
http://www.projectpages.org/Audenried_Projects/Aztec,_Mayan,_and_Incan_Webquest.html
http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/fallingwater.pdf
http://homeschooling.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=homeschooling&cdn=education&tm=220&gps=487_199_1276_569&f=20&tt=13&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/Experiments/gravity.htm
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/coleytech/webquest/Save%20our%20Gravity/gravitywebquest.html
Ancient Greece:
http://greece.mrdonn.org/persianwars.html
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/htmlver/characters/f_pericles.html
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/history/peloponnesian.htm
Maya, Inca, and Aztecs:
http://www.projectpages.org/Audenried_Projects/Aztec,_Mayan,_and_Incan_Webquest.html
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