Preschool Transition Activities - Songs and Games

Change is often difficult for all ages and toddlers can find it very stressful. The goal with these preschool transition activities is to make it fun and not totally unexpected.

All of these can be “signals” for them that things are going to be changing and they can help.

SONGS—
Have a special song which you use when it is time
to put things away and start a new project or activity.
Start playing this song and the children recognize the song
and know they need to complete what they are doing and
put things away before the song ends. Competition adds an
element of fun and eases the stress.

BEAT THE TIMER—
Tell them that you are going to play Beat the Timer. Set the timer for a certain number of minutes (5 is good for toddlers) and tell them they have need to put things back where they belong before the timer rings. Fun and quick transition. Making the transition a game is a wonderful segway to the transition.

If you like these preschool transaction activities, you'll love the 289 pages of other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check it out:

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html


Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


PS: If you would like to receive my free newsletter for more ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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Summer Preschool Themes - 4th Of July Fun!

It is almost July and here in the States, that means 4th of July celebrations for sure. I want to share these summer preschool themes from the lesson plans with you.

Even better,these can be used for ANY TIME in the year and for ANY COUNTRY whenever fireworks are used for celebrations.

Dramatic play with preschoolers set the stage for them to use their imaginations and to learn how others experience the same events. Top it off with a fun snack that is part of the drama!

Dramatic Play: Fireworks
Ask students about their experiences with fireworks.
Then, let them pretend to set off fireworks and make all the
explosion noises that go along with them. They can pretend
to set off giant or tiny ones, whatever they want,
but everyone can get into the spirit and
wave imaginary sparklers around.

Pretzel Sparklers
Give students long pretzel rods.
Have them come forward and dip the top section in melted
white chocolate or white frosting.
Then, have them dip them into red sugar crystals
or sprinkles or other candies on top.
They can wait until the chocolate is dry to eat
or they can eat right away.

If you like these summer preschool themes, you'll love the 289 pages
of other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check it out:

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html



Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


PS: If you would like to receive my free newsletter for more ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html

Preschool Shape Activities - Games and Skills

Teaching your preschoolers to recognize and know their shapes is a fundamental goal when teaching preschool. Involve your kids in preschool shape activities, games and pattern recognition and you will find them learning these quickly and having fun with each other simultaneously.

Game
You’ll need several cutouts of the 4 shapes they have learned. Give each child a shape to hold. Call out directions using the shape names such as “anyone holding a square touch your toes”. This is easy to do for all ages and the directions can be made easier or more difficult to fit your class.

Shape Throw
take a piece of poster board and divide it into nine sections- circle, square, triangle, rectangle, octagon, heart, star, diamond, oval. Place a picture of each shape on each corresponding section. Have each child throw a beanbag at the board, and name the shape that the beanbag lands on, or call out the name of a shape and have the child try and throw the beanbag at that particular shape.

Reasoning Skills
Ask the children if they can think of how to make a rectangle from two other shapes (two squares). Ask if they can make any other shapes by putting two or more shapes together (two triangles makes a diamond, one triangle and one rectangle makes an arrow, etc). Use building blocks to help reinforce their concept.


If you like these preschool shape activities, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html


Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


PS: If you would like to receive my free newsletter for more ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html

Preschool Indoor Activities - Maze Obstacle Course

Planning preschool indoor activities are so vital for all seasons. This spring we have had more rain than I can ever remember and of course winter provides another reason to have these ideas at our fingertips.

Cabin fever in any season is real for all ages but especially preschoolers. Here is an idea for an indoor activity that will
use up some energy and be fun for all.

We all get cabin fever and need to move around.
My 2-3 year olds love my obstacle courses. I use crawling tubes,
large balls, exercise mats, mini-tents ( made out of balnkets over
tables) and arrange a path for everyone to follow.

A lot of the fun is in the building of the course itself. Ask for
suggestions from the kids and let them help so long as it is safe.

There are two options after completing the obstacle course. One idea for those "high spirited" days when you need to help them use up just a little more energy, have them try to go through the course backwards. Lots of fun and the giggles are great, (just be sure to spot them well so no one gets hurt).

Or, the second option is to have the course lead to the reading circle where they are now ready to sit, relax on a pillow and hear a story.


They love having a say in their maze of fun! I'd love to hear how your kids arrange their courses. Send me an email or photo and I'll post them here for all to share.

If you like these preschool time activities, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html


Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


PS: If you would like to receive my free newsletter for more ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html

Fathers Day Gift Ideas Preschool - Just Like You

If you're still looking for last minute fathers day gift ideas preschool level, give this suggestion a try. One of my subscribers just sent this in and it is an easy, creative idea that will be certainly be a hit!

Just Like You Photo
Here is something I came up with at the top of my head. I purchased a size 3/4 suit with a vest, shirt and pants for 5 dollars from a consignment sale. I put it to photographic use by dressing up our preschoolers (boys and girls) and taking individual photos of the kids ages 2 to 5 years. Afterwards they were printed up, put in a craft cardboard frame from Joann's store and they glued buttons on it with the following sayings:

For the boys:
Daddy, Because I love everything you do,
I dressed up in a suit just like you.
Happy Father's Day to the greatest Dad.
With lots of Love,
From your little lad


For the girls:
Daddy, Because I love everything you do,
I dressed up in a suit just like you.
Happy Father's day to the best Dad there is.
With lots of Love,
From your little miss

Of course you can adapt this to your own situations. If you can't purchase a little suit, try borrowing one from one of your students or friends. You can make frames to put around the pictures using cardstock paper, construction paper, etc.

