Below is a list of books that can be used for the Ocean theme. If you click on the titles you will find reviews of the books.
1. Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale by Marcus Pfister
2. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
The Ocean and Other Sea Creatures
3. Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
4. Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes
5. A Swim Through the Sea by Kristin Joy Pratt
6. The Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
7. Clumsy Crab by Ruth Galloway
Fish
8. Swimmy by Leo Lionni
9. Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni
10. Fidgety Fish by Ruth Galloway
11. Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Will Grace
Sharks
12. Smiley Shark by Ruth Galloway
13. Surprising Shark: Read and Wonder by Nicola Davies
14. Shark in the Park by Phil Roxbee Cox
Octopus
15. How to Hide an Octopus and Other Sea Creatures by Ruth Heller
16. Good Thing You're Not an Octopus by Julie Markes
17. My Very Own Octopus by Bernard Most
18. Tickly Octopus by Ruth Galloway
Whales
19. Humphrey and the Lost Whale by Wendy Tokuda, Richard Hall and Hanako Wakiyama
20. Whale of a Tale: All About Porpoises, Dolphins and Whales by Bonnie Worth and Aristides Ruiz
Friday, February 13, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Phonemic Awareness
In the past, educators took for granted that children had the ability to distinguish sounds. Over the past few years there has been a better understanding that not all children have this ability. These children greatly benefit in being given assistance in this area and the push towards phonemic instruction was adapted. Phonemic awareness does not relate to identifying letters but a child's ability to distinguish sounds. I attended a session where a school gave a presentation on how they have included phonemic awareness instruction daily with their kindergarten class. They devoted 10-15 minutes every day to this. They noticed an increase in the children within their school being more successful in learning to read.
I often refer to the site that you will find in the link below because it provides you with a wealth of information on this topic and a video demonstrating instruction in this area. However, in the session I attended the children were given little hand mirrors to observe how their lips and tongue moved when they made the different sounds. They would also hold their hand close to their lips and feel the air movement as they made different sounds. This gave the children an understanding of how and why different sounds are produced.
I have included the link below for more information on this topic. Maybe you can start thinking about using little mirrors in your own phonemic instructional period.
Phonemic Awareness
I often refer to the site that you will find in the link below because it provides you with a wealth of information on this topic and a video demonstrating instruction in this area. However, in the session I attended the children were given little hand mirrors to observe how their lips and tongue moved when they made the different sounds. They would also hold their hand close to their lips and feel the air movement as they made different sounds. This gave the children an understanding of how and why different sounds are produced.
I have included the link below for more information on this topic. Maybe you can start thinking about using little mirrors in your own phonemic instructional period.
Phonemic Awareness
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Five Senses Literature Books
Below you will find a list of books that can be used in conjunction with introducing the theme "Five Senses". Click on the titles if you wish to read the reviews and purchase.
Library - Some Suggested Books:
1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Eric Carle
2. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr.
3. Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
4. My Five Senses by Aliki
5. You Can’t Taste a Pickle With Your Ear by Harriet Ziefert
6. You Can’t Smell a Flower With Your Ear by Joanna Cole
7. The 5 Senses by Nuria Roca
8. Smell by Maria Rius
9. Touch by Maria Rius
10. Hearing by Maria Rius
11. Taste by Maria Rius
12. Sight by Maria Rius
13. The Listening Walk by Paul Showers
Library - Some Suggested Books:
1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Eric Carle
2. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr.
3. Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
4. My Five Senses by Aliki
5. You Can’t Taste a Pickle With Your Ear by Harriet Ziefert
6. You Can’t Smell a Flower With Your Ear by Joanna Cole
7. The 5 Senses by Nuria Roca
8. Smell by Maria Rius
9. Touch by Maria Rius
10. Hearing by Maria Rius
11. Taste by Maria Rius
12. Sight by Maria Rius
13. The Listening Walk by Paul Showers
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Shared Writing
Shared Writing
Modeling the writing process is similar to modeling the reading process. The children learn about the writing process by watching the teacher being involved in doing it. The teacher begins the writing by gathering the students around an easel and starts a discussion about a shared experience--it can be related to the focus theme. The teacher introduces the topic of discussion. The children share their ideas while the teacher records them on chart paper. As the teacher writes he/she verbalizes the skills he/she wants the children to learn about writing. She/he might verbalize the following:
1. How writing moves from left to right and top to bottom.
2. Review the formation of certain letters.
3. Stretch out sounds of words to model how they can do the same when they are attempting to spell words.
2. Make use of the words that are posted in their environment when trying to figure out how to spell them.
3. The use of capital letters and stop marks (periods, question and exclamation marks).
It is important that the children be actively involved in helping present ideas and attempting to spell new words.
Writing Center
This model can be posted in the writing center for the children to use in their own writing. This would need to be modified according to the group you are working with.
Modeling the writing process is similar to modeling the reading process. The children learn about the writing process by watching the teacher being involved in doing it. The teacher begins the writing by gathering the students around an easel and starts a discussion about a shared experience--it can be related to the focus theme. The teacher introduces the topic of discussion. The children share their ideas while the teacher records them on chart paper. As the teacher writes he/she verbalizes the skills he/she wants the children to learn about writing. She/he might verbalize the following:
1. How writing moves from left to right and top to bottom.
2. Review the formation of certain letters.
3. Stretch out sounds of words to model how they can do the same when they are attempting to spell words.
2. Make use of the words that are posted in their environment when trying to figure out how to spell them.
3. The use of capital letters and stop marks (periods, question and exclamation marks).
It is important that the children be actively involved in helping present ideas and attempting to spell new words.
Writing Center
This model can be posted in the writing center for the children to use in their own writing. This would need to be modified according to the group you are working with.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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. 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 ones) using games and activities posted on the previous blog below.
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
On the theme book page there are large and simple outlines of pets. These could be used to make shape books. The children could be drawing a picture of their favorite pet. 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 - Introduction to Money
Children could be sorting, estimating, counting and making money patterns.
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. 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 ones) using games and activities posted on the previous blog below.
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
On the theme book page there are large and simple outlines of pets. These could be used to make shape books. The children could be drawing a picture of their favorite pet. 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 - Introduction to Money
Children could be sorting, estimating, counting and making money patterns.
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
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Center Activities for the ALL ABOUT ME theme
The activities below compliment the "All About Me" theme on the Kinderplans.com website.
Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.
All About Me Theme
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 of ones that begin with the "qu" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).
3. Locating pictures that rhyme with the word "me" (pictures found in the theme book).
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 - one foot template would have the "et" word family on it and the children must find another foot with an initial consonant on it. The children would say the new word when joining the two feet together. Note: This would need to be demonstrated in class previously. This would be a difficult activity if most of the children do not know their initial letter sounds yet, however, it offers a challenge to those children who are ready for this.
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 games and activities posted on the previous blog below.
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. Have children pretend they are "king" or "queen" for the day by making the craft activity displayed on the website.
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).
Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.
All About Me Theme
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 of ones that begin with the "qu" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).
3. Locating pictures that rhyme with the word "me" (pictures found in the theme book).
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 - one foot template would have the "et" word family on it and the children must find another foot with an initial consonant on it. The children would say the new word when joining the two feet together. Note: This would need to be demonstrated in class previously. This would be a difficult activity if most of the children do not know their initial letter sounds yet, however, it offers a challenge to those children who are ready for this.
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 games and activities posted on the previous blog below.
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. Have children pretend they are "king" or "queen" for the day by making the craft activity displayed on the website.
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).
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Literature Selections for Colors Theme Unit
Listed below you will find some recommended books for the "Colors" theme. You can click on each title to find a copy of the book online.
Note: If you click on the book link, hit the back button to return to this blog.
1. Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
2. Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
3. The Big Orange Splot by Daniel by Daniel Pinkwater
4. A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
5. Of Colors and Things by Tana Hoban
6. Leaves Change Colors by Betsy Maestro
7. What Makes a Rainbow by Betty Ann Schwartz
8. I love the book What Makes a Rainbow? My kids love the book. The illustrations are inviting, and of course the ribbons going through the book is lots of fun! THANKS CARRIE!
Click on the link for more Kindergarten and Preschool Activities related to the "Color" theme.
Note: If you click on the book link, hit the back button to return to this blog.
1. Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
2. Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
3. The Big Orange Splot by Daniel by Daniel Pinkwater
4. A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
5. Of Colors and Things by Tana Hoban
6. Leaves Change Colors by Betsy Maestro
7. What Makes a Rainbow by Betty Ann Schwartz
8. I love the book What Makes a Rainbow? My kids love the book. The illustrations are inviting, and of course the ribbons going through the book is lots of fun! THANKS CARRIE!
Click on the link for more Kindergarten and Preschool Activities related to the "Color" theme.
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