Q is for QUACK!

To introduce this letter, put a duck in a box or bag and give the kids 3 clues to what’s inside.

• I’m small
• I’m yellow
• I can swim
• I can fly
• I say ‘quack’

Song

5 Little Ducks

Book

Duck reviewed by Pioneer Woman – I didn’t see this book on my library run, but I sure wish I had it when I was teaching the letter Q.  What a cute book.

I liked sharing non-fiction books about Ducks this week.  Check out the 598.4 area of the non-fiction section of your local library.  Look for books with lots of pictures or drawings of ducks.  We talked about how duck families are the same as ours — their parents love them, take care of them, teach them skills, and travel in a group.

Games/Activities

Perfect day for a game of Duck, Duck, Goose.  I’ve noticed that if children haven’t played this game very much it takes a bit of practice for them to get into the routine of jumping up and running around the circle.  For this age group I just have both kids run and the kid who was ‘it’ sits down while the kid he said ‘goose’ to is the new ‘it’.  In my house there’s tears if a kid gets caught and has to sit in the middle of the circle.

Lucky Duck – This cute preschool game teaches kids colors as they match the sticker on the bottom of a plastic duck to the color on their lily pad.  Warning: this game is loud.  We put duct tape over the speaker to muffle the sound.  While I probably wouldn’t spend $25 on this game, I’ve seen it available used at garage sales, and consignment stores like Once Upon A Child.  Grandma gave us ours (picked up used) and the kids have enjoyed it for years.

Paper Plate Duck from Enchanted Learning – this is a cute little activity for young ones.  Since most at this age don’t have the fine motor skills to use scissors, I suggest you break this craft up into 2 days.  Day 1: trace each kid’s hand (and/or let them try to do each others).  Write the kids names on their hands in pencil.  While you’re helping trace hands, have each kid fold a paper plate in half and color it yellow.  Day 1.5: cut out all the handprints. Day 2: Time to glue.  Assemble the duck as per the directions.

If you’re just joining us you may want to read the “How to set up a co-op preschool” post. Each week I’ll be sharing ideas for introducing your preschoolers to the letters of the alphabet. Not all of these ideas will work for everyone. As the year goes on, you’ll figure out what works for your group of kids. To start the alphabet, check out ideas for the letters A and B or just bookmark this page for all my preschool ideas.

P is for Penguin Party

This week’s focus comes from a song on the Spash Zone CD I told you about last week.

Songs:
ABC
Penguin Party from the Spash Zone CD
Penguins in Rio from the Spash Zone CD

Books:

My Penguin Osbert by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel about a boy who asks for a Penguin for Christmas…and gets one.

Seven Weeks on an Iceberg: A journey to the coldest place on the planet…Antarctica by Keith Potter — pick out a few pages to show the kids pictures and explain what penguins do all day — swim, waddle, eat, etc.  This book is not good for reading front to back with the kids.

The World of Penguins by Evelyne Daigle.  This book has lots of great information to share with the kids.  They are probably too young for you to read it all to them, so pick out 3-4 pages and share the information with them.  Don’t forget the photos at the end of the book.

Game/Activity:

While listening to Penguins in Rio, lay out beach towels and pretend to be on the beach with the penguins. What would they do? They are used to the cold. Do you think they would go swimming? Build sandcastles? find some ice cream?

Practice writing the letter P. Some practice sheets can be found at First School or this one.

Balloon Games – while listening to Penguin Party, have the kids try to keep balloons up in the air….but….they have to walk like penguins.  Make sure you have a big enough space for this because it’s bound to get a little crazy.  You will probably have to remind the kids to walk like a penguin.

If you’re just joining us you may want to read the “How to set up a co-op preschool” post.  Each week I’ll be sharing ideas for introducing your preschoolers to the letters of the alphabet.   Not all of these ideas will work for everyone.  As the year goes on, you’ll figure out what works for your group of kids.  To start the alphabet, check out ideas for the letters A and B or just bookmark this page for all my preschool ideas.

O is for Ocean

This week we’ll talk about oceans and the animals and plants that live there.  If you live very near the ocean seriously think about taking a field trip after you’ve talked about ocean life.  I’ve never lived that close to an ocean, but I think it would be great for kids to go together as a class (with their parents in tow, of course).

Songs:

This CD is a great compilation of songs written and performed by Linda Arnold for the Monterrey Bay (CA) Aquarium.  Each song has a catchy tune and teaches kids about the ocean and the animals that live there.  My 4 year old loves this CD and can sing along with all the songs.  You could have this CD playing in the background throughout your class.  Samples of each track are available at Amazon.  Update: FishMoma at Life As Mom recently wrote about her family’s trip to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium.

Stories:
Non-fiction books about animals that live in the ocean.  Check out the children’s non-fiction section in the 550-590′s

Activity:
Create an ocean – have pictures of different ocean life for the kids to color and glue onto a blue paper ocean.  Encourage them to use colors from the pictures you shared during story time.  Some coloring pages can be found at:

Ocean Animals color pages

Ocean Animals at First-School

Directed Playtime….if you have any stuffed animals that live in the ocean set them out and encourage the kids to make up stories about them.
Fish Tank – if you have a fish tank talk about the differences between the pet fish you have and sea creatures.  You could point out differences like: size, shape, predators, tank size vs ocean size, pet vs wild animals.