It's a wonderful fathers day gift ideas preschool for all to enjoy.

Keep your ideas coming in and I'll share them here for all.

If you like these preschool time activities, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html


Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


PS: If you would like to receive my free newsletter for more ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html

Dinosaur Activities for Preschool - Hunts and Fossils

One of the more popular themes with preschoolers is the dinosaur. Give these dinosaur activities for preschool a try. These were sent to me by one of my readers. Keep the ideas coming!

The summer weather is perfect for an outside dinosaur hunt. Head outside before the children arrive and you'll have a fun activity for all. You can do this inside as well just hiding them in the sand table or around the classroom. You can teach spatial concepts such as giving clues using the words--over, under, next to, right, left, etc. Use the found treasures to count, sort, note differences and similarities. The possibilities for teaching opportunities are endless!


Dinosaur Hunt
Here is a way of going on a Dinosaur Hun--hide little plastic dinos outside in our play area, where there is grass and gravel. Then the children take out whatever they think they need to find a dino. (shovels, brushes, magnifying glasses, buckets). They really have fun with this activity.

Science: Clay Dough or Plaster of Pairs Fossils
Many fossils were created by an animal or vegetation making an imprint on damp soil. This soil then hardened over time. Using a clay type dough children press objects (use shells & rocks) firmly into the dough on a small paper plate. Or we fill fossil molds with a bit of damp sand, and then press clay into the mold. Carefully press out the fossil for our class displays.

If you like these dinosaur activities for preschool, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html

There are Two Editions now for the Preschool Planner: Basic or Platinum.

If you prefer lessons which have ideas for the Toddler Age, go here to the second volume of lessons. There is an entire bonus section devoted to TODDLERS.

http://www.preschoolwhiz.com/v2.html

Send me any ideas you would like to share and I will post them on my Blog.


PS: If you would like to receive my free newsletter for more ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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Community Helpers Theme for Preschool - Our Town

This is a group project for community helpers theme for preschool that often goes beyond one week. Since this is so much fun and uses all the skills we are trying to teach the children, that time limits are not a problem.

CREATE OUR TOWN
During this week on community helpers we pretend to be many things.
Day 1: we are architects and we draw up our plans for the play house.
Day 2: I bring in a large box and they pretend to be builders and build themselves a playhouse. We have on construction hats and they had a blast.
Day 3: They are painters. We put on painting clothes and hats and paint the playhouse.
Day 4: We pretend we are postal workers and write letters to each other then deliver them as though we are letter carriers.
Day 5: We go for a walk around our town. We take a community book with us and search for bankers, postal workers, shoe store workers, waiters, etc.

Continue this theme and use the setting next week to have circle times to learn colors, shapes, counting & number skills at the "stores", library time, etc. Use your imagination and be sure to ask your preschoolers for suggestions!

If you like these community helpers theme for preschool, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:
http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html


Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

PS: If you would like to receive my free newsletter for more ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html

Preschool Time Activities - What Comes Next?

Teaching preschoolers the concepts of time is fun. I find that coming up with preschool time activities is fun and challenging. Progression of time is related to numbers and is difficult for preschoolers to grasp.

Here is an activity that helps them put the concepts in terms they understand and makes it relevant to them in a way that directly impacts their day to day lives.


Time and What Comes Next?

Give the children some magazines and have them find pictures of everyday tasks such as someone getting dressed, eating breakfast, having dinner, riding a bus, going to work, shopping, going to bed, etc.

Then take the pictures they have found see if they can put them in correct order for when they take place during the day. Talk about the time it takes to do these things.

Ask such questions as “what do you do after you get dressed in the morning?, what comes after dinner?, what comes first your bath or bedtime? Letting them see the activities helps them to understand how to track the passage of time.

If you like these preschool time activities, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html


Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


PS: If you would like to receive my free newsletter for more ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html

Preschool Fathers Day Crafts - Garden Ideas to Mouse Pads

Welcome to June! Here in the states it marks the unofficial beginning of summer. We are also trying to come up with ways to show dads how much they mean to us. It doesn't have to be a father; it can be any male figure who is important in the lives of a child--grandfather, uncle or friend. Try the following preschool fathers day crafts with your kids; dads will be pleased for sure!

One of my readers sent this idea to me recently and it is a wonderful idea to try.

Personalized Mouse Pad
I do Pre-K 2-3 and we make a mouse pad for our fathers. We just take a piece of foam pad and cut it to the size of a mouse pad. Then we make a hand print and a saying on a piece of paper what they like about their dad and anything that they would like to have on the pad. Once that's done then I laminate it and glue it to the mouse pad that we have cut. All of my fathers have love the idea because they can take it to work or leave it at home to use. Hope this will help some one needing an idea.


Garden Path Stones
Go for a walk to look for large stones or you can purchase stones or pavers at a garden center. Take the rocks or stones back to the class. Next the children can paint or decorate the stones however they wish. They could paint the bottom of their feet and put their footprints on it or just paint designs. You could help them by writing Happy Father's Day or Dad Rocks on the stone. If you have time and access to a spray varnish or preservative, cover the design after it dries. I like to be sure and add the date!

Enjoy and remember to send in any preschool ideas you wish to share and I will post them here. Thanks for all the ideas that come in daily.

If you like these ideas, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html


Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


PS: If you would like to receive my free newsletter for more ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html