Preschool Planner 101

Alphabet Concentration and Lunch Time Circle Game

2012-01-26T06:40:00.003-05:00

Teaching the alphabet is one of our key goals in preschool. One of my readers sent me this "green" idea for creating Alphabet Concentration. I love getting these ideas on ways to recycle and teach all at the same time. The next game is a fun way to spend lunch or circle time with your preschoolers. It involves color recognition and food identification. Try these alphabet concentration and lunch time circle game with your kids.

Alphabet Concentration
This game is a concentration/matching game.
I cut empty cereal boxes into approx. 2" squares. Label them with 26 upper case and 26 lower case letters. Mix up the cards, lay them face down and begin turning them over 2 at a time to find matches.

I have taken this one step further and made doubles of the large case and small case letters. This way I can modify the game and use it with all ages. With my younger ones, I just use the doubles of the large case and only 10-12 letters at a time and see if they can match the letters and challenge their attention span to remember where a letter is to make a match.

Fun Lunch Time Game
Use a set of color cards. Sit in a circle. Let your student pick a color card of their choice, they than pass it to their neighbor. Then they have to guess a fruit or a vegetable of that color. Continuue passing until it has gone all the way around. (We have a chart that is up to help them pick from.) Some of them use it others don't.

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

If you like these ideas for preschool, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com/p/ar.html

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Indoor ideas for Preschool - Popsicle Painting and Pendulum Play

2012-01-04T08:57:00.000-05:00

January in the US for most of us means finding as many indoor ideas for preschool to do that teach, motivate and uses the pent up energy that results from "cabin fever".
Preschoolers need to be active. They learn best when they are physically involved in the lesson.

All of my readers are sending in wonderful ideas to share and here are a couple of them that use the "learn by doing" philosophy that I use every day.

Popsicle Painting
Here is a craft one of my readers sent in that she does with the children in the winter and it is also a science learning experiment.

The children love this. Take water and fill the ice trays. Add food coloring to the water, lay a piece of plastic over and poke a popsicle stick in the middle. You can also use small bathroom cups. We then freeze them and talk about what we think will happen to the water and why. Then in the afternoon or the next morning we pull them out and discuss what happened and why.

Best of all then we paint beautiful pictures with the ice popsicles.

Pendulum Play
String up a tennis ball in a stocking from the rafters.
Have your children construct a building or tower from assorted size boxes, cardboard cylinders, small yoghurt/butter containers, etc. Then let them take turns knocking them down with the pendulum.

NOTE: Be sure to be have this done in a controlled manner and each child gets a turn to knock down a tower. Set a place for the child to stand and have the others stand back so that no one gets hurt.

If you like these indoor ideas for preschool, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Cooking Activity - Dairy Free Ice Cream

2011-12-06T07:06:00.002-05:00

My preschoolers are as excited about the holidays as adults. They want to celebrate and get into the festivities so I though a preschool cooking activity is ideal.

You may be hosting a classroom party or small get together for the children and their parents so I suggest serving something that the children helped to prepare.

One of my readers sent this excellent recipe to share. If you have children with severe dairy allergies,try this recipe for creamy popsicles and our dairy free ice cream.

Dairy Free Ice Cream Popsicles
Need:
Bananas
Peaches
Fruits that are available
Coconut Milk
Honey

Have the children cut up fruits, such as Peaches, and Bananas. Freeze them in small slices. When frozen put them in the blender with an amount of coconut milk just to cover the frozen fruit and blend. Add small amounts of coconut milk as needed to
allow for blending and you'll have a delicious soft serve ice cream.

Very delicious, healthy, non fat and dairy allergy free. Honey can be used as sweetener if necessary.

Fresh fruits, bananas are always a good thickener, and juice or coconut milk to help blend, honey if necessary, put into popsicle molds and the kids love them, because there is no sugar or icky ingredients, I can use them often.

If you like this preschool cooking activity, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com/p/ar.html

Until next time,

Mary

Preschool Fall Activity - Thanksgiving Treasure Hunt

2011-11-15T07:10:00.003-05:00

I want to share this preschool fall activity because it is one that can be adapted for all countries at harvest time.

In the United States, the holiday of Thanksgiving is in November. It is a time for families and friends to get together and share a special meal and talk about what we are thankful for.

Our holiday meal is based on the fruits of the fall harvest. Special recipes are shared among friends and families.

To teach my preschoolers about some of the foods they may have at Thanksgiving dinner, I like to show them what it looks like at harvest time before it is prepared.

We often show baskets or cornucopias filled with these vegetables and fruits. My fun way of doing this is to have a Treasure Hunt. This time the treasure is the food!

Thanksgiving Treasure Hunt

NEED:
Pictures of fall harvest vegetables and fruits. (I cut some out of magazines and laminate them or cut them out of construction paper and laminate those as well.)

Plastic foods can also be used in place of the pictures if you have them available. (Check out the Dollar stores for these.)

Empty cornucopia which I find at craft stores. You can use a harvest basket instead.

ACTIVITY:
Hide the pictures of the food or the plastic food around the room. Be sure to have doubles of everything you hide.

We start with a circle time where I show them what a cornucopia is and what foods are part of a typical fall harvest.

Send the kids on a Thanksgiving-themed treasure hunt to find all the foods they need to fill their cornucopia.

Divide the children into evenly numbered teams.
Give each team an empty cornucopia or basket.
Give each team a picture list of food items that you have hidden around the room that they must find.
The first team to find all of the items that they need to fill their cornucopia can help the other team find what they are missing.

My preschoolers never tire of treasure hunts. They are beginning to learn to work together in a spirit of cooperation.

I hope you like this preschool fall activity.

Please share this by clicking below. Leave me a comment too.

Check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com/p/ar.html

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

Send me any ideas you would like to share and I will post them here.

Mary

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Preschool Painting - Finger Paint Pumpkin

2011-10-26T06:10:00.002-05:00

Fall here in the US is all about pumpkins! If you celebrates Halloween, you will be carving jack-o-lanterns. If you don't the pumpkins are also used for Fall decorations. Try this preschool painting pumpkin activity.

This is something that is for all ages and easily adapted for all ages.

Finger paint is a multi-sensory art experience for your students. They enjoy the feel, the texture and they discover the designs they create.

At first some of them may be hesitant if they haven't done this before. Let them use their fingertips to just touch the paint. It doesn't take long until they are enjoying the experience.

NOTE: Always have a bucket of warm water, towels and/or wipes at hand since they do want to wash their hands often.

Finger Paint Pumpkins

Materials:
finger paint paper
orange food coloring
condensed milk

For two year olds I draw a pumpkin shape on the finger paint paper ahead of time.

For older preschoolers I have a template of a pumpkin shape. Either I help the trace the shape onto their paper or with 5 year olds, allow them to trace on their own.

Mix the orange food coloring with the condensed milk.

Let the children to finger paint the pumpkin on their paper.

The finish results of this is amazing since they have a different texture than regular paint. The pumpkins dry and are SHINY.

Kids of all ages love this project.

Do you like this activities for preschool painting?

Please share this by clicking below. Leave me a comment too.

Check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com/p/ar.html

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

Send me any ideas you would like to share and I will post them here.

Mary

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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Preschool Halloween Craft - Footprint Ghosts

2011-10-19T08:06:00.003-05:00

October means fall and Halloween for most preschoolers. To corral this excitement try this preschool Halloween craft with them.

These make fun classroom decorations as well.

Footprint Ghosts
I only do this with 2 children at a time during center time.

Have children take off one shoe and sock. One child sits in the chair and the other child paints the bottom of that child's foot with white paint.

When the bottom of the foot is covered, have the child stamp is foot down on a piece of black construction paper. Have a tub of warm soapy water nearby and a towel for the child to wash his/her foot off. Then the children switch.

When the pictures dry, I let the children put two stickers on for eyes (or holes punched from a hole puncher or googly eyes). The heel part of the footprint is the ghost's head.

It's really cute and it's such an unusual art project that my kids remember it for the whole year!

If you like this preschool Halloween craft, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com/p/ar.html

Until next time,

Mary

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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Preschool Science - Window Nature Observers

2011-10-11T07:52:00.003-05:00

Fall provides so many opportunities to teach preschool science--especially the seasons.

Go for a walk, and begin pointing out things that are changing--of course colors of leaves are the most noticeable.

The weather is changing too so there are many days you can't go outside so here is an option for observation skills.

Window Drawing

As the days get colder we enjoy, drawing on the windows. Use the crayola window markers.

Draw the trees with full leaves and day by day as the leaves fall erase a leaf, until the trees are bare.

I use this as a tool to teach about change, which also includes things around them and the environment.

You can also start a chart next to this and make a mark each time you erase a leaf. Then you can use your marks for numbers and counting fun.

If you like this preschool science activity, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com/p/ar.html

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

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

Mary

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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Activities for Preschoolers - POWER TOOLS

2011-09-28T18:51:00.001-05:00

What a treat to receive this idea for activities for preschoolers. I couldn't wait to share this with everyone. This idea hits math, science, teamwork, communication, motor skills you name it! The key is safety!

This can fill days and weeks with ideas for your preschoolers.

Find someone who is knowledgeable with power tools, cordless screw guns, sanders, hammers, screw drivers, sand paper, router, saws all types, any power tools you can come up with. Maybe a parent or friend would volunteer for this.

POWER TOOLS
I know this sounds scary but our kiddos really enjoyed it. Of course we took all the safety precautions!

We first went to a construction site for a field trip. We were able to watch as they had trusses set on a roof by a crane.(We were in a lot across from the job site) sketch pads were in hand. They drew pictures of what they saw.

They heard all the power tools, and the men scrambling around. We talked about safety and why they wore hard hats, why some of them had ropes attached to them how they communicated and worked as a team. It was great.

Some of the crew came over on their break and answered some questions for us. They showed us their tool belt and some of their tools.

The next day we had a display up of all types of power tools. The children watched a demonstration of how all of them worked. Then they were given boards with screws, or nails and were able to test out what was faster and easier, screw gun vs screwdriver, hammer the nails, (we did not have them us a nail gun but watched again how fast they were). We did let them us a belt sander vs sand paper. We had small hand saws they tried and then watched all the other saws cut. Tape measures, yard sticks, rulers. Flat edges, squares and angles.

The class kept this project going for about 4 weeks. We drew plans and made a stage to sing on. We used boxes and made houses, then painted them. They loved using the power tools on just throw away lumber the construction crew gave us. (They throw away a lot!)

We glued tile down for flooring in a refrigerator box. There are so many ideas that come from this project.

BEST OF ALL-let the kids lead the way. Some of the kids were more interested in the drawings and painting. Some were more interested in using the tools.

Work with a local contractor. Let the contractor know that this is also a great lead for them! Put an article in the local paper. It will advertise for you and the contractor! Don't forget to thank them! We baked cookies and took them to the job site for their snack.

You can modify this idea for one that suits your area. Try visiting a working farm, post office, grocery store, etc. Use this for real hands-on learning. Nothing better than this!

Do you like these activities for preschoolers? Please share this by clicking below. Leave me a comment too. Thanks so much for sharing these ideas! Keep sending them to me and I will post them for all of us.

Check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com/p/ar.html

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

Send me any ideas you would like to share and I will post them here.

Mary

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Games - Preschool Post Office

2011-09-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

Here is one of the preschool games I use at the beginning of the year to help my preschoolers remember each others names and to recognize their own name when they see it in print.

This is something I have used for years and the children never tire of it. Learn by doing and playing; your preschoolers will love it.

Preschool Post Office
Set up a post office in your preschool. Cover a box to resemble a mailbox.
Fill the postbox with envelopes containing all the childrens names.

One person plays Postman and hands out an envelope to all the children. The children then take turns opening their envelope and trying to identify the name.

This is great to work on letter recognition and beginning sounds. With or without help from everyone else, once the name is identified the child delivers that name to the correct child and then that child has a turn.

Continue until everyone has received their name.

Variation: Put one of the letters, shapes,or even numbers you have studied in the envelope. Ask who can identify what is in their envelope.

If you like these preschool games, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com/p/ar.html

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

Send me any ideas you would like to share and I will post them here.

Mary

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Listening Skills - Who's Under the Blanket

2011-09-11T18:58:00.003-05:00

With the start of the school year, we focus on providing our preschoolers the necessary skills to learn and the expectations of how to behave in preschool. Preschool listening skills are at the top of the list for sure.

One of my readers sent this in and I couldn't wait to share it.

It works on listening skills but it can also be used to help them get acquainted with their new classmates.

Give this game a try. You'll be as hooked as I am.

Who's Under the Blanket?

This is a game that the children just can't get enough of.
It's called "Who's Under The Blanket?"

Choose one child to go hide their eyes(behind a shelf maybe).

Motion for another child to quietly hide under the blanket, then everyone chants "Who's under the blanket,who's under the blanket, come and guess, come and guess".

The child hiding their eyes tries to guess who's hiding under the blanket.
Give hints by letting the child know if it's a girl or a boy or the child under the blanket can say "Hello"; that will usually give it away pretty fast.

Then the child under the blanket gets to go hide their eyes and choose another child to go under the blanket.

You can put your own twist on the game.

You can even gear the game for your theme, for example Dinosaur theme--"Who's the Dinosaur Under The Blanket, Come And Guess".

The children have to work really hard in not blurting out the name of the child under the blanket, great for practicing the rules of a game and listening skills.

Do you like this preschool listening skills game,?

Check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com/p/ar.html

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

Send me any ideas you would like to share and I will post them here.

Mary

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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Teaching Preschool - How to Get Preschoolers to LISTEN

2011-08-21T16:15:00.002-05:00

Fall is just around the corner and all of us are getting ready for our new group of children. Teaching preschool means you are their first teacher and they have no expectations or experiences of what school is all about.

I believe that the sooner you set teach your preschoolers how to pay attention is with a rhyme that they can easily learn and know the expectation when they hear it.

Even better is that they begin to complete the rhyme when you start it and give you their attention quickly.

This idea is similar to one I have used but works even quicker! One of my readers sent it in for all to try.

123 Eyes on Me

When you start teaching your class and the children are not listening just say, "123. They will look at you and wonder what you are doing.

Say to them, when I say 123, I would like you children to say, "eyes on me".
They love it when I say this to them.

They love to answer back and it helps remind them to listen.

I get more done in the classroom setting because if it does start to get out of hand, I will just say 123 - eyes on me .

Once you start doing this they will automatically stop. It works every time! Most important--don't move on until they are quiet.

The whole point is to teach them politely to listen and they will mirror it back to you.

If you like this teaching preschool idea, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.mypreschoolplan.com/p/ar.html

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

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

Mary

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Fine Motor Preschool Activities - Scissors & Cutting Skills

2011-07-26T07:56:00.003-05:00

Teaching preschoolers how to use scissors and is an ongoing task for us preschool teachers. This is one of my favorite fine motor preschool activities which allows time, fun, practice and "mess control" all in one activity.

This can be one of your centers in your classroom and four at a time is the maximum number of children I allow at any one time. Use this as a rotational activity with other similar ones.

Swimming Pool Cutting Center

One of the skills we are always working on is fine motor cutting with sissors.

You can buy a hard shell swimming pool for around 10$. It fits four students with lots of room to spare and it fits in the corner of the room nicely.

Fill it with old magazines and let them pick their favorite pictures to cut. They love being in the pool and all the mess is contained.

Be sure to make one of the rules--no standing!

Try this to allow them time to practice this necessary skill. They can simply enjoy the process and not have to worry about accuracy.

Let me know if you have any special ways you have of teaching this skill.

I will post them here for all of us to enjoy.

If you found these fine motor preschool activities helpful, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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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Easy Preschool Summer Crafts - Summer Fish, Mirror Images and Sculptures

2011-07-12T07:13:00.002-05:00

I hope your summers are going well and the kids are having fun. I have a few easy preschool summer crafts to share with you.

