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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 30, 2011



Candy Canes
Draw or trace a candy cane shape onto a white piece of paper. Then have the children cut or tear red strips or paper to place on the candy cane. Have the children glue the red pieces of paper onto their candy cane as the stripes. After the glue has dried, the child (or an adult) can cut out the candy cane shape.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 29, 2011



Hand Print Wreath
Trace each child's hands several times onto a piece of green paper. Have the children cut out these hand shapes. Supply each child with a paper plate and show them how to cut out the center of the plate. Have the children glue their green hands shapes onto the plate to make a wreath. You could also have them use a paper hole punch on red paper and glue the holes on for holly.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 28, 2011



Cookie Cutter Tree Prints
Put a small amount of tempera paint in a large shallow container. (A pie tin works well) Show your child how to dip a Christmas Tree cookie cutter in the paint and press onto a piece of paper to create a print. You can make holiday pictures or greeting cards by using holiday cookie cutters and colored paper.

Find more Christmas Ides on our Christmas Preschool Lesson Plans page.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 27, 2011

Santa Belly Ornaments

Inspired by Crafts by Amanda.  I used the same red ornaments to make these super cute Christmas decorations.  I simply added a black ribbon around the middle of the ornament with a hot glue gun.  After the glue dried, I added the buckle.  The buckle is made from a piece of gold pipe cleaner. 

Be careful because the glue can make a mess if it is applied on any part of the ornament not covered by the black ribbon. 

Hope you all enjoy and have a most wonderful Christmas!!!!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 26, 2011


Handprint Ornaments

These ornaments are just so super cute.  I have seen them most commonly done on blue ornaments, but since I am making them for Rosa's grandmothers, both of which have a red and white Christmas theme, I used red. 

I painted Rosa's hand with white craft paint, then had her grab the bottom of the ornament.  I then wiped her hand clean with a baby wipe and set the ornament off to the side to dry.  After the paint dried, I used a black paint pen to add the eyes, mouth and buttons, then allowed that to dry.  Finally I applied orange paint for the carrot nose and green paint for the scarves with a very small paint brush.  I wrote "Rosa 2010 on the opposite  side of the ornament with the paint pen.  After the paint had dried I applied a layer of Mod Podge glue to seal the colors.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 25, 2011




Christmas Mason Jars



You will need one clean mason jar.  I used Miracle Whip jars since they don't have any embossing, which would make things difficult.  Also, colored tissue paper, Mod Podge glue, a paint brush and any embellishments that you might want to add.  

I let Rosa make a decoupage jar.  First I cut red, white and green tissue paper into a variety of different sized squares.  I placed a couple of fingers inside the jar to hold it, then applied the Mod Podge glue to the outside of the jar with a paint brush, then Rosa applied the tissue paper.  It is okay if the squares overlap.  After she finished, I went over the jar and filled in the gaps and around the edges of the top and bottom of jar.  I created a smooth edge by applying the tissue paper, then applying a layer of glue over the paper, up to the edge, the paper will tear easily at the edge. 

After all of the paper is applied, go over the whole jar again with another layer of glue.   Let that dry and apply another layer of glue. 

You can place Christmas lights, a real tea light candle or a battery operated tea light in the jar for display.

Variations:
I was inspired by a combination of two blogs to create this Santa Jar.  I saw these awesome Halloween Jars on Not So Idle Hands Blog.  Then on Crafts by Amanda's blog she posted some creative Glittery Santa Belly Jars

I applied strips of red tissue paper, with a black ribbon and a piece of gold pipe cleaner.  I had to use a glue gun to attach the pipe cleaner. 

I used white tissue paper for the last jar.  I applied silver glitter and snowflake stickers. 


Thursday, November 24, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 24, 2011



Thankful Game 
Have the children sit in a circle and they should have a bean bag or stuffed toy to pass around the circle. Have the children pass the item around the circle while they chant: 
Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, 
What am I thankful for, 
It's your turn to share with us, 
1, 2, 3, 4 
Whomever is holding the item when the chat is done should share what they are thankful for. 

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


HAPPY Thanksgiving!!!


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 23, 2011



Indian Corn Art 5
Variation Submitted by Julia
http://www.lhlearnandplay.com/
Print up a picture of an ear of corn, or draw your own. There are two you can use:
corn coloring page
corn collage template
Cut many square shapes from red, orange, yellow, brown and white paper. Have the children glue the squares onto the corn shape. Have the children glue two tan or light brown cupcake liners to the ear of corn for the husks.

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Lego/Duplo Ideas

Lego & Duplo Preschool Lesson Plans

Art

Lego Prints
Have the child dip Legos or Duplos in paint and press onto a sheet of paper.

Math

How many can you grab?
Have the child trace their hand onto a piece of paper.  
Write at the top: "I estimate that I can hold __ Legos in my hand."
Under the hand write: "I can hold __ Legos in my hand."
Have the children estimate how many Legos they can grab with one hand.  
Record their answers.  
Then have them reach into a bucket of Legos and grab a handful.  
Count and record how many they grabbed.
Let the child use crayons to draw Lego shapes on their hand shapes.  

