I have moved my blog so that it is now attached to my site. My new blog will continue to feature activities and articles for Kindergarten and Preschool educators. Visit my new blog.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Friday, November 11, 2011
Smart Board Koosh Ball Alphabetl Review Game
Click Here to view on YouTube
The use of the Smart Board within the classroom has increasingly gained popularity because of the interactive component. Discovering ways to use it; can be quite exciting. I am just learning all the features of the Notebook software that is used in conjunction with the Smart Board; there are certainly some very exciting features.
I really don't know how many schools are purchasing these for their classrooms as it can be quite an expense. I will continually add activities that I discover and create as I am learning. I will be working with a trainer at the University.
KOOSH BALL ALPHABET REVIEW GAME
1. Each child is given one or two alphabet picture cards (found in the member's area). These would be a review if the "Alphabet Program" were followed. Review letters are: c, u, a, t, m, e, q, r, f, h, n and d.
2. A child would be chosen to throw the koosh ball at one of the colored circles. Behind the circles are the review letters. The students need to be fairly close to the board and throw the ball quite hard in order for it to work. They could also just touch the circle.
3. Once a letter is displayed, the child holding the related picture card would come forward. A discussion would take place if this were a match.
4. The red circle down in the lower right-hand corner would be touched in order to return back to the main page.
This could be further used for a Center activity.
Note: The template was found in the teacher tools of the Notebook software.
SCIENCE ACTIVITY
Kinderplans.com is currently creating a "Science Program" that is related to different themes. In the link below you will find an activity that could be used in conjunction with the "Family and Pets Theme".
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Use of Worksheets In the Classroom
Research has shown that the use of worksheets within a preschool and kindergarten classroom is not beneficial for young children. A play-based curriculum has proven to be more effective; however, I feel this might be misinterpreted. I personally don't view a play-based curriculum advocates a laissez-faire approach where children don't require structure. It does not mean a classroom is filled with toys but rather literacy rich and engaging learning activities. For me, a play-based classroom is where a great deal of learning takes place at "Learning Centers". These Centers have been specifically designed to meet certain curriculum objectives but also require the children to be involved in discovery and conversation.
A Kinderplans classroom would look like this in relation to the "All About Me" Theme. I feel this follows a play-based philosophy.
LITERACY CENTERS
1. Children would be completing the interactive component of their individual readers. After, they would be reading it to others.
Cooperation Games and Activities Used At the Centers
The students would be working in pairs playing the following games. These could be played as cooperation games; where they work together to complete the game or more competitive in nature.
Review of Concepts Introduced
1. Review Color Word Game - Students take turns drawing a color word card and place it on the picture that represents that color. They can use the board with or without the color words on it.
2. Alphabet Review Game - Children take turns drawing a letter card and place it on the picture that begins with that sound. They could use the game board with or without the words printed on it; this would depend on their individual needs.
3. Students would be spinning the word family wheel to make new words representing that word family and saying the new words.
4. Vowel Fun Game - Students would be working together to place the correct vowel that represents the picture.
PRESS BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THIS POSTING
Videos of Center Activities
WRITING CENTER
Students would be drawing portrait of themselves and writing about it (inventive spelling) or the child would dictate a sentence and the teacher scribes for them.
MATH CENTER
1. Estimating amounts and counting to confirm their estimation.
2. Completing activities related to the focus number.
3. Ordering and estimating size of foot outlines.
4. Graphing eye, hair color and birthdays.
SCIENCE CENTER
Students would be experimenting with shadows.
Note: We are currently working on a "Science Activity Book" that relates to the various themes. This will be filled with science activities that can be incorporated within each theme.
CRAFT CENTER
Suggested craft ideas found in the link below:
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All About Me Crafts
DRAMATIC PLAY CENTER
The students would be operating a "Party Supply Store".
PAINTING AND EASEL
The students could paint a "me" picture.
BLOCKS
Creating a home for "me".
SMARTBOARD OR OVERHEAD
The focus shared reading story could be projected on the smarboard or overhead. The students would be playing school and pointing to and reading the sentences found on the projection.
PLAYDOUGH
Creating a "Me" sculpture.
