Christmas Center Ideas
These center ideas are related to the kinderplans.com website. Photographs of these suggestions can be found on that site under the heading "Christmas Theme" and "Christmas Crafts".
Literacy Center Ideas
1. The children will be completing the interactive component in the chosen emergent reader
(related to using their five senses).
2. Match the lower-case letter Christmas trees to the upper-case letters. Younger children can match the letters that are the same. Templates found on the "Christmas" theme website page in the member's area.
3. Play "Alphabet Review" game, "Vowel Fun" game, "What's Missing" game found in the ALL ABOUT ME theme unit found in the link below:
All About Me
4. Sort alphabet pictures beginning with the same sounds. Alphabet pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures".
Writing Center
Children can be writing a letter to Santa or how they experience Christmas using their five senses. This activity will vary according to the age of the children you are working with. They will likely need to dictate what they want printed and an adult assistant scribes it for them. A writing template (children print on Santa's beard) can be found in the theme unit.
Math Center
1. Children can be working in their number booklet found on page 23 in Week 2 Plans in the theme unit. They will be adding the correct amount of stars (sticky stars) to correspond with the number.
2. The children can add the correct amount of decorations to the number tree templates found on the theme unit web page.
3. Children can be counting and sorting Christmas tree decorations according to common characteristics.
Science Center
Children can test small musical instruments and experience sound and vibrations.
Craft Center
Activities displayed on the website.
Dramatic Play Center
Santa's Workshop as outlined in the theme unit.
Listening Center
A copy of the suggested Christmas books would be placed at this center.
Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "Christmas" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.
1. If You Take A Mouse To The Movies by Laura Numeroff
2. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Sueuss
4. The Mouse Before Christmas by Michael Garland
5. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Allan Ahlberg
6. Dream Snow by Eric Carle
7. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
8. Mrs. Wishy Washy's Christmas by Joy Cowley and Elizabeth Fuller
9. Christmas Trolls Eve by Jan Brett
10. The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett
Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center
Click on the link below to take a tour of of more Preschool and Kindergarten Activities related to the Christmas theme.
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities - Christmas
More Preschool and Kindergarten Activities - Christmas
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
CENTER ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILY AND PETS THEME
The activities below compliment the "FAMILY AND PETS" theme on the Kinderplans.com website.
Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.
Family and Pets Theme
Literacy Centers
1. The reproducible emergent reader "The Perfect Pet" would be compiled, colored and the children would draw their perfect pet on the last page of the book. They could practice reading it together with a friend.
2. Sorting pictures that begin with the "i" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).
3. Matching rhyming picture cards (found in the theme unit).
4. Practice printing the letter "i" using different methods (painting, salt tray,white eraser board, magnetic board, stamping it out with bingo markers or using the printing book found on the site).
5. Visual Discrimination - children could be matching the pet words with those on the picture cards (found in theme unit).
6. Children are reviewing previous sounds introduced by matching the clothespin with the letter printed on it to the corresponding picture. This activity is displayed on the website and the picture templates found in the theme unit
7. Word family activity - have two dice, the word families that have been previously introduced are printed on one and the initial consonants on the other. The children shake the dice and determine what word is made. This could be further extended to determine if it makes a real or nonsense word. A photograph of this activity can be found on the web site.
7. Practice sight words (new ones and previously introduced words) using game outlined on the website.
Writing Center
The children will be completing the activity displayed on the website. How this is completed would vary according to ability. The teacher might need to scribe what the child dictates to them or another child can complete this independently using a model. The children can print what their favorite pet is or information on what they have learned about pets.
Math Center - Introduction to Money
1. Children could be sorting, estimating, counting and making money patterns.
2. Matching the correct number with the number of spots displayed on the dogs (found in the theme unit).
Craft Center
1. The letter "i" picture mnemonic activity outlined on the website.
2. Activities displayed on the website,
Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.
Family and Pets Theme
Science
Simple information books about pets could be placed in this center.
Dramatic Play Center
Pet Store - place a cash register and stuffed pet supplies in here. Each item could have small stickers or numbers placed on them. This is how many pennies it will take to purchase the item.
Listening Center
A copy of the book "I Wanna Iguana" (or another pet book) would be placed at this center along with the reading to listen to).
Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "Family and Pets" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.