Thanks to all my readers who are flooding me with wonderful ideas! Preschoolers love to have hands on crafts that produce immediate results they can share with their classmates and families.

Give these a try and enjoy! Please send in your ideas to share. I will post them here on the blog.

Giant Wall Fish!
Here is a summer idea for giant fish! I cut a master copy of a giant fish from tagboard and let the kids trace it onto another piece of tag board (paint paper works too) and let them decorate it. The face was painted on and a giant eye was glued on the painted face.

We then used watered down glue to "paint" the fins and covered them with glitter. Last but not least we used colored "post-its" (we hat pre-cut one side round and left the sticky side straight) as the scales. Each child has a unique fish to call their own!! We put them on our bulletin board with other sea creature and they look awesome!

Styrofoam Sculptures
Mary, I've done this idea for a few years now and some of the things my preschooler's like the best is pieces of styrofoam. I borrow golf tees left over from summer, and go through my junk drawers to find anything they can hammer or press into the packing material. I take duct tape and secure each edge and provide plastic hammers and let them go! They love it, they love the mess and they love their sculptures, they love pulling pieces in and out and rearranging. It's messy but it's preschool!

Mirror Image Paintings
Let children paint a picture, when they are finished, we put another piece of paper over painted picture and use a rolling pin over it. It creates a "mirror image". They always think this is very neat!

If you like this idea for easy preschool summer crafts, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner a try.

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 Science Activities - Jumping on Air

2011-06-17T05:58:00.001-05:00

If you are looking for hands-on preschool science activities you
must try the activity below.

In the spirit of sharing one of my readers sent this in and I couldn't wait
to share it.

It involves the kids, lets them experience and discover so many concepts--their own weight, what will hold them up, counting, cause and effect and even recycling!

Jumping on Air
Materials: plastic bags from grocery
plastic ties,large garbage bag

What to do:
1.Blow up a plastic bag.Secure it with a tie.Let a child sit on it.What happen?It will pop
2.Discuss the fact that one bag is not strong enough to hold us up.How can we make stronger? By adding more bags and bunching them together we can create a cushion of air. These can support not only one child but many.
3.Let the child help to blowup numerous plastic bags. Use the tie top to secure tightly.
4.Place many inflated bags into a large garbage bag. Secure the bag with a tie when it is stuffed with the air filled produce bags.
5.Let the children sit on,fall onto or jump on it.
6.What happens? Did the bag burst? Why not? The air distributed and formed a natural cushion for the children as they jumped.

Your preschoolers will love doing preschool science activities. Get them involved and learning takes place and so much fun.

If you like these preschool science activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner a try.

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

Circle Time - Quiet Bottles and Calendar activities

2011-06-07T06:31:00.002-05:00

One of the special times each day in preschool is circle time.

It helps to set the tone for the day, to regroup after a boisterous activity and to review the events of the day. So much can be done at this special time.

Here are two wonderful ideas my readers sent it to share. We all can use ways to bring quiet time to the circle. Try the Quiet Bottles. Teaching calendars is so much fun and often challenging so try the Calendar Circle time idea with your kids.

Quiet Bottles
This is an idea that my 3-4 yr old class loves

I saved several of the smaller, plastic Coke bottles to make these.
(I make these in front of the children so their question of "How did you do that?"
is answered by observing.)

Fill each bottle about half and half of water and cooking oil.
Add a few drops of food coloring. Glue the lid back on
and twist tightly. I make several bottles and make them different
colors. The children can hold these during circle time and watch the
"waves" quietly while listening to our story, etc. I remind the
children to be as quiet as their bottle is. The bottle keeps busy hands
occupied instead of bothering a neighbor.

TIP: these bottles are also ideal for calming really hyper children.

Circle Calendar Time

One idea that I like to use during circle time when I do my calendar is:
When counting down the days of the month that have passed I like to incorporate movement, for example, in the month of October we pretended to pick pumpkins for every day of the month that passed.

Each month the theme changes and so do the type of movements. January we snow skied down the slopes, Feb. we did heart beats, March we were dinosaurs, etc... Use your imagination and let the children help decide, it is a fun way to get the wiggles out!

Thanks so much for sending in your ideas. Keep them coming and I will post them for all of us to use.

If you like this idea for circle time, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner a try.

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 Travel Games - Train Travel

2011-06-01T07:50:00.001-05:00

With summer vacations starting I like to use preschool travel games and transportation themes in June.

Preschoolers love to pretend and what better way to to stimulate their
imagination than to take a pretend train ride.

I use circle time to talk about trains and ask about their own experiences with trains. Some children may have been on a train and others only read about them in books or seen them in videos or on television.

Train Depot Game

I often bring in a model train display to the preschool to show the preschoolers.

I set up a train depot with tickets.
The children buy tickets with fake money. The children give their ticket to my assitant, or to another child who acts as the conductor, so he/she can punch the ticket as they go in to watch the train display.

I allow them to take turns and run the train around the track.

They like to make the sound effects of a train engineer or conductor. Lots of fun here!

Crafts: Train Car

Each child will need color construction paper, large rectangle shape for the train car, 3 small rectangles for windows and two circles for wheels.

Use this activity to teach shapes, counting, and color recognition.

You can have an engine already displayed on a wall or bulletin board.
The students add their cars when they finish.

Each student starts with a piece of colored construction paper. If you have students who are able to use scissors, help them cut out rectanges and circles. If not, pre-cut these shapes for the younger ones to glue to their cars.

**(Remember that cutting can be difficult so depending on the ages of your children, you may want to precut some of the shapes or you can use stickers and labels of varying sizes. Mailing labels will make great windows.)

They can cut out a rectangle for the car (or you can help them cut.) Then, they can use several small, white rectangles to serve as the windows of the car.

Once those are glued in place, students can use two small, black circles for the wheels. When everything is glued together, students may decorate their car however they wish.

Each student makes a train car that will join with everyone else’s to make a full-length train.

If you like these preschool travel games, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Art Activities - Hands-On Activities: MESSY & FUN

2011-05-17T07:41:00.003-05:00

I can't imagine a day with preschoolers without preschool art activities. These provide direct hands-on learning and can be done indoors or outside.

Here are a couple of activities that have been sent to me for all to try. The first one is using clay--an excellent medium to use at the water table and gives immediate gratification to children. They can learn to make shapes, figure out what shapes can hold things and which can't.

The second one teaches colors, mixing colors, cause and effect of actions and creative ways to use ordinary household items in new ways--Fly swatters!!!

Molding Clay Containers
All this indoor activity requires is:

Molding clay
Water- use judgment, enough to keep wet.

We put the clay and water on the table. Give the children enough to work with.
Wet the area with water(you may want to use sand/water table)
The children begin to create miniature bowls, baskets,(whatever their skill level may be).

Once they have molded their clay into their design, let dry for a couple days. Once dry good. Children can paint them. Fill the with miniature goodies, flowers, etc.

FAIR WARNING-- this can be very messy, but it is lots of fun.

Fly Swatter Art
I have a simple but really fun art experience for the theme BUGS!

I DO THIS ONE OUTSIDE. Smocks are essential. Messy but oh so fun!

You can either draw or print some flies onto large paper for the easels and give the children new fly swatters.

Place some paint onto baking trays, two colours that make a new colour is usually good and they dip their swatt in and swatt the flies.

This teaches hand & eye co-ordination and if the colours get mixed they learn about new colours.

The children love this! You just have to watch the over exciteable ones as they tend to swatt everything or swatt too hard making paint fly everywhere!!

If you like these animal themes for preschool, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Nature Activities - Wall Collage & Bird Nests

2011-04-27T06:40:00.003-05:00

Here is in the US spring is finally here. I can't think of any better plan than to do preschool nature activities with my kids. These ideas are definitely not limited to the spring time but we are all anxious to get outside and enjoy nice weather--finally after so much snow.

Going outside for walks, observing their world around them, collecting things along the way provide hours of fun learning activities to do in the classroom or outside.

Here are just 2 of my nature activities that are always a hit.

Environmental Wall Collage
we like to walk around outside & find items to put on a giant wall collage. The children find the items, glue it to poster board if they want to or straight on the wall collage.

Next we write a short story on where we went, what we found, and the children get to show off to the parents or guardians. It’s a great way to get them to recognize the environment around them and then the gluing helps with the fine motor skills and the story helps the language & development.

Use this activity before an Open House in your school and all the parents get to see just how busy their children have been!

Bird Nest
Try making bird nests with your class. Go for a walk with your preschoolers and ask them to collect twigs from the school yard. Take your twig treasures inside for your project.

Show them a real bird nest or a picture of one and tell them they will get to make their own nest. You will need a disposable foam bowl for each child.

You will need to cover the inside with craft glue. They put their twigs inside their bowl and then they pour some more glue on top of it. Set them aside for two days (or until the glue has dried.)

After two days show them how to take it out of the bowl and they will have their own personal bird nest. They are so proud of the nest that they made.

If you like these preschool nature activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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Preschool Earth Day Lesson - Garden Soil Friends

2011-04-20T07:08:00.001-05:00

Friday, April 22nd, is Earth Day and I feel quite strongly about teaching my
preschoolers about it. Try the preschool earth day lesson below that one of my readers sent in.

This is a topic that you can teach in so many ways and of course, HANDS ON, is my favorite way to teach.

So many of my readers feel the same way and have sent me wonderful ideas on how they teach about Earth Day. Try the idea below. So simple and meaningful. Your preschoolers will love it and learn about how the soil becomes so soft and rich for planting a summer garden or flowers.

Garden Soil Friends
On Earth day/week,we studied worms first.

Our hands on learning experience consisted of briging in a pile of organic garden soil, from my garden, squirt it with water, and we waited for the worms to crawl out.

We touched them, smelled them, we could see them, listened to them, it was great!!

Each child took a bag of dirt home, named their wormie, and gave it a new home in their back yard.

It was magical to watch the children go from "ewe to wow". I want one, I want to hold one, can I take one home?

If you like this preschool earth day lesson, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Earth Day Preschool Theme - WHY IS EARTH DAY IMPORTANT

2011-04-06T07:03:00.002-05:00

April is the month for Earth Day Preschool theme ideas.
It is never too soon to teach our children about Earth Day and how
important it is.

Preschoolers love learning about their environment and what better
time to teach them how to preserve it and take care of it.

Here is one idea I use to teach about pollution. It is my hands on
approach to teaching and quite effective.

WHY IS EARTH DAY IMPORTANT?

To teach my preschool class about pollution,
I asked each child to bring in a piece of recyclable garbage.

At circle time, I had prepared an imaginary pond filled
with paper fish. We sat around my pretend pond while I
told them a story about how the fish live in the pond
surrounded by the beautiful woods and how happy
they are to live in such a wonderful pond.

Then I explained that as people visited the area for picnics,
they begin to throw their trash into the water. I let
each child put their piece of trash in the pond and
they have to remove a fish. I let each child do this,
one at a time. As more trash goes in, the fish of course
have to come out. Soon the pond is full of garbage and
the fish are gone. How sad for the fish and the pond.

Next we all help clean up the pond by removing the garbage
and placing it into appropriate recycling containers which
I have made ahead of time by taping commonly recycled items
(newspaper, glass bottle, plastic container) to the outside
of a paper bag.

My preschoolers truly got the message of how important
it was to have the pond clean and the fish can come back to live!

If you like this earth day preschool theme idea, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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Preschool Planning - Preschoolers Forum

2011-03-30T08:11:00.001-05:00

I know how much time goes into preschool planning
for your weeks, themes, holidays, etc.

It is an ongoing process and always fun but here is
an outstanding idea that one of my readers
sent in recently.

She gives her preschoolers an
opportunity to be part of the process!

I can't think of a better way to build a sense of
self-esteem and ownership of a child's day than
to offer them the chance to plan!

Thanks for sending this. Love it!

Preschoolers Forum

My preschoolers and I have a preschool forum once a week where they get to be part of the planning process as to what they are learning and what their interest are.

We sit around the table and have "coffee"( in fun mugs mind you) and treats while we discuss what are plans should be.

This has been an amazing asset to my program as it gives the children confidence in themselves since they are an active part in my preschool planning.

Also, each of my students have a notebook so they can write down their thoughts (with my help of course) :)

If you like this preschool planning idea, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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Preschool Alphabet Game - Mystery Letter Bag

2011-03-23T06:35:00.004-05:00

Teaching the alphabet and letter recognition is one of the basics of preschool teaching. Use a preschool alphabet game to grab their attention and engage their curiosity.

Try this game that one of my readers sent in. I can't remember any preschooler who doesn't love mystery and guessing games! Thanks so much for sharing this.

Mystery Letter Bag
Every Friday my 4 year olds look forward to The Mystery Letter Bag.

A small white paper gift bag covered with question marks appears on a hook near our calendar each Friday. It's contents includes several small mysterious items that begin with our letter of the week.

I provide "clues" as to what they might be Letter O. "The first item in my mystery letter bag is a sea creature who starts with the letter O and lives on the bottom of the sea." If their hand is raised they will be given an opportunity to guess. If the correct object is not guessed I will provide further clues. "This item that begins with the letter O has eight legs".

I keep providing more clues until the correct answer is guessed. I will frequently put an interesting food item in for the children to sample Olives, Kiwi etc. They really look forward to this game each week.

If you like this preschool alphabet game, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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Preschool Art Activities - Toddler Wall Mural

2011-03-01T07:35:00.001-05:00

My preschoolers always enjoy their preschool art activities. I use art to teach as much as I possibly can--shapes, colors, science, nature, counting, numbers, etc.

Here is an idea that one of my readers sent to me that does exactly all of these things and can be used for your even your youngest preschool student.

Toddler Wall Mural
I have used this for my class of 18 to 24 month olds.

This time of year we are learning about our world starting with sea life, then insects, animals, then birds.

Each day I take one long sheet of colored paper (blue for ocean, brown for earth, green for forest, light blue for sky) and tape it on the floor covering **simple pictures of the types of wildlife we are discussing.

These **simple pictures I have outlined with hot glue so that my little ones can scribble over them and a "secret" animal will appear.

I then tape it to the wall: ocean lowest, earth next, forest, then sky highest.

We end up with a wall mural of different animals in their habitats and my students are so proud as they show Mommy where dolphins, earthworms, and deer live!

Thanks so much for sending in this idea.

I love getting these ideas and welcome any you want to send to me.

If you like these preschool art activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner and give them a try.

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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Animal Themes for Preschool - Alligator Hop & Penguin Village

2011-02-09T08:52:00.003-05:00

Preschoolers worldwide love animal themes for preschool activities. It is a way to draw upon their imagination while teaching and enjoying hands on learning--my favorite!

Try out these ideas that my readers have sent in recently. The Alligator hop is an excellent use of recycling materials to make a gross motor activity for even your youngest preschoolers. You can include counting, color recognition and any other concept you wish to include.

The penguin village is perfect for all of us who are snowbound this winter! Again, using what nature has provided to fill your water table, add toy penquins, buckets, and, oh yes--gloves and towels for cold hands! Again imagination is key and it is a hands on activity that can be used to teach a science lesson while having fun.

It can't get better than this!

Alligator Hop
I took a colored print out of an alligator and put it on heavy cardboard. Laminated. Made 8 of these. Then made 8 pictures of logs (or rocks). Idea is to jump log to log----so you don’t fall into the swamp----and get your foot eaten off by an alligator. I used this even for my 2-3 year olds in home childcare.
Great for gross motor skills!!!

Penguin Village
For our Penguin unit we fill the water table with buckets of snow from outside and then let the kids play with small plastic penguins and other Lego animals in the snow.
We have 3 or 4 pair of extra gloves available for cold hands and a towel:)

We talk about what happens to the snow after an hour or so and get a science lesson about different forms of water and why it melts etc.
They love the inside snow and letting the penguins slide down into the water!

