Ocean Theme Lesson Plans and Activities
One of my favorite books to read is "Rainbow Fish" by Marcus Pfister. It is one of the most worthwhile books to read to young children. The value of sharing and friendship is is clearly conveyed in this book. Click on the book title to read more reviews about the book. Not only is this a valuable book to read in conjunction with personal development but it certainly offers extended learning opportunities. After reading and discussing the wonderful pictures and message in the book, a predictable chart story could be used for shared reading.
Rainbow Fish learns to share.
He shares his scale with a blue fish.
He shares his scale with a red fish.
He shares his scale with a green fish.
He shares his scale with an orange fish.
He shares his scale with purple fish.
He shares his scale with yellow fish.
Sharing makes him feel happy!
In the members' area of my sister site you will find the pictures to accompany the print and a follow-up craft activity using bingo markers. Click on this link for more information Kindergarten and Preschool Activities.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Ocean Theme Lesson Plans and Activities
Kindergarten and Preschool Ocean Theme and Activities
One book I would recommend is Swimmy by Leo Lionni to use in conjunction with the Ocean theme. This is a delightful book that not only introduces different sea creatures but effectively relays the importance working together (co-operation). Click on the book name to read reviews about it.
A follow-up to reading this book would be to discuss the importance of team work. In gym time co-operation games could be played as a means to focus on this. The game called Killer Sharks and Fish under the Ocean Theme heading in the link below would be a good game to develop this concept:
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities and Lesson Plans
Further research on the sea creatures that Swimmy sees would be a good follow-up activity. In the links below you will find photographs of these sea animals that could be used to initiate the discussion.
Jellyfish
Tuna
Lobster
Seaweed
Eel
Sea Anemones
Visual Discrimination
Each of the pictures in the photographs have their names indicated on them. Make word cards and the children try to match the word to the one on the photograph.
Related Crafts
Make a large template of a large fish. Have children sponge smaller shape fish within it to represent how Swimmy formed a team to scare off enemies.
Math
Children guess how many fish can be made within the big fish. Count them.
Click on the link for more More Preschool and Kinderplans Ocean Lesson Plans and Activities
One book I would recommend is Swimmy by Leo Lionni to use in conjunction with the Ocean theme. This is a delightful book that not only introduces different sea creatures but effectively relays the importance working together (co-operation). Click on the book name to read reviews about it.
A follow-up to reading this book would be to discuss the importance of team work. In gym time co-operation games could be played as a means to focus on this. The game called Killer Sharks and Fish under the Ocean Theme heading in the link below would be a good game to develop this concept:
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities and Lesson Plans
Further research on the sea creatures that Swimmy sees would be a good follow-up activity. In the links below you will find photographs of these sea animals that could be used to initiate the discussion.
Jellyfish
Tuna
Lobster
Seaweed
Eel
Sea Anemones
Visual Discrimination
Each of the pictures in the photographs have their names indicated on them. Make word cards and the children try to match the word to the one on the photograph.
Related Crafts
Make a large template of a large fish. Have children sponge smaller shape fish within it to represent how Swimmy formed a team to scare off enemies.
Math
Children guess how many fish can be made within the big fish. Count them.
Click on the link for more More Preschool and Kinderplans Ocean Lesson Plans and Activities
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Bike Safety Lesson Plans and Activities
Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plans and Activities on Bike Safety
The book I Can Ride a Bike by Edana Eckart could be used to introduce bike safety. Although it doesn't specifically introduce bike safety, it could be incorporated with reading the book. The book discusses different parts of a bike.
Reading Follow-up Activity
A predictable text could be printed on sentence strips or chart paper with things the children can do. Example:
I can sing.
I can count.
I can play soccer.
Math Follow-up Activity
Children pretend to be pedaling their bike (moving their legs in circles. Count the number of pedals they can do).
The most effective way to have introduce bicycle safety is to have a Bike Rodeo. The link below is a wonderful resource in helping you organize a bicycle rodeo.
All About Bike Rodeos
More follow-up activities can be found in my sister website Kindergarten and Preschool Lesson Plans and Activities.
