Teacher Training Seminars



	Free Lesson Plans Seed Matrix Title of book: The Carrot Seeds Author: Ruth Krass Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Art Required Materials: different kinds of seeds orange construction paper green construction paper glue Step-by-step Procedures: Cut -out carrot shape from orange construction paper Glue on seeds Cut- out top of carrot from green construction paper Glue to top of carrot shape Back To List Whose shoe is it? Title of book: The Foot Book Author: Dr. Seuss Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Language Required Materials: None Step-by-step Procedures: After reading the story to the children ask them to sketch out their right foot. Describe a shoe one of the children is wearing. Have the other children determine whose shoe it is. Back To List Elephant Ears Title of book: Too Fat to Fly Author: Adelaide Holl Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Art and Pretend Play Required Materials: poster board for elephant ear shape stapler crayons poster board cut into strips for headbands Step-by-step Procedures: Cut out a set of elephant ear shape. One set for each child. Allow children to decorate their ears with crayons. After children finish attach to sides of the headbands with staples. Place the headband on the child head the measure where to fasten it Try on child to ensure fit. Back To List Mr. Porcupine Title of book: A Porcupine Named Fluffy Author: Helen Lester Age Group: Preschool and Kindergarten Curriculum area: Art Required Materials: clay or homemade play dough toothpicks small paper plates eyes Step-by-step Procedures: Encourage children to form the body of the porcupine with the clay or play dough. Have children place the toothpicks all over the clay form to make the porcupine's quills Place on the paper plate with child's name Allow to harden Back To List Sunflowers Title of book: Sunflowers Author: Neil Johnson Age Group: Preschool and Kindergarten Curriculum area: Art Required materials: markers scissors small paper plates yellow construction paper glue brown paint paint brushes sunflower seeds poster board petal pattern Step-by-Step Procedures: Have children paint paper plates brown Let paper plates dry Glue sunflower seeds to painted paper plate Have children trace petal pattern Have children cut- out petal they traced Glue onto plate covered with seed Back To List Country and City Life Mural Title of book: The Little House Author: Virginia Lee Burton Age Group: Preschool and Kindergarten Curriculum area: Art Required Materials: 2 large paper length of tables tape markers glue scissors construction paper Step-by-step Procedures: Tape paper to table Provide children with markers, different colors of construction paper. Cut different shapes from the construction paper. Using the markers and shapes Draw and construct a country scene at one table At the other table draw and construct a city scene Back To List Rainbow Colored Fish Title of book: Rainbow Fish Author: Marcus Pfister Age: Preschool and Kindergarten Curriculum area: Art Required Materials: glue foil crayons wiggly eyes paint paint brushes large paper plate Step-by-step Procedures: Cut a triangle from the paper plate Color with crayons Glue the tip of the triangle to the opposite side of the plate Let dry Glue on wiggly eyes Back To List House Building Title of book: The Busy Building Book Author: Sue Tarsky Age: Preschool Curriculum area: construction Required Materials: scissors glue various shapes colors textures and sizes of paper different sizes of boxes: shoe, soda cereal, check or other food boxes construction paper towel rolls Step-by-step Procedures: Encourage children to use the items provided to create / build a box and paper house/ city. Back To List Rhyming Word Find Title of book: Hop on Pop Author: Dr.Seuss Age: Kindergarten Curriculum area: Language Required Materials: markers small clothe bag index cards Step-by-step Procedures: Make two sets of work cards one set that rhymes with the other. Place one set in the bag Hide the other set around the classroom Have the children take one card from bag then go find the word that rhymes with it. Help the children read the words Back To List Cat Puppets Title of book: Millions of Cats Author: Wanda Gag Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Art Required Materials: Paper bags Black, brown & white construction paper Glue Yarn Small pom-poms Eyes Red or pink felt Step-by-step procedures: Cut out ears in different colors. Allow children to choose a set of ears. Have them glue the ears, eyes and nose pom-poms onto paper bag. Glue on pieces of yarn for whiskers. Back To List Dress Mr. Bear Title of book: Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? Author: Nancy White Carlstrom Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Pretend play social interaction Required Materials: Variety of dress-up clothes Large stuffed teddy bear Step-by-step procedures: Jesse Bear had a hard time finding what he wanted to wear today. Can you help our Mr. Bear dress for play? Encourage the children as they play in housekeeping to dress Mr. Bear. Back To List Strawberries Title of book: The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear Author: Don and Audrey Wood Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Art Required Materials: Black stamp pad White construction paper Red paint Paint brushes Green felt Step-by-step procedures: Cut white construction paper to form bottom of strawberry. Encourage children to paint the white form with red paint. After it dries, have children make fingerprints with black stamp ink all over the strawberry. Cut leaf from the green felt and glue to top of strawberry. Back To List Cookie Plate Title of