If you like these animal themes for preschool, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Activities for Preschool Children for Groundhog Day

2011-01-25T09:00:00.001-05:00

The winter in the US and Canada this year has been particularly cold and snowy with most of us forced to stay inside! On February 2nd, the US and Canada celebrate Groundhog day. Here are activities for preschool children for Groundhog Day!

According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end.

If on the other hand, it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly "see its shadow" and retreat back into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.

One of my readers sent this activity in for all of us to enjoy. Great for gross motor skills, following directions and just having fun!

Groundhog Tunnel Play
With Groundhog Day just around the corner I wanted to share this idea that my kids love.
I place a tunnel on the floor and they take turns crawling through pretending to be the Groundhog.
I sit at the exit end with a flashlight and a cloud shape and a sun shape that has a hole in the middle.
If the cloud is covering the flashlight there is no shadow so we say an early spring is on the way Hooray!
If the sun is in front of the flashlight there is a shadow so we say six more weeks of winter Oh NO!

Sometimes we do this after making a Groundhog Headband or mask that they can wear while crawling through the tunnel but they like to do this without one just as much.

I do hope you have fun with this one--wonderful imaginary play for all! If you liked these activities for preschool children for Groundhog Day, check out the other ideas in my Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Inside Preschool Activities - Action Cube & Obstacle Course

2011-01-11T06:53:00.000-05:00

January in the US for most of us means finding as many inside preschool activities to do that teaches, motivates and uses the pent up energy that results from "cabin fever". Preschoolers need to be active. They learn best when they are physically involved in the lesson.

All of my readers are sending in wonderful ideas to share and here are a couple of them that use the "learn by doing" philosophy that I use every day.

Circle Time Action Cube
This activity is a circle idea which involves a largish cube with a picture of a child jumping on one side, sitting on another, hopping on another, hands high in the air on another, crouching on another, lying down on another. The children take turns rolling the cube and everyone does the action.
Animals could be put on each side and the children be that animal on the roll.
OPTION: It could be a small group activity too where each child does the action individually - turn taking.

Literacy Obstacle Course
One thing I like to do when constructing the obstacle course for the class is incorporate literacy or numeracy learning–for example:

·Design obstacle course in a different shape each time (or number or letter) – children get a kick out of guessing.
·Write numbers, letters, sight words, or draw shapes etc in hopscotch squares for children to identify
·Place numeral, number representative, letters for sounds, shape etc cards around the course for children to identify.

If you like these inside preschool activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Alphabet Activities - Name Recognition

2011-01-04T08:50:00.003-05:00

Happy New year to everyone! I'm back and so excited to share more ideas with all of you. We can all use preschool alphabet activities and this one is simple and easy and captures their attention.

So many people have sent in new ideas to me the past couple of months.

I find that some of the simpler ideas can be the most fun while teaching our preschoolers; that is what teaching preschool is all about! Having fun and learning all at the same time.

This idea for learning letters of the alphabet and name recognition is perfect.

All kids love singing a familiar song but changing up the words to personalize it make it ever better.

New variation of the BINGO song

This idea is one I do with my three year olds. During greeting time, we sing this song to the tune of Bingo.

"There's a little girl here we're glad to see and Greta is her name o, G, R, E, T, A, G, R, E, T, A, G, R, E, T, A, and Greta is her name o."

Explain to the children that you would like for them to stand when you call their name. I have a card with their name spelled out, and as I say the letter, I point to it so the children would hear the letter and see it.

The young children are learning to spell and recognize their names.
We all have a ball with this activity.

If you like these preschool alphabet activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner and give them a try.

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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Preschool Play Based Learning - Reading, Imagination, Counting

2010-12-12T15:23:00.003-05:00

As you know my primary philosophy of teaching preschool is to use preschool play based learning. That is how children learn and really understand what we are teaching them.

Here is an idea that was sent to me recently that uses this concept perfectly, even better, the kids loved it! You use the story to teach reasoning, counting, rhyming and imaginative play.

Reading Time
We read the story entitled, GOLDILOCKS HAS CHICKEN POX. The story was a hit! It was one of those that the children wanted to "read again and again" so we read it for 3 days and focused on different aspects each time (rhyming words, reading for pleasure, comprehension).

Next, we decided to get large pieces of bulletin board paper (white) to trace the their bodies on. I put the paper on a rectangular table in the room and told them it was like playing doctor. They were imagining that they had chicken pox as I traced around them, 1 at a time.

After I traced each child's body in pencil, I let them work on the floor with it any way they wanted with markers, crayons, glue, and other art materials. Many of them drew chicken pox on their bodies and counted them (math).

This is a great example of open ended, child centered, process learning! We hung their "bodies" around in the room and in our hall way. They also traced one me and worked together to decorate it. Much Fun!

I tried this with my class and the reaction was the same. Teach your preschoolers while letting them experience the concepts and, most of all have fun.

If you like this idea for preschool play based learning, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner a try.

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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Preschool Science Activities - Science, Recycling and Wind Chimes

2010-11-23T18:41:00.002-05:00

If you're looking for ideas for preschool science activities, try this fantastic idea.

Science activities get your preschoolers directly involved and my philosophy is having them learn by doing!

This activity gets the children directly involved, teaches creative ways to recycle old items around the house or classroom and teaches about air and its properties. One of my readers sent in this idea to share.

Wind Chimes
I do a science unit on air and its properties. One of the projects in this unit is a wind chime. Have each child gather some items from home (inside and out) with which to create their very own wind chime. I send an explanatory note home to the parents as well as a few suggestions to get them started.

I am going to use plastic lids from food containers (oleo, coffee, sour cream, etc.) so before the day of construction, I will punch several holes through the lids using a hammer and nail and then thread the string through them, attaching them all at the top with a loop.

The children will then help me tie each item to a string. As with store-bought wind chimes, there needs a striker item hanging in the middle. A large metal washer works nicely. My students love this activity and we hang them from our classroom ceiling for all to enjoy for a time. This is also a good project during which to talk about reducing, reusing and recycling materials with the children.

Thanks for sending this idea to share.

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

If you like these preschool science 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 Fall Activities - The Thankful Tree

2010-11-10T09:17:00.002-05:00

I want to share these preschool fall activities because they can be adapted for all nationalities and any season.

In the United States, the holiday of Thanksgiving is in November. It is a time for families and friends to get together and share a special meal and talk about what we are thankful for.

This same concept of gratitude and things to be thankful for can be used for any time of year in any country. No need to limit this to one country's holiday event once a year.

The Thankful Tree

We have a Thankful Tree every year that we use for our Thanksgiving Feasts at the preschool.

First we find a really big tree branch and anchor it in a big container or bucket. You can use cement, plaster of paris or even rocks and sand to hold up the branch. Spray it gold and then either buy beautiful cotton leaves or commercial type leaves, or we cut them out ourselves and then decorate them, or buy water color paper leaves and paint them in fall colors. It’s up to your imagination.

Give each child, friend or family a leaf or two and have them write on the leaf what they are thankful for. Of course, your preschoolers can't write but their parents can write what they say. Then hang these on the tree or hot glue it on one of the branches.

It looks great and it a great center piece for a table. It’s a great project for families or even kids clubs. Everyone is thankful for something. This way they can write it down and share it.

Thanks for sending this idea to share.

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

If you like these preschool fall 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

Dental Health Preschool Activities - Pretend Dental Visit

2010-10-20T05:34:00.002-05:00

I am always trying to include healthy lifestyle activities into my lesson plans. These dental health preschool activities are so much fun. Give this a try; your preschoolers will love it and start to learn how to start taking care of themselves.

I can't think of a better time to teach about and to continue dental care that their parents have begun at home.

This particular activity was sent to my by one of my readers who is a dental hygienist. I've tried it and what a hit!

Pretend Dental Visit

As a Dental Hygienist I love teaching my kids how to brush and floss! Have a talk about visiting the Dentist day.

Read a visiting the Dentist book to your class at circle time; you can get one at nearly any book store in the kid section or the local library. Talk about the proper way to brush and floss their teach.

HINT: Almost any Dentist, if you ask, will give you dental goody bags that have a toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste for kids, just let them know it is for a preschool lesson, I'm sure they'll be happy to donate-if not give you a good deal on purchasing the bags. I show my kids what's in the bag and how to use each item.

To help them understand how to use their goodies, I have 3-4 kids stand in a line and pretend they are teeth! You can get creative by making teeth out of pillow cases or just painting their faces. Next you place a long enough pink fabric ( I use a crib sheet cover that I had lying around) to go over their feet (for the bottom teeth). Have all the children stand really close to each other and use a giant toothbrush (I made one out of a card board box and construction paper) to brush the teeth.

Be sure to brush under the pink fabric which is the "gum tissue"; tooth bugs love hiding under the gum tissue.

Next you floss the teeth; I use a long white shoe lace and demonstrate flossing by taking the shoe lace between the children and flossing from their heads down to their feet, making sure the floss goes under the pink fabric/gum tissue-because again that's where the tooth bugs hide.

You'll probably get lots of giggles! I have a picture I drew of a tooth germ, I call a tooth bug, and we talk about how these little critters cause cavities if we don't brush and floss.

These wonderful ideas are coming to me all the time. Thanks so much for sharing this for all of us.

If you like these dental health preschool activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner a try.

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 Halloween Activities - Halloween Hunt and Bite the Ghost

2010-10-12T06:34:00.001-05:00

I have received so many requests for preschool Halloween activities!This is such a fun time for children and preschoolers are part of the mix.

It is important to keep this fun and not too scary. Remember these are 3-5 year olds; try to keep the "scary" part to a minimum but add lots of fun to the event.

Here are a couple of fun ideas that you can use with your class. Preschoolers love treasure hunts and to search the sand table for the large Halloween confetti is so much fun. Then use the "treasure finds" for sorting, counting, color recognition, shapes, etc.

Sand Table Halloween Hunt
This idea is great for 3's-- In your rice or sand table, sprinkle some of that neat shiny confetti--for fall you can use leaves, for Halloween you can use pumpkins or bats, etc. Have children go on a "treasure hunt" in the rice or sand and find the little pumpkins, bats, etc. When they have found all the confetti, each child can count how many they found-- you can also give the kids magnifying glasses to help with their search--the rice table has never looked so neat!

Play Bite the Ghost
Hang string from ceiling attaching other end to a frosted ghost shaped sugar cookie (I write children's name's on them). Children locate their name, place their hands behind their back and bite their cookie until it is gone! This is another version of bobbing for apples but everyone's germs stay on their own cookie and all of the children can (if you want to) play at the same time. This works well with preschoolers that have difficulty waiting, especially on an exciting day of a Halloween party! I place tables below the hanging ghost cookies so that when they fall, the children can pick up the pieces and finish them. This avoids upset to cookies breaking on the floor.

If you like these preschool halloween activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Sensory Tables

2010-09-22T20:45:00.003-05:00

One of the most frequent requests I get are ideas for preschool sensory tables.

So many of you just don't have the space or means to provide an actual free standing sensory table for your center yet you want to provide the activities that a sensory table offers.

Here is a great idea sent to me recently by one of my readers and it offers a great solution to the problem.

Sensory Table Suggestion

I have limited space, but REALLY wanted to have a sensory table of some sort.

I found that a shallow plastic storage bin with a lid (you can get several sizes of under-the-bed types, some with wheels even) worked really great (on a drop cloth if need be).

It was big enough to allow space for exploration, but small enough to be snapped shut and stored easily.

I could not believe how much the kids loved it! And on a drop cloth you just gather the corners and dump everything back in when you are done which is harder to accomplish with a larger and higher table.

Everyone is sending such wonderful creative ideas for all of us to share.

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

If you like this idea for preschool sensory tables, give the other ideas in the Preschool Planner a try.

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 Tips - Getting & Maintaining Attention

2010-09-14T06:32:00.001-05:00

I hope the beginning of the school year has been good for everyone. So many of you have emailed me asking for preschool tips for getting and maintaining your children's attention.

Try using the element of "surprise" with your children. It is almost foolproof and your kids will respond quickly.

Here are a couple of ideas that have been sent to me from my readers. They use my surprise tactic as well and show just how easy it is to grab their attention.

Hands on Head
When the kids are out of control I simply state loudly, " Everyone, HANDS ON YOUR HEAD!" Its so funny to see, all of them drop what they're doing and place their hands on their heads. They all think it's fun and quickly the room falls in to control.

Preschool Mad Libs
When my kids get restless during story time or singing time I will often incorporate their names, a silly word or phrase, or leave blanks for them to "mad lib" and give me a noun, verb or adjective to spice it up.
For example:
Ask: "Goldilocks sat down on mama bears chair, but it was too... what?" "Scratchy!"
Sing: "Ryan's workin' on the railroad, all the live long day..."

These egocentric little people are always up for being the star of the show, and unless I let it get too silly they usually stop being so fidgety and can focus on what we are doing.

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

If you like these preschool tips, 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 Art Projects - Frozen Paint and Water Painting

2010-08-24T07:35:00.002-05:00

I can't imagine a day with my students without preschool art projects. I also find that the simpler activities are just as fun as the more elaborate ideas I have done over the years.

Here are 2 easy, creative ideas that I use often. My readers have sent me similar suggestions and it is such fun to hear these same ideas from around the world!

Frozen Paint
One thing I have found that my preschool classes have really enjoyed is painting with frozen paint. All you have to do is fill an ice tray or popsicle trays with paint. Stick it in the freezer.

Once frozen let the children enjoy painting. School Supply stores also sell containers specifically for this purpose for pretty cheap. I have found that sometimes the painting works best when you let the trays sit out for 1/2 before painting unless it's a really hot day. It can be messy as the paint thaws so do this activity in a water table or outside.

Water Evaporation
Materials: Water, Paintbrushes

When practicing letters/shapes/numbers--anything!
We go outside to the wall or sidewalk.
Give each child a paintbrush and have 2 children share a cup of water with each other.

They listen for the teacher to tell them what to draw. On a sunny day, before they know it, their letter or picture has "disappeared." They love getting to paint and also watching it disappear.

If you like these preschool art projects, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Summer Activities - Flower Garden on a Plate

2010-08-03T08:35:00.002-05:00

Happy summer to everyone! If you're looking for preschool summer
activities to do with your preschoolers, try this one.

It is a delightful way to get outside on a nature walk
and to use it as an opportunity of exploration.

You can help your preschoolers appreciate their surroundings.
Ask about colors and textures; count how many flowers they have
found to bring back to their classroom to decorate. These are just
a few of the ways you can turn a walk outside into an outdoor
classroom where children learn by doing. My favorite!

Here is the idea:
"A Garden of flowers and grasses on a squared paper plate".
Give each child a pair of scissors and go for a morning walk.
They cut wild flowers and grasses of their choice.
Each child is given a paper plate and colourful play dough.

The playdough is used to hold the flowers and grasses into place
on the paper-plate and voila--you have a garden which will hold
for a while. The kids loved this activity.

This was an all hands on activity with no help from me.

Thanks to one of my readers who sent in this preschool summer activity
that she does with her children.

f you like these preschool summer activities,
check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

Enjoy and remember to send in any ideas you wish
to share and I will post them here.

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 Circle Time - Thinking Circles

2010-07-13T06:10:00.002-05:00

I do hope everyone's summer is going along smoothly and your preschoolers are enjoying outside activities. I received this preschool circle time activity from one of my readers recently and wanted to share it as fast as possible! Simple, thoughtful and very effective!

With a new school year just around the corner you will be planning your opening week activities as well as ideas for the year.

This idea is so important for preschoolers--learning how to understand others feelings and giving them their first tools for problem solving.