LISTENING CENTER
Listening to reading of the books related to the theme.
PUPPET CENTER
Re-enacting a positive character virtue.
SAND TABLE
Students take turns hiding a focus number amount and the others must dig and find that amount.
COMPUTER
Suggested activity found in the link below.
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Online Activities
RESEARCH ON THIS TOPIC
In the links below you will find research that has been done in relation to this topic.
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Play-Based Curriculum Research
Play-Based Curriculum Research
WHAT ARE THOUGHTS?
ADD COMMENTS BELOW
A Kinderplans classroom would look like this in relation to the "All About Me" Theme. I feel this follows a play-based philosophy.
LITERACY CENTERS
1. Children would be completing the interactive component of their individual readers. After, they would be reading it to others.
Cooperation Games and Activities Used At the Centers
The students would be working in pairs playing the following games. These could be played as cooperation games; where they work together to complete the game or more competitive in nature.
Review of Concepts Introduced
1. Review Color Word Game - Students take turns drawing a color word card and place it on the picture that represents that color. They can use the board with or without the color words on it.
2. Alphabet Review Game - Children take turns drawing a letter card and place it on the picture that begins with that sound. They could use the game board with or without the words printed on it; this would depend on their individual needs.
3. Students would be spinning the word family wheel to make new words representing that word family and saying the new words.
4. Vowel Fun Game - Students would be working together to place the correct vowel that represents the picture.
PRESS BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THIS POSTING
Videos of Center Activities
WRITING CENTER
Students would be drawing portrait of themselves and writing about it (inventive spelling) or the child would dictate a sentence and the teacher scribes for them.
MATH CENTER
1. Estimating amounts and counting to confirm their estimation.
2. Completing activities related to the focus number.
3. Ordering and estimating size of foot outlines.
4. Graphing eye, hair color and birthdays.
SCIENCE CENTER
Students would be experimenting with shadows.
Note: We are currently working on a "Science Activity Book" that relates to the various themes. This will be filled with science activities that can be incorporated within each theme.
CRAFT CENTER
Suggested craft ideas found in the link below:
PRESS BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THIS POSTING
All About Me Crafts
DRAMATIC PLAY CENTER
The students would be operating a "Party Supply Store".
PAINTING AND EASEL
The students could paint a "me" picture.
BLOCKS
Creating a home for "me".
SMARTBOARD OR OVERHEAD
The focus shared reading story could be projected on the smarboard or overhead. The students would be playing school and pointing to and reading the sentences found on the projection.
PLAYDOUGH
Creating a "Me" sculpture.
LISTENING CENTER
Listening to reading of the books related to the theme.
PUPPET CENTER
Re-enacting a positive character virtue.
SAND TABLE
Students take turns hiding a focus number amount and the others must dig and find that amount.
COMPUTER
Suggested activity found in the link below.
PRESS BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THIS POSTING
Online Activities
RESEARCH ON THIS TOPIC
In the links below you will find research that has been done in relation to this topic.
PRESS BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THIS POSTING
Play-Based Curriculum Research
Play-Based Curriculum Research
WHAT ARE THOUGHTS?
ADD COMMENTS BELOW
Monday, October 10, 2011
Smartboard and Computer Activities
Increasingly technology has been integrated into our classrooms. The use of computers and smart boards are increasingly being used for effective teaching practices. However; the term "effective" is a key word here. There are many games and activities available but they do not necessarily contribute to assist teachers with meeting the curriculum outcomes. It can be a time consuming task finding these resources. Kinderplans.com is committed to finding or developing these necessary resources over the next few years.
SUGGESTED OCTOBER THEMES AND TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
Colors Theme
One of the suggested themes for October is "Colors". In the link below you will find suggested activities for that theme.
