Preschool Themes - Snow Day at Preschool

I absolutely love "theme days" in my classroom. I start talking about the preschool themes a couple of days ahead to set the stage and get their imaginations going.

All of the day's activities focus on the theme using fine motor skills, gross motor, memory, and social skills of taking turns, paying attention and most of all having fun experiences.

Here is a theme day that one of my readers shared recently and it is a great example. With the lack of snow this year in the US this is just what we need to bring back the feel of winter. Thanks for sharing this with us all.

“Snow Day at Preschool”

Everything for the day had a snow theme.

Snack time - We ate snowballs for snack. These are popcorn balls – made just like Rice Krispie treats but with popcorn instead of Rice Krispies.

Catching Bubbles - We blew bubbles inside and pretended like it was snowing. Try to catch and pop the bubbles as they fall.

Gross Motor Skills- we had a “bilibo” center and pretended to sled around the room in bilibo’s (using huge large motor skill). (These are such fun to have in your center. If you don't know about bilibo chairs you can check them out online. They are versatile hard plastic chairlike toys used to promote balance and gross motor skills.

Art-We glued scrunched up pieces of white tissue paper on blue or black construction paper and made a snow storm picture.

Circle Time- We read “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats.

If you like this preschool theme 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:

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

Preschool Themes - Cowboys and Out West Fun!

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 Themes - Permission and Licenses

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

Community Helpers Theme for Preschool - Our Town

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

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

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

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

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


Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

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

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

Preschool Themes - What's Inside

One of my favorite preschool themes is taking the idea of "what's inside" and looking at everyday objects. This helps children learn about their world and to develop healthy curiosity.

This is an excellent way to "reuse or re-purpose" even the broken items in your classroom. Everything has multiple uses and this is another one of my "green" ideas to use everything as a learning opportunity.


This is something that is perfect for circle time. I must add that caution must be used and depending on the object you take apart. If there are small parts, the teacher will handle them.

What's Inside

Need: something that can be taken apart (flashlight, battery-operated toy, old clock, radio that no longer works, etc.), Screw Driver


See if you have something in your classroom or home that no longer works. Show the children that you are going to look inside to see how it is made and to see what is inside.

Some of them may be able to take out screws, depending on age and ability. Next see if you can put it back together--with their help and guidance remembering how it came apart! Children find this fascinating and it holds their attention.

Depending on the object and/or the age of your preschoolers, you might be able to leave the toy or object with the screw driver in an activity center and let them try to do this on their own or in small groups. Use your imagination as well as safety discretion.

Have fun with this and enjoy the month!

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 Themes - Recycling for Kids

One of the preschool themes that I stress is recycling for kids. It is so important to bring awareness to being earth friendly to everyone and what better place to start than when our children are young.

These preschool ideas can be used to teach sorting, counting, color matching, textures, etc. The ways to use recycling materials is endless, cost saving and teaches our preschoolers how important it is to be "green" in regards to our earth and environment.

Recycling Station

Ask your students to bring in a large number of cans (only those with smooth edges), bottles, small boxes, packing foam, bottle tops, buttons and other recyclable materials. Create your own storage area for these items. Have the children sort the recyclables by size, color, material, etc. Make sure everything is clean and ask for their ideas on how to re-use the things that they are sorting.

Give suggestions to encourage them to challenge their imaginations. The sky is the limit here and you will all have them reinventing new ways to use old things.

Snack Time - Donut Holes

Show the children a “donut hole” and ask if they can identify it and where it came from. Explain how those pieces went to waste before someone figured out that they could be sold. Try to think of other things that used to go to waste but are now use again. Serve “donut holes” as a snack.


Have fun with these ideas and please continue to send me more or to leave a comment.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


P.S. Looking for NEW IDEAS for your classes but don't want to spend your free time planning--Check out my preschool lesson plans:

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

Preschool Themes - Music and Body Awareness

Two preschool themes that go hand in hand with preschoolers is music and body awareness.

You can use music to teach them music from around the world. They love these songs and the motions that go with them.

You can teach set movements to songs or simply allow them to feel the beat of the music and move in their own way. Use this as an opportunity to look at a globe of the world, show them where the song is from, and talk about the country and culture.

Music Day --Music of the World

Explore Music from other countries: London Bridge (England), Day-O (Jamacia), Did You Ever See a Lassie? (Scotland), I Am a Pretty Little Dutch Girl (Holland), Waltzing Matilda (Australia), Kum Ba Yah (Africa), Frere Jacques (France), the list can go on.

Following Instructions

Take any household object and place it under a chair or on a table. Ask your child to close his eyes and then ask him to find the object. Make him learn the concept of under, over, on, beside, etc. Explain verbally where the object is such as "under a chair" and see if they can follow your instructions.


Have fun with these ideas and please continue to send me more or to leave a comment.

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