Thinking Circles

I took over a group part way through a year and they were very negative in outlook and aggressive to each other. I started what I called ‘thinking Circles’- I got a pile of cardboard circles and drew happy sad faces on each one. Then at the end of the day I would hand out some ( face down) and the children would have to turn them over and tell everyone something they really liked about the day (happy face) or something they did not like (sad face).

This got the group thinking in a reflective way and really brought them together. I now use it with any group I have. I find it teaches them about other people’s perspectives and can lead to some terrific group problem solving when a child has suggested something they did not like...ie; how to fix it if it was a problem.. or how to change it.

This is an idea that will become a permanent part of my preschool activities for circle time.

If you like these preschool circle time activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

Enjoy and remember to send in any ideas you wish to share and I will post them here.

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 Nursery Rhymes - Activities for Nursery Rhymes

2010-06-27T15:01:00.004-05:00

If you're planning a Unit on preschool nursery rhymes, be sure to involve your preschoolers physically as well. Nursery rhymes are an excellent tool for teaching sound awareness, memory skills, and listening skills.

Children usually know at least a couple of nursery rhymes when they begin preschool. Use their knowledge base and expand upon it.

Involve them in acting them out, dancing to them, or clapping out rhythms.
Here are some ideas I've received recently to try with your class.

Jack Be Nimble

When we were doing a theme week on Nursery rhymes I made 3 different sizes of candle sticks for the children to jump over. I started with a toilet paper roll then went to a paper towel roll and then a parchment paper roll. What ever size they could successfully jump over was the one that they got to make and take home. (If you are in a state that has banned the use of toilet paper rolls, you can use the paper towel rolls and cut them in half.)

Cover the roll with plain paper and let the children decorate as desired, then either tape or hot glue the roll to a small paper plate, add a red yellow and orange tissue paper flame.

We sang:
Child's name be nimble
Child's name be quick
Child's name jump over the candle stick
Child's name jumped high
Child's name jumped low
Child's name jumped over and burnt his/her toe.

They had a blast and often ask to play that game. They are also learning directions of over, high, low.

Humpty Dumpty

I cut out little red bricks so the children could build a wall for Humpty Dumpty.

Then I game them each an egg shape to put on it. They drew on the face and added arms and legs. They all came out so different and cute and I got so many great comments on this activity.

There are so many ways to use classic nursery rhymes to teach your kids. Give these a try and send me ones you would like to share.

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

Check them out:

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

Enjoy and remember to send in any ideas you wish to share and I will post them here.

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

Gross Motor Activities for Preschool - Letter Hunt and Let's Pretend

2010-06-09T07:41:00.002-05:00

As all preschool teachers and parents know, preschool and energy are synonymous. Here are some fun gross motor activities for preschool that are so much fun they will ask to do these again and again.

You will be enhancing their motor skills and teaching coordination, letters and numbers at the same time. Give them a try.

These were both sent to me to share here. Thanks so much!

Let's Pretend

Have the kids stand up tall with their arms up and say "be as tall as a giraffe". Then say "be as big as an elephant" and have them put their arms and legs out wide. Repeat this slowly and then get faster and the kids don't even know they are doing jumping jacks!

Find the Letter

I like to play the "Number Find Game" or the "Letter Find Game".
Tape up numbers or letters all over the room and then draw one of them on a dry erase board and have the kids go running to find the number or letter that I've drawn on the board.
It gets them moving and it also helps them to become more familiar with their numbers and letters. You can use colors or shapes for your hunt. All children love a hunt!

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

Check them out:

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

Enjoy and remember to send in any ideas you wish to share and I will post them here.

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 Idea - Golden Shoe

2010-06-02T05:21:00.001-05:00

June is here and in the US it means summertime and our celebration of Father's Day. We all try to come up with ways to show dads how much they mean to us. Try this preschool fathers day idea with your kids; dads will be pleased for sure!

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.

This preschool craft idea was sent in by one of my readers recently to share here with everyone. Thanks for the emails!

Father's Day Idea - Golden Shoe
Need: one old shoe for each child, glue, gold spray paint

I send home a request for an old shoe that the child has recently grown out of.
Let your preschoolers paint it with watery glue.
When it's dry I spray paint the shoe gold.
I glue some felt on the bottom if needed.
They give it as a gift to dad at our "donuts for dads" day.
I include a poem on a paper tucked inside the shoe that says: "I love you so much I wish you knew, think of me each time you look at my shoe."

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 this preschool fathers day idea, 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 Science Activities - Where do Pearls Come From?

2010-05-26T09:20:00.002-05:00

Preschool science activities offer so many opportunities for hands on exploration. You can also use them to encourage the use of dramatic play fun that preschoolers love.

One of my circle time ideas is to talk about the next month that is coming up. For June, talk about monthly birthstones. The one for June is the pearl. Do they know what a pearl is? Where does it come from?

Talk about how oysters make pearls. In nature, a pearl is unusual, and finding gemstone quality pearls is rare. The pearl starts out as an irritant in a oyster or mussel. The "irritant" can be a bit of shell or parasite that gets caught in the soft tissue, which the pearl oyster tries to expel. If it can't get rid of it, t/he oyster coats the bothersome piece with a coating called nacre, forming the June birthstone.

Use the following ideas to continue the theme of pearls.

Secret Pearl Coloring Page
Since June’s birthstone is a pearl, show students where pearls come from by giving them an underwater scene to color and decorate. Give them a pearl to hold and look at and ask them to draw a secret pearl somewhere on their page. Then, they can trade pages and see who can find the hidden pearl.

Find the Pearl
Bring in three closed containers and put a pearl in one of them. Show the students which container the pearl is in and then mix the containers around. Students must try to follow the container with the pearl in it until you stop moving the containers. You should try to make them forget which one holds the pearl. When you stop, they can guess and you can see if anyone is right. Try this several times to improve their skills at attention and memory.

Dramatic Play: Underwater Divers
Send your students on a scuba mission to find valuable pearls at the bottom of the ocean. They must avoid sharks, jellyfish, and other dangerous animals as they venture to the bottom of the sea. They can comment on the types of animals they encounter and what it feels like to be able to breathe underwater.

If you like these preschool science activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Pirate Theme for Preschool - My Town Treasure Hunt

2010-05-19T06:50:00.002-05:00

One of the favorite themes my children enjoy is the pirate theme for preschool. This is a theme you can use to teach any topic you wish--colors, directions, letters, counting, reasoning, etc.

Thanks to one of my readers for sending the idea below for an incredible, town-wide Treasure Hunt.

My Town Treasure Hunt

I have used this for several years to help learn the letter X as well as help my preschoolers explore the world around them. This activity is done with their parents. It is a lot of fun. I call it "My Town Treasure Hunt."

I make up 6 or 7 clues that relate to stores or land marks in our area. At each stop they get the next clue along with a small treat or sticker. I speak with the store owners ahead of time and they are always glad to help (It is free advertising for them!)

At the last stop I give them a simple map to follow that leads them to "X marks the spot!" I put together a simple bag of things the kids can do like bubbles, playdough, crayons and a small notebook etc. I put the bags in a treasure box for them to take home.

If you like this pirate theme for preschool, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Activities for Cinco de Mayo

2010-05-02T19:17:00.002-05:00

This is a fun week to teach your preschoolers about another culture. Use the following preschool activities for Cinco de Mayo for their fun celebrations!

I like to begin by showing my students where Mexico is? Bring out a globe and
show the children where you live and where Mexico is. Discuss how long it
might take to get there by car and then by plane.

This holiday is more of a celebration of Mexican culture, food, music and
beverage unique to Mexico. Cinco De Mayo is a great way to expose
preschoolers to the Mexican culture.

These preschool activities for Cinco de Mayo are for all the centers of the classroom.

Counting in Spanish

Talk with the children about Spanish, explaining that it is the language
spoken in Mexico. Have children try to count in Spanish with your help. You
may wish to make a chart. (Some of your children may already be familiar
with the language especially if they have watched Sesame Street!)

Counting from 1-10 in Spanish.
1. uno (oo-no)
2. dos (doss)
3. tres (trace)
4. cuatro (kwah-tro)
5. cinco (seen-ko)
6. seis (say-ees)
7. siete (see-ay-tay)
8. ocho (oh-cho)
9. nueve (nuay-vay)
10. diez (dee-ace)

Jumping-Bean Jumping

Play music let the children jump like jumping beans, when the music stops
they must freeze in the postion they were in. When the music starts again the
they all jump again. Good for listening skills and gross motor skills.

Maracas
Have the children make maracas. There are many different ways to do this but
the following is one of the easiest for all ages to do.
Take beans and place between two plates. Staple the plates together. Glue a
craft stick to one side. Allow the kids to paint or decorate the plates how
they like. Put on the music and have them parade or dance throughout the
room.

Bean Bag Toss
Need: Bean bags and sombrero.

Toss beanbags into a sombrero and lots of fun! You can teach color
recognition, counting by telling them how many bean bags they get to throw
and/or counting how many make into the hat and how many did not.

If you like these preschool activities for Cinco de Mayo, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Opposites Activities - In & Out, Up & Down, Fun & Serious

2010-04-21T05:46:00.002-05:00

Teaching a preschooler the concept of opposites is so much fun! One of the best parts is that they already know some and start off feeling so good about what they know. These are just a some of the preschool opposites activities I have used over the years.

Please take these ideas and then add your own. Once you start this for your day or week's activity, the children will learn so much and have fun doing so! This is how preschoolers learn the best--by doing!

Some of the easiest to start with are big and little, cold and hot, front and back, over and under, in and out, wide and narrow, day and night, on and off.

Circle Time Idea
When I use this concept for the week, I start each day's circle time with one of the concepts I am teaching. One day I will wear shoes that are much too big for me. I ask their help on what the problem is with my shoes. After they point out that my shoes are too big, I ask them if I can borrow one of their shoes. This leads them to say they are too small. How better to start off the idea of big and little!

Another day, I will wear my shirt or smock backwards. I engage them to ask what is the problem and they tell me that the shirt is on backwards and that I need to put it on frontwards. They love this. We talk about front and back in terms of clothing, classroom, etc.

One day you can start off with a very serious facial expression and then change to a smile or broad grin. See if they notice that your face is changing throughout the circle time. Ask them for other ways we have opposite facial expressions such as laughing and crying, happy and sad, peaceful and surprised.

You get the idea. Encourage them to come up with ideas for opposites and write these on the whiteboard. You can then use these for other activities.

General Activities
Beads--Provide them with large beads and small beads. Ask them to string them with different patterns of beads to learn about large and small.

Sorting--You can use all of your recycling items such as boxes, cans, paper tubes, styrofoam pieces, blocks, etc and ask your students to sort according to size. They learn big and little, large and small, soft and hard. Ask them if there are other ways to sort.

Gross Motor Play--Design a maze through the classroom or circle time area with yarn, sheets, furniture and then talk with your preschoolers about going over and under the obstacle. Have them tell you the direction they will be using to see if they really understand.

Fine Motor--Provide them with magazines and have an "eye scavenger hunt" to find different opposite ideas. For example: can they find pictures of things to do inside and then pictures of things to do outside; search for winter pictures and summer pictures; search for pictures of front and back.

Opposite Day--Send home a note to parents and ask them to have their child come to school on the last day of the week with something opposite from usual. They can come with their shirt on backwards, with a breakfast food rather than a typical lunch food, pajamas rather than day clothes, etc. They can choose what the "opposite" will be and at circle time we all try to guess the concept and review how much they have learned during Opposite WEEK!

If you like these preschool opposites activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Name Recognition Theme - Puzzles and Placemats

2010-04-15T09:28:00.001-05:00

Watching a child's face as he/she learns to recognize their own name is joy! Here are ideas I use for preschool name recognition theme in my classes.

These ideas allow for visual and fine motor skills for your preschoolers to learn to know their names.

Whiteboard Name Puzzle
I print my preschool students name in large font on magnetic paper with a photo of them. Next I cut it into a few pieces and lay it out on the whiteboard so they have their own personal jigsaw puzzle that helps with name recognition.

Personalized Placemat
I send home a paper placemat with the child's name written on the top. Parents work with children looking through magazines & ads, to cut and glue their favorite foods or just draw them on the mat. When they are returned, we laminate the placemats and each child uses his/her during meals/snacks. This works great with name recognition for everyone and while we're waiting for our lunch, we trace our names with our finger!

Preschool Zoo
something I like to do for my children when we are doing a Zoo, or even a jungle theme, is to cut out picures of the children's faces and glue them into animals - the children love to find themselves on the wall and the parents love it as well.

The preschool name recognition theme is such an important one in preschool and I hope these ideas works for you. Check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Science Activities - Textures & Magnifying Glasses

2010-04-07T08:29:00.002-05:00

I can't remember ever having a preschooler who isn't intrigued by a magnifying glass, insects and exploring adventures. Try these preschool science activities with your class. Your students will love it, learn, explore and ask questions. You can use this activity for so many opportunities to teach shapes, numbers, textures, discovery of the world around them.

The kids will help you with the set up of the sand table. Start at circle time to discuss what they will be doing and then introduce the steps.

Texture Exploration!
Activity area: Sand/Water table

Materials: Magnifying glass, picture of an ant, measurement cups/spoons, big spoons, bowls, funnels, cotton balls, foam packing peanuts, birdseed, sand, rice, dried beans, pebbles and stones

Hook: Hold up a magnifying glass and say that they are all going to be scientists, this morning! Pass around the magnifying glass to each child and have the children look at the ant picture, with their new "lenses." Explain that the magnifying glass makes everything appear bigger and that we can all be like scientists and explore.

Activity
Explain that the ant in the picture) uses their feelers or antennas to explore and we, as humans, use our hands, eyes, ears, nose and mouth to explore. Point to each of these body parts. After this discussion, have the children create their own sensory table using their own feelers or hands.

Allow the children to pick from the materials listed above, which item they would like to add to the sensory table. After their choice, ask the child how the object feels.
Let the children use the magnifying glass to see the textures. After all the children have added their item have them all put their hands, in the table, to mix together. Give them plenty of time to explore and experiment!

If you like these preschool science activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Spring Preschool Crafts - Art Work for Springtime or Easter

2010-03-30T19:36:00.003-05:00

When we get closer to springtime here in the US teachers, parents and children love creating and decorating for the new season. Here are three creative spring preschool crafts that have been sent to me recently.

As preschoolers do arts or crafts projects you are providing a rich learning environment for them and best of all--It is Hands On! They improve motor skills, color recognition, spatial relations and the joy of creating something of their very own.

Give these a try for Spring or for Easter decorations. Any of the shapes can be changed to fit you or your childrens needs, such as eggs for Easter, flowers for spring, etc. These ideas are basically foolproof. Even your youngest toddlers are able to participate.

Confetti Picture what you need:
Hole punch, assorted colors of construction paper,craft glue, heavy-weight paper.

Punch out dots from different colors of construction paper to make confetti dots. If you want, keep the colors separate in small dishes or containers. Draw a picture, such as a bouquet of flowers, on a piece of paper. Fill in a section of the picture with glue, and sprinkle one colour of confetti dots over the glue. Let the glue dry, then shake the paper to remove excess dots. Continue coloring your picturre with more dots. If you want to be more precise, glue single dots in place, one by one, to "paint" your picture.

Marble Egg
Have pre-cut egg shapes already for your toddlers, and give them little toy cars. I had a tray of purple and pink paints in arms reach and they would roll the wheels of the cars into the paint and then make tracks for decorations on their easter egg shapes. This was done with children as young as an 18 month old, and a 12 month old. They had fun rolling the cars back and forth and saying vroom vroom as they did so. This has easily be done with any age group.

Stained Glass Egg
My class made stained glass paper eggs for an Easter card for parents. I pre-cut tissue paper into small little square. I demonstrated and then guided the children into painting water on their cardstock egg. Then they laid little colored squares over the water, sometimes overlapping. When dry, we peel the paper off to show a beautiful stained glass egg. Just gorgeous!

