Bunnies and Carrots

We had a great time learning about bunnies on Monday!  In Circle, we read a Scholastic reader called Hello, Bunny!, in which we learned that a baby bunny is called a kitten.  Who knew?!

 

Our centers included:

- art: listening/following directions bunny & carrot activity

- writing names on chalk clipboards

- bunny games: mini bowling, barrel of bunnies, real-life bunny picture puzzle

 

At the math center, the kids were given bunny picks (used for cupcakes, found at Wal-Mart).  They were asked to put the bunnies in the playdough grass in order, 1-12.

 

We also introduced new sensory tubs with cloud dough.  Have you heard of this?  It's really cool, and very easy to make!  I found the recipe at Inner Child Fun, and there are a bunch of other ones out there.  This stuff is super soft and it just feels nice to squish it in your hands!

 

At the end of class, we read:

This is the first in a series of three books by Mo Willems, and it is great!  Not only is it a cute story, but the pictures and art are very cool - drawings are integrated with real-life photos.  If you have a chance, check this series out at the library!

 

Tomorrow, the kids will be introduced to another new sensory bin in the block room - the butterfly garden.

 

This tub includes:

- birdseed as its base

- mini purple daisies (artificial)

- pink and yellow butterflies

- artificial leaves

- two plastic potted flowers

- wooden spoons and plastic bowls

 

 

I can't wait for them to try this out!  I think they're going to like it.  It was hard enough for me to keep my own hands out of it!  See you tomorrow!



Hop on Pop and Rhyming

Once kids get the hang of opposites, they somehow just "get it".  Not so much with rhyming!  This is a much harder concept for some kids, because they have to be able to hear that two or more words have the same ending sound.

 

In Circle, we read:

and played a game called Rhyming Basket.  I filled a basket with small toys/supplies from around the room, one for each child.  I gave a child the basket and called out a word that rhymed with an object in the basket.  For example, I said "rain", and a child pulled out the train.  It was a fun game, and they really had to think about which object rhymed with the word I called!  You could easily play this at home with anything you have.  When you call out a word, it can be something real or made up.

 

To practice rhyming, we played a picture matching game with words that rhyme.  (I made the cards, because I couldn't find exactly what I wanted online.)  I placed the cards on the table, face up, and asked the kids to find rhyming pairs.  Below, a student found hat and cat.  You can play a rhyming game at home using items from around the house.  For example, you can gather items such as a sock, rock, ball, doll, etc.  Have your kid pick out two items at a time that rhyme.

For fine motor practice, we played a rainbow pom pom drop using tweezers.  The children were given a bowl of poms in all different colors, and they used the tweezers to pick up one at a time.  They placed each pom in its coordinating cup (labeled with the same color star).

We introduced the March sensory tubs to the kids as well.  The base is made up of a pasta called "acini di pepe".  I have no clue how to pronounce that, but it looks like tiny gold nuggets, which I thought was perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

 

Other items in the March sensory tubs include:

• green plastic cup with green flower
• sparkly green pom poms
• green shamrock coins
• green beads, lids and a chenille spring
• bunny and butterfly erasers
• green spoon for scooping
• shamrock cookie cutter
• black pot with popsicle stick leprechaun

 

Other activities of the day included:

• completing a rhyming worksheet
• number puzzle
• train center

 

Another easy way to practice rhyming is just to say a word and have your kid rhyme another word.  It can be real or made up, as long as it has the same ending sound.

 

Have a rhyming good time without spending a dime!



The Missing Mitten Mystery

 

 Are you laughing yet?!  This is what I saw when I walked into the classroom on Monday morning!  Three mischevious Tiggers - one in a bassinet, complete with pacifier, diaper and baby powder; one riding the horsey; and one in the high chair, snacking on veggie straws.  Isn't this pure silly fun?!  I love it!  (Thanks for making my morning bright and sunshiney, Pops!)

 

*****

Today, after all of us finished gawking and oogling over the Tiggers, we read:

 

This book is adorable!  If you've not read it, you're missing out.  Check it out at the library or grab a copy at the bookstore.  I love love love the end!  After we read, the children took a few minutes (and by minutes, I mean seconds) to find our missing red mitten.  It was under the table by our library books!

 

At the matching table, the kiddos worked on a mitten color match game as well as a similarly-designed football number match game (1-10).  There was also another mitten matching game, in which they were supposed to match the designs on the mittens.

 

At the discovery table, we worked on the concept of left and right.  Your child brought home a yellow paper with a pair of mittens.  We placed our hands on the mittens, and sang, "This one is the left, and this one is the right" several times, while pointing to each hand.  We also worked on mitten lacing, which they did very well with!  These are in the hallway for your viewing pleasure.  :)  I'm very proud of the effort and concentration that these smart cookies used for this activity!