Graphing
Have the children each grab with two hands some Legos (make sure they are all the same shape).  
Have the children make a tower using all the of the bricks of one color, then another until they have used all of their bricks.  
Have the children lay the Lego towers on a sheet of paper according to color, creating a bar graph with the Legos.  
Have the children trace their towers with coordinating crayons or markers.
Talk about the graphs.  Which is the tallest?  Shortest?  How many blue did you have?  Who had the most red?  What color do you think is the most popular?

Sorting
Have the children each grab with two hands some Legos.  Each child should have a large muffin tin.  Ask the children to sort their Legos into the spaces of the muffin tin.  Most will sort by color, some may sort by size or by shape.  

Shape Estimation
Trace a shape onto a sheet of paper.  Ask the child to estimate how many Lego bricks will fit in the shape.  Record their answer at the top.  Then have them fill the shape with Legos.  Count the bricks and record the answer.

Patterning
Create a pattern with the Legos and ask your child to continue the pattern.  Start with easy patterns with just two blocks and progress based on the child's ability.

Counting to 6
Cut out 6 small 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 Lego in the "1" space, and two in the "2" and so on.

Balance Fun 1
Provide the children with a balance and Legos. Have the children place Legos 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 Legos on both sides.

Balance Fun 2
Place an object from the class on one side of the balance, something light like a small block. Have the children estimate how many Legos will balance with the block. Add Legos to the other side until balanced or the Lego side is heavier. Count the Legos.

Adding Legos
Use the Lego bricks for math manipulatives. Have the children do simple addition problems , like adding two green bricks and one red brick.

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

Estimation Jar for Schoolagers
Provide three identical jars with pre-counted Legos of 20, 30, and 40. Label these jars 20, 30 and 40. Place 20 to 40 Legos in a fourth identical jar. Allow the children to examine all four jars before they guess. Record the children's approximations. Count the Legos.

Activity of the Day: November 22, 2011



I am Thankful 
by chicky-ma-ma 
(sung to "Where is Thumbkin?" 
I am Thankful, I am Thankful 
Yes I am, Yes I am 
I am Thankful for my friends 
I am thankful for my kin 
Yes I am, Yes I am 
(Explain that kin is another word for family! ) 

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


Monday, November 21, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 21, 2011



Ten Fat Turkeys 
by chicky-ma-ma 
sung to "Ten little Indians" 
1 fat, 2 fat 3 fat turkeys,
4 fat, 5 fat, 6 fat turkeys 
7 fat, 8 fat 9 fat turkeys 
10 fat turkeys ready for Thanksgiving 

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


Sunday, November 20, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 20, 2011



Turkey Feather Game 
Find a picture of a turkey that you like. Make six copies of it. Cut out the bodies of the turkeys (so you just have to add the feathers to make the turkey complete). Write the number "one" on the first turkey, two on another; repeat with the numbers three through six. Provide the children with twenty-one feather shapes, cut from construction paper or store bought craft feathers. Ask the children to place the appropriate number of feathers on each turkey. One feather on the turkey with the number one it... and so on. 

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


Saturday, November 19, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 19, 2011



Candy Turkey
Microwave one Oreo cookie for 20 seconds to soften the icing. Place seven candy corn pieces, white side first into the edge of the Oreo cookie to represent the feathers. Place a dab of frosting on the top and side of a mini peanut butter cup. Stick the top to the Oreo with the candy corn and the side to another Oreo for the base. Apply a dab of frosting to a Whopper and place on the peanut butter cup. I used a tube of orange icing for the eyes and feet. The nose was made with the tip of a candy corn dipped in icing.

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


Friday, November 18, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 18, 2011

Image provided by Trica from Greatest Resource Child Care
Five Little Turkeys Poem
original by Amber Leigh from 123child.com
Five little turkeys on Thanksgiving Day
One got scared and ran away.
Four little turkeys playing hide and seek,
One turkey hid and fell asleep
Three little turkeys sit near the gate
One went home, it was late.
Two little turkeys wonder what to do
One got bored and went home too.
One little turkey thought "Isn't this great"
He's the one that's on my plate. 

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


Thursday, November 17, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 17, 2011

Image provided by Trica from Greatest Resource Child Care
Pine Cone Turkeys- image submitted by Mrs. Tricia
Children will push play dough or clay into the spaces between the pine cones leaves. The children can then stick different colored feathers into the play dough. An adult can use a hot glue gun to add the wiggly eyes and the pipe cleaner beak.

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 16, 2011

Image provided by Trica from Greatest Resource Child Care


Hand Turkey 
Paint the palm of your child's hand brown, as well as their thumb. Then paint each of their fingers a different bright color such red or blue. Have the child press their hand onto a piece of white paper. For older children, let them draw on feet and characteristics such as eyes and nose. The thumb represents the turkey’s neck and the palm the body. 

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 15, 2011

Image provided by Trica from Greatest Resource Child Care


Thankful Turkeys
Students will dictate what they are thankful for. The teach will write their responses on feather shapes construction paper. The teacher or child could cut out the feathers, depending on the ability level of the student. The child's foot is traced onto brown paper and cut out to be used as the turkey's body. The child will then glue the feathers onto a piece of paper or a paper bowl. The body is glued on top of the feathers. After the glue dries, the turkey's facial features can be drawn with a pen or marker. 