NOTE: YOU WILL NEED TO HIT THE BACK BOTTOM TO RETURN TO THIS MAIN PAGE
Color Kindergarten Preschool Theme
Smart Board Activities for the Colors Theme
Color Words
Smart Board Activities for Color Words
Color Sorting Activities
Color Identification and Sorting Activities
Computer Game for Identifying Colors
Identifying Colors Computer Game
Halloween and Pumpkin Theme - Mini Lesson Idea
Together read "Pumpkin Faces" as a shared reading experience. Sample page from the link below:
Halloween and Pumpkin Theme
Follow-up Smart Board and Computer Activities
Follow-up Pumpkin Activity
YOUR SUGGESTIONS
Please feel free to post your comments and suggestions for integrating technology into the Preschool and Kindergarten classroom.
SUGGESTED OCTOBER THEMES AND TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
Colors Theme
One of the suggested themes for October is "Colors". In the link below you will find suggested activities for that theme.
NOTE: YOU WILL NEED TO HIT THE BACK BOTTOM TO RETURN TO THIS MAIN PAGE
Color Kindergarten Preschool Theme
Smart Board Activities for the Colors Theme
Color Words
Smart Board Activities for Color Words
Color Sorting Activities
Color Identification and Sorting Activities
Computer Game for Identifying Colors
Identifying Colors Computer Game
Halloween and Pumpkin Theme - Mini Lesson Idea
Together read "Pumpkin Faces" as a shared reading experience. Sample page from the link below:
Halloween and Pumpkin Theme
Follow-up Smart Board and Computer Activities
Follow-up Pumpkin Activity
YOUR SUGGESTIONS
Please feel free to post your comments and suggestions for integrating technology into the Preschool and Kindergarten classroom.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Teaching Printing in Kindergarten and Preschool
MY OPINION
Focus on Lower Case Letters
When teaching printing I believe considerably more time should be spent on teaching lower-case letters.
Why?
The reason I believe the focus should be on teaching lower-case letters is because 95 percent of what we read is written in lower case letters. That leaves 5 percent written in upper case letters. In my experience, when children are taught to print words in upper-case letters it is difficult to undo this habit in the upper grades. Having taught a number grades; I have spent a great deal of time retraining children to not place an upper-case letter in the middle of a word. If focus were placed on printing lower-case letters first; this problem might be reduced. Children could be trained when upper-case letters are appropriately used in conjunction with proper grammar usage.
Handwriting for Preschoolers and Kindergarten Children
What is your opinion on this? COMMENT BELOW...
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Center Suggestions
CENTER SUGGESTIONS FOR A PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM
Listed below are center suggestions:
1. Literacy
2. Reading
3. Writing
4. Listening
5. Math
6. Science
7. Social Studies
8. Computer
9. Crafts
10. Playdough
11. Easel
12. Blocks
13. Puzzles
14. Puppets
15. Housekeeping
16. Dressup
In the link below you will find signs that can be used to identify these centers.
Signs for the Learning Centers
Listed below are center suggestions:
1. Literacy
2. Reading
3. Writing
4. Listening
5. Math
6. Science
7. Social Studies
8. Computer
9. Crafts
10. Playdough
11. Easel
12. Blocks
13. Puzzles
14. Puppets
15. Housekeeping
16. Dressup
In the link below you will find signs that can be used to identify these centers.
Signs for the Learning Centers
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Preschool-Kindergarten Lesson Plans on Bugs
The video demonstrates lesson plan ideas for incorporating your Bugs theme within your classroom. Click on it to preview it.
For more ideas visit the link below:
Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plans on Bugs
Below you will find a list of related books that can be used in conjunction with this theme.
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
2. The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle
3. The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
4. The Very Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
5. The Honeybee and the Robber by Eric Carle
6. Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
7. The Best Bug Parade by Stuart J. Murphy
8 Bugs for Lunch by Margery Facklam
9. Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner
10. Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom De Luise
12. Creepy Crawlies by Kathryn Kilpatrick
13. Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose
14. How Many Bugs in a Box? by David Carter
15. Icky Bugs Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta
16. I'm a Caterpillar by Jean Marzollo
17. I'm as Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood
18. In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming
19. Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni
20. Insect by Robin Bernard
21. Insects Grow and Change by Elaine Pascoe
22. Ladybug, Ladybug by Ruth Brown
23. Monarch Butterfly by David Schwartz
14. Sam and the Firefly by P.D. Eastman
15. Snappy Little Bugs by Claire Nielson
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