1. I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff
2. The Perfect Pet by Margie Palatini
3. Clifford the Big Red Dog series by Norman Bridwell
4. Oh, The Pets you Can Get: All About Our Animal Friends by Tish Rabe
5. The Best Pet of All by David Larochelle
6. Cats, Cats, Cats by Leslea Newman
7. Dogs, Dogs, Dogs by Leslea Newman
8. My Family Book by Todd Parr
9. The Mommy Book by Todd Parr
10. The Daddy Book by Todd Parr
11. My Family is Forever by Nancy Carlson
Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center
7. Read Around the Room - Pictures of pets with their names are posted and children point to them using a special pointing tool. They read the name posted on the picture. Other print in the classroom could also be read. (there are pictures found on the theme page)
Click on the link below to take a tour of of more Preschool and Kindergarten Activities
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities
Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.
Family and Pets Theme
Literacy Centers
1. The reproducible emergent reader "The Perfect Pet" would be compiled, colored and the children would draw their perfect pet on the last page of the book. They could practice reading it together with a friend.
2. Sorting pictures that begin with the "i" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).
3. Matching rhyming picture cards (found in the theme unit).
4. Practice printing the letter "i" using different methods (painting, salt tray,white eraser board, magnetic board, stamping it out with bingo markers or using the printing book found on the site).
5. Visual Discrimination - children could be matching the pet words with those on the picture cards (found in theme unit).
6. Children are reviewing previous sounds introduced by matching the clothespin with the letter printed on it to the corresponding picture. This activity is displayed on the website and the picture templates found in the theme unit
7. Word family activity - have two dice, the word families that have been previously introduced are printed on one and the initial consonants on the other. The children shake the dice and determine what word is made. This could be further extended to determine if it makes a real or nonsense word. A photograph of this activity can be found on the web site.
7. Practice sight words (new ones and previously introduced words) using game outlined on the website.
Writing Center
The children will be completing the activity displayed on the website. How this is completed would vary according to ability. The teacher might need to scribe what the child dictates to them or another child can complete this independently using a model. The children can print what their favorite pet is or information on what they have learned about pets.
Math Center - Introduction to Money
1. Children could be sorting, estimating, counting and making money patterns.
2. Matching the correct number with the number of spots displayed on the dogs (found in the theme unit).
Craft Center
1. The letter "i" picture mnemonic activity outlined on the website.
2. Activities displayed on the website,
Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.
Family and Pets Theme
Science
Simple information books about pets could be placed in this center.
Dramatic Play Center
Pet Store - place a cash register and stuffed pet supplies in here. Each item could have small stickers or numbers placed on them. This is how many pennies it will take to purchase the item.
Listening Center
A copy of the book "I Wanna Iguana" (or another pet book) would be placed at this center along with the reading to listen to).
Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "Family and Pets" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.
1. I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff
2. The Perfect Pet by Margie Palatini
3. Clifford the Big Red Dog series by Norman Bridwell
4. Oh, The Pets you Can Get: All About Our Animal Friends by Tish Rabe
5. The Best Pet of All by David Larochelle
6. Cats, Cats, Cats by Leslea Newman
7. Dogs, Dogs, Dogs by Leslea Newman
8. My Family Book by Todd Parr
9. The Mommy Book by Todd Parr
10. The Daddy Book by Todd Parr
11. My Family is Forever by Nancy Carlson
Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center
7. Read Around the Room - Pictures of pets with their names are posted and children point to them using a special pointing tool. They read the name posted on the picture. Other print in the classroom could also be read. (there are pictures found on the theme page)
Click on the link below to take a tour of of more Preschool and Kindergarten Activities
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities
Friday, October 16, 2009
CENTER ACTIVITIES
All the activities below relate to the ALL ABOUT ME theme found on the kinderplans.com website.
Literacy Centers
1. The reproducible emergent reader retelling of the "Queen's Feet" would be compiled and colored. The children could practice reading it together with a friend.
2. Picture sorting - the children can sort the pictures that begin with the "qu" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).
3. Playing the games "Vowel Fun" or "Alphabet Review" games displayed in the link below.
Literacy Games
4. Practice printing the letter "q" using different methods (painting, salt tray,white eraser board, magnetic board, stamping it out with bingo markers or using the printing book found on the site).