book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Author: Laura Joffe Numeroff Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Math Required Materials: Brown construction paper Black marker Glue Paper plate Scissors Step-by-step procedures: Make 5 circles on brown construction paper. Number with dots: Have children cut out the cookies. After cutting out them out have the children place them onto the plate in order. (Remember to make cookies small enough to fit on the plate or use less numbers.) Back To List Polar Bear Title of book: Swim Polar Bear, Swim Author of book: Joan Stimson Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art, awareness of animals Required materials: Cotton balls Poster board Glue Eyes Small brown or black pom-poms Step-by-step procedures: Cut out polar bear pattern from white poster board. Allow each child to glue on their pattern cotton balls to make polar bear fur. Glue on eye (polar bear is sitting sideways). Put on the pom-poms for polar bear nose. Back To List Textured Bears Title of book: When Will It Be Spring? Author of book: Catherine Walters Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art, experimenting with textures Required materials: Rice Birdseed Sand Brown paint Heavy white construction paper Scissors Bowls Paintbrushes Wiggly eyes Medium size pom-poms Glue Step-by-step procedures: Cut out of white paper the shape of a bear (teddy). Mix brown paint with sand in one bowl. Bird seed in another and rice in a third. Allow children to use paintbrushes or their hands to spread paint mixture all over cutouts. Let dry and then glue on eyes and pom-pom nose. Back To List Birdie's Nest Title of book: Baby Bird's First Nest Author of book: Frank Asch Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art Required materials: A variety of material Pieces of straw Felt Cotton batting Pieces of brown paper towels Torn tissue Paper ribbon Pine bedding (used to line pet's cages) Bowls Large pom-pom Yellow or orange felt Twigs or small sticks Leaves Glue Paintbrushes Step-by-step procedures: Have the children put glue all over the insides of bowl with paintbrush. Put in pine bedding (enough just to cover glue) have children glue in materials. Next glue pom-pom on top of materials. Add eyes to birdie body. Cut out diamond shaped from yellow or orange felt, fold in half and glue onto Birdie's body under eyes. Back To List Mousy Title of book: Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse Author of book: Leo Lionni Age: Kindergarten Curriculum area: Art Required materials: Glue Pom-poms Small wiggly eyes Small Square of construction paper Step-by-step procedures: Allow each child to choose a large pom-pom. Have them glue on felt ears, tail and eyes. The glue pom-pom to square for base. Back To List Cloaks Title of book: Charlie needs a new Cloak Author: Tomie dePaola Age: Preschool Curriculum area: art/ dramatic play Required materials: Have each child bring in a pillow case from home (make such parents know that you are going to cut it.) Fabric paints or Water colors Scissors Step-by-step procedures: Explain to the children that a cloak is a coat without sleeves Cut the pillowcase up the sides cut at the top middle an opening for child's head. Allow the children to decorate with fabric paints or watercolors. Children then can use their cloak to pretend play. Back To List Bear Movements Title of book: Bearobics Author: Vic Parker Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Movement large motor Required materials: None Step-by-step procedures: After reading the book to the children, talk about the different things Bear and his friends did. As the children recall, encourage them to do their Aerobics. My Flag, My Country Title of book: The Pledge of Allegiance Author: Scholastic Inc. Age: kindergarten Curriculum area: Social Studies Required materials: Blue Red Yellow White poster board Flag Step-by-step procedures: Cut a poster board in half. Make flag pattern. Have children paint the flag by looking at a model of the flag. Back To List Clocks Title of book: The Sleepy Owl Author: Marcus Pfister Age: kindergarten Curriculum area: Social Studies Required materials: paper plates construction paper brads marker clock Step-by-step procedures: Show the children a real clock. Talk to them about how you use the hands to tell the time. Have the children copy the clock face onto the paper plate. Cut from the construction paper arrows for the clock hands. Insert the brad into the hands and the middle of the clock face. Work on telling time. Back To List Spider Tale Title of book: The Very Busy Spider Author: Eric Carle Age: kindergarten/ preschool Curriculum area: Language Arts/ Storytelling/ Puppetry Required materials: colored copies of animals in the story plastic spider plaster fly craft sticks Step-by-step procedures: Make copies of the pictures cover with contact paper. To make stick puppets. Tape to the back of each a craft stick. Tell the children the story using your own words Leave the puppets out in library for children to play with. Back To List Goodnight Tale Title of book: Goodnight Moon Author: Margaret Wise Brown Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Language Arts/ Storytelling Required materials: copies of pictures in the story velcro felt board Step-by-step procedures: Tell the children the story using your own words using the felt board and the pictures Leave the pieces out in library for children to play with. Back To List Silly Hat Day Title of book: The Hat Author: Jan Brett Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Family involvement/ art/ movement Required materials: Children and parent's choice Step-by-step procedures: Send a letter home to the parents. Example: Dear Parents, On Tuesday we are going to have a