If you like these spring preschool crafts, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Themes - Cowboys and Out West Fun!

2010-03-23T08:34:00.001-05:00

One of the ways I keep the program fresh is to use varied preschool themes throughout the year. I have received many requests recently for ideas on cowboys and the great West!

How fun this is and you can use this theme to stretch over several days. You can use this to teach gross motor skills, following directions, coordination, fine motor skills for drawing, constructing and so much more.

Circle Time Idea
Start the discussion asking them what they think cowboys do. The replies will guide you in the remaining conversation. Explain their role in watching after cattle, moving them around from one place to another, corralling a cow who might have strayed from the herd.

Next select one of the children to be the cowboy and the others are the cows. The cattle are to line up on one side of the room as the cowboy needs to catch them and put them in the corral. When the cowboy tags one of the children, that child is corralled and stays with the cowboy in the pasture. You can do this giving each child a turn at being the cowboy.

Dramatic Play
Here is an opportunity to "recycle or re-use" large cardboard boxes if you have them (such as appliance boxes). You can paint them or cover them with paper and label them General Store, Bank, Barber shop, etc. Provide dress up clothes such as hats, bandanas, boots or whatever you may have and let the children pretend they are in the Wild West. You will be surprised at what they imagine and play!

Motor Skills
Use popsicle sticks and show the children how to glue them together to make fences for a corral. They can do this at the play table and set up their own little corral. I use these with the blocks and ask the children to make buildings and put the fences around them. If you have access to small plastic animals such as cows and horses use those as well but be sure they are not too small to create a choking hazard.

Snack
Provide biscuits (or rolls) and tell them that this was often what the cowboys and cowgirls had to eat on the trail.

Your preschoolers will get a chance to try their abilities to run, gallop, skip and jump like horses or cattle or cowboys. You can use the opportunity to teach directions such as "in front of", "next to", under, over, etc.

Painting, creating signs, thinking about what stores a town needs, all provide so many chances to stimulate and teach.

I hope you had fun with thess preschool themes. Check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner for more interactive fun teaching ideas for your preschool.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Curriculum Ideas - Upside Down Stories

2010-03-17T06:39:00.002-05:00

Here are some preschool curriculum ideas that will take any chance of boredom out of your classroom and stimulate your preschoolers imaginations.

You are fully aware how children know their favorite stories by memory and ask that they be read over and over again. WHen they get tired of the story, they stop listening. Here is an idea that will tap into their knowledge base of the story and encourage them to come up with alternative characters or even endings!

Try this suggestion that another reader sent to me. It uses the same concept that I am describing.

When the boredom happens, I tell them that there is really another story in the book too. I turn the book upside down and tell them that there is another story inside it! Then I start narrating the story following the same structure and events as the original one, but changing ,let's say, the characters. An example to help you understand:

Upside Down Stories
Turning upside down the well known story "the 3 little pigs":
Once upon a time there were 3 little wolves living in a small house with their mother. One day the mother wolf gathered them around and said: "There are too many of us living in this small house, dear children. You are all grown up now, so you have to go build your own houses. But I warn you: beware of TIG-SHMIG, THE VICIOUS, EVIL PIG!!!..."
...and so on.

Kids find it very interesting and fascinating and soon they understand how to do it themselves. That way they get better with their speaking skills, expressing thoughts and creating stories!

I hope you had fun with these preschool curriculum ideas. Check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner for more interactive fun teaching ideas for your preschool.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Imagination Station Preschool - Imaginary Trip

2010-03-09T09:39:00.001-05:00

I'm sure you often find days when the weather just won't allow some outside fun for your preschoolers. Here is where you use an imagination station preschool to stop the doldrums and bring out the creativity in all of your students.

I set the stage to go on imaginary hikes and trips. You can plan a camping adventure, a plane ride, train ride, hike through the mountains, etc. Offer options and let your children plan on the trip they want to take.

I had one reader send me this idea that her class love to do. It is a canoeing adventure.

Here is the idea:

All the children sit in a circle and pretend they are going on a canoeing adventure.
Start out with safety--"okay everyone find your life jackets. Let's put it on". Try to get the children involved and ask them what color of life jacket they would like to put on. We then pretend to put on our jackets and zip them up.

"We then will need to find our paddles. Does everyone have their paddles".
We go through the entire process of getting ready to canoe, canoeing (finding birds and trees, listening to the crickets etc.).

At the end of our trip we find an ice cream stand and the children tell us what kind of ice cream cone is their favorite.
Depending on the age and the attention, you can take it further and make a craft that involved part of our trip. The children love this and always have success with this adventure.

I hope you had fun with this imagination station preschool. Check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner for more interactive fun teaching ideas for your preschool.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Theme Ideas - Gardening & Spring Time Fun

2010-03-02T08:18:00.002-05:00

I'm back from my break, rested and ready to offer more preschool theme ideas to my readers.

This gardening idea was sent to me recently and it has so many possibilities for teaching and fun. It can be used to teach science, colors, counting and even nurturing!

Thanks for all of you who are sending in more and more actitivities and teaching tips. Keep them coming and I'll share them here along with those of my own!

The Eggshell Garden

Need: egg shells, potting soil, tempera paints or markers, seeds of all kinds-even grass seed will work here.

If you provide lunch to your students and have boiled eggs for lunch, show the kids how to crush only the upper half of the egg, leaving the rest of the eggshell intact. Otherwise, ask parents to save and send in egg shells.

Then we put some soil and we plant 2-3 little seeds in it (don't think extravagant, a few lentils or beans would do just fine!). Water it regularly and watch it grow.
your preschoolers can take the time to paint the "tiny pots" before planting, and then place them inside the egg carton, it will look like a tiny garden!

your kids can start by making 3 of those little gardens, each containing 6 similarly looking eggs: we had the rainbow garden (eggs painted with a different color each), the dots and stripes garden, and even the family garden (a face was drawn on each eggshell to make it look like a person with the plants posing like the hair!)

They liked the eggshell gardens so much, now every kid has his/her own!

This is a fun activity for spring time or for fall to continue the idea of growing things inside if it is fall in your part of the world!

If you like these preschool theme ideas, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Valentine Crafts - Mouse Heart Valentine

2010-02-10T09:14:00.001-05:00

The requests for new preschool valentine crafts ideas has been overwhelming the past few days!

This fun, creative idea was just sent to me to share here for all of you--very cute and excellent for teaching many skills.

Give it a try and let me know how it works for you. Send pictures also if you have them!

Mouse Heart Valentine

Cut out two heart shapes, one larger for the body and one smaller for the ears. Fold the larger heart in half (child can write a message, their name, or leave blank), and at point end glue a very small fuzzy ball (or just make a dot with a marker) for the nose, make a few whiskers off the nose with a marker.
Then glue on a googly eye in proximity to the nose. Next place a dot of glue at the base of the small heart (leave this one open) for the ears and glue in proximity of the eye.
Use a lollipop (flat ones work best) and tape it to the inside of the larger heart with the stick end sticking out of the rounded larger heart (this is the tail). Glue or tape heart shut and you have a valentine.

This is a good craft for practicing tracing, cutting, fine motor skills with the gluing and placement of the features.

If you like these preschool valentine crafts, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Playdoh Activities - Fruity Play Doh

2010-02-02T11:00:00.003-05:00

February is here and the groundhog saw his shadow this morning! Here in the US this is a fun myth that is supposed to signify a full 6 more weeks of winter. What better time to introduce some new preschool playdoh activities!

I realize that there are numerous recipes for Play-doh for preschoolers. I always find the homemade kind the most fun and creative. Check out the recipe below for one of my favorites.

Fruity Play Doh
1/2 cup salt
2 cups water
Fruit drink mix (Kool-Aid)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups flour
2 tablespoons alum.

Combine the salt and water in a saucepan and boil until the salt dissolves. Take from the heat and add the fruit drink mix. Add the oil, flour and alum. Knead until smooth. This will last two months in an airtight container or zip lock freezer bag.

Let the children help to knead the dough and to manipulate it. This is relaxing for them and helps them to focus. I use the playdoh to teach colors, numbers, shapes, counting, fine motor skills, and letters.

Be sure to have the playdoh available with as many tools as possible. I have cookie cutters of the alphabet, numbers, shapes, objects, etc. I have small rolling pins, garlic presses, potato french fry cutters, the sky is the limit here.

BEST TIP: Practice using scissors with the playdoh. The doh slices easily and grips the scissors better than paper giving them the fine motor feel of how to cut.

If you like these preschool playdoh activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Alphabet Game - Name That Footprint Letter

2010-01-26T17:02:00.001-05:00

Teaching the alphabet and letter recognition is one of the basics of preschool teaching. I love to physically involve my preschoolers while teaching them and I use this preschool alphabet game to teach letter recognition.

Name That Footprint Letter

1. Cut out footprints with light brown construction paper. You will need one footprint for each letter you wish to practice. You may want to make these out of tagboard as they will be stepped on.
2. Print letters of the alphabet on each footprint to help the child identify whichever you choose. Choose one in the same for each footprint (like all numbers or all letter etc.)
3. Laminate the footprints or cover them with clear contact paper.

Place the footprints in a line on the floor. Don't put the letters in alphabetical order or you'll get the "A,B,C's" sung to you.

Choose a number of footprints appropriate for the skill level and attention span of your students. Some children are not ready to recognize all 26 letters at once or to wait in line very long for a turn.

Children form a line behind the first footprint.

The first child walks the footprints, saying the sound or each letter's name before it is stepped on, trying to get to the end without making a mistake. If a child does make a mistake, tell him the correct letter name and let him continue.

When a child gets to the end of the footprints, he sits down to watch the next child in line. Listening to their peers reinforces their own letter recognition also.

Variations:

Instead of letters you can put numbers, shapes, or even different colors by pasting a piece of colored paper on the footprints. Then they can say the number or color or shape as they step on the footprint.

If you like this preschool alphabet game, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Science Activities - Dinosaurs and Birds

2010-01-19T07:56:00.002-05:00

If you enjoy teaching science to preschoolers as much as I do, you will want to try these preschool science activities with your class.

The first one combines a favorite topic for all preschoolers--dinosaur--with another favorite interest which is eating and digestion. This was sent to me recently by one of my readers and is so much fun. Your kids will love this!

Use this activity also to show how dinosaurs digested their food the same way that birds digest theirs. This can be done in a circle time activity and also for gross motor skills and following directions when coupled with music.

Dinosaurs & Digestion
To demonstrate how plant eating dinosaurs digest their food (Same process can be used for a bird unit!) put one or two large lettuce leafs in a jar half filled with water. Place three or four 1-2 inch rocks in the jar and screw tightly shut. Pass around having the children shake the jar up and down and all around. This process will smash the lettuce to a pulp rather quickly "digesting it". Dinosaurs swallowed small rocks with their food (birds swallow sand and gravel).

To make it more fun, put on music such as Greg and Steve's "Freeze" song, or any other song you wish, to add dance to the process. Every time they say freeze or any time you stop the music, have the children pass the jar to a friend. Great movement and exercise and gets the job done quickly!

If you like these preschool science activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Winter Activities for Preschool - Balloon Snowman and Snow Painting

2010-01-12T07:28:00.002-05:00

January weather has left no doubt that winter is in full swing. If you are looking for some winter activities for preschool look at these ideas.

Thanks to everyone who has been sending me these great ideas that they are using with their children. There are indoor and outdoor activities here that can certainly add to your projects for the day.

All hands on activities are ways to teach colors, textures, counting, science and learning to work together on projects or classroom decorations.

Balloon Snowman

Blow up small balloon.
Dip in white paint.
Press onto blue construction paper (press harder to form large circle for base).
Press a second time for middle section (don't press as hard).
Press a third time for head (least amount of pressure).
Glue on precut rectangle for scarf (construction paper).
Glue on precut top hat (black construction paper).
Using black paint, dip Q-tip and dot on eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons on body.
Black marker to draw stick arms.

Children have fun building their own snowman!

Outdoor Snow Artwork
Idea #1
You need a cookie sheet, different colored tempera paint in cups, and paintbrushes. Take children outside in the snow and have children pack the cookie sheet with snow. Let them paint on the snow using the paintbrushes. Take a picture with a camera for a keep sake.

Idea #2
Prepare food coloring and water in spray bottles. venture outside on a sunny day and have your preschoolers Work together to build snowmen. Let them take turns spraying the clothes on the snowmen with the different colored water. Creative and lots of fun. The children especially enjoy watching the colors evaporate or change during the weeks to come.

Snowflakes
Cut a green pepper in half crosswise. Let the children dip the pepper into white paint and press down onto dark blue colored construction paper. Add glitter to the picture before the paint dries.

If you like these winter activities for preschool, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Classrooms - Special Tables and Snowflake Artwork

2010-01-04T06:50:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Welcoming a new decade is always energizing. This is a time to look at your preschool classrooms and give some new energy to your class.

Here are a couple of ideas that you can use to jump start this change.

Special Table
Have a “special table” set up to change as often as possible (weekly or more) although they may be used throughout the year it is fun just to allow the children to have a different focus as well as your theme etc.

You can use puppets, stuffed animals, colored stones, rocks, phones, unusual toys, hole punches, keys and locks, plants, fish, animal, shells, tools, scarves, musical instruments, cash register, clothes pins, tape measures.

You get the idea--anything can be used. There don't have to be many, just something different for a week or so that is not being used for any other reason in the room. Make a list so it is always available for you to jog your memory.

Snowflakes Art

Cut a green bell pepper in half crosswise. Let the children dip the pepper into white paint and press down onto dark blue colored construction paper. Add glitter to the picture before the paint dries.

Hang around your room or on the bulletin board for winter wonderland decorations.

If you like these ideas for your preschool classrooms, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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Christmas Crafts for Preschool - Ornaments and Instant Christmas Trees

2009-12-18T15:44:00.002-05:00

Glad to be back and offering more ideas for Christmas crafts for preschool.
Sorry for the time away-the flu was much more than I could have imagined!

Good to be back and having fun during this special time of year. I have received so many wonderful ideas from my readers and want to share a couple of them.

I chose these because they are ideas that even your youngest preschoolers, even toddlers, can do! Give them a try and let me know how they work out.

Ornaments
Need---clear plastic 16 oz cups, permanent markers, and for the adults who help, an oven set at 400.

Take a clear plastic cup and have children color the cup with permanent markers.
Place the cups in an oven (400 degrees), and watch the cups melt. Once they are flat, the cups can be removed.

These make a great Christmas ornament; make a hole in top for hook.

**Really nice if oven is accessible with students, so children can watch the process of the cups melting.

Easy Christmas Trees

Need--Sugar cone ice cream cones, vanilla or green frosting, multi colored rice crisp cereal.

We do a really cute craft at Christmas with my prechool class. The students make a Christmas tree using sugar cones, vanilla frosting and colored crisp cereal.

Cover the cone completely with the frosting and simply roll the cone in a pie plate full of the colored crisp cereal. Let it set for a few minutes and you haev an instant Christmas tree!!! Set aside an area on a table and
create a holiday scene.

If you like these Christmas crafts for preschool, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Holiday Crafts - Snowmen Votives

2009-12-06T07:15:00.003-05:00

I have been flooded with requests for ideas for preschool holiday crafts! I will give ideas to you over then next few postings to help with this.

Crafts provide your preschoolers with so many learning opportunities. I like to personalize a craft as much as possible and use something unique to the individual.

Here is a "green" idea for a gift for mommy or daddy.

Snowmen Votive Candle Holder

Ask parents to send in their empty baby food jars. You are using recycled materials to make a gift with a personal imprint on it!

This activity is easiest to do when you have a helper, parent volunteer, etc. It also requires starting a couple of weeks depending on the size of your class.

Paint 3 fingers of each preschool child,individually, in white. (I would set this up as a center with your aide there.)
Gently press each finger on the glass and quickly pull away. The prints should be one on top of the other to resemble a snowman.