5. Word family activity - displayed on the website.
6. Each child has an envelope with the letters of their name in it. These letters are in mixed-up order in boxes. They must cut the boxes and place the letters in order to make their name on a strip of construction paper (their picture could also be placed here). They can use the name printed on the envelope to guide them. Older students can also print the name below it.
7. The children could practice stamping their name using alphabet stamp letters.
8. The children could be making their name using alphabet magnetic letters.
9. As a review of letters previously learned, the children could be making letter patterns using the alphabet stamps or magnetic letters. Example: c, a, q c,a,q c,a,q. Older children could print this pattern.
10. Practice sight words (new ones and previously introduced ones) using game displayed on the site.
These are just a few suggestions. You would not use all of them. Pick a few that would be suitable for your class. They can be placed in bins and the children can choose which one they would like to work with. I would have all the children complete the reader as one should go home every 3-5 days.
Writing Center
The children would be drawing a picture of themselves and writing a sentence. They can use the sentence that was modeled in class time as a guide. Note: There will be a wide range of ability with completing this activity. Some children will be only scribbling, others making a few letters to a few able to print the complete full sentence.
Math Center
Traced and cut foot outlines will be placed in this center. The children will arrange them from smallest to biggest or shortest to longest. They must estimate how long each foot is using an assigned measurement tool (I like using snap cubes because they are easier to work with). They would measure the foot to see how close their estimation was. This would be demonstrated in class prior to going to the center.
Craft Center
1. The letter "q" picture mnemonic activity outlined on the website.
2. Choose one of the activities displayed on the site.
Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.
All About Me Theme
Social Studies
Simple board games where children learn about cooperation and taking turns.
Dramatic Play Center
The children will be preparing for "About Me" party as outlined in the theme unit. You could also place dress-up clothes in this center.
Listening Center
A copy of the book "The Queen's Feet" (or another book on self-control) would be placed at this center along with the reading to listen to).
Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "About Me" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.
1. Queen's Feet by Sarah Ellis
2. The Nose Book Al Perkins
3. My Hands by Aliki
4. I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont
5. My Two Hands, My Two Feet by Rick Walton
6. Adventures of a Nose by Viviane Schwartz
7. Eyes, Nose, Fingers and Toes by Judy Hindley
8. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
9. I Like Me by Nancy Carlson
10. My Feet by Aliki
11. On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier
12. This is My Body by Mercer Mayer
Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center (could be making their names).
All the activities below relate to the ALL ABOUT ME theme found on the kinderplans.com website.
Literacy Centers
1. The reproducible emergent reader retelling of the "Queen's Feet" would be compiled and colored. The children could practice reading it together with a friend.
2. Picture sorting - the children can sort the pictures that begin with the "qu" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).
3. Playing the games "Vowel Fun" or "Alphabet Review" games displayed in the link below.
Literacy Games
4. Practice printing the letter "q" using different methods (painting, salt tray,white eraser board, magnetic board, stamping it out with bingo markers or using the printing book found on the site).
5. Word family activity - displayed on the website.
6. Each child has an envelope with the letters of their name in it. These letters are in mixed-up order in boxes. They must cut the boxes and place the letters in order to make their name on a strip of construction paper (their picture could also be placed here). They can use the name printed on the envelope to guide them. Older students can also print the name below it.
7. The children could practice stamping their name using alphabet stamp letters.
8. The children could be making their name using alphabet magnetic letters.
9. As a review of letters previously learned, the children could be making letter patterns using the alphabet stamps or magnetic letters. Example: c, a, q c,a,q c,a,q. Older children could print this pattern.
10. Practice sight words (new ones and previously introduced ones) using game displayed on the site.
These are just a few suggestions. You would not use all of them. Pick a few that would be suitable for your class. They can be placed in bins and the children can choose which one they would like to work with. I would have all the children complete the reader as one should go home every 3-5 days.
Writing Center
The children would be drawing a picture of themselves and writing a sentence. They can use the sentence that was modeled in class time as a guide. Note: There will be a wide range of ability with completing this activity. Some children will be only scribbling, others making a few letters to a few able to print the complete full sentence.
Math Center
Traced and cut foot outlines will be placed in this center. The children will arrange them from smallest to biggest or shortest to longest. They must estimate how long each foot is using an assigned measurement tool (I like using snap cubes because they are easier to work with). They would measure the foot to see how close their estimation was. This would be demonstrated in class prior to going to the center.
