Jelly Beans - preschool lesson plans

Now that it's spring and Easter has just passed, jelly beans are on super clearance at your local stores. Why not try some of these new lessons with your older preschool children. Jelly beans are a choking hazard for younger children, so please provide direct supervision, or exclude the use of jelly beans with children that may be at risk of choking.

ART

Have the children glue jelly beans to a piece of paper.

Use a hot glue gun to glue a jelly bean to a wooden block. After the glue dries, have the children dip the jelly beans onto an ink pad, then press onto a piece of paper.

Have the children estimate how many jelly beans they can grab in one hand. Trace their hand onto a piece of paper and have them cut it out. Then have the child grab a handful of jelly beans and count them. Have the child glue the jelly beans (or jelly bean shapes) onto their hand shape, then write the number of hearts they grabbed on their hand.

Have children glue jelly bean shapes to a piece of paper.

Have the children make many different colors of fingerprints on a piece of paper. Use a black pen to draw a jelly bean shape around each fingerprint.

Cut out Easter Basket shapes from construction paper.  Have the children make many different fingerprints on  the basket.  Use a black pen to draw a jelly bean shape around each fingerprint.

Cut out large jelly bean shapes from construction paper. Have the children decorate the bean shapes with glitter, glue, crayons, markers or other items.

Spray Art
Fill a spray bottle 3/4 full with water. Place a small amount of paint (powdered or liquid) into the water. If you use too much or do not shake well the paint will clog up the spray bottle. Do this for at least three different bottles, with three different colors. Then place a large jelly bean shaped piece of paper on the floor, on an easel, on a wall or fence outside. Then have the children spray the colored water on the paper. Allow to dry.

Measure your child's head, and cut a piece of construction paper long enough to create a headband. Glue the paper together so the headband fits snugly on your child's head but is loose enough to take off easily. Have the children cut out jelly bean shapes to glue to the headband.

First you need a large plastic container with a lid. (I used a shallow peanut butter container.) Next cut out paper that will fit in the lid of the container. Place a few drops of paint into the container with a few jelly beans (be sure to observe carefully as jelly beans are a choking hazard) then place a very small amount of paint on the lid and pre-cut paper on the paint. (I use the paint to make the paper stick to the lid.) Place the lid on the container, flip and have the children shake. When finished, remove paper and allow to dry, and place a clean piece of paper in the lid for the next child. Optional: use jelly bean shaped paper in the lid.

Math, Science and Games

Obtain about 15 jelly beans for each child.
Have the children sort the hearts by color. After the children have sorted the beans, have them count how many of each color they have.

Ask the children to estimate how many jelly beans they can grab with one hand. Write on the top of a piece of construction paper "I estimate I can grab __ jelly beans in one hand." Fill in the blank with their number. Trace the child's hand in the middle of the paper. Have the child grab a handful of candies and count them. Write "I can actually grab _ jelly beans in one hand" at the bottom of the paper.
Option 1: Have the child glue the correct number of jelly beans shapes to the hand shape.
Option 2: Have the children use a jelly bean shaped stamp to represent each bean they were able to hold.
Option 3: Have the children make one fingerprint inside the hand shape to represent each jelly bean. Use a black pen to draw a jelly bean shape around each fingerprint.

Draw a large jelly bean shape on a piece of paper for each child. Ask the children to estimate how many jelly beans they can will be able to fit into the shape. Record their estimation. Have the child fill the shape with jelly beans and count them. Record the actual number.
Option 1: Have the child glue jelly bean shapes in the large shape.
Option 2: Have the children use a stamp to represent each bean they were able to fit in the large jelly bean.
Option 3: Have the children make one fingerprint inside the shape to represent each jelly bean. Use a black pen to draw a jelly bean shape around each fingerprint.

Cut out many different sized jelly bean shapes, small and large. Have the children estimate how many small jelly beans will fit on each large shape. Record each child's estimate. Then have the children place the jelly beans on the shape and count how many will fit. Compare the estimates to the actual results.

Cut out 6 small jelly bean shapes from a variety of different colors of card stock. Write the numbers 1 through 6 on the shapes. Tape each shape to the bottom of a muffin tin space. Have the children place 1 jelly bean in the "1" space, and two in the "2" and so on.

Note the colors present in your jelly beans. Cut out a small jelly bean shape for each color and tape one jelly bean color to the bottom on a muffin tin hole. Have the children sort jelly beans by color.

Provide the children with a balance and jelly beans. Have the children place jelly bean on both sides of the balance. Show the children how they can tell which side weighs more. See if they can balance the balance. Count the jelly beans on both sides.

Place an object from the class on one side of the balance, something light like a small block. Have the children estimate how many jelly beans will balance with the block. Add jelly beans to the other side until balanced or the jelly bean side is heavier. Count the jelly beans.

Create a pattern with the jelly beans. Have the children repeat the pattern or continue the pattern. Encourage the children to create their own pattern.

Use the jelly beans for math manipulatives. Have the children do simple addition problems , like adding two green jelly beans and one red jelly bean.

Place jelly beans in a clear jar. Have the children estimate how many jelly beans are in the jar. To help with their estimate they may count out tenjelly beans to hold or set out so they have a feeling of what ten looks like. Record each child's estimate, then count the jelly beans together.

Make your favorite sugar cookie recipe and have the children use jelly bean shaped cookie cutters to make jelly bean shaped cookies. Bake as directed, then allow to cool. Add frosting and jelly beans to the top of each cookie.

Place jelly bean shapes on the floor. Have the children hop from one jelly bean to the next.