silly hat day parade. Help your child decorate a hat/cap to join in the parade. You can use any type of materials to decorate the hats. Like ribbons, buttons, pom-pom, or paints etc. The selections are yours. Can't wait to see what your imaginations come up with. Mrs.Trena On the day have the children march Parade style through the center to show off their hats to the other classrooms of children and staff. Back To List Tacky Title of book: Tacky the Penguin Author of book: Helen Lester Age: Kindergarten Curriculum area: Art / Being Myself Required materials: Black foam sheet White foam sheet Cloth with pattern or print Glue Wiggly eyes Yellow foam sheet Step-by-step procedures: Cut block foam into small circle (for head of penguin). Next cut 2 black foam ovals. Cut 1 in half (for wings). The other is for the body. Cut white foam in smaller oval to fit inside black foam oval (this is the penguins tummy). Cut cloth into a shirt shape and glue onto the top of the penguin form. Cut yellow foam into a diamond shape (for beak). Cut feet from black foam. Glue together, glue on eyes. Back To List Magic Rocks Title of book: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble Author of book: William Steig Age: Kindergarten/Preschool Curriculum area: Art/ Pretend Play Required materials: Red paint Paintbrushes Medium sized rocks Step-by-step procedures: Read the story to the children. Have the children choose a rock. Allow them to paint their rock. After they dry the children can pretend to be anywhere they would like to be just like Sylvester in the story. Have the children hold there magic rock and say, I wish I were… Encourage the children to act out whatever it is they want to be. Back To List Lines Title of book: Harold and the Purple Crayon Author of book: Crockett Johnson Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Fine Motor/Music/Movement Required materials: Selection of 2 pieces of music Butcher paper Purple crayons Step-by-step procedures: Have the children make a line on the paper from one end to the other as they move to the music. Allow each child to have a turn. When everyone has, put on the 2nd selection of music. (Make one selection soft, the other fast or upbeat.) Watch to see how the children react to the different selections. Back To List What Can The Air Move? Title of book: The Wind Blew Author of book: Pat Hutchins Age: Kindergarten Curriculum area: Science/Simple Charts Required materials: Poster board Marker Small objects Straws Trays Step-by-step procedures: Collect about 10 different objects like - tissue, paper clip, cotton ball, pom-pom, etc. Lay objects on the tray. Give each child a straw and encourage them to blow air through the straw then make a chart of what the air moves and what it can't. Back To List Mixing Colors Title of book: White Rabbit's Color Book Author of book: Alan Baker Age: Kindergarten Curriculum area: Science/Art/Colors/Mix Substances Required materials: Red, yellow & blue paint White paper Plastic spoons Step-by-step procedures: Encourage the children to mix the colors together in the same manner Rabbit does on paper. Mix red and yellow. What color? Mix red and blue. What color? Mix blue and yellow. What color? Back To List Buggies Title of book: Dinofours We Love Bugs! Author of book: Steven Metzer Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art Required materials: Paper plate Red & black construction paper Glue Black marker Fastener Step-by-step procedures: Cut paper plate into an oval shape. Cut red construction paper to match bottom half of paper plate. Cut black construction paper to cover top part. Next, cut out 2 wings from red paper and place on the ladybug with fasteners. Have children glue on eyes and take black marker to make dots on ladybug's back. For caterpillar- Materials: Craft sticks Glue 5-6 pom-poms Step-by-step procedures: Have children glue the pom-poms onto craft stick. Then have children glue eyes onto the first pom-pom. Back To List My Favorite Color Title of book: Cat's Colors Author of book: Jane Cabrera Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Language Required materials: Red, blue, yellow, purple, orange, brown & green construction paper squares Poster board Marker Glue Step-by-step procedures: Make a chart with each color square with that color's name on it. Have children choose their favorite color and than have them glue the square with their name on it under the color that is their favorite. Back To List Colors Title of book: Cat's Colors Author of book: Jane Cabrera Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Color recognition/Color words Required materials: White typing paper (5 pieces per child) Markers or crayons - red, brown, green, pink, yellow, blue, purple, orange, black Stapler Step-by-step procedures: Place 5 pieces of paper together, fold in middle and staple into a book. Write color names, one on top of each page. Encourage children to draw a picture of the same color on the page. Back To List Night Watching Title of book: The Night Sky Author of book: Alice Permick Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Science/Home Involvement/Language Required materials: Calendar for the week's activity Note for parents Step-by-step procedures: For 7 days ask the children to get their parents to help them look at the moon at night and draw what they see. Example note to parents: Dear Parents; During the next two weeks we are going to talk about the moon, stars, and night sky. Please help your child draw a picture of what they see in the night sky for the next 7 days. Please return the chart on the date below your child attends class. Your child will be able to share his or her chart with the classmates. Date: mmddyy Thank you, Mrs. Trena PS Have fun! Back To List