Craft Center
1. The letter "q" picture mnemonic activity outlined on the website.
2. Choose one of the activities displayed on the site.
Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.
All About Me Theme
Social Studies
Simple board games where children learn about cooperation and taking turns.
Dramatic Play Center
The children will be preparing for "About Me" party as outlined in the theme unit. You could also place dress-up clothes in this center.
Listening Center
A copy of the book "The Queen's Feet" (or another book on self-control) would be placed at this center along with the reading to listen to).
Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "About Me" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.
1. Queen's Feet by Sarah Ellis
2. The Nose Book Al Perkins
3. My Hands by Aliki
4. I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont
5. My Two Hands, My Two Feet by Rick Walton
6. Adventures of a Nose by Viviane Schwartz
7. Eyes, Nose, Fingers and Toes by Judy Hindley
8. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
9. I Like Me by Nancy Carlson
10. My Feet by Aliki
11. On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier
12. This is My Body by Mercer Mayer
Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center (could be making their names).
Monday, October 5, 2009
Literature Books
Literature Connections
In the links below you will find where you can purchase and read reviews on the literature books that are suggested to be used for the "Colors" and "Pumpkins" themes on the companion website http://www.kinderplans.com. These are only suggestions but other books can be used that relate to these themes. Libraries are an inexpensive means of attaining books.
Colors Theme
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
My Crayons Talk by Patricia Hubbard
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Pumpkin Theme
The Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden by George Levenson
Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington
Pumpkin Faces by Judith Moffat
Pumpkin People by Sandra and Ron Lightburn
Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night by Anne Rockwell
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara
Teaching Printing in Preschool??
In the previous blog I was asked about teaching printing in Preschool. Personally, I believe this is too young to formally teach printing. The alphabet can be introduced but I would not be teaching printing. The children can attempt to print the letters but this would be without formal instruction.
In the links below you will find where you can purchase and read reviews on the literature books that are suggested to be used for the "Colors" and "Pumpkins" themes on the companion website http://www.kinderplans.com. These are only suggestions but other books can be used that relate to these themes. Libraries are an inexpensive means of attaining books.
Colors Theme
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
My Crayons Talk by Patricia Hubbard
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Pumpkin Theme
The Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden by George Levenson
Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington
Pumpkin Faces by Judith Moffat
Pumpkin People by Sandra and Ron Lightburn
Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night by Anne Rockwell
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara
Teaching Printing in Preschool??
In the previous blog I was asked about teaching printing in Preschool. Personally, I believe this is too young to formally teach printing. The alphabet can be introduced but I would not be teaching printing. The children can attempt to print the letters but this would be without formal instruction.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Shared Reading
Providing support for the children during shared reading time give the children the greatest sense of success. The teacher's job is to move the children from reading from memory to recognizing letters and their related sounds, recognizing patterns and wording families to recognizing chosen sight words and relaying this to new reading situations.
The emergent readers provided on the sister site http://www.kinderplans.com have been specifically designed to use for the purpose of introducing beginning reading skills in this supportive environment. Below you will find a weekly plan on how you can use one of the readers for the duration of a week.
DAY ONE
DAY THREE - SPECIFIC SKILLS RELATED TO THE TEXT ARE INTRODUCED
DAY FOUR
More shared reading activities can be found at:
Shared Reading in Kindergarten and Preschool
The emergent readers provided on the sister site http://www.kinderplans.com have been specifically designed to use for the purpose of introducing beginning reading skills in this supportive environment. Below you will find a weekly plan on how you can use one of the readers for the duration of a week.
DAY ONE
- Relate to student's background experiences - children talk about their own experiences related to the book topic. Example, prior to reading the reader "Jiggle Worms" the students would talk about how they felt the first day of school or trying something new.
- Predict what the story will be about
- Teacher reads and students listen. If this is an interactive reader the teacher may have the children predict what will go on the page and he/she demonstrates how to complete the interactive page(s)
- Teacher reads again, this time he/she tracks, students join in if they are able
- Students complete an activity related to the text. They may illustrate, color or complete an interactive page related to the story.
- Teacher and students reread the text.
- Students can share a page or other related activity from the previous day.
- Teacher has text prepared on sentence strips
- The strips are distributed to the students. The children use the master copy to reconstruct the text in a pocket chart or by lining up the strips on a bulletin board appropriately
- The teacher practices removing individual lines and students identify what has been removed.
