Bridges

Most recently Curly asked to learn about bridges...her Dad and Grandparents actually did most of the preschool time with her.  She must have learned something though, because everytime we drive over a bridge she says, "this is a car bridge."   Also, while at the beach a week later, every sandcastle we built had to have a drawbridge.

We all enjoyed these two fabulous books:
1.  Bridges are to Cross by Philemon Sturges Illustrated by Giles Laroche.
This book shows many famous bridges and explains how bridges purposes have varied throughout time--carrying water like the Acquedut of Segovia, keeping out invaders, or helping llamas and people over a steep mountain pass.

and
2.  The Bridge Book by Polly Carter Illustrated by Roy Doty
This book is cartoony in style but explains accurately for ages 4-8 the how and why of bridges.  It also highlights the different types of bridges like suspension, truss, girder, arch, cable-stayed, covered, cantilever, and drawbridge.

Butterfly Unit

I suspected Curly would probably ask to learn about butterflies...but when she started making book suggestions too I knew I needed to take her seriously. She suggested,

and 

Both are excellent books, the later being less fictional.  We also found some great informational books like Moths and Butterflies and spent a whole day learning about the differences between the two.  Did you know that butterflies usually land on a flower with their wings closed and moth with their wings open?  Another day we learned about the life cycle of a butterfly, metamorphisis, the body parts of a butterfly, and other fun facts.  Did you know a butterfly tastes with its hind legs?  Curly had a great idea to play with a leftover party blower from her birthday to imitate a proboscis uncurling to take a drink of nectar.  Most recently we spent a day learning all about Monarch Butteflies and their miraculous migration.  We found three excellent library books specifically about Monarchs.  This is a great informational picture book that is not too cumbersome but still very informative for preschoolers:


We also really enjoyed this fictional book about a caterpillar who's "Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go to Mexico."

And then lastly this book weaves many facts about Monarchs into a great storyline about a third child feeling a bit neglected and overshadowed by her older sisters.  This website also has some great links and teaching ideas specifically related to this book.


A few other favorites:
Wings of Light which is techinically an informational picture book but it reads like a fictional book and the beautiful illustrations definitely feel that way too.
Clara the Caterpillar
The Caterpillar and the Pollywog - a classic.  I especially like the movie version found on the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Movie.

We did a few fun hands-on activities related to butterflies as well.  Including a craft project or two.  But our main project was ordering a butterfly garden...unfortunately we're still waiting on that package.  But I hope to renew our favorite books we found from the library and revisit them as teaching opportunities arise.

Eiffel Tower Building Unit

Grace and I have enjoyed learning about buildings and monuments this week.  Mostly we checked out some great books at the library, and built with various implements this week--blocks, nesting blocks, toothpicks, peg boards, Duplos, etc.  But I did come across some great children's books.  I also realized that this unit could easily go several directions:

1.  Monuments--famous structures around the world (geographic location, destinct features, history, and significance).    Our favorite fiction book about monuments was hand's down: Ben's Dream by Christ Van Allsburg.   The main character is studying for a geography test and falls asleep...while dreaming his home floats around the world passing by the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, and the Taj Mahal, to name a few. I had fun creating a PowerPoint with pictures of famous monument with a inset little map as a reference as to where that monument is in the world.  I also tried to include something else familiar she could relate to that monument or area--i.e. a picture of her cousin who lives by the Statue of Liberty or the character Madeline by the Eiffel Tower.

2.  Construction--the how of building, from the foundation, to the back hoes, to the scaffolding, maerials, etc.  Curly seemed interested in two main types of construction:  homes, and BIG buildings.  Regarding homes we found several fun books about different types of homes around the world.  We also incorporated the story of the Three Little Pigs discussing why you'd want your home to be strong.  She also is fascinated by sky scrapers. David Macaulay's has an excellent book, Building Big.  It is so popular it actually became a whole series on PBS.

3.  Architecture--various types throughout history and as a profession.
We enjoyed this visual book.  I loved how perceptive she was a noticing nuances like the differences between the capitols of columns or types of arches.  Preschoolers really can be observant of intricate details if we give them the right outlets!  Since she's often talked about being an artist when she grows up we also talked about the profession of architects...whose job is to design/draw the building.

Summer Mommy & Me Preschool Time

Curly and I are really enjoying Mommy & Me preschool time (about 30 minutes everyday during Little Red's nap).  I think we're going to do a theme study every week on a different topic she's interested in--combining some library books with activities.  Next week we've already decided to teach her about buildings and famous monuments, specifically the Eiffel Tower.  She's been peppering me with questions about the Eiffel Tower and comparing everything's size to the Eiffel Tower.  Often overheard saying things like, "It's almost as big as the Eiffel tower!"  I also want to incorporate daily fine motor activities and/or a little handwriting practice--because she seems so eager to be able to write her letters well but struggles a bit with the motor skills.  I've liked this website's approach.  I'm not really sitting down and giving her worksheet after worksheet--we make it fun.  But the groupings on the website helped me break it down for Curly a bit more.  We've also enjoyed the games and activities from this summer packet--it has a nice balance of literacy and math activities.  Curly has especially enjoyed the Summer Book Bingo.  This week at the library she choose Laura Numeroff as an author and we had fun checking out ALL the books by her and reading and comparing them.

