Worm Painting

This craft is loads of fun when pairing it with the study of worms or reading a worm book! Plus the look you get when the child touches it for the first time is priceless!

Supplies: brown paint, brown paper, and faux worms (found in worm bait) or rubber worms (found in party supply stores)

Process: Place the faux worm in the paint and let it wiggle around in the dirt (paint and paper).

Teach Well: Preschoolers need sensory experiences. Why not bring unique items into the classroom to help them explore? Those will be the ones they remember most! 

Affordable Classroom Garden

This project is quite affordable if you have a large classroom. This planting kit can be found at your local Target in the dollar section. The one photographed is of clover and if it is planted the first of March, you can have clover grown in time for Saint Patrick's Day.

Supplies: plant kit, a plastic spoon per child, a bowl per child, and water

Process: Plant your pot according to kit instructions

Teach Well: Giving your children a spoon and a bowl to plant their own pot gives them ownership over the plant. Make sure to water daily. The small pots dry out quickly and can not go a day without water.

Grow-a-Frog

Supplies: a growing frog (can be found at local dollar markets or the dollar section at your local Target), a large bucket, water, measuring tape, pencil, and paper

Process: Measure your frog and mark it's length on your paper. You may want to use butcher paper or something larger than letter size. Place the frog in the bucket of water (or according to package instructions). Every day take the frog out and measure it again. In our case, the frog grew an inch every day. It stopped at 14 1/2 inches and started to peel. As it gets too large for its skin begin to let it dry out by removing it from the water. You can measure the shrinking process if you like or just enjoy observing it instead.

Teach Well: Take photos of the growing process. Use it on a bulletin board or science journal prompt.

Feathered Chick

Supplies: Construction paper, yellow feathers, buttons, and glue

Process: Draw the chicken shape on to construction paper and cut out. Have the children use glue to attach all the pieces to their bird.

Teach Well: Make a master and copy your chicken to the paper using a copy machine. If your children are old enough, let them cut the chicken out themselves to develop their small motor skills.

March & April's Scope And Sequence

Although you can find my whole scope and sequence here I am adding quite a bit more in our day than I am use to. My son is going through my lesson plans faster than expected. This is good for several reasons. I am able to try new things that I haven't had time before to do. Also, it gives him the chance to do an activity that he liked earlier in the month again later. Look forward to lessons that will also be good for children in preschool through second grade!

I will be using both March and April's themes this month. Easter falls too early in April and so I am going to begin teaching Easter lessons during the third week in March.

March:

Theme - The Farm/Easter

Literacy - U, V, W, X
(My son is now learning to write these letters but can already read. So we will be adding to our literacy program by doing activities that promote reading and writing.)

Math - Recognize; 20-24; Math Concepts
(My son is now learning to write these numbers but can already read them. So we will be adding to our math program by doing activities that promote addition and subtraction.)

 Science - Creation; Observation; Animals

Physical Education - Games; Aerobic Wednesdays

Bible - Jesus Teaches About the Lost Sheep

Verse - Luke 19:10


April:


Theme - Easter/Spring

Literacy - Y & Z

Math - Recognize; 25-26; Math Concepts

Science - Spring; Observation; Cause/Effect

Physical Education - Parachute; Aerobic Wednesdays

Bible - Jesus Is Alive

Verse - Matthew 28:6

Fall Collage

I am always trying to reduce waste in the classroom. I feel guilty throwing a small scrap of paper away! Why waste when children can create beautiful collages using scraps around the classroom?

Supplies: scraps of fall colored paper, fall stickers, confetti, yarn, silk leaves, magazine cutouts of farms or fall colors, diecuts, paper, and glue.

Process: Place items at your art center. Let your children create how they wish! I love using black paper for them to glue onto. It makes the colors stand out and it displays well.

Teach Well: Have glue bottles out until they master squeezing the glue out. Then move to small containers of glue with q-tips. It will help develop their small motor skills and save glue.

Alphabet Match

Supplies: plastic fruit and vegetables, 3x5 index cards, and markers

Process: Before playing the game, gather eight to ten pieces of plastic fruit or vegetables. Use markers to make letters on the 3x5 cards that match the first letter of the food you are using. For example, write a "w" on a card if you have a piece of watermelon. When it is game time, line the food on the floor facing the children. Then line the cards under the food. Have the children sound out each item match the item to the card. Place the food on top of the card. When all the cards are covered, play again!