Do this with each child over the next several days.

Then make a sample one and use a permanent marker to add eyes, orange stick nose and black dots for his smile. Show this to your preschoolers and then let each child decorate their snowman. I use aides and volunteers with this part and have them do this in pairs with the aide.

Spray with an acrylic fixative.

The children now have a snowmen votive candle holder for their parents for any holiday.

You can use this poem on a gift card attached to the holder:

"These are snowmen, happy and glee,
However, they are really my fingerprints three!"

These are wonderful personalized preschool holiday crafts that your preschoolers will love making and giving.

If you like this preschool holiday craft, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Toddler Preschool Lessons - Going on a Bear Hunt

2009-12-02T10:12:00.001-05:00

A lot of preschool lessons are geared for three year olds and older. Here are ideas for toddler preschool lessons that were sent to me recently by one of my readers.

I definitely agree that toddler lessons should be physical and exploratory.
Two year olds need to move around, feel, experience and be part of the lesson to learn as much as possible.

Try this variation to do the traditional "Going on a Bear Hunt" with your two year olds and have fun!

Toddler Going on a Bear Hunt--

I like to do physical stuff with my two year olds. We set up for going on a bear hunt. we take blankets and bucther paper making caves, and tunnels, on tables and chairs. cover them.

We use different colors to stress the color that we are working on like we are going thru the blue cave. We turn out the lights and have flash lights. We put out all kinds of stuff animals and plastic animals like tigers, bears, lions and so on. We climb over and under the children love it (great way to teach directions such as OVER and UNDER).

Allow them to help set up and clean up. Make your Snacks or treats like a camp fire, sing songs and just have a grand time.

If you like these toddler preschool lessons, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Sensory Table Ideas - Sand, Water, & Fun

2009-11-24T19:53:00.003-05:00

I have many recent requests for ideas for preschool sensory table ideas. I use my sensory table for so many activities for all learning centers. Here are just a few of the ways to use this key part of your classroom.

First of all, keep in mind that you can fill your table with sand, styrofoam packaging peanuts, cotton balls, water, small size gravel, etc. The sky is the limit. **Just be sure that whatever you use is age appropriate for the ages of your children.

Alphabet
Fill the table with sand. Use your letter of the week if you wish and let them take turns making the letter shape in the sand. This helps them develop visual memory, or if they don't know the shape, post it on the wall and they will need to copy the shape. This provides visual and motor input for them to learn.

Treasure Hunts
All preschoolers love a treasure hunt. Use the table to hide objects, letters, numbers, items from the theme of the week, etc. and ask them to find them. You can make this more difficult by asking them to do this with their eyes closed. Next ask them to count what they have found. Counting skills becomes so much fun.

Use this for sorting also. You can mix letters and numbers and see if they remember the differences in shapes and put them in the correct category. Hide items that are different shapes and ask if they can identify the shape--round, square, soft, hard, triangle.

Water Table
When your table is filled with water you can use it to do science experiments. Find out what kind of object floats or sinks. Mix food coloring or paints and watch the dispersion of colors. Add other types of liquid such as small drops of cooking oil to watch the reaction. Definitely make a time when you add child safe foaming soap and allow them to play in the bubbles. Just be sure the floor under the table has something non skid so if water does spill, no one slips and falls.

These are just some of the ways I use the sensory table. Send me your ideas and I will share them here.

If you like these preschool sensory table ideas, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Thanksgiving Ideas - Things to be Thankful For

2009-11-21T09:52:00.004-05:00

I want to share these preschool Thanksgiving ideas because they can be adapted for all nationalities and any season.

In the United States, the holiday of Thanksgiving is in November. It is a time for families and friends to get together and share a special meal and talk about what we are thankful for.

This same concept of gratitude and things to be thankful for can be used for any time of year in any country. No need to limit this to one country's holiday event once a year.

The important idea is to get your preschoolers used to thinking about what they are grateful for and to express it.

The activity below is one a parent shared with me recently. It is one that can be used by all. The turkey is synonymous with American Thanksgiving but you can modify the idea and use any bird you wish, a flower, wreath, etc.

Thanksgiving Activity

You will need to draw an outline of a turkey
for this activity. It should be on construction paper
that you can pin to the wall when the activity is complete.

(Note: I am NOT an artist, so I usually draw a very BASIC
looking turkey consisting of a big circle for the body,
a neck, head with a beak, and two little feet at the bottom.
This is not the time to be a perfectionist about how your
bird looks, because you are going to cover it up with
feathers anyway).

You will also need to precut some "feathers" about the size
of a normal gift tag that you can write on before sticking
onto the "turkey".

Glue/tape will also be needed to stick the feathers onto
the "turkey", and pins to attach the completed picture to
the wall.

Discuss the story of Thanksgiving with your class,
ask each child for one thing that they are thankful
for and write this word on a separate "feather".

Once the children have their "Feathers of Thanks" prepared,
you can play a game of "pin the feather on the turkey" and
blindfold the children, spin them a few times, and have them
try to stick their feather on the turkey.

Any child who gets their feather on the turkey gets a "prize"
(for example, a Hershey's kiss, a piece of candy, etc.). The children can keep playing, as long as they continue to produce thoughtful,
"feathers of thanks".

VARIATION: Make fall leaves or petals of a flower. Write each word of gratitude on these and create a Gratitude or Thankful picture.

If you like these preschool thanksgiving ideas, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Activities - Sense of Smell

2009-11-17T07:04:00.001-05:00

Winter time is a wonderful time to introduce preschool activities about the sense of smell. There are several ways to use this theme for art, science, fine motor and literacy activities.

Preschoolers enjoy learning all about themselves. start this theme with a circle time activity to discuss our five senses. Then tell them that this day will focus on the sense of smell. Ask for their input--what do they think smells good or bad, what foods do they think smell good, what smells are warnings for us, etc.

Art
Provide magazines to your preschoolers to look through magazines and cut out pictures that have scents. Next allow them to make collages of the pictures they have found. You can hang their collages of scent around the room.

Science
Fill separate small brown or opaque paper bags with different items that have scents such as cinnamon sticks, lemon slices, cut garlic cloves, chocolate bits, flower petals, etc. Allow them to hold a bag, smell it, and then tell you what they think is inside. Record their answers on the board.

Next have them close their eyes and let them now smell them without looking and say what they think is in the bag. Record these answers and compare the ones with eyes open and closed and talk about the differences.

Fine Motor Skills
Provide 2 small squares of fabric to each of your preschoolers. Let them glue 3 of the sides together with fabric glue and set aside to dry. After the glue is dry, provide some potpourri for them to put inside their fabric and glue it shut. These can be seasonal potpourri scents to fit the time of year and then ask them what the scent reminds them of--spring flowers, holiday scents, candy, etc.

These discussions allow them to talk about themselves, the smells they recognize and introduce new scents as well.

Have fun and enjoy these preschool activities on our sense of smell.

If you like these preschool activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Science for Preschool - Caterpillars and Butterflies

2009-11-13T08:27:00.002-05:00

It is a fact that preschoolers are fascinated by insects and bugs. I use this curiosity to create some of my lessons for science for preschool.

Yes, some may be frightened initially but the fascination and curiosity usually takes over and they love learning about them. I find that starting with bugs such as caterpillars is the perfect and introduces them to the wonders of science and nature.

For circle time, gather together and talk about the life cycle of a butterfly--start with egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and then butterfly. You could read to them as well. I like the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle or From Caterpillar to Butterfly by Deborah Heiligman.

Magical Transformation
From caterpillar to butterfly-Give every child a paper tube to decorate any way they please. Once they have finished, glue on 2 black dots for eyes, attach a pipe cleaner antenna. Also have the eyes facing you and glue a small loop to the opposite side of the tube so they can be hung in a window.

Have the children place the tubes into plastic grocery bags to represent the chrysalis. Next cut out wings from clear contact paper and give each child a pair. Have them attach glitter and pieces of tissue paper to decorate the wings leaving a small piece of the protective paper still on the contact paper so you can peel later to attach to the tube. Peel the piece of protective paper off of the wings and attach them to the paper tubes in the bags while kids are enjoying their snacks or after they have gone home for the day.

Ask the children what they think has happened to their caterpillars from yesterday’s “Magical Transformation” activity. Let them open the paper bags and witness the magical transformation for themselves. Explain again the basics of the transition from caterpillar to butterfly.

Reasoning skills
Talk about the magical transformation of the caterpillar to the butterfly. Find out where they think the wings come from. Ask if there are any other magical transformations they can think of in nature, like acorn to tree or egg to chicken.

Art Activity
Butterfly footprints and hands mural- let the children dip their feet in shallow dishes of washable paint, and have them place footprints on a big white piece of paper and have the hand prints go the other way. Leave a bit of space between the left and right foot for the body of the butterfly. After the paint has dried, let the children decorate the footprints and hand prints to resemble butterflies with paint and markers, and display the mural in the classroom for the remainder of the week.

If you like these activities for science for preschool, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Alphabet Activities - Circle Time, Letter Hunt and Hopscotch

2009-11-09T07:59:00.003-05:00

Many of my days with preschoolers include teaching letters of the alphabet. Here are some of my favorite preschool alphabet activities using the entire alphabet.

Once they are familiar with the idea of the alphabet, the focus will turn to mastery of individual letters.

Circle Time Letters
Have a set of wooden or plastic letters. Hand each child a letter and tell the name of the letter. Tell them to trace the letter with their finger with their eyes open and then with their eyes closed. Next ask them to place the letter in their lap and try to trace the outline of the letter in the palm of their hand from memory.

Letter Hunt
Have the alphabet posted on the white board or on a table. Next hide the letters throughout the classroom and ask the children to find them. When they find a letter ask them if they know the name of the letter and to place it on the letter that matches that you have posted. This will let them know if they have found all of the letters.

An alternative to hiding them in the classroom is to hide the letters in the sand table if you have one available.

Alphabet Hopscotch
Tape large poster board squares with the letters on each board on to the floor in a hopscotch pattern. Next let the children hop on a letter and call out the name of the letter. This is always a hit and uses up some of their energy! Incorporating gross motor movements with learning is always a good idea when teaching preschool age children.

If you like these preschool alphabet activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Calendar Preschool Activities - Months & Days of the Week

2009-11-03T16:47:00.004-05:00

Preschool is an excellent time to introduce children to the concepts of the calendar, days of the week and months of the year. What better way to learn about these concepts than through calendar preschool activities!

The most common and simple of these preschool calendar activities is to start with the month’s progress on a large paper calendar posted on the wall. Preschoolers have begun to know some months and the correlation with a special holiday or birthday.

Month by Month
At the beginning of every month, gather everyone around the large paper calendar on the wall to label it with the important days of the month, such as any special holidays or birthdays occurring within the month. At the end of the day, one special child gets the important job of crossing the day off to get ready for the next day. This can be a reward for cleaning up fastest after a craft, winning a game, or anything else that seems fit.

Days of the Week
Another preschool calendar activity can focus on learning the days of the week. Designate one special activity, game, or song for each day of the week. This will help children get accustomed to a routine, which in turn helps them to learn about the weekly routines that will prevail throughout the remainder of their lives. These activities can change monthly so that children don’t get too bored with them.

The calendar is one of the key concepts that can be introduced to preschoolers since it’s something they’ll be working without throughout the remainder of their lives. Use these preschool calendar activities to familiarize the children with the concepts of days, weeks, months, and years, as well as to highlight some of the important, and lesser-known holidays that occur each month.

If you like these calendar preschool activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Activities - Magic Wands & Relaxation

2009-10-30T05:38:00.001-05:00

I thought all of us could use some ideas for preschool activities that focus on relaxation and listening skills. With Halloween at our doorsteps, my preschoolers are wound up like a spring! Listening skills are beginning to wane as well.

Here are two creative preschool ideas that one of my readers sent in recently. They are simple and so effective.

Keep these in your repertoire of preschool relaxation ideas

Magic Wands
This works really well for the preschoolers who do not want to sleep at rest time.

Buy some liquid glitter wands, ask them to lie on the floor or a mat, put on some quiet, relaxing music and ask them to follow your slow movements with the wand. When finished all the movements you can think of, ask them to sit up and do some movements with the wand. Then ask them to roll on each side and move with their wand sticks. Lastly ask them to stand up and ask them to follow some different slow relaxing movements.

Alternatively you can start with standing and slowly work to lying down and then ask them to place their wand on their chest, close their eyes and finish with a story on a tape. Preschoolers love this!

Listening Ball
When children are learning about listening and talking you can have a ball or special decorated box. Only the person with the ball or box is allowed to talk and gives some the confidence to speak. It works!

If you like these preschool activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Halloween Activities for Preschool - Black Cats & Trunk or Treat

2009-10-27T07:14:00.001-05:00

Well the momentum is building and the preschoolers are so excited! Here are a couple of Halloween activities for preschool to help put some of that extra energy into a creative learning experience.

My mission is to tone down as much of thes scary aspects of the holiday and focus on the fun times that can be had together.

These ideas are ones I've used in the past; some were sent to me and others were introduced by parents. Give them a try. Send me any others you may have and they will be shared for sure.

Black Cat Hand Print
Paint the child's hand black. Make sure their fingers are spread open, put on white paper. The thumb is the neck of the black cat, cut out circles the size of about a big Gatorade bottle top. The fingers are the legs for the cat. We cut small triangle black ears, use goolie eyes and a tiny small red pom-pom for the nose. I hole punch white paper to glue two dots right under the nose. The kids glue the head at the end of the thumb, ears, eyes and nose on. We did the white hole punched paper ourselves. Once that is all done we had the children make their own tail.

Next we cut around the cats leaving just a little white showing. You can either trace a moon on yellow paper and let the kids cut out or you can cut out a moon out of yellow paper. I bought the white fencing that you use on bulletin boards so the children would glue the moon down on dark blue paper and then glue the fencing down and then glue their cat just above the fencing. This is a long process, but turns out so cute. Decorate your room or hallways with their creations.

Trunk or Treat
This idea was suggested to me and it has become one of our annual events and it is very fun and families love this too.

We have "Trunk or Treat" - Section off a part of the parking lot with cones for safety purposes. Invite parents and families to come and park their cars with the trunks open in our parking lot. They are invited to also come in costumes and to bring treats for the children. Most of them also decorate their trunks. We bring the children out with special treat bags that they decorated with markers and stickers(they are also invited to dress in costumes) and they trick or treat from car to car. Then we meet their families back inside and sing a couple of fun songs.

This gives everyone a chance to really see everyone's costumes - especially if the weather is a little cool and the children have to wear jackets outside. We love this activity!

Happy Halloween to all.

Mary

P.S. If you like these ideas Check out my Preschool Lesson Plans here:

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

Preschool Counting Games - Number Recognition & Counting

2009-10-23T06:47:00.002-05:00

One of the basic responsibilities of a preschool teacher is teaching numbers and counting. These are a few of the preschool counting games that I have used for years with great response from my preschoolers.

Give these a try and also use your imagination to make variations on these to meet your childrens level of ability and interests.

Number Uses
Try this at circle time when you have the direct attention of your class. Make a list with the class about all the times you might use numbers. Talk to them about how numbers show up everyday, from things like telephone numbers, street addresses, prices on things in stores, radio stations, etc. Ask them when they remember seeing numbers and if they remember their own telephone numbers, house number, classroom number, etc.

Counting Items
Hold up flashcards with different amounts of items. You can have 7 hats or 3 ice cream cones, etc. Ask students how many items they see and walk them through the counting process.

You can hold up signs or book covers and ask them how many of a certain letter they see, for example: How many “A’s” do you see on this page?