Hugo's Lunch Title of book: Mimi and the Picnic Author of book: Martin Waddell Age: Kindergarten/Preschool Curriculum area: Cooking Required materials: Tablecloth Graham crackers Vanilla instant pudding (sugar free) Milk Bowls Spoons Large mixing bowl Measuring cups Cherries Step-by-step procedures: Mix pudding following instructions on package. Have children crumble graham crackers in bottom of bowls then spoon pudding on top. Place a cherry on top. After all children have made theirs go outside and have Hugo's lunch. Back To List Color Paddles Title of book: A Color Of His Own Author of book: Leo Lionni Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Science/Colors Required materials: Color paddles Step-by-step procedures: During circle give each child some paddles. As Chameleon changes colors have the children hold up a paddle and look through it. Ask, "What color is it?" After story place paddles in Science Center for children to explore on their own. Back To List Drum Dance Title of book: Rain Song Author of book: Lezlie Evans Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art/Music/Large Motor Movement Required materials: Oatmeal cans or other round containers Stickers Music CD Construction paper Step-by-step procedures: Cover containers with construction paper. Encourage the children to use stickers to decorate their drum. Now have a Drum Dance. Put on a CD and encourage the children to move and drum to the beat of the music. Back To List Counting O's Title of book: The Cheerios Counting Book Author of book: Barbara Barbieri McGraith Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Preschool Required materials: Bags of Cheerios Step-by-step procedures: Read story. After you have read have the children take a bag of Cheerios and a copy of the chart. Then have the children count the Cheerios to you. Allow children to take the chart and Cheerios. Have some Cheerios to eat too. Back To List Mud Pies Title of book: Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Road Author of book: Lynn Plourde, John Schoenherr Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Sensory Required materials: Soil Water Tubs Cups, spoons, other tools to explore soil Step-by-step procedures: Encourage the children to mix water and soil together to make mud. Encourage them to explore with their hands and tools. Back To List Pigs Title of book: Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Road Author of book: Lynn Plourde, John Schoenherr Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Sensory Required materials: Hole punch Pipe cleaner Toilet paper rolls Pink paint Pink construction paper Brushes Pom-pom Scissors Wiggly eyes Small buttons Step-by-step procedures: Have children paint TP toll and let dry. Cut out pig ears and four strips of construction paper. Roll paper strips to form circles, glue to bottom of roll. Glue pop-pom into tube. Glue ears onto the sides of tube and then show children how to roll pipe cleaner around their finger to make it curl. Punch a hole at opposite end of the tube and have children put the pipe cleaner into hole. Glue on eyes and small button nose. Back To List Copy Me Title of book: Monkey See, Monkey Do Author of book: Marc Cave Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Large Motor/Observation Skills Required materials: None Step-by-step procedures: Play a game where you do a movement and encourage children to copy that movement. Back To List Monkey Mask Title of book: Monkey See, Monkey Do Author of book: Marc Cave Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art/Pretend Play Required materials: Paper plate Brown construction paper Brown yarn Brown paint Brushes Glue Craft sticks Tape Step-by-step procedures: Have children paint paper plate brown. Cut out ears from brown construction paper and use brown yarn for monkey's fur. Glue together and tape on back the craft stick. Back To List Sleds Title of book: Curious George Goes Sledding Author of book: Marget Ann Harey Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art Required materials: Craft sticks Small pieces of wood Glue Tape Markers Step-by-step procedures: Have children glue wood pieces onto the craft sticks (the craft sticks will become the runners of the sled). Next tape a piece of yarn (for the handle) to the bottom. Allow children to use markers to decorate. Back To List Good Food, Bad Food Title of book: Gregory, The Terrible Eater Author of book: Mitchell Shoumat Age: Preschool/Kindergarten Curriculum area: Health Required materials: Two white poster boards Marker Magazine cutouts Glue Step-by-step procedures: Draw a tooth on each poster board and then cut them off. Put marks on one to represent cavities. Talk to the children about eating healthy food and how Gregory got sick from eating sweets or junk. Allow children to find foods from the magazines that are healthy and foods that are not. Glue the foods on the appropriate tooth. Back To List Undersea Science Title of book: Teddy In The Undersea Kingdom Author of book: Jan Morgensen Age: Kindergarten Curriculum area: art, ocean life Required materials: Large white construction paper Shells Blue paint Sand Sponges with sea or water animals on them (fish, duck, frog, etc.) Glue Paintbrushes Step-by-step procedures: On the white paper have children cover with blue paint. Allow the paint to set a little while then have them use the sponges to make prints of animals. When they are finished let them glue on sand and some shells. Back To List Froggy's Clothes Title of book: Froggy Gets Dressed Author of book: Jonathon London Age: Kindergarten Curriculum area: Classifying Required materials: Construction paper Scissors Marker Ruler Magazine cutouts of pants, shoes, coat and hat (you can use other items of clothing