 

Wednesday, the kids will be introduced to the February sensory table in the block room.

 

The base is red and white beans, and the sensory items include:

• heart doilies and pink foam flowers
• pink and white feathers
• various sizes of red, pink and white bottle caps and lids
• 2 small empty playdough containers
• heart ribbon
• red and white pipe cleaners
• valentine cupcake liners

(Before Wednesday, we will also add some scoops, spoons and cups.)

 

The kids were eager and interested as I was preparing this table.  I knew they wanted to get into it right away, but I wanted them to have a few minutes of free play at the end of class.  It will be ready and waiting for them on Wednesday!





Evergreen Trees & Cardinals

On Friday, we learned all about evergreen trees and our state bird, the cardinal.  Have you seen any flying about or perched on a pine tree?  I haven't yet, but I'm always on the lookout!

 

We looked at pictures from:

 

and read:

 

In art, we made a snow-covered evergreen tree by dabbing white paint with a cotton ball.  Then we glued on two cardinals - a red one (male) and a brown one (female).  We talked a lot about which color the boys and girls are.  Some kiddos were so cute, and called the red ones the daddy birds and the brown ones the mommy birds.  Adorable!  These will be clipped in the hallway for you to see.

 

Our fine motor activity was the colorful snowflake drop.  We used a little tiny ladle (it is seriously the cutest thing ever!) to scoop up sparkly poms and place them on the holes of a small tray.  There were 12 in all, and the kids did a great job - especially since they weren't supposed to use their free hand for assistance!

 

In math, the kids played our tree number match game.  Numbers 1-10 are traced on an evergreen cutout, and the kids used plastic numbers to match them.  Then the hard part - pointing and counting them in order!  They did a super job.  :)

 

After snack, we played in the block room for a bit.  The children love the gingerbread tub so much that we decided to leave it for January.  (We played with it all through December as well.)  It's simply flour, salt, nutmeg and allspice.  Come in and take a whiff - it smells sooooo good!  Our tub also includes:

- gingerbread friends

- pine cones

- plastic trucks

- scoops/spoons

- empty spice shakers

- cups



 

We also completed our letter Nn literacy activity, which I will cover in the next post.  It was a fun, busy, productive day!



December Sensory Tubs

Last week, we introduced the kids to the December sensory bins, and so far, they love them.  We have two tubs, meant for individual use, but sometimes extra little hands just can't resist!  The children are very good at sharing with their classmates.  :)

 

In each December sensory tub, we've added a base of red and green peppermint rice.  I found this idea at Growing a Jeweled Rose.  The rice is "flavored" with peppermint extract, and I only use food coloring and water to change its color.  So, if we have any hungry kiddos who want a sample, it's completely safe!

 



 

Included in both tubs are the following:

• red snowman cup and white spoon for scooping and pouring
• pinecone
• bow
• foam angel cutout
• plastic hollyberries on a stick
• bells
• gold and silver stars

In the top bin, you will notice a small nutcracker.  Sadly, he was dropped and beheaded, and is awaiting repair at Santa's Preschool Workshop.  He will be back next week, good as new!

 



Sensory tubs are very easy to put together at home.  This one (below), I put together for my daughter (5) and my son (7), who both still love to do sensory activities.  I found all of the items around the house and mixed in with our Christmas decorations.



 



 

My kids' sensory tub includes:

• small red mitten with red/white and green/white beaded candy canes
• white pitcher for pouring and a red spoon for scooping
• wooden teddy bear
• red wooden tree shape
• small snowman box with tiny gold instruments inside
• bell bracelet
• red and green straws

My kids wanted peppermint candy cane rice, so I dyed half red and left the other half plain white.  Personally, I think the red/green combination is much more vibrant, but I aim to please!

 

Please comment and post pictures if you try a sensory tub at home.  I'd love to see it!



November Sensory Tubs

Today, the children will be introduced to the November sensory tubs.  Yes, November is half over, and I have been slooooooow at collecting things to put in this month's tubs.  It was kind of hard to come up with ideas for this one!

 

But nonetheless, here it is.  Ta da!

 

Our November sensory includes:

• yellow-dyed rice (which will very quickly be mixed with the underlying orange rice!)
• plastic mini red gourds
• tea cups and orange spoon/scoop
• real mini pumpkin and white gourd
• Pilgrim and Native American stand-ups
• Mayflower stand-up (not pictured)

 

I hope the kiddos enjoy these bins!

I'm sure they will, because they always ask to play in them.  We end up with lots of rice on the floor, but they are doing such a great job scooping and pouring!