The book I Can Ride a Bike by Edana Eckart could be used to introduce bike safety. Although it doesn't specifically introduce bike safety, it could be incorporated with reading the book. The book discusses different parts of a bike.
Reading Follow-up Activity
A predictable text could be printed on sentence strips or chart paper with things the children can do. Example:
I can sing.
I can count.
I can play soccer.
Math Follow-up Activity
Children pretend to be pedaling their bike (moving their legs in circles. Count the number of pedals they can do).
The most effective way to have introduce bicycle safety is to have a Bike Rodeo. The link below is a wonderful resource in helping you organize a bicycle rodeo.
All About Bike Rodeos
More follow-up activities can be found in my sister website Kindergarten and Preschool Lesson Plans and Activities.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Safety Lesson Plans and Activities
Fire Safety Lesson Plans and Activities
The book Stop, Drop and Roll by Margery Cuyler is a wonderful book to introduce the concept of fire safety. Click on the link to get a more detailed description of the book. The book introduces good safety practices in an entertaining manner that children would enjoy.
Follow-up Activity
Tape the flame in the link below to the back of children. Have them stop, drop and roll until the flame comes off (out).
Flame
Follow-up Reading Activity
Brainstorm for ideas of what causes fires and what can be done to prevent these fires. The book gives the children good ideas. Examples:
Matches start fires.
Fireplaces start fires.
Math
How many rolls did it take to cause the fire to go out? (taped on their back).
All related follow-up activities are found on my sister website preschool and kindergarten fire safety lesson plans and activities
Good Links for more fire safety activities:
Fire Safety Songs
More Safety Activities
Sparky the Fire Dog
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Valentine's Day Lesson Plans and Activities
Valentine's Day Theme Activities and Lesson Plans
Literature Connection
Franklin is another favorite must reads for young children. The book Franklin's Valentines by Paulette Bourgeois/Brenda Clark is a delightful book to read to children. It really captivates the value of friendship and giving. Click on the link for a description of the book.
Follow-up Literacy Activity
A predictable chart could be made outlining Franklin's friends.
Franklin's friend is bear.
Franklin's friend is rabbit.
Franklin's friend is snail.
Franklin's friend is beaver.
Franklin's friend is goose.
Franklin's friend is beaver.
Franklin's friend is goose.
If you are a Kinderplans member, you will find the pictures to accompany the print.
Follow-up Craft Activity
In the link below you will find a picture of Franklin. The children can color him and design cards for him to hold that he would be giving his friends.
Franklin
My sister website offers more Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plans and Activities that offers more follow-up ideas.
Feel free of offer more suggestions and make comments.
Literature Connection
Franklin is another favorite must reads for young children. The book Franklin's Valentines by Paulette Bourgeois/Brenda Clark is a delightful book to read to children. It really captivates the value of friendship and giving. Click on the link for a description of the book.
Follow-up Literacy Activity
A predictable chart could be made outlining Franklin's friends.
Franklin's friend is bear.
Franklin's friend is rabbit.
Franklin's friend is snail.
Franklin's friend is beaver.
Franklin's friend is goose.
Franklin's friend is beaver.
Franklin's friend is goose.
If you are a Kinderplans member, you will find the pictures to accompany the print.
Follow-up Craft Activity
In the link below you will find a picture of Franklin. The children can color him and design cards for him to hold that he would be giving his friends.
Franklin
My sister website offers more Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plans and Activities that offers more follow-up ideas.
Feel free of offer more suggestions and make comments.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Valentine's Day Lesson Plans and Activiites
Kindergarten and Preschool Valentine's Day Lesson Plans and Activities
Links to Literature
The book Little Mouse's Big Valentine by Thacher Hurd is a good book to use in conjunction with Valentine's Day theme activities. Click on the link for reviews and a description of the book. Little mouse makes a huge valentine (bigger than himself). He tries to give it to squirrel, mole, woodchuck, owl, fish and hawk. All of them were not interested in receiving his big valentine. At the end of the story he meets another mouse (female) and they become friends Together they cut his huge valentine into smaller hearts to give away to everyone. This book offers many learning opportunities as outlined below:
Literacy and Drama
The children can act out the story. The characters are in the files below. These can be used for the children to act out the story. A valentine heart can be made for the mouse to hold.