Go Fish! During play time play the game with 2 kids at a time.  Ours loved to yell “GO FISH!” at the top of their lungs.  I think that’s the best part of the game.  Trying to play the game with more than 2 kids at a time is difficult because they’re usually not great at taking turns if they don’t know the game.  You may have to help the kids figure out what to ask for.  And don’t expect any  of strategy.  That doesn’t come for a few years.

Snack Ideas: Goldfish,  Oreos,  Gummy Fish

If you’re just joining us you may want to read the “How to set up a co-op preschool” post.  Each week I’ll be sharing ideas for introducing your preschoolers to the letters of the alphabet.   Not all of these ideas will work for everyone.  As the year goes on, you’ll figure out what works for your group of kids.  To start the alphabet, check out ideas for the letters A and B or just bookmark this page for all my preschool ideas.

N is for Night

This week’s focus is the night.   Ask the kids to wear PJs and bring slippers.  Have a mock slumber party on the family room floor.

Songs:
ABC

Where Do My Sneakers Go At Night by Rick Charette (funny song about what our shoes do when we’re sleeping)

Books:

Pick out some favorite bedtime stories.  A few of our favorites are:

Game/Activity:

Have an indoor slumber party with the kids.  Let them “sleep” on the floor with blankets or sleeping bags.  If you have a play tent even better.  Keep the lights off and use flashlights for light.

If you’re just joining us you may want to read the “How to set up a co-op preschool” post.  Each week I’ll be sharing ideas for introducing your preschoolers to the letters of the alphabet.   Not all of these ideas will work for everyone.  As the year goes on, you’ll figure out what works for your group of kids.  To start the alphabet, check out ideas for the letters A and B or just bookmark this page for all my preschool ideas.Co

M is for ME

This week focus on each individual child.  Help them understand some of the things that make them unique and special.  Talk about how some things are the same as their classmates and other things are different.  For example, 2 kids might have blue eyes, but that doesn’t make them the same person.  One kid might love red and another kid hate it.  But, that’s ok  to be different.

Songs:
ABC
Let each kid pick a favorite song to sing.

Books:

Pick out favorite books from past preschool days.  Or pick out a few of your favorites.  Here’s a few that I like to read to this age group:

Game/Activity:

All About Me: In the elementary schools, many classrooms have “Star of the Week” posters.  Make these great posters for each kid. Take a large piece of paper, cardstock, or posterboard and help each kid titled “All About Me.”  Things to include could be:

• name
• favorite color
• favorite breakfast food
• favorite dinner food
• drawing of their family
• self portrait
• favorite cartoon character
• favorite book
• etc

You can use a variety of media for this project and span it over 2 days.  It should be fun to make, not work for the kids.  You might want to put out these supplies:

• Kid magazines (with pictures of cartoon characters and books)
• crayons
• colored pencils
• foam shapes
• colored paper
• construction paper (to denote favorite color)
• glue sticks
• glitter if you’re adventurous

I’d suggest you leave actual cutting to the teacher of the week.  Kids at this age can often get distracted and end up cutting more than they bargained for — like hair, fingers, etc.

Have fun this week learning more about what makes each kid unique.

If you’re just joining us you may want to read the “How to set up a co-op preschool” post.  Each week I’ll be sharing ideas for introducing your preschoolers to the letters of the alphabet.   Not all of these ideas will work for everyone.  As the year goes on, you’ll figure out what works for your group of kids.  To start the alphabet, check out ideas for the letters A and B or just bookmark this page for all my preschool ideas.

L is for Leaves

Songs:
ABC
Lift Up Your Voice and Sing!

Books:

I see a leaf / story by Grace Maccarone
The Big Leaf Pile (Clifford)

Game/Activity:

Leaf Hunt – take a walk in your neighborhood and look for leaves.  If they are on the ground pick up a variety for a craft.  Point out the different sizes and colors of the leaves.  Also note if some trees still have their leaves.

Leaf Rubbings – for this age group I’ve found that it helps to tape the paper to the table.  This keeps it from moving.   If you want to do this activity, but you’re out of fresh leaves, check out your local craft store for craft leaves.  Once Halloween is over they typically have fall decorations on clearance.  I like to use a variety of leaf sizes and shapes for this activity.

If you’re just joining us you may want to read the “How to set up a co-op preschool” post.  Each week I’ll be sharing ideas for introducing your preschoolers to the letters of the alphabet.   Not all of these ideas will work for everyone.  As the year goes on, you’ll figure out what works for your group of kids.  To start the alphabet, check out ideas for the letters A and B or just bookmark this page for all my preschool ideas.

K is for Kite, Kangaroo, and Koala

Songs:
ABC
Here we are Together
Kindness Begins with Me
Lift Up Your Voice and Sing!

Books:
non-fiction books about Kangaroo and Koala Bears in the 599′s
(talk about where each one lives and what they do, what they eat, etc)
Animals Should Definitely NOT Act Like People. by Judi Barrett
Sledding by Elizabeth Winthrop

If you Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff

Game/Activity:
Snowflake matching game (because we had lots of snow this week in the midwest)
Kite making and indoor flying (Thursday) — kids color the kites, add string and try to fly them around the house. Yes, I know that this doesn’t actually work, but it’s fun for the kids to run around the house with their own kite.

If you’re just joining us you may want to read the “How to set up a co-op preschool” post.  Each week I’ll be sharing ideas for introducing your preschoolers to the letters of the alphabet.   Not all of these ideas will work for everyone.  As the year goes on, you’ll figure out what works for your group of kids.  To start the alphabet, check out ideas for the letters A and B or just bookmark this page for all my preschool ideas.