 

I love activities like this that the kids and I both get excited about, and that provide sensory stimulation, as well as fine-motor muscle development.

 

Yay for sensory tubs!

Cc is for Carrots and Cream

If there's one sensory activity that kids cannot get enough of, it's definitely shaving cream.  Enter our letter Cc activity - carrots and (shaving) cream!

 

The kids formed lots of Cc's in the cream with the use of a plastic carrot as their writing utensil.  They made the two Cc sounds - soft /c/ (like cereal) and hard /c/ (like cocoa).

 

 

Then came the fun part - "erasing" and running their little fingers all through the cream!  They squished, smoothed, drew and even ran Matchbox cars in the cream.  It was a delightful experience for the kiddos, and I think the teachers enjoyed watching their excitement just as much!  We even had a few who ended up with shaving cream in their hair and on their clothes.  They definitely had a blast!

 

Next up...letter Dd!

Bb is for Blue

Bb is for blue...blue paint, that is!

 

Our letter Bb sensory activity was forming Bb on a ziploc baggie filled with blue paint.  They used either their finger or a q-tip to write Bb, and then sounded it out.  Some kids commented about how squishy the baggie felt.  Afterwards, they got to make their own designs on the baggie.  :)

 

 

When we're covering the letter of the week, I always ask the kids if they can think of something that begins with that specific letter.  Sometimes it's easy (like with Bb), and other times it's hard (like with Ee or Ii).  You can help!  Talk with your kiddo about the letter of the week, its sound(s), and name a few things that have the letter's beginning sound.  Example: B is for bear, balloon, and bubble!

 

Coming up next...Cc!

Aa is for Applesauce

I know this is a little late...well, a lot late.  Several weeks actually!  Better late than never, right?

 

Each week, we will introduce a new letter, beginning with Aa and ending with Zz.  Your kiddo will get a Letter of the Week writing practice worksheet to complete at home for "homework".  Since preschoolers are still developing their fine motor muscles (used for holding writing utensils), it's sometimes easier for them to write with something thicker - like a chunky pencil or marker.  Give it a try!

 

For each letter, we try to do some sort of sensory activity.  Letter Aa was fun and tasty!  The children practiced forming Aa in applesauce!  They loved how it felt squishy and cold.  As part of this activity, they also sounded out Aa - short and long sounds, showed me the sign for Aa (American Sign Language), and then they got to eat some applesauce!

 

 

Over the next few days, I will attempt to get you all caught up on our letter learning fun.  Hang in there with me!  :)



October Sensory Tables

October is here, and that means pumpkins and colorful fall leaves!  We have changed our sensory tables in the block room, and the children are having a great time exploring the new textures. 

 

In the red table, we've added dry oatmeal, mini plastic pumpkins and silk fall leaves.  I've noticed several kids just running their hands through the oats.  (Sorry for the sideways picture - I rotated and saved it about a thousand times, and it still uploads sideways!)

 

 

In the corn table, we still have...well, corn!  The kids just can't seem to get enough of it - it's almost as popular as the sand table.  We've added pom pom "pumpkins", as well as a few new scoops, and a fall striped bucket.

 

 

Have you tried sensory tubs at home?  They are so much fun!  You don't have to spend much, if any, money to create one, and most items can be found around your house.  Try shaving cream, oatmeal, beans, applesauce, or even water.  Add in some spoons, scoops, cups and bowls, and you're set!  Children get good practice scooping, dumping, pouring, and mixing with sensory tubs.

 

Try it out - it's easy, fun, and your child will love it!  (Special bonus: you'll even have fun putting it together and watching your child enjoy it too!)

Sensory Tables

Sensory tubs and tables play a big part in our preschool program.  They are often filled with sand, water, beans, corn, and occasionally water.  The children LOVE visiting these tables, and yes, they make a mess each time. 

But...that's exactly what they're supposed to do!

 

Each sensory table has several items for exploration - cups, pitchers, scoops, spoons, etc.  Currently, our bean table even has small apples, since we have been working on our apple unit.  Sensory tables are so important and have many benefits - learning to scoop, pour, sort and count, imaginitve play (we are often served steaming, hot bowls of homemade corn soup!), discovering different textures, and creative storytelling, just to name a few. 

 

You may have heard your kiddo talk about going over to the Block Room, where the children have the option of playing at the Bean Table...

 

or the Corn Table...

 

Both of these tables are very popular spots!

 

In our classroom, we have the sand table open at least once per week.  We will be exploring many other textures, smells and sounds throughout the school year. 

Coming soon...the oatmeal tub!  Stay tuned!

 

(For more information on the benefits of sensory tubs, as well as some pretty amazing sensory ideas to try at home, check out Counting Coconuts and Earlychildhood News.)