Number Word Recognition
Write the numbers 1-6 on the board. Under each number, write the word for that number. You will also need each number and each word written on separate pieces of paper. Have your class say the number and point out the word to them as they say the number. Next, cover the board (or erase it) and take your individual papers out. Hold up a number and ask what the number is. Then take a word and ask them if they can remember the word or the number it represents. You can actually place these in random order on the floor and ask the children to put them in order with the correct word under the correct number.

If you like these preschool counting games, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Dinosaur Activities - Dinosaur Land

2009-10-20T05:59:00.002-05:00

As a preschool teacher you know that a popular universal theme for preschoolers is dinosaurs. Add these preschool dinosaur activities to your list of favorites!

This idea finds a way to use playdough that is past its prime to create a fantasy land that your children will create and love. It was sent to me by one of my readers who wanted it posted for all to share.

You can use it to teach colors, textures, counting, landscape such as lakes, hills, mountains, foliage, etc. It lends itself to so many opportunities to teach using "hands-on" methods. That is my preference 100%.

Dinosaur Land

I had a large amount of homemade playdough that was past it's prime and instead of throwing it away the children and I used it to sculpt a land for our miniature dinosaurs. We started with a large plastic tray. We actually used a re-purposed diaper changing tray so it was very large. Any size would work, but the large size gave us room for many possibilities. We started pressing the playdough into the tray and playing with it creating mountains, volvanos, a depression for a pond, trails with dino footprints, dinosuars nests with effs, etc. We added plastic foiliage for trees, bushes, and flowers. When we had just the way we wanted it we let it dry for a couple of days. It dried to a hard state, with some surface cracks that made it look even better. In the depressed pond area we put glue with a little blue paint and let it dry overnight. It looked just like a little pond of water and gave the little dinos a well used watering hole. The kids played with this for weeks, and were very careful to preserve it as we made it. They were anxious to make repairs as plants would come dislodged. When it finally started to crumble it was easy to pull the plactic pieces out and get rid of the rest. This was one of my most successful impromptu activites.

If you like these preschool dinosaur activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Themes - Permission and Licenses

2009-10-16T07:25:00.002-05:00

One of the preschool themes I like to introduce is the idea of getting permission to do things. I link this to the concept of licenses which they may be familiar with.

To begin we talk about what a license is and what it means, for example, a driver's license. Most children know that you need a drivers license to drive a car. Ask them what they think this means. Their answers give you a clue as to their understanding. Point out that this license means that the person has worked hard to learn to do the special things that the license requires.

Ask them if they can think of other things that require a license. You can help them by giving ideas of driving a school bus, working as a doctor or a dentist, flying an airplane, etc. You can even mention that you need a license to have a preschool or home day care.

Most important is to draw the comparison to your preschoolers in getting "permission" to do things. Permission is a kind of license for them. If they get permission to do something it means that they have learned about what they want to do and have shown their ability to do something correctly.

One examples of a license you can make up for your preschoolers. Make "licenses" for outside activities such as riding tricycles. They have to show you the right way to get on, the ability to steer forward and how to stop. Then you can give them their license to participate in this activity.

You can use this concept for most situations that you are teaching. Showing ability and responsibility even at this early age helps them with manners, social skills and sense of self.

If you like these preschool themes, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Science Activities - What Sinks and What Floats

2009-10-13T06:38:00.002-05:00

Some of my favorite times with my preschoolers are doing preschool science activities. The children are so attentive and can't wait to be involved in the activities. During this time they are learning, observing, and helping each other and discovering the concepts that I am teaching them.

This is a preschool science activity that was sent to me recently. Try this one, add to it and modify it to your own situation.

Science-What sinks? What floats?

Ask the children what sinks or floats, after you collect a few items, penny, paper clip, block of wood, lego, duplo, spoon, pencil, or what ever you think of, enough for each child in the class. Also can turn into Math by asking How many sinks and how many float. Make it fun by letting them play in the water afterwards with boats.

If you like these preschool science activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Fire Safety Activities

2009-10-09T06:53:00.001-05:00

I believe all children should be offered preschool fire safety activities. It is critical to make these instructive and yet not frighten your preschoolers. Giving them the opportunity to pretend in a safe setting is a good place to start.

One of my readers shared the activities below. These activities also include alphabet recognition and reasoning skills.

Blanket of Smoke
I just did a fire safety unit and to reinforce crawling if there is smoke and letter recognition, I had the children pretend a blanket was smoke. They had to crawl under it and then find an alphabet letter. It was a fun way to handle a scary subject. I also bought some fireman figures at the dollar store and we talked about when it is appropriate to call 911. If it was a good reason we decided how may firefighters to put on the job and then counted them on a firehouse I made.

The kids loved it!

If you like these preschool fire safety activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Ocean Themes - Under the Sea Room

2009-10-06T08:11:00.003-05:00

My kids absolutely love it when we use preschool ocean themes for classtime. They have a fascination with the water--ocean, lakes, rivers, etc and the sealife that lives there.

Below is an idea that I do on the first day of the week when we are going to use preschool ocean themes for our lessons. The preschoolers enjoy making their own special place to have circle time, to look at books and to admire their art work.

The idea for the Jelly Fish was sent to me recently by one of my readers. Thanks so much for sending this in. Give it a try and your kids will like the feel and the lifelike creature they have created for their under the sea room.

Under the Sea Room
create an undersea area in the room by attaching blue and green crepe paper streamers to the ceiling with fishing line. Turn on the classroom fan or air conditioner to make a streamers wave like water. Hang some of the week’s undersea decorations including the mermaids from the “Mermaid Me” craft in the under the sea room, and mime swimming around the area. Add other decorations like spongers, sea shells, and seaweed.

Jelly Fish
Cook some Bean Thread or cellophane noodles according to directions (about 5 minutes in boiling water) Drain and rinse with cool water. At this point you can put them in the fridge until you are ready to use. (noodles can be found with Asian food or if your lucky at the 99 cent store, which is where I found them.)

For the "body" of the jelly fish, have the children take a piece of cellophane, or plastic wrap, scrunch it up so it looks like a jelly fish body and glue to paper. Now take the cooled noodles and let them hang from the body like tentacles.

The extended activity would be to paint a blue background on paper first so the jelly fish will show up. The noodles will stick to the paper, but because they are wet the paper does shrink some when it is dry.

The tactile stimulation of the noodles is great!

If you like these preschool ocean themes, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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

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

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

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Preschool Curriculum Ideas - Fall, Apples and Counting

2009-10-03T09:44:00.002-05:00

I find it easiest to use seasonal plans when creating my preschool curriculum ideas. For fall here in New England the ideas for my preschool class are numerous.

A favorite for sure are apples and foliage. One of my readers sent in this preschool idea recently and it takes both of these themes and uses them for counting, color recognition, shape recognition and most important, a hands on learning project. Give it a try!

Apples, Colors and Counting

This project was completed with a class of 3 and 4 yr olds.

1. Cut out a large apple using white card stock paper.
2. Depending on the number you are working on with your students, use that number for the activity. You can use the number 3 for 3 yr olds and the number 11 with 4 yr olds.
3. For each child, cut out:
A. 11 red circles for each child
B. 1 brown stem for each child
C. 1 green leaf for each child

Have each child pick up their own red circle and have them count out load (you will be assessing one to one correspondence).

Pick up one brown stem and one green leaf (ask the student to tell you the color of each…assessing color recognition)

Have student glue the stem and leaf on white card stock apple.
Now have your student glue the designated number of apples on the card stock apple.
Have student use crayon to color stem and green leaf on each of the apples.

Send the apples home, or put in their portfolio, or place on the classroom wall.

If you like these preschool curriculum ideas, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Halloween Resource - Painted Pumpkins

2009-09-29T06:16:00.002-05:00

If you like Fall and Halloween as much as I do with all the
decorations, costumes, and fun for all, I want to share this preschool Halloween resource I found. I think you'll love it just as much.

My preschoolers absolutely love decorating their own pumpkins for fall decorations, for Halloween or Thanksgiving. They control the image--fun, scary, or just unique to them.

Parents had as much fun receiving these as the kids did making them. The best part is that they don't spoil like carved jack-o-lanterns and can be used for display for the season.

The feedback I had last year from all the families suggested I should share this here for everyone.

Check out this website:

http://preschool3.learnitnow.hop.clickbank.net/

This incredible ebook gives you and your kids the ability to make
Halloween Pumpkins or even Thanksgiving Centerpieces that will be
the envy of everyone who sees them!

Even better--these pumpkins will last SO much longer than carved
jack-o-lanterns. Not days but weeks longer!

Imagine setting up a classroom for an Open House, an October/Halloween party for your kids and having the best classroom ever!

I hope you enjoy this preschool Halloween resource as much as I did. Please send me any holiday ideas you have and I will be sure to share them here.

Until next time,

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

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

Toddler Preschool - Hands On Play

2009-09-24T07:57:00.001-05:00

If you're classroom includes toddler preschool age children, it is important to remain aware of developmental expectations of two year olds.

Your two year olds experience play and activities much differently than your three and four year olds. If you keep the following tips in mind you will provide the best learning environment for your toddler preschoolers.

Hands-on experiences are the best kind of play. They learn much quicker than if they are told or “talked to”.

**This is also an excellent reason why it is better to not do worksheets at this age.

Toddlers need to have playmates around. Even though they may not play with another person at this age, they are always paying attention to what is going on around them and what their peers are doing.

Their emotions are close to the surface. Think of them as a light switch—one minute they might be happy and suddenly they are sad; they can go from calm to agitated in a second. Your best approach is to stay calm yourself and be patient.

Activities, projects, and play time allow us as teachers and caregivers to share valuable time together in a meaningful way. We can observe how they are learning and where we can enhance their opportunities.

If you like these toddler preschool teaching tips, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Counting Games - Number Cruncher and Number Hunt

2009-09-22T07:54:00.004-05:00

Teaching preschoolers with games is a perfect match. These preschool counting games require them to be involved physically as well as mentally.

Any time you can engage your preschool kids in an activity is teaching them how to listen to directions, follow sequences, and to work as a team in addition to learning the mental skills you are teaching.

Number Cruncher
In this game, one student is the cruncher and everyone else is a number. Give each child a number to hold and the cruncher must go around and try to tag the numbers, but they must get the numbers in order. For example, the cruncher must get 7 before he can get 8 or 9. When all the students have been “crunched,” you can pick a new cruncher and start from scratch.

Number Hunt
Make a set of number cards, 1-5 or 1-10, depending on your children’s abilities. I like to make the cards resemble a shape, for example I use circles and decorate them to look like cookies and put one number on each card. Hide these cards around the room before they arrive.
To start this, tell them that the number cookies are hidden around the room and that they need to find them. Once they find the numbers, they will need to decide if they have found them all. To do this they will need to put them in order. For older children, they will know how to count to ten but for younger ones you can have the numbers on the board and they can match their “found” numbers to the ones on the board to see if they have found them all.

If you like these preschool counting games, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Fall Activities - Pine Cone Owls and Edible Art

2009-09-17T08:47:00.002-05:00

These are two preschool fall activities that your children will learn from and enjoy while doing them. They will ask for them again and again!

If you live in an area where you can go on a nature walk and collect pine cones, be sure to do so. If not, you can purchase these at a crafts store.

I use this lesson to teach the letter O, to teach shapes and to discuss owls. We talk about what they look like, what they eat, how they sound. I show pictures of owls and how there are many different types of owls. One of my readers just sent in this Pine Cone Owl idea. Thanks so much.

Next use the apples for multiple topics as well. Use them for nutrition, to talk about shapes, to use them for color recognition (apples are in many colors). Use your imagination and have fun.

Pine Cone Owls

Use pine cones to make baby owls. Just take cotton balls and pull them apart. Stuff them in between the pine quills. Then cut out eyes and wings and feet and have your preschoolers glue them on to the pine cones. They are so cute.

Edible Apple Designs

This is a snack and art project all rolled into one! Need: apples, yogurt of different colors (you could buy the kind that is already different colors or add food coloring to vanilla yogurt), & paper plates.

Slice the apples in different shapes. Pour a few kinds of yogurt that is different colors or use vanilla yogurt and add food coloring to it, onto a plate for each child. Give each child a paper plate to create an edible masterpiece. Show them how to dip the apple into the yogurt and create prints on their plate. They can eat the yogurt and apple work of art!

If you like these preschool fall activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Back to School Activities - Personalized Placements

2009-09-15T07:42:00.001-05:00

Here is an idea for preschool back to school activities that is as good for you and your staff as well as for your preschoolers. This is a personalized way for you to get to know unique likes of your students and for their friends to get to know their classmates.

This idea was one of the hundreds sent to me recently. Try using this idea or modifying to fit your own situation.

It is a way to work on fine motor controls such as cutting and gluing. They can learn site words or how to identify their own names. Tracing letters reinforces alphabet skills as well.

Personalized Placements

I sent a paper placemat with the child's name written on the top. Parents work with children looking through magazines & ads, to cut and glue their favorite foods or just draw them on the mat. When they were returned, we laminated the placemats and each child uses his/her during meals/snacks. This works great with name recognition for everyone and while we're waiting for our lunch, we trace our names with our finger!

If you like these preschool back to school activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Fall Themes - Apple Harvest Time

2009-09-11T15:21:00.003-05:00

Here in the US, when we think of fall we think of turning leaves, apple picking, and pumpkins in the field. Try these preschool fall themes using apples.

You can use these for circle time, for math activities, and for color recognition. The possibilities are numerous here and I have found that my preschoolers even come up with their own ideas!

Circle Time-

tell everyone to bring an apple for show and tell. Have everyone present their apples to the circle, and note the different colors, sizes, and shapes of the apples. Make a chart on the wall of how many apples are red versus green versus yellow, small versus big, round versus oval, stem versus no stems, etc.

How Many Apples Tall am I

teach children about different ways of measuring people- inches, centimeters, etc. Get each child to lay down on the ground and measure how many apples tall they are. Compare everyone’s results on a chart, tallest, shortest, most common, etc.

Snack time - Apple Pizza

1- Give each child half a toasted hamburger bun or English muffin. Have them put apple sauce for the sauce, cream cheese for the cheese, and cinnamon on top for the spice. Toast the apple pizzas in the oven for one or two minutes to warm the applesauce and to melt the cheese.

If you like these preschool fall themes, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Pirate Theme Activities - Pirate Ships

2009-09-08T19:25:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite units in preschool are preschool pirate theme activities. I usually find that my preschoolers enjoy it so much that it extends beyond the one week slot I set aside for any given theme.

I have many ideas that I have collected over the years. The children are a wonderful resource as well and often suggest clever ideas of their own.

Here is an idea one of my readers sent to me.

It is easy to put together and I guarantee your preschool kids will love it.

Table Pirate Ship

For a ship I have used (for Columbus day in the US) a table turned upside down.

If you want to put a flag up you can use a bit of clay or playdough at the bottom of one of the legs to stick a flag inside.

They walk on the bottoms of the tables and use their decorated papertowel tubes or a Pringles can to use as a telescope....Land HO!!!!

You can also make a jolly roger flag instead and you can drape streamers around the legs to enclose it on three sides if you want. It is just an alternative to looking for a big enough box. I found that it worked quite well.

If you like these preschool pirate theme activites, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner as well.

Check them out:

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

Enjoy and remember to send in any ideas you wish to share and I will post them here.

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 Crafts for Fall - Tree Painting and Wreaths

2009-09-04T07:23:00.002-05:00

It's September and school has started back here in the US. With the imminent change in seasons I am suggesting a couple of preschool crafts for fall for you to try.

Preschoolers love painting, hiking, collecting special items on a nature walk. Take all of these activities and combine them to create a Fall mural for your classroom or for them to take home and share with their families.

You can use these craft ideas while teaching colors, numbers or counting, directions and spatial relations, and observation skills.