Mother's Day Ideas...

A Hug you can mail

What You Need:

• Construction Paper
• Yarn
• Glue

Trace and cut out, from construction paper, the hands of the child. Measue the distance from finger tip to finger tip of outstretched arms with yarn, cut. Attach a handprint to each end of the yarn. Place inside a card with the following poem: A Mother's Day Hug to You [Grandma] Wrap these hands around you whenever I'm away so you can have a hug from me anytime of day!

A card variation on this idea can be found here.


Some other ideas that would work better NOT mailed.
A handprint flower...complete with clothes pin and magnet making it a great accessory for any fridge to hold the child's artwork!



http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/05/06/a-sweet-little-mothers-day-gift/


A basket with flowers (but change it to say Happy Mother's Day).

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/04/30/may-day-basket-tutoria/

Graphing with Preschoolers

Graphing can easily be adapted to fit any theme.  I often like to work it in during snack time...i.e. Do you like green apples or red apples better?  This website explains it well:  http://notjustcute.com/2010/03/22/graphing-with-preschoolers-doesnt-get-much-easier-than-this/

Letter W

The gathering activity was playing a "w" matching game.

Then we did our usual welcome song, calendar, and introduced the letter of the day.  I sang, "Oh where or where has the "W" gone or where or where could it be?"  The kids then looked all over and finally I gave them a clue by singing "Is it by a window or on the floor?"  They finally found it by the window.  We then practiced making the "w" sound.  We then did show and tell.  After that we talked about the weather and wind.   I like to then let them get a few wiggles out from sitting on their carpet square during circle time.  Some fun wiggle activities I had planned include, singing "The Wheels on the Bus" and the song "Walking, walking."  But we didn't end up doing the songs today because I forgot.  But we did do a fun creative dance where we were moving like the wind, blowing around whoosing, spinning, high and low, fast and slow, etc.

We then practiced writing on white boards.  First we just drew zigzags and then tried w's.  Apparently developmentally writing actual letters may be too much for most 3-4 year olds.  But drawing lines, circles, and zigzags is more appropriate (and fun!)

Then we headed upstairs for a fun restaurant role playing game, "Waitress, waitress" (or "Waiter, Waiter.") where the kids ordered various foods like waffles, watermelon, and water.  I had menus prepared and an apron for the kid playing the waiter/waitress to wear.  I was in the "kitchen" and would put the play food they ordered on the tray.  Then the waiter/waitress would come and get it and serve it to them.  But that made them hungry so we segued immediately into snacktime and now I was the pretend waitress.  I had different menus ready of their choices for snacktime.  It actually made snacktime easier letting each tell me exactly what they wanted upfront and then I quickly prepared each of their plates and passed them out.  They could choose from watermelon, strawberry wafers, Wheatables, and water.

After that we looked at books.  They quickly were able to find all the W's in print!

We read Whistle for Willie and then had free play time.  They came up with a fun group game of "Oh where or where has my watch dog gone" all on their own.  It involved the owner  trying to find his naughty puppies that kept running away.  They were really into it.  And even better they didn't make hardly any mess at all.  So I told them since we could skip clean up time, they could help me clean my windows!  They each divided into teams and washed windows (with water NOT actual Windex).  They took turns squirting and wiping.  While they wiped they said the w sound, "wah, wah, wah, wah, wah."

Then we read a book Waiting for Winter about a squirrel who's trying to figure out what snow is.  So we then got to play in our own white stuff.  I let them play and practice writing in white shaving cream.  It actually was a bit messier then anticipated, but quite fun.  Everyone definitely had to wash hands in warm water afterwards and some changed clothes as well.

We then had circle time again and review the sound the letter "w" makes and each kid remembered something starting with the letter "w."  I then reminded them of one more "w" word, wolf.  We did various big bad wolf activities including some dramatic play with finger puppets for Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs.

Later when we were outside, we played our favorite game--colored eggs which also involves a big bad wolf.    We also practiced writing zigzags and letter W's again this time with sidewalk chalk.

Other W ideas include:
More water play--pouring, sensory table, etc.
Where the Wild Things Are --reading the story, making masks, etc.
Worms--wiggling like worms, digging for worms, studying worms, etc.
Wagon rides
Nursery rhyme: Wee Willie Winkie
Song: Whistle While You Work