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


Monday, November 14, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 14, 2011

Image provided by Trica from Greatest Resource Child Care


Thankful Turkey Headbands 
Have the children dictate three things they are thankful for and write those three things on pre-cut construction paper feathers. Have the children cut brown paper strips to make a headband out of. They may glue, staple or tape the headband together. Have the children add a little bit of glue to the bottom back of each feather and glue onto the headband. Finally, the turkey face can be added.

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


Sunday, November 13, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 13, 2011



Acorn Hop 
Cut out large acorn shapes from colored paper. Laminate them and cut them out. Place them on the floor and ask the children to hop from one acorn to another. These may also be used at seat markers for group time. 

Find more Acorn ideas on our Preschool Acorn Lesson Plan page.


Saturday, November 12, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 12, 2011



Acorn Hop 
Cut out large acorn shapes from colored paper. Laminate them and cut them out. Place them on the floor and ask the children to hop from one acorn to another. These may also be used at seat markers for group time.  

Find more Acorn ideas on our Preschool Acorn Lesson Plan page.


Friday, November 11, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 11, 2011



Acorn Hop 
Cut out large acorn shapes from colored paper. Laminate them and cut them out. Place them on the floor and ask the children to hop from one acorn to another. These may also be used at seat markers for group time. 





Find more Acorn ideas on our Preschool Acorn Lesson Plan page.


Thursday, November 10, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 10, 2011



Acorn Jar for Schoolagers
Provide three identical jars with pre-counted acorns of 20, 30, and 40. Label these jars 20, 30 and 40. Place 20 to 40 acorns in a fourth identical jar. Allow the children to examine all four jars before they guess. Record the children's approximations. Count the acorns.  

Find more Acorn ideas on our Preschool Acorn Lesson Plan page.


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 9, 2011



Acorn Printing with Paint
Find many different caps for acorns. Place one acorn lid in each color of paint that you provide. Have the children press the lid into the paint, then press firmly onto a piece of paper. 

Find more Acorn ideas on our Preschool Acorn Lesson Plan page.


Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 8, 2011




Acorn Painting
Trace the shape of the lid of a container onto a white piece of paper. Cut out the shape so that it is smaller than the inside of the lid. Place a small amount of paint on the inside of the lid, then place the paper on the inside of the lid. Pour a small amount of red paint inside of the bowl and place a few acorns (without the caps) or marbles inside the bowl. Have your child turn the bowl upside down and shake. When finished remove the paper and allow to dry.





Find more Acorn ideas on our Preschool Acorn Lesson Plan page.


Monday, November 7, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 7, 2011




Count the seeds 
Before you cut an apple, have your child try to guess how many seeds will be inside. Cut open the apple and count them. How close was he/she. Write down your child's guess.. and how many seeds that were in the apple. The next day repeat the process. Compare your results. Were there more, less, or the same amount of seeds in the two apples.

Find more Apple ideas on our Preschool Fall Lesson Plan page.


Sunday, November 6, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 6 2011




Fingerprint Apples
Supply each child with a piece of white paper and red or green non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time. When finished, add leaves with a black pen.


Find more Apple ideas on our Preschool Fall Lesson Plan page.


Saturday, November 5, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 5, 2011



Worm Art 
This one is a lot of fun, and has great results. Set out a piece of yarn (the worm) for each color of paint you intend to use. Have the child dip the yarn in one color of paint, and run it across the paper. Use a new piece of yarn for a different color.

Find more Apple ideas on our Preschool Fall Lesson Plan page.


Friday, November 4, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 4, 2011



Torn paper apples 
Draw an apple on a piece of white paper or use a white paper plate. Tear red paper into dime sized bits (enough to cover your apple drawing.) Cut out one or two leafs for the apple from green paper. (Or if possible use real apple leaves.) Have your child glue the torn pieces of paper onto your drawing of an apple. Then have your child glue on the apple leaves.

Find more Apple ideas on our Preschool Fall Lesson Plan page.


Thursday, November 3, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 3, 2011



Easy Apple Art 
Give a child a paper plate and one of the following colors... red, yellow or green. Have them paint the paper plate. Attach a paper stem to create an apple. This one is great for younger children. You can also have the children glue real apple seeds to the plate after the paint dries. 

Find more Apple ideas on our Preschool Fall Lesson Plan page.


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Activity of the Day: November 2, 2011





Apple Printing 
Cut an apple in half. (make a lateral cut, separating the top from the bottom) You should be able to see the "star" that the core forms in the apple. Put some red or green tempera paint in a shallow container, (a pie tin works well) and show your child how to paint the apple with the paint and press onto a piece of paper creating an apple print. 


 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Activity of the Day



Fingerprint Apple Tree
Use brown ink along the side of the child's hand to make the tree trunk. Use green ink on the child's thumb to make as many leaves as the child wants. Use red ink on the child's pinky finger to make the apples.