This Week in Pre K.... " My Five Senses"

I'm really excited about this week! 

 Kids always love learning about the five senses.  Why wouldn't they, such  a fun and messy week! 

   I also love teaching it because I get to teach them about others that are visually and hearing impaired.  Teach them young to be compassionate towards others and show them how amazing people with disabilities are.  We are going to learn some sign language and feel braille this week! 

 I just finished a project especially for this week. You can find it in my TpT store.

I am linking up with Deedee from Mrs. Wills Kindergarten.  Great ideas to be shared!

Thanks Deedee!

My Lesson Plans, "Our 5 Senses"

Have a great week!

Worms and Apples

During centers today we observed worms. I encouraged the students to watch how the worms move.

 Some students were brave enough to touch them to explore how they feel, others observed from a distance.

 Some tried to find the longest worm!

We also made apple puzzles today.  I provided the students with an apple template and asked them to color and cut out their apple.  When they finished I drew a zigzag line across their apple.  They cut the zigzag line turning their apple into a simple puzzle.

This Week in Pre K ..."Fall and Apples"

Welcome Fall!!! 

 I'm so thankful for the four beautifully different seasons! 

This week we will be learning about our new season, apples, and worms!

Yes, worms!  

I am linking up with Deedee from Mrs. Wills Kindergarten.  Great ideas to be shared!

Thanks Deedee!

My Lesson Plans, "Fall and Apples"

Tip: To print on 8x11 paper click "Fit to scale" before printing.

A closer look...

You can find the words to these super cute songs / finger plays at the site below:

http://www.preschoolexpress.com/music_station07/fall-leaves-songs-rhymes-sep07.shtml

Hope you have a great week!

Camping Maps

My students walked in this morning to find tents and campfires around the room. 

 After reading "Franklin Stays Up" next to the campfire , we took a little camping trip inside our classroom.  We discussed how a map is helpful when going camping so you don't get lost. I modeled how to draw a camping map, marking the path to take from  my house to my tent.  Check out some of the great map building that happened today! 

This is the class artist!!

We were camping "at night" so the lights/sun was off.  They loved using flashlights and lanterns!

"X" marks the spot!

This little guy invented the "Map Holder"!

Simple toilet paper tube.  The idea spread like wildfire!

   

                                                                 

This Week In Pre K...

This week we will be learning about maps! 

 I love watching my students every year learn how to read and draw maps.

  Their creativity never ceases to amaze me!  

We will ,of course, have fun with a camping trip and pirates along the way!

I am linking up with Deedee from Mrs. Wills Kindergarten.  Great ideas to be shared!

 Thanks Deedee!

   My Lesson Plans "Maps"

Tip: To print on 8x11 paper click "Fit to scale" before printing.

A closer look...

Patriot's Day

Some people may say that preschoolers are too young to learn about the horrible things that happened to our nation 12 years ago.  I agree, they are too young.  Instead, we discussed our flag, our country, and the community helpers that make our United States a wonderful place to live.

 We made flags today and practiced reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Drawing straight lines and cutting are still challenging to some. But that's why we are here at school...right?

We learned that there are short and long stripes on the flag.

........and stars!

Take a look at these young Patriots!

I want to send a "Thank You" and "God Bless You" out to all of our community helpers out there that go to work every day to make our nation a great place! 

 Proud to be an American!!

Colors and Patterns

Three weeks in and we are doing great!  

My kiddos are getting much faster at the color hunt game.  We play it everyday.  Some of them get really excited about being the first one back to the rug while others like to get a little more creative on the item they find.  The language part of the game is improving too.  They are learning the correct names of items around the room.  Scissors are no longer "cutters" and hot pads from the home center are no longer "blankets".

I introduced patterns for the first time today through a community helpers game I made over the weekend.  I was amazed at how fast they picked it up!  

Hope you all have a great week!

This Week In Pre K...

My dear friend, Deedee Wills, has talked me into jumping into a new adventure!

 Posting my lesson plans!  Here goes! 

 I hope you will find them helpful or get some ideas from them to add to your week.  Now, let me explain the format a bit.  The green shaded boxes on top are developmental areas that I want to make sure I am covering throughout the week. I simply check mark that column if the activity meets that developmental area.   The box with (S   Lg    I), S - Small Group, Lg - Large Group, I - Individual.  My lesson plans range from 1-2 weeks depending on the topic.  We are in our second week of this one.  I plan several activities for each category to the left.  You can pick and choose which one you want to do each day. Over the week, you will hit them all.  If you have any questions, please ask.  I would be happy to answer anything I left out.

I am linking up with Deedee from Mrs. Wills Kindergarten.  Great ideas to be shared!
 Thanks Deedee!

My Lesson Plans " What Do I Want To Be?"

Tip: To print on 8x11 paper click "Fit to scale" before printing.

Community Helpers - Construction Workers

Today we discussed how important construction workers are to our community. 

 They build all kinds of buildings....Wal Mart, McDonalds, churches, hospitals, banks, and even our school! We learned the names of some of the tools they use and  had some fun.

Measuring some wood for my building!  I will teach them how to really measure later in the year. 

 For now, this is more about the jobs and tools of a construction worker. 

 It's a great way to get number recognition in your block area! 

I used some nuts and bolts from Lakeshore and made up a fun game to play.  I  handed each student either a nut or a bolt and had them hide it behind their back.  When I said "GO!" they had to find a friend that had the matching piece and put them together.  Fun way to build problem solving skills, fine motor, cooperation, math-color and shape match, and reviewing new friend's names. 

The picture is a little blurry, they were in a hurry to find their match!

How tall was a T-Rex?

We ended dinosaur week with everyone's favorite.....The Tyrannosaurus Rex!!!

I asked the students how tall a t-rex was.

Awesome problem solving and creative thinking!

I had a pre-measured piece of yarn in my hand. (20 Feet long)

I asked the students if he was as tall as me.

 (holding the yarn even with the top of my head, letting the extra yarn drag the ground)

Students: "NO, taller!"

So I climbed onto a shelf and held the yarn to the ceiling.

Me: "Was a t-rex this tall?"

Students: "NO, taller!"

We then went outside. 

Me: "Where could I go to get taller?"

Students: "Stand on the slide."

Me: "Is this how tall a t-rex was?"

Students: "No, taller!"

Me: "Where can I go to get taller?"

Students: "Get on the roof!"

Me: "Ohhh, good idea!"

Up I went!

Me: "Is this how tall a t-rex was?"

Students: "YES!!"

 We also stomped like a t-rex to the beat of a drum! Great activity for "fast and slow".