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).

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.