Cut out and laminate big jelly bean shapes to be used as seat markers for the children to sit on during story and circle time.

Cut out large jelly bean shapes from colored paper. Laminate them and cut them out. Place them on the floor. It is best for younger children to have more shapes than children. Play music and have the children walk around the room. When the music stops each child needs to find a shape to stand on.

Have the children taste each color of jelly bean and vote for their favorite.  Create a graph of the results.

Ask the children if they think a Jelly Bean will sink or float.  Record the responses on a graph.  Try it out and record the results.

Place a couple of jelly beans in an egg and have the children shake the egg and guess how many jelly beans are in the egg. Open the egg and count the jelly beans.

Place a couple of jelly beans in plastic Easter Eggs.  Each child should have one or two eggs.  Play music and have the children shake the eggs while they dance.

Use jelly bean filled plastic Easter Eggs for this song:
Shake your Jelly Beans (sung to London Bridge)
by Amber Leigh
Shake your jelly beans up and down, up and down, up and down
Shake your jelly beans up and down then shake them all around.
Shake your jelly beans left and right, left and right, left and right,
Shake your jelly beans left and right then shake them with all your might.

Jelly Bean song
Sung to Teddy Bear Teddy Bear
Jelly Bean , Jelly Bean,
Turn around. 
Jelly Bean , Jelly Bean, 
Touch the ground. 
Jelly Bean , Jelly Bean, Shine your shoes. 
Jelly Bean , Jelly Bean,  Skidoo. 

Jelly Bean , Jelly Bean, Go upstairs. 
Jelly Bean , Jelly Bean,  
Say your prayers. 
Jelly Bean , Jelly Bean, Turn out the light. 
Jelly Bean , Jelly Bean, Say good night. 


Jelly Bean Jump song
Sung to Skip to my Lou
Jump jump Jelly Bean Clown,
inside, outside, upside down
Jump jump jelly bean clown,
jump all over town.


Little Jelly Bean
sung to "The more we get together"
I have a little Jelly Bean, Jelly Bean , Jelly Bean, 
I have a little Jelly Bean I eat them like so.  


I love to eat Jelly Beans, Jelly Beans, Jelly Beans,
I love to eat Jelly Beans, I eat them like so.

Let's Go Fly a Kite - preschool lesson plans

Spring has arrived.  It's the perfect season for flying kites.  Here are some of my ideas for you to share with your little ones.

Create a kite
Cut out kite shaped paper.  Have the children decorate the paper with crayons, markers, paint, glitter, colored pencils or another method.  Add a sting for the tail.  Tie ribbons to the tail.

Marble Painted Kite

Cut out kite shaped paper.  Place the kite in a pan or box lid.  Add a small amount of paint to the box and drop in a few marbles.  Have the children roll the marbles around until they are satisfied with the result.  Allow to dry. Add a sting for the tail.  Tie ribbons to the tail.

Kool Aid Kite

Cut out kite shaped paper.  Sprinkle a little dry kool aid mix onto the kite. Have your child spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. Use different colored kool-aid mix. For added adventure, you may choose to take your children out into the rain with a piece of paper that has kool-aid on it. Allow to dry.  Add a sting for the tail.  Tie ribbons to the tail.

Sponge Art 
Supply the children with diamond shaped sponges.  Have the children paint them and press onto a piece of paper.

Kite Cookie Cutter Art: 
Obtain a cookie cutter that is shaped like a diamond. Have the children dip the cookie cutter in a shallow container of paint, then press onto a piece of paper to make kite prints. After dry have the children add details with a marker or glue on string for the tails.
Optional:  allow the children to decorate the kites with a variety of materials.  (glitter, sequins, paper scraps, stickers, etc)


Play Dough Kites
Show the children how to make a kite with play dough by rolling out the play dough and using a diamond shaped cookie cutter.  Add a rolled tail.  Allow the children to try to create their own kites.


Kite Cookies
Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe to create the dough.  Use a diamond shaped cookie cutter to make the kites.  Cook as directed.  Allow the children to decorate with colored frosting and confections.

Kite Sandwiches
Make your child's favorite sandwich, then use a diamond shaped cookie cutter to make kite shamed sandwiches.

Kite Jello
Make your favorite Jello Jiggler recipe.  Use a diamond shapes cookie cutter to make kite shaped jello.

Kite Handprints

What Makes a Kite Go?
Have the children blow paper kites that hang from the ceiling.
Blow kite shaped paper across the table.  (alt, have a race)
Use a fan to move kite shaped paper
Hang plastic kite shapes outside a window for children to observe.
Use a book to fan kite shaped paper.

Counting Kites
Have the children count kites on a bulletin board or kites handing from the ceiling.

Sorting Kites
Make kite shapes from different colors of tagboard.  Have the children sort the kites by color.
(alt, make the kites different sizes, or patters)

Kite Match/Memory
Use patterned paper to make pairs of kite shapes.  Have the children find the matches.  Or glue the shapes to index cards and play memory.

Kite Hop
Use contact paper to affix kite shaped paper to the floor.  Have the children hop from one kite shape to the next.

Musical Kites
Use contact paper to affix kite shaped paper to the floor. There should be more kites than children.  Play music and when the music stops the children find a kite to stand on.  Ask the children what color kite they are standing on.

Kite Song
sung to London Bridge
Kites are flying way up high
in the sky, in the sky
Kites are flying way up high
Oh so pretty

Kite Song 2
sung to Twinkle Twinkle
Kites are soaring in the air
floating, flying everywhere
They use the wind to fly so high
Swooping looping in the sky

Kites are soaring in the air

floating, flying everywhere