if you wish). Glue Step-by-step procedures: Divide the construction paper into four parts. Allow the children to cut out pants, shoes, coat and hat. Write on top of each square the name of the item and have the children match the item with its name. Back To List Turtle Title of book: I Wish I Could Fly Author of book: Ron Marris Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art Required materials: Paper bowls Brushes Green construction paper Glue Green paint Eyes Step-by-step procedures: Cut the construction paper according to the pattern. Glue paper bowl to pattern. Allow the children to paint the bowl and then glue on the eyes. Back To List Beautiful Butterfly Title of book: Butterfly Express Author of book: Jane Belk Moncure Age: Kindergarten Curriculum area: Art Required materials: Large newspaper Paint Pipe cleaners Paintbrushes Step-by-step procedures: Gather the newspaper in the middle. Wrap a pipe cleaner around the middle leaving enough room for the antennas. Let the children paint their butterfly. Back To List Dressing For The Snow Title of book: The Jacket I Wear In The Snow Author of book: Shirley Neitzel Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Weather Required materials: Copies of large articles of clothing, one for each child Glue (stick works best) Poster board Step-by-step procedures: Have the children place in order according to the way they appear in the story. Back To List Bubble Day Title of book: The Bubble Factory Author of book: Tomie Depaola Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Social/Physical Movement/Science Required materials: Dishwashing liquid Tubs Water Wands/bubble makers Step-by-step procedures: Add 2 cups of dishwashing liquid per gallon of water. Allow children to explore and experiment with making bubbles. Back To List Clifford Title of book: Clifford's First School Day Author of book: Norman Bridwell Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art Required materials: Paper plate Red crayon Black permanent marker Red construction paper Glue sticks Step-by-step procedures: On the paper plate draw a face with the black marker. Cut out ears from red construction paper. Have children color the plate red and glue ears on the side. Back To List Pumpkin Vines Title of book: It's Pumpkin Time Author of book: Zoe Hall Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art/Fall Required materials: Large white construction paper Green, brown and orange construction paper Scissors Glue Step-by-step procedures: Make a spiral from the green construction paper. Have children cut the line around the spiral then glue onto the white construction paper. Next have orange circle cut outs and have children glue brown strips for stems on the back. Now they can put the pumpkin onto the vine. Back To List Leaf Prints Title of book: Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf Author of book: Lois Ehlert Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art/Science/ Nature/Colors Required materials: Different types of leaves Yellow, brown and red paint Plate or flat container Large white construction paper Step-by-step procedures: Give each child construction paper. Pour each color paint onto plate or flat container. Place leaves into paint covering whole leaf. Have children then lay leaf onto paper. Press down and then lift to see print. Back To List Apple Prints Title of book: Johnny Appleseed Author of book: Steven Kellogg Age: Preschool Curriculum area: painting Required materials: Apples Construction paper Knife Red paint Step-by-step procedures: Cut apple across the center so you can see the star made by the core. Allow children to place apple in paint and then press firmly on paper to imprint the star. Back To List A For Alien Title of book: Hush Little Alien Author of book: Daniel Kirk Age: preschool Curriculum area: art/ letter recognize Required materials: Construction paper Shape cutout Glue White paper Step-by-step procedures: Cut out a variety of shapes and encourage the children to glue together into an alien. Back To List Hats Title of book: That Fat Hat Author of book: Joanne Barkan Age: kindergarten Curriculum area: art Required materials: Newspaper Masking tape Paint (children's choice) Collage materials Glue Step-by-step procedures: Place 2 to 3 pieces of newspaper on top of child's head. Wrap masking tape around child's head to form a hat. Roll up edges and tape in a few places. Have children paint, let dry and decorate with collage materials. Back To List Writing In The Sand Title of book: Say it; Sign It Author of book: Elaine Epstein Age: preschool / kindergarten Curriculum area: art/ introduction to sign language Required materials: Sand paper Crayons Step-by-step procedures: Encourage the children to create a picture by drawing on the rough side of the sandpaper. Back To List Pass The Mitten Title of book: The Mitten Author of book: Jan Brett Age: preschool/ kindergarten Curriculum area: large motor Required materials: Mitten CD or other music Step-by-step procedures: Play as you would Hot Potato. Encourage the children to pass the mitten to one another in a circle. When the music stops the stop passing the mitten. With younger children do not have an out. Have an activity for the older children to go to when they are caught with the mitten. See Mitten Threading for one idea. Back To List Snowflake Dance* Title of book: The Big Snow Author of book:Berta and Elmer Hader Age: preschool Curriculum area: movement/music Required materials: White felt Scissors CD or other music Step-by-step procedures: Cut out enough snowflakes for children to have one or two. Play the CD and encourage children to dance or move to the music. Back To List What's The Weather? Title of books: Storms, Wind by Susan Canizares & Betsey Chessen Weather by Pamela Chanko & Daniel Moreton Sun by Susan Canizares & Daniel Moreton Age: Kindergarten Curriculum area: weather Required materials: Posterboard made into a calendar grid Collection of weather pictures Step-by-step procedures: For one month have the children be "Weather Watchers" by placing a picture of the days weather on each calendar grid. Back To List Creatures All Around Us Title of books: Sea Creatures by Pamela Chanko Snakes and Lizards by Pamela Chanko & Daniel Moreton Frogs by Susan Canizares & Daniel Moreton Bugs, Bugs, Bugs by Mary Reid and Betsey Chessen What Is An Insect? By Susan Canizares & Mary Reid Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Science Required materials: different pretend animals Sea animals, snakes, lizards, frogs, and bugs Step-by-step procedures: Place a variety of sea animals, snakes, lizards, frogs, and bugs in science area or at a table with books. Have children sort animals into categories: Look for likenesses and differences. Where do the animals live? (land, water, air) Back To List Mitten Threading Title of book: The Mitten Author of book: Jan Brett Age: preschool/ kindergarten Curriculum area: fine motor Required materials: Construction paper Mittens (2 for each child) Yarn or shoestrings (for yarn place masking tape on one end to help it go through the holes) Hole punch Step-by-step procedures: Cut two mitten shapes (same size) for each child. Punch holes around the edges of the mittens. Encourage the children to thread the string around the mittens. Back To List Feather Fun With Numbers Title of book: Counting Feathers Author of book: Al Simmons Age: preschool Curriculum area: Math Required materials: Poster board Marker Feathers Step-by-step procedures: Make a numbered chart (1 - 10) Have children count out number of feathers in each space. Back To List Apple Smiles Title of book: Doctor de Soto Author of book: William Steig Age: kindergarten Curriculum area: Cooking/Dental Health Required materials: 2 large apples (depending on the # of children, the more children, the more apples you will need) 1/2-cup smooth peanut butter Mini marshmallows Toothbrush Toothpaste Step-by-step procedures: Cut apples cut into 8 slices each. Remove apple cores. Spread peanut butter on one side of each slice. Place marshmallows between 2 apple slices. Grin back at your apple smile. Follow up by discussing with the child how to keep their Apple Smile. Show them on the Apple Smile how they should brush their teeth up and down. Back To List Decorating Mittens Title of book: The Mitten Author of book: Jan Brett Age: Preschool/Kindergarten Curriculum area: Art Required materials: Mitten pattern Construction paper (assorted colors) Scissors Hole punch Sequins Cotton balls Glue Markers Yarn Step-by-step procedures: Have children trace 2 mittens onto construction paper with marker. Have children cut out their mittens. Have children glue what decorations they want onto the mittens and let them dry. Punch a hole at the bottom of each mitten and tie a piece of yarn between them to attach them. Back To List Wash Day Title of book: Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash Author of book: Sarah Weeks Age: preschool/ kindergarten Curriculum area: pretend play Required materials: Doll clothes Clothespins Clothesline Washtub soap Water Step-by-step procedures: Place a small washtub in housekeeping area with soap and water. Have a variety of baby doll clothes Allow the children to wash the clothes Then hang them on a line to dry. Back To List Matching Sounds Title of book: Book Sounds Author of book: David Bennett Age: Preschool/Kindergarten Curriculum area: Science. Sense of Sound Required materials: Film canisters with tops (or other small containers) Variety of small objects Beans, shells, toothpicks, buttons, wood pieces, macaroni & sequins Step-by-step procedures: Place small objects into containers. Use 2 containers for each type of object. Have the children match the containers by sound. Back To List Snowy Day Story Title of book: The Snowy Day Author of book: Ezra Jack Keats Age: Preschool/Kindergarten Curriculum area: Art/Language Arts Required materials: Markers White paper Step-by-step procedures: Encourage the children to draw a picture on what they would do on a snowy day. Have them dictate to you about their picture. Write down their dictation. Put their pictures together to create a book display in the classroom for the children to look at. (You may want to laminate.) Back To List Cookie Baking Title of book: Mr. Cookie Baker Author of book: Monica Wellington Age: Preschool/Kindergarten Curriculum area:cooking Required materials: Cookie dough (Pillsbury) Cookie cutters Cookie sheets Step-by-step procedures: Allow the children to roll out cookie dough and cut with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350º f for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool. Eat. Back To List Rhythm Stick March Title of book: Max Found Two Sticks Author of book: Brian Pinkney Age: Preschool/Kindergarten Curriculum area: Rhythm/ movement Required materials: Rhythm sticks (1 set for each child) Step-by-step procedures: Give each child a set of the rhythm sticks. Encourage the children to join the march playing the sticks as they march. Back To List Soup Day Title of book: Who Put The Pepper In The Pot? Author of book: Joanna Cole Age: Kindergarten Curriculum area: Nutrition/Cooking Required materials: Potatoes Onion Mushrooms Carrots Rice (1 cup) Chicken broth (4 cups) Bowls Spoons Crock-pot Knife Step-by-step procedures: Have children wash hands. Peel and cut potatoes, onions and carrots. Put in crock-pot with chicken broth. Add rice and mushrooms. Cook on medium heat until rice is done. Serve. Eat. Back