Teach Well: When you are all done playing this game, keep it out for center time. Let the children try and match it themselves.

Wooly Lamb Puppet

Supplies: white construction paper, paint brush, cotton balls (or Poly-fil), craft stick, stapler, glue, and black paint.

Process: Use a paint brush and paint the child's hand, palm up. Carefully lay the hand on the white paper and press to make the hand print. The thumb is the head, and the four fingers are the lamb's legs. Have the paint dry. Cut the hand print out. Have the child squeeze glue onto the body of the lamb and place the cotton on top. Let the glue dry. Staple the craft stick onto the bottom of the lamb.


Teach Well: Try and use a stapler for the craft stick. If you need to use glue instead of a stapler use wood glue. Elmer's glue will not last for long on wood and has a long drying time. For easy clean up squeeze some liquid soap into the paint.

Old MacDonald Had A Farm

Supplies: stuffed farm animals and jump rope

Process: Make a circle with the jump rope and call it your barn or fence. Give each child a stuffed animal. Begin singing Old MacDonald Had a Farm. When the child hears his animal in the song, have them place it in the barn. Play again when all the animals are in the barn.


Teach Well: Use music if you have this song on CD. Place animals onto a parachute and when all the animals are on the parachute move it up and down to the music. No stuffed animals? Use clip art from your computer instead!

Flower Picking

If you haven't had a chance to make the playdough in my previous post, this activity will give you another chance! Find silk Easter lilies at your local dollar or craft store. I use them for many activities and have several on hand. This makes for a fun center and great for those small motor skills.

Supplies: Silk flowers cut into single stems, brown playdough

Process: Place the playdough on the table and have flowers next to it. Have the children explore and plant their flowers how they like.


Teach Well: Have dice on the table along with this center. Have the children roll the dice and place that many flowers in thier soil. Before this activity read The Parable of the Lily.

Number Egg-travaganza

This game can be used as a center or in your dramatic play area. I kept this in our dramatic play chicken coop in the classroom. But, getting it out to have as a one to two person center is just as fun!


Supplies: plastic eggs, egg carton, Sharpie marker

Process: With your Sharpie marker write a number on the plastic egg and also in the egg carton. Place eggs in the lid of the carton and have the children find the correct spot for each egg. Have them say the numbers out loud.

Teach Well: Instead of writing numbers on the inside of the carton, draw dots to correspond with the egg that goes there. Keep extra plastic eggs on hand. If any break you can replace it quickly.

Fruit Hockey

I love games out of the ordinary! Hockey sticks are a great way to work on gross motor skills while still having a blast! Plastic hockey sticks are one of my favorite items. Although they are expensive you may find items at your local dollar store that you can use instead. I have a dollar store set of golf clubs that work the same. Just be ready with the duct tape in case any handles fall off! Cones are useful to create start and finish lines. You can also find a set of three at your local dollar store.

Supplies: plastic fruit, plastic hockey sticks, four cones

Process: Create your field with two cones on each side. Try to keep the field small and if the children are doing well at using the hockey sticks then make your field larger. Give each child a plastic piece of fruit. Have them only use their hockey stick to guide the fruit to the other side of the field.

Teach Well: This is a non-competitive game. Safety first! Remind them to always keep their hockey stick on the floor. If their stick is always touching the floor, no one will get hurt and there will be no fruit flying across the room. If you are at home a great place to play this is in a hallway.

Puppets, Puppets, Puppets!

Puppetry can be very useful as visual tools in story telling or dramatic play. They are also very good for helping children with social difficulties express how they are feeling. Maybe you use a devotional Bible or Bible curriculum for your Bible time and are currently just reading the story to your children. Finding puppets that can help you tell the story will help the children experience the story in a new way. Therefore, making the lesson more memorable and help them remember what they have learned!

Be inspired by other puppeteers by learning from them. A great resource is Puppets with a Heart. I had the pleasure of seeing Darcy and her puppets for several years at ACSI. The puppets are created with a heart that you can pull out and "hide" an object in it for the lesson.