Fall Tree Painting

Materials- red, orange, yellow, and brown paint, white paper

1- Give each child a piece of white paper. To make the base of the tree, use a paintbrush to cover one arm and hand including the fingers with brown paint. Press the painted arm and hand down on the page to make the base of the tree and the branches. Have the children wash their arms and hands before continuing.

2- To make the leaves, paint the tips of the fingers red, orange or yellow. Press the fingerprints in the trees for leaves.

Fall Wreaths

Materials - paper plate, brown paint, glue and items collected on a nature walk outside.

Give each child a paper plate and have them paint them brown. After the paint dries, cut a 3-inch hole in the center of each paper plate. Glue the collected items from the nature walk to the paper plates. These items can include leaves, pine cones, acorns, flower petals, grass, etc. Decorate each wreath with a colorful bow and display in the classroom for the rest of the week.

If you like these preschool crafts for fall, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Music Activities - Paper Plate Dance

2009-09-01T06:55:00.002-05:00

These preschool music activities were sent to me recently. A universal love of preschoolers is music. Add music to activities and you create a favorite time for them.

You can incorporate these into your lesson plans on counting, following directions, listening skills and more.

Use your imagination and try them.

Worthy of note is safety here. Always talk about safe ways to move about when trying these activities so that no one gets hurt.

Paper Plate Dance!

Both my 3's and 4's love dancing on paper plates. Put on some good music, put a paper plate under each foot, and s l i d e to the music. Good for following directions - forward, backward, to the left, to the right, can you go in a circle?

Musical Plates!

Also, a game similar to Musical Chairs. Walk around a circle of paper plates. When the music stops, ask 1 or 2 children to look under their plate and tell what's under it. It can be a color, shape, number, letter, or whatever else you are working on. Again, fun, easy, and educational.

If you like these preschool music ideas, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Toddler Preschool - Sharing & Social Abilities

2009-08-27T09:57:00.002-05:00

One of the key areas of interest when you have a toddler preschool environment is that of social abilities and development.

It is my strong belief that a preschool teacher of toddlers keep in mind the following facts when developing activities and plans for the two to three year olds in the class.

INDEPENDENCE
Toddlers are learning how to be independent.

They are learning that they have power to do things or not do things. Allow them to experience this and the consequences of their actions.

**Note: this helps to explain why SHARING is often difficult. If they are establishing their own sense of self it is hard for them to share with another. This is a gradual process and improves closer to three years of age or older.

SHARING
Toddlers can’t see things or understand things “from another person’s point of view”.

This is the stage where they are struggling to assert themselves and can’t really understand the other side of the story! They are busy establishing their autonomy.

As a toddler preschool teacher, keep these facts in mind in your planning and your days will be successful not stressful. Allow the developmental stages and work with your toddlers to grow to the next level of learning to share.

If you like these preschool classroom ideas, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Classroom - Welcome to Preschool

2009-08-25T08:05:00.002-05:00

The fall may mark the end of summer but it is just the beginning of a brand new year for preschoolers. Take special steps to set up the preschool classroom now more than any other time throughout the year.

What a preschooler or toddler sees on those first few days will be the first and lasting impression of where he will be spending his first time away from his/her parents or caregivers. They need to feel as welcome and comfortable as possible. Give this your keen attention!

If you are having toddlers as well as preschool age be sure that their school items are located within their reach, that any small items pass the choke test-- (larger than approximately 2 1/2 " with a diameter of 1 1/4", or not small enough to fit inside a 35mm film canister); and that the tables and chairs are the right size for them to be able to seat themselves and master their independence!

Since toddler and preschool toys are brightly colored already, I make sure to use woods and natural soothing colors whenever possible to tone down the classroom. Too much color and too many things can lead to overstimulation at this age.

I divide the classroom into different areas--providing activity areas, tables and chair station, circle area (which tends to be the largest space) and a cozy area where your preschoolers can go to calm down, to cuddle with a pillow and look at books or just enjoy some quiet time.

Bulletin boards are excellent for creating welcome signs, showing pictures of activities that they will be doing in the classroom but, be sure to leave some blank framed areas. Point out that this is where you will need their help to complete the room decorations! This is an excellent way to engage them and to have them put their own touch on the classroom environment.

Of equal importance is to also provide a Parent Board where you will post class information, reminders, sign in and sign out sheets, snack menus and a suggestion box. This helps the parents with their own adjustment of leaving their preschooler in your care.

If you like these preschool classroom ideas, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Shapes - Today is Oval Day!

2009-08-20T05:59:00.002-05:00

When you are planning your lesson to teach preschool shapes to your preschoolers, use the idea below to encourage interest, participation and excitement. It works like magic every time!

You can substitute any shape into the title for the shape you are discussing. Begin by building anticipation for tomorrow's lesson by telling them the name of the shape for the next day. As they learn more and more shapes, you can begin to hide the different shapes they have learned. Once they find a hidden shape, you can have them identify it also.

Today is Oval Day!

Try to get the kids excited by announcing that tomorrow is going to be "oval" day.

We have been learning about different shapes for 2 year olds. I cut them out and tape them to walls and windows and they hunt for them like an egg hunt. Then we sit down and decorate them - glitter paint, paint or colors. While doing this - we talk about the shape and also talk about the shapes that we have done earlier in the week. I also make "Shape" place matts for lunch or snack time. So it is "Oval Day" all day long.

This is one of the many ideas sent to me by my readers. Thanks for sending these to me. Please continue to send me your ideas to share here for all to use.

If you like this idea for teaching preschool shapes, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:

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

Enjoy and remember to send in any ideas you wish to share and I will post them here.

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 Teaching Ideas - Flip That Plate

2009-08-17T04:00:00.000-05:00

The beginning of a new school year presents special situations for the teachers as well as the preschoolers. One of my essential preschool teaching ideas is to learn the names of the children as quickly as possible. Secondly provide helpful ways to teach the children the names of their classmates.

Try this game that was sent to me recently for learning names. This game teaches name recognition, memory skills, letter recognition and many more.

You can modify this game in many ways to suit your situation and the ages of the children attending your preschool.

Flip That Plate
At the beginning of the year I write everyone's first name on a paper plate. For the first week, I hold the plates and hold one up at a time and ask the child whose name it is to tell me. This helps them recognize their own name. After I feel the kids can recognize their own name, we sit on the floor in our circle, I give everyone a plate face down and say "Don't touch that plate!"

I then call on my preschoolers one at a time to "Flip that Plate!!" they tell me whose name is on the plate. This helped everyone at the beginning of the year to learn names.
Later in the year I put last names on the plates and repeated the process. I also ask the kids to spell the names pointing to each letter as they spell.

My students love to play this game.

If you like these preschool teaching ideas, 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.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Back to School Ideas - Letter to Parents

2009-08-14T18:01:00.004-05:00

I know the summer is winding down but you are probably gearing up for a new school year about to begin. Lots of questions and requests come in for preschool back to school ideas, activities, tips, etc.

Whenever possible, I like to send home a letter to parents with tips I've picked up over the years about the first days of preschool.

Here are some of the key ones I want my preschool parents to know about the separation process.

1. The great thing about the first day of preschool is that there are many other parents in the room who are going through the same exact thing as you.
2. As parents you can work together as a team; it becomes that much easier and that much more fun. (See tip #4 below for an example of this teamwork.)
3. They can point out a child that their preschooler may know from another activity or the neighborhood.
4. If they don't know anyone, help them to meet their first friend. For example, "Hello, this is Steve. Can we sit here with you?" They could also complement the other child on something he brought or is wearing. This child's parent will probably pick up on the introduction and join in as well.
5. When it is time to leave, don't take your preschooler out of the room. The teacher or assistant will be there to help.
6. Even if it appears tempting, DO NOT SNEAK out while your child is busy with something else.
7. Don't ask your child permission to leave or offer a bribe to stay there. This sets up a very difficult situation for you and your child.

8. Last and equally important, thank the parent for entrusting you with their child. Acknowledge that you know how difficult this can be for them as well with many mixed feelings. Reassure them that you are there to help their child learn, grow and make friends and that you are working together with them to provide the best possible experience you can.

If you like these preschool back to school ideas, come back over the next couple of weeks for more ideas to come.

You'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner as well.

Check them out:

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

Enjoy and remember to send in any ideas you wish to share and I will post them here.

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 Learning Activities - Mini Greenhouse

2009-08-11T08:44:00.001-05:00

I have been receiving so many wonderful preschool learning activities this month. Thanks to all of you who are sending them to share on the blog.

This preschool activity is one I have done many times and it is always a hit with my preschoolers. Often a long term activity is difficult to capture the attention of a three or four year old but this one is different. Thanks Norah for reminding of this one!

Give this a try and you'll see how fun it is to watch the progress and learn something new everyday from it.

MINI GREENHOUSE

Material:
* 2 liter plastic drink bottle
* dirt/potting mix
* seeds
* water
Method:
1. Cut top of bottle off. (approxiamately 10cm down)
2. Fill bottom of bottle with approximately 10cm of dirt.
3. Plant seeds in soil.
4. Water slightly.
5. Place top back on by inserting just inside bottom piece. (This will catch the dew and the plant will be self-watering)
6. Place in a sunny position.
7. When big enough plant outside in the garden.

Learning Objectives:
* Develop concepts of time and growth. (how things grow)
* Enhance scientific knowledge. (plants self watering, plants need sunlight)
* Promotes language development.
* Develop cognitive skills. (questioning etc.)
* Develop responsibility and confidence for care of other living things.
* Develop environmental awareness.

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

Check them out:

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

Enjoy and remember to send in any ideas you wish to share and I will post them here.

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 Teacher Supplies - Pictures and Markers

2009-08-07T17:28:00.002-05:00

It's the time of year that we are all setting up our classes for the new fall session to begin. If you are searching for preschool teacher supplies, try out the ideas below.

One of my readers sent these and I couldn't wait to pass them along to you.

Photo Paper and Bingo Markers!

I discovered by accident was to use photo paper to print an image of anything I wanted, off my computer. No need to laminate and it's permanent! The color looks so much better than my coloring an image ( I hate to color!).

Another idea that works well with my Developmentally Delayed and Autistic preschoolers is to use bingo markers as a "writing" tool. They're great to use when making patterns on graph paper and the list of activities with these markers is never ending! It is also easy for the kid to get a good grasp.

Keep sending in your ideas and I will be sure to post them here for all to use!

If you like these ideas for preschool teacher supplies, 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

Fine Motor Activities for Preschool - Name Recognition

2009-08-03T07:17:00.002-05:00

I love finding new ideas for fine motor activities for preschool. Couple that with teaching your preschoolers name recognition and you have a wonderful new teaching tool.

One of my readers sent this idea to me and I couldn't wait to share it.

This is a fine motor activity that you will need to supervise but the children love doing this and their result is something they can keep, take home, show their parents, and hang in their rooms.

Pin Point Name Signs

For name recognition and fine motor development I like to write the child's name on an index card, using a dot format.

Next I give the child a push pin and place the card on a folded towel. They are so excited to have a push pin that they will take all of the time they need to punch each little dot and make a pin hole.

Then we hold it up to the light and they can see their name!

Thanks so much for sending me these fine motor activities for preschool. 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

Preschool Science Themes - The World through a Magnifying Glass

2009-07-28T05:44:00.001-05:00

Teaching preschool science themes always presents fun experiments and skills of observation. One of the more popular science ideas is to look at everyday objects through a magnifying glass.

I have several available so that the waiting time isn't too long. I have the hand held round ones as well as the larger sheet magnifiers.

This is an activity that can be done inside or outside weather permitting.

Show the children the magnifying glasses they will be using. I like to take newspaper or a magazine page and show them how the words and pictures will look different when you hold the magnifying glass over them. Move it in and out to show them how different things appear.

Next you can have them get into groups, each with a magnifying glass and then take turns letting them look at common things around them, for example: fuzz from the carpet, threads in the curtain, cracks on a painted toy, hair. If you are outside, they can look at leaves, sticks, bugs, etc.

Remind them to look closely and notice things they may have missed without the magnifying glass. Ask what is different? Encouraging their curiosity is the key here and increasing their ways of observing the world around them.

If you like these preschool science themes, 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 Ideas - Listening, Patterns and Counting

2009-07-24T06:40:00.001-05:00

If you are searching for some fun preschool ideas to change up your daily routine, try these suggestions.

Listening, Patterns and Counting

I like to set up a special area in the classroom, or if weather permits set up an area outside. This could be an area with a tent, a special water table activity or sand table treasure hunt--whatever works best for your situation. Be creative here and use what you have and what your environment allows.

The next step is to teach your preschoolers that the admission to the special event is to clap out a rhythm. You set the rhythm depending on the ages and abilities of your students. It could be as simple as clapping three times or with older children, it could be a code such as one clap and then 3 fast claps.

This is teaching them to:
1. Listen carefully
2. Develop the ability to keep on trying and not give up
3. Developing memory skills

Children enjoy this so much and it makes for fun times while learning.

Once they master the admission, you can ask them to create their own codes and teach it to the others. They like this challenge!

If you like these preschool 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

Preschool Math Games - Beans and Donuts!

2009-07-20T05:57:00.002-05:00

A popular request I get is for preschool math games. I receive so many creative ideas from my readers. Give these a try!

Lisa sent me the two preschool math games below and the best part is that your youngest preschoolers enjoy them as much as the older ones.

Lima Bean Shake

Spray paint one side of large lima beans. Then give each child say five lima beans. Shake them like dice and toss them out like dice.Next have the kids count how many beans are white and how many are the colored beans.

Corner Doughnut Shop

This is a counting and color game. Make donuts out of different colored construction paper then lay them all out on the floor.
Sing a song like--
Down around the corner at the donut shop
there were ten little donuts with some sprinkles on top
and along came (a child's name) with a dime to pay and
[have the child pick out either a color or a number] took the "red" or "two donuts" away. (Whatever you choose a color or number.)

Even the littlest kids love these games!

Thanks so much for sending me your preschool learning activities. 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 preschool math 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

Dinosaur Activities for Preschool - Dinosaur Egg Hunt & Surprise

2009-07-14T12:48:00.001-05:00

One of the most popular themes with my preschoolers over the years have been dinosaur activities for preschool.

One of my readers just sent this fabulous week long activity to share with you.

Dinosaur Egg Hunt & Surprise

I like to make a paper mache dinosaur egg to go with the letter Dd. I put dinosaur prints going from the door to where I put the nest with the egg in it.

I paint it a pretty color and fill the egg with dinosaur gummies and glow in the dark dinosaur toys. I tell them the week before we get the visit from Mrs. Dinosaur and she builds a nest out of twigs and leaves a big egg. I break the egg a little each day.

On Friday we have a wonderful treasure box surprise! My children love this and talk about it for a long time.

Thanks so much for sending in all the wonderful ideas. Keep them coming!

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

Easy Preschool Art Projects - Paper & Cookie Cutters

2009-07-09T14:54:00.002-05:00

If you have younger preschoolers in your school or day care or the parent of a preschooler, you can always use easy preschool art projects.

The preschool art project below is just a starting point for you. Keep supplies of construction paper and cookie cutters on hand and you and your children can create so many things.

These ideas engage your preschooler in using their imaginations, their tracing skills, coloring within boundaries, fine motor with crayons, scissors, etc. Simple but with lots of room to grow and expand on any theme.

Cookie Cutter Art
If you preschoolers in the house, construction paper should be a basic staple. Combine them with cookie cutters and your kids will be entertained for quite some time creating things they couldn't do yet free hand.

Fun plastic cookie cutter sets can be purchased for under $10 and usually include 100 different shapes and sizes. Generally these sets include basic shapes, letters and numbers, as well as holiday shapes, sports and animals.

Show your child how to trace the cookie cutter onto construction paper. Have them decorate their shapes with glue, glitter, crayons, or paint, then when they are dry, cut them out to create a mobile or glue to craft sticks for a puppet show!

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