To List Drawing My Home Title of book: There's No Place Like Home Author of book: Marc Brown Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Sociology Required materials: Drawing paper Markers Step-by-step procedures: Encourage the children to draw a picture of their home. Make it into a class book. Back To List Snow People Title of book: Sadie and the Snowman Author of book: Allen Morgan Age: Kindergarten Curriculum area: Art Required materials: White or brown lunch bags (white paint if you use brown bags) Newspaper Glue Pom-pom Eyes Buttons Brown beans Hot glue/ glue gun Cloth Brown or black construction paper Twigs Masking tape Step-by-step procedures: Have the children stuff the 3 bags with newspaper making one large, middle-sized and one small. Tape the bags closed with the masking tape. Hot glue the bags together to form the snowperson. (Teacher does this part) Have the children glue on eyes Pom-pom for nose Using the beans, form a mouth. Decorate the snow person with the buttons. Take a piece of clothe for the scarf. Place between the first and second bag. Cut the construction paper into a strip about 2 inches wide and a circle roll the strip to make circle tape ends together cut little slits into the bottom fold the slits up then tape down onto circle glue hat onto the snowperson's head. Push twigs into the sides of the second bag for arms. Back To List Tasting Beets Title of book: The Farmer and the Beet Author of book: Addison and Wesley Age: Preschool/Kindergarten Curriculum area: Math Required materials: Beets Step-by-step procedures: Have the children taste a beet. Make a chart as to whether or not they like them. Count how many liked and how many did not. Back To List Flowers in Bloom Title of book: Flower Garden Author of book: Eve Bunting Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Creative display /Art Required materials: Small clay flower pots Plastic or silk flowers Moss grass Step-by-step procedures: Provide a pot for each child. Have the child stuff the moss grass into the pot. Then have the children place 2 to 4 flowers into the pot. This makes a nice Mother's day gift's day. Back To List Fluffy Clouds Title of book: Little Cloud Author of book: Robert Tallon Age: Preschool Curriculum area: Art/Fine motor Required materials: Poster board Scissors White tissue paper Glue Step-by-step procedures: Cut the poster board in a cloud shape. Have the children tear the tissue paper into small pieces. Encourage the children to glue the tissue paper onto the entire cloud shape. Back To List Stomp Title of book: Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp Author of book: Carol Diggory Shields Age: Preschool/Kindergarten Curriculum area: Music/Movement/Dramatic Play Required materials: Poster board CD or tape with a rock beat CD or tape player Scissors Yarn Hole punch Step-by-step procedures: Cut dinosaur feet out of poster board. Punch a hole on each side of the dinosaur foot. Pull yarn through the hole. Place the dinosaur foot on top of child's shoe, tying the yarn on top of shoe. Put on the music to play. Encourage the children to do their own stomp. Back To List Stand Up Day of the Week Title of book: Todav is Monday Author of book: Eric Carle Age Group: Kindergarten Curriculum area: Social Studies Required Materials: Poster board Marker Yarn Hole punch Step-by-step Procedures: Cut rectangles from poster board big enough for each day of the week to be written on. Write on the poster board the day of the week. Punch a hole on each corner of the poster board. Run a piece of yarn though the hole tying it at each to make a necklace to go over the children's neck. As you read each day of the week have the child who is wearing that necklace stand up. When finished reading about that day child can set back down. Back To List The Ladybug Storyteller Title of book: The Grouchy Ladybug Author of book: Eric Carle Age Group: Toddlers/Preschool/Kindergarden Curriculum area: Puppetry/Language Arts Required Materials: Book- The Grouchy Ladybug Ladybug puppet Step-by-step Procedures: Read the story to the children as you read have puppet on your hand. Or have the puppet tell the story to the children. Back To List Pillow Fight Title of book: The Caterpillow Fight Author of book: Sam McBratney Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Puppetry/Language Arts Required Materials: Daterpillar puppet Small pillow Step-by-step Procedures: Read the story to the children using the puppet to "act" it out as you read. Back To List Cookie Jars Title of book: Book of Cookie Shapes Author of book: Golden Press Books Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Math/Family involvement Required Materials: Letter to parents Sample of letter: Dear parents, I'm sending home with your child this book and math activity to encourage him/her to practice: A) Numeral recognition B) Association between numerals and written number. In this bag you find a set of cookie jars and cookies have your child count out the correct amount for each jar. Review numbers and number order. Then have your child count out the correct number accounting to their shape. 