Mouse
Squirrel
Mole
Woodchuck
Owl
Fish
Hawk
Mice
Coloring Page for the Story
Math
Links to Literature
The book Little Mouse's Big Valentine by Thacher Hurd is a good book to use in conjunction with Valentine's Day theme activities. Click on the link for reviews and a description of the book. Little mouse makes a huge valentine (bigger than himself). He tries to give it to squirrel, mole, woodchuck, owl, fish and hawk. All of them were not interested in receiving his big valentine. At the end of the story he meets another mouse (female) and they become friends Together they cut his huge valentine into smaller hearts to give away to everyone. This book offers many learning opportunities as outlined below:
Literacy and Drama
The children can act out the story. The characters are in the files below. These can be used for the children to act out the story. A valentine heart can be made for the mouse to hold.
Mouse
Squirrel
Mole
Woodchuck
Owl
Fish
Hawk
Mice
Coloring Page for the Story
Math
- The children could be taught how to make symmetical hearts by folding a paper in half and drawing half the outline
- This book offers the opportunity to introduce size differences. The Math heart activity outlined on my sister website would be a good follow-up activity Kindergarten and Preschool Activities and Lesson Plans
Science
- Read more information or watch a video about mice or the other animals listed in the story.
Crafts
- Make a heart-shaped valentine mouse craft as shown on my sister website Kindergarten and Preschool Activities and Lesson Plans
Character Education
This story offers a wonderful opportunity to discuss friendship. Friends can work together to solve problems.
Songs
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Five Senses Activities and Lesson Plans
Fives Senses
In the last week I have been researching books that would be good to recommend to use in conjunction with the five senses theme for Preschool and Kindergarten aged children. To be honest, I just haven't come across any that I feel strongly about recommending. The book Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young is a great book to introduce the sense of sight. Click on the title for more information. Seven blind mice find something strange by their pond. It is quite interesting how each of them had a different perception of what it could be. This concept can be further expanded by viewing optical illusion pictures. Another the book I felt worthwhile is called You Can't Smell a Flower With Your Ear - by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Mavis Smith. Click on the title to learn more about the book. The book explains in scientific terms (but simplified) about why we hear, taste, see, smell and taste. The book also gives you ideas for experiments to help expand on the concepts introduced. To be honest, I felt the emergent readers presented as a shared reader experience and the follow-up activities found on my sister website offered more of an opportunity for the children to be more actively involved in learning the concepts (just my opinion though). Young children learn best from hands on activities. Click on the following link to visit my sister website for ideas Kindergarten and Preschool Activities and Lesson Plans.
Five Senses Songs found in the links below:
Song 1
Song 2
Song 3
If you have books that you would recommend please feel free to comment suggestions.
In the last week I have been researching books that would be good to recommend to use in conjunction with the five senses theme for Preschool and Kindergarten aged children. To be honest, I just haven't come across any that I feel strongly about recommending. The book Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young is a great book to introduce the sense of sight. Click on the title for more information. Seven blind mice find something strange by their pond. It is quite interesting how each of them had a different perception of what it could be. This concept can be further expanded by viewing optical illusion pictures. Another the book I felt worthwhile is called You Can't Smell a Flower With Your Ear - by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Mavis Smith. Click on the title to learn more about the book. The book explains in scientific terms (but simplified) about why we hear, taste, see, smell and taste. The book also gives you ideas for experiments to help expand on the concepts introduced. To be honest, I felt the emergent readers presented as a shared reader experience and the follow-up activities found on my sister website offered more of an opportunity for the children to be more actively involved in learning the concepts (just my opinion though). Young children learn best from hands on activities. Click on the following link to visit my sister website for ideas Kindergarten and Preschool Activities and Lesson Plans.
Five Senses Songs found in the links below:
Song 1
Song 2
Song 3
If you have books that you would recommend please feel free to comment suggestions.
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