Preschool Ideas - Listening, Patterns and Counting

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 Learning Activities - Hide & Seek Alphabet

Are you searching for preschool learning activities to teach letter recognition?

One of my readers sent me this Hide & Seek game that she uses to teach letter recognition. Preschoolers love the thrill of active involvement searching for treasures, letters, etc.

Try this activity to teach upper and lower case letters to your preschoolers. I'm sure you'll be reaching for it time and time again.

Hide & Seek Alphabet

Make uppercase letters on fun designed paper (mine were polka dot) about 6 inches in size & cut them out. Then make matching ones in the same fun print, but in lowercase on a small card.

Put the small letters in a lunch sack, and hide the large letters around the room. The children would reach in the bag and choose a lowercase letter card. They then would search the room looking for the matching uppercase letter.

When they locate the letter, they bring it back to circle and tell me what the letters are and then lay them in the center of our circle area. They can then choose another letter from the bag and begin searching again. When all letters are found, review all the letters together.

They loved the "hide and seek" element of this activity as well as reaching into the bag to see what they would get.

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 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 Fathers Day Crafts - Garden Ideas to Mouse Pads

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

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

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


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

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

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

Check them out:

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


Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


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

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

Preschool Ideas - Puppet Just Like Me

I receive so many creative preschool ideas from all of my readers.
Here is an idea that was sent to me recently by one of my subscribers.

I think these could be great holiday gifts for parents as well. Thanks to Tonya for sharing this.

Puppet Just Like Me

Create a puppet just like me.Children are supplied with socks, different
coloured wool for hair, different coloured felt pieces for eyes and nose &
mouths, etc. Have the children look at themselves in the mirror and then
put what colour hair they have on the sock and so on.

Have a show & tell with each child's puppet to get them to tell the class
how they think they look. This works really well with a class discussion
normally happening--like your hair isn't that colour etc.

This activity can also be used in a multicultural program!


If you have ideas to share, send them along and I'll post them here for all of us to use and enjoy.

Thanks,

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 Ideas - Ice Adventure

Hi there,

We are always looking for new preschool ideas.

This is one that can be done outside on a hot summer day or inside when the weather keeps you indoors. It encourages socialization skills, sharing, and fun--what could be better?!

Thanks to Debs for sending this in to share with everyone.


What's in the Ice? An Ice Adventure

Here is an activity the children really enjoyed and can be used in or outdoors.

During the morning session the children were encouraged to put plastic insects and bugs into tupperware containers. They filled them with water and put them into the freezer .

When they were frozen we put them in the water tray with childrens' tools (plastic hammers, screwdrivers) water cans, etc. There was a good level of interest, conversation and turn taking. The children enjoyed this activity and had lots of fun finding the bugs.

NOTE: If you have half days you can freeze the bugs one day, and do the activity the next.


If you have ideas to share, send them along and I'll post them here for all of us to use and enjoy.

Thanks,

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you like these ideas be sure to check out my Preschool Lesson Plans:

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