Puppets can be expensive...You can have the same rewards with puppets that you find at garage sales or Goodwill.

Some of my favorite finger play puppets are from Ikea. I keep them on a card holder that I found at Target twelve years ago. Think outside the box! Find anything to display your little friends and put it at a level where the children can explore and play on their own. We use these to sing Where is Thumbkin?

Some of my favorite puppets were donated or from garage sales. This raccoon has probably seen better days, but where else can I find a raccoon to use for The Kissing Hand? There are also great puppets at your local dollar store.

When looking for a great puppet for application stories or discussing emotional issues with children (eg. divorced or foster children that might be angry or sad) find a puppet with hands that are soft and move. These are my favorite for Bible and application puppets. If you are uncomfortable speaking through a puppet, you can use a puppet that doesn't even speak but whispers in your ear. I use this lesson when teaching Jesus Calms the Storm but it can be adapted to whatever lesson you are teaching about!

Supplies: small puppet, apron with pockets, Bible

Process: Place your puppet in your apron pocket before the lesson. Tell the children that you are going to have a guest for Bible Time but they are really shy and get really embarrassed around other people. Tell the children that they have to be very quiet to not scare or embarrass their guest. Then say that the puppet has a problem and needs our help. Ask if the children could help their new friend and if they are ready to meet their new friend (don't forget to give the puppet a name).

Begin talking into your pocket. Tell the puppet that it's OK to come out and meet our new friends. Place your hand in the pocket and begin to pet it, calming it, and at the same time get your hand inside the puppet. Poke the head slightly out of the pocket to create interest, then back down again. Still calming the puppet, have the puppet climb out of your pocket and up to your check, hugging you.

Ask the puppet, "You said that you had a problem and needed our help. What is your problem?" Have the puppet cover it's eyes as if it is shy and then whisper in your ear. Then say, "Oh, OK... tell me more." Have the puppet continue in your ear then come back down with shy hands over his face. "Kids, our new friend does have a problem! When it is bed time and his mom turns out the lights, he gets scared! He wants to know what he can do so that he won't have to be scared anymore. Does anyone know how we can help our friend?"

Give opportunities for the children to help solve their friend's problem. Mention that God's Word tells us that we do not have to be afraid because God is always with us (Isaiah 43:5).

"What can we do to talk to God when we are afraid?" Wait to hear answers from children. When someone mentions prayer ask if there was anyone that would like to pray for their new friend so that they would not be afraid. Have the puppet bow their head and pray with praying hands along with the class.

Thank the puppet for coming to visit and have everyone say goodbye. Walk to an area where children can not see you taking off the puppet.

Teach Well: There will be children that might disturb the lesson or dramatic play by calling out "That's just a puppet!" It's OK! Be encouraged! Some children are not able to use their imagination in today's society. Create opportunities in your classroom or home where children can become kids again! Make a time to call on that child to talk to your puppet, answer any questions you have asked, or have them even pray! You will be surprised, they might be hugging that puppet goodbye... maybe even asking when they are coming back for another visit!

Bug Counting

I love this game! It can be used as a center or as a game for the whole class! You can find all of these supplies at your local dollar store. I found these cute plastic bugs years ago, but you can use common household items like cottonballs instead.

Supplies: divided cat food bowl, dice, and plastic bugs

Process: Have all your bugs on one side of cat dish. Roll the dice and have the child count out loud what number they rolled. Have them place that many bugs into the other side of the dish. If the child is playing with a friend have them take turns.

Teach Well: If you are playing as a class or with toddlers roll the dice together (or use an overhead projector with an overhead projector spinner). Then count the pieces together. If you are using household items or items that are small use plastic tweezers to help develop small/fine motor skills.

Please Keep Off the Grass!

I love things that grow in no time at all! Grass seed does just that! I love to plant grass at home or in the classroom. It is great because once it grows you can take clippings and sprinkle it on art work for that extra green touch. I also found a great plant stake at the Dollar Tree several years ago that says "Keep off the grass!" In this project I used these pots from Ikea and hung them on this. I love the way they look hanging in our kitchen.