5 plastic containers numbered 1-5 At least 15 paper cookies of deferent shapes. Cut from construction paper or small pieces of wood. Bag to put everything in for going home with the child. Step-by-step Procedures: Send home with the child letter and bag with materials in it. Back To List Library Visit Title of book: Book! Book! Book Author of book: Deborah Bruss Age Group: Preschool/Kindergarten Curriculum area: Literacy Required Materials: Permission slips Transportation Parents to go along Step-by-step Procedures: PIan a day to take the children to the library. Set up with the library for someone to show them how to get a library card and check out books. Back To List Matching Shapes Title of book: Round is a Mooncake Author of book: Roseanne Thong Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Matching/One-to-one correspondence Required Materials: Poster board shapes Objects that are round, square and rectangled. Step-by-step Procedures: Have the children match the objects with the shapes. Back To List Cookie Hunt Title of book: Who Took the Cookies From the Cookie Jar? Author of book: Bonnie Lass & Philemon Sturges Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Observation/Math Required Materials: Plastic cookies Step-by-step Procedures: Before the children come into the classroom hide the cookies. Read the story to the children. TeII them there is something hidden in the room and they go in this jar. Have the children go find the hidden cookies. After finding the cookies count them together. Back To List Shape Collage Title of book: Round is a Mooncake Author of book: Roseanne Thong Age Group: Preschool/Kindergaden Curriculum area: Shapes/Cutting skills Required Materials: Markers Scissors Glue Construction paper Step-by-step Procedures: Trace different shapes on construction paper. Have the children cut out the shapes. After they cut the shapes out then make a picture by gluing the shapes onto paper. Back To List Ira's Visit Title of book: Ira Sleeps Over Author of book: Bernard Waber Age Group: Preschool / Kindergarten Curriculum area: Family involvement / Social skills Required Materials: Letter to parents. Example of letter: Dear Parents, This is Ira and a story about her sleep over. Please take some time to let her read her story with you and your child. As you read let Ira " be part" of the story. Setting with your child's lap or lying with them. Don't forget Ira likes to sleep with her bear. Sleep tight Good-night. P.S. Please check bag before returning to class to ensure all items are present so the next child can have a turn to benefit from this activity. Thank you. Bag Baby doll Bear Book- Ira Sleeps Over Step-by-step Procedures: Have children take home Ira for the night. Back To List Tickle Me Title of book: Ticklemonster and Me Author of book: Max Haynes Age Group: Preschool Curriculum area: Family involvement / Social skills Required Materials: Letter to parents. Example of letter: Dear Parents, This is Miss. Ticklemonster and a story about her. Please take some time to let her read her story with you and your child. As you read let Miss. Ticklemonster " be part" of the story. Acting it out as you read. Setting with your child's on their lap or lying with them. Sleep tight Good-night. P.S. Please check bag before returning to class to ensure all items are present so the next child can have a turn to benefit from this activity. Thank you. Bag Book- Ticklemonster and Me Step-by-step Procedures: Have the children take home Miss Ticklemonster's bag for the night with a letter to parents. Back To List Corduroy's Special Visit Title of book: Corduroy Author of book: Don Freeman Age Preschool and Kindergarten Curriculum area: Social interaction Required materials: Teddy bear with overalls on PJ's Toothbrush Journal with letter to parents glued in side with instructions on what to do with Corduroy Blanket Bag for every thing to go in Container of buttons Step-by-step procedures: Place all Corduroy's things into bag. Allow a child to take him home for the weekend. Tell the child to have mom or dad read the instructions at the front of Corduroy's journal. Example of letter: Dear Parents, Corduroy is coming home for the weekend with your child because he/she has been chosen student of the week. Corduroy has some needs. They are: Give him lots of hugs and try to keep him with you as much as possible. He really likes to be loved and played with a lot. Change him into his PJ's (which are in his bag) at bedtime. Brush his teeth. Let him sleep with you; make sure he has his blanket (which is in his bag also). It helps him feel safe. Cover him up good so he won't catch a cold. Corduroy has a canister full of special buttons in his bag .You can do lots of activities with these buttons. Activities suggestions: Make shapes with the buttons. Count the buttons. Sort the buttons by shapes, colors. Look for matching buttons. Come up with some ideas of your own and have mom or dad write them down in Corduroy's journal. Please remember to bring Corduroy back to class on Monday. Get mom or dad to write down your adventures to share with the class. Have a wonderful weekend together. Back To List How Are You Feeling Today? Title of book: What Makes Me Happy? Author of book: Catherine and Lawrence Anholt Age Group: Kindergraten/Preschool Curriculum area: Feeling recognition Required Materials: Contruction paper squares (one for each child) Scissors Large poster board Glue stick Markers/crayons Step-by-step Procedures: Read the story a day ahead of doing activity. Cut paper in squares. As the children are working ask one at a time to come to the table and review the book with them. When they answer have them draw a picture of themselves expressing the way they feel. When they finish their picture have them glue them onto a poster board for display. Back To List Letter Fun Title of book: Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom Author of book: Bill Martin, Jr. Age Group: Preschool/Kindergarten Curriculum area: Letter recognition Required Materials: Felt pieces of letters of the alphabet. Felt tree. Felt cocoanuts. Felt board. Step-by-step Procedures: Place the letters in the library with felt board. Allow the children to "act out" the story using the felt pieces. Ask the children who is first, last and goes in the middle of the tree. Have them point out to you a letter as you name it. Back To List