- Students can complete this similar activity at the literacy center (cut out, rearrange and glue strips in the correct order). The master copy is always available for reference purposes.
DAY THREE - SPECIFIC SKILLS RELATED TO THE TEXT ARE INTRODUCED
- The children are now familiar with the text and the focus is on more specific skills such as learning the alphabet letter related to the text or sight word.
- The teacher presents the text with selected words masked (beginning with the focus sound or sight word). The masked words are written on individual word cards. these word cards are distributed to the students.
- Teacher and students read the text together, stopping to identify each masked word. As the masked word is identified by the students, they search their cards for the appropriate word card.
- Students are given a copy of the omitted words and complete this at the literacy center. A master copy is available for verification. Students put their copy in a special book and illustrate it. Other sight word activities could be employed. For example, unscramble the focus sight words, play sight word bingo or do a word search where the children locate the focus sight word.
- I would focus on the words within the text that use the letter focus sound. Determine words within the text that begin with that sound. Brainstorm for other words that begin with that sound. Act out the sound. For example for the letter "c" pretend to climb saying the sound as you do so.
- Distribute the alphabet picture cards. The children say the name of the picture and determine if it begins with this sound. Place all the picture cards that begin with that sound under the correct letter corresponding to that sound. These could be used for review purposes frequently. The children could do this independently at the literacy center, sorting picture cards that begin with that sound.
DAY FOUR
- Particular word patterns are selected from the text. For example, if there is a word within the text that contains the "at" word family this would be the focus of the lesson. Students might have simple spelling lesson printing or identifying words as they think of examples. Some of these words can be put in simple sentences for reading and for sentence dictation.
- Individual words which have become sight words for any student are written on word cards and students can place these in his/her word bank. Several times each week student take out their word banks to read their words and to engage in activities such as sentence construction using their words.
More shared reading activities can be found at:
Shared Reading in Kindergarten and Preschool
Monday, September 7, 2009
Teaching Printing
Teaching printing to kindergarten can be a challenging task . Introducing letters in the sequence below can assist at making this task less of a problem.
Begin with the letter "c"
"c" turns into
d, a, g, q, o, s, f, e
Next letters would be the down letters like in "l"
"l" turns into
t, i, , k and u
Next letters would be the down, back up and around letters starting with "r"
"r" turns into
n, m, h, b, and p
Next letters would be the slanted letters starting with "v"
"v" turns into
y, w. x and z
The Kinderplans.com alphabet program tries to follow this letter sequence of introducing the letters, however, it does deviate slightly from this because it incorporates sound blending (word families) and themes so following the exact sequence was more challenging. More ideas and a printing book can be found in the link below:
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities for Printing
Begin with the letter "c"
"c" turns into
d, a, g, q, o, s, f, e
Next letters would be the down letters like in "l"
"l" turns into
t, i, , k and u
Next letters would be the down, back up and around letters starting with "r"
"r" turns into
n, m, h, b, and p
Next letters would be the slanted letters starting with "v"
"v" turns into
y, w. x and z
The Kinderplans.com alphabet program tries to follow this letter sequence of introducing the letters, however, it does deviate slightly from this because it incorporates sound blending (word families) and themes so following the exact sequence was more challenging. More ideas and a printing book can be found in the link below:
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities for Printing
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Hand Washing
With the outbreak of the swine flu, it might be a good time to review proper hand washing. In the links below you will find a video and books that could be used in teaching children this concept.
Video
Proper Hand Washing Video
Books About Proper Hand Washing
Wash Your Hands! by Tony Ross
Germs Are Not for Sharing by Elizbeth Verdick
Germs by Judy Oetting
Literacy and Reading
I just stumbled on an excellent site that can be used in conjunction with your Computers Centers.
Good Literacy and Reading Site
Visit our Sister Site
Click Here for More Preschool and Kindergarten lesson plans, activities and worksheets
Video
Proper Hand Washing Video
Books About Proper Hand Washing
Wash Your Hands! by Tony Ross
Germs Are Not for Sharing by Elizbeth Verdick
Germs by Judy Oetting
Literacy and Reading
I just stumbled on an excellent site that can be used in conjunction with your Computers Centers.
Good Literacy and Reading Site
Visit our Sister Site
Click Here for More Preschool and Kindergarten lesson plans, activities and worksheets
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