Supplies: pot, soil, grass seed, spray bottle with water, disposable cup, and sunlight

Process: Have the children put soil into their pot. Place the grass seed in a disposable cup and have the children shake the seed onto the top of the soil. Make sure that the children know not to touch the seed. Use the spray bottle to water the top of the soil. Have the children wash their hands thoroughly. Every day spritz the grass with water. Within a week you will have tall grass!

Teach Well: Use these Ikea pots for your child's art supplies. Hang the bar low enough so that your child can access them easily. Place them by an art easel for paint brushes or by a desk for school supplies.

Purple Cows

I love to incorporate poetry in my curriculum when I can. The poem The Purple Cow is funny and makes a child "think again."

The Purple Cow

I never saw a Purple Cow,

I never hope to see one;

But I can tell you, anyhow,

I'd rather see than be one.

by Gelett Burgess

Treats in the classroom are fun and rare. When we read this poem I always make sure we make Purple Cows afterwards!

Supplies: small cup, spoon, vanilla ice cream, and grape soda

Process: Put a scoop of ice cream in the cup. Have the soda in a pourable measuring cup. Have the children pour their own soda into their cup. Drink and enjoy!

Teach Well: Give the children small cups and spoons to help scoop out the ice cream from the bottom of their cups. About 30 percent of the children will have the experience and decide that they don't like it. That's OK! It's about having an experience and trying something new!

Spring Green Update!

Look! In just a couple of days our beans sprouts have grown 16 inches! In the meantime we have also started some white marigolds growing along side the beans to compare. To look at the original process check out this post.

Stamp Art

I love to find items for my art at Goodwill or garage sales. These foam stamps were a great find at a garage sale. I also love the handle stamps by Hampton Art Stamps. I had the wooden stamps before I started teaching. These ink pads are a life saver! They are large enough for any size stamp and washable!

Supplies: Foam stamps, washable ink pads, and paper

Process: Have the children stamp their paper any way they like.

Teach Well: Have several pieces of paper there if needed. Let the children create until they are finished!

Spring Into Green!

My favorite bulletin board project was this next activity that we did today. I am not sure where the inspiration came from but it is not original.

Supplies: resealable bag, bean seeds, dirt, water, and tape/or stapler.

Process:

Have the children place dirt into a resealable bag. Add several seeds. You want to make sure you put a few inside just in case some don't grow. Hang your bag in a window or on a bulletin board. Water lightly.

My classroom had so much light that I was able to hang these right on the bulletin board! We also hung a measuring tape to help teach height/length and how to read a measuring tape. I loved coming in the mornings and finding that the beans had grown one to two inches over night! We had sprouts touching the ceiling! Make sure that there are a few at eye level so the children can enjoy the daily growth as well.

Teach Well: Make sure to make a few extra just in case some don't grow. That way everyone gets to take a successful plant home.

Pigs in the Mud

I got so excited yesterday when I went into the attic and pulled out my "spring" and "farm" boxes! It was like Christmas all over again. I haven't looked in the boxes for a year and I had forgot what was inside! One of my favorite centers is "Pigs in the Mud." I found little piggies at the dollar store years ago. I make "mud" from my favorite play dough recipe that I got at a conference about eight years ago. I love to use my liquid watercolors to color my play dough because the colors can be so vibrant and beautiful. But you can use food coloring and it will do the trick just fine!

This recipe was given freely without copy right. Heidi Stalder from Lane Community College compiled Magic Mixtures - Recipes for Fun and Learning. She believed that all should gain from her work... there are so many good recipes! I am sure I will be sharing more as time goes by.

Sauce Pan Play Dough

This play dough is quick and easy to make. It is smooth and requires no kneading. It makes a small quantity and may be doubled or tripled but it can be hard to stir.
1 Tbs. oil (I use baby oil)
1 cup water
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1 Tbs. vanilla
1 tsp. alum
a few drops of food coloring

Process: Mix dry ingredients in a sauce pan. Add food coloring, water, oil, and vanilla. Mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes (really!). As it is cooking the mixture will change from a milky color to a translucent color. Remove from heat. Let it cool for a minute. Roll to form a ball. Cool. Store in a sealed container.