Sunday, July 28, 2013

All About the Letter Pocket Chart Activitiy

All About the Letter Activity Chart is part of my circle time routine. Each letter of the alphabet has four photo picture cards. Suggested ideas:

  • Letter recognition
  • Alphabetic order
  • Beginning sound identification
  • Sorting
  • Classifying

The picture is a representation of the All About the Letter Chart. The photo cards are Alphabet Soup Sorters the school district had purchased for the classroom. Instead of using the Alphabet Soup Sorter Cards you can use the photo picture cards in this activity packet.

All About the Letter Pocket Chart Activities

The packet contains the following:

  • (26) Letter Cards (Vowels are in red)
  • (4) Photo cards for each letter of the alphabet
  • (1) All about the letter... Sign
  • (1) Question mark card.

Photo List:

  • Aa: apple, ambulance, ant, Apple Jacks 
  • Bb: balloon, butterfly, bear, button 
  • Cc: cat, cake, cookie, car
  • Dd: doughnut, domino, dog, duck 
  • Ee: elephant, eraser, eagle, ear 
  • Ff: fork, football, firefighter, feather
  • Gg: goat, gas, grapes, glasses 
  • Hh: heart, hat, hamster, horn 
  • Ii: ice cream, ice, iron, insect
  • Jj: jacks, jet, juice, jar 
  • Kk: kick, keys, ketchup, kite 
  • Ll: ladder, lamp, lock, lemon
  • Mm: mushroom, magnet, motorcycle, milk 
  • Nn: nurse, newspaper, nest, nickel 
  • Oo: ostrich, orange, olive, owl
  • Pp: pig, pumpkin, pot, pizza 
  • Qq: quilt, quarter, queen, quail 
  • Rr: rabbit, rake, rope, rhino
  • Ss: socks, snake, soap, stove 
  • Tt: turtle, tomato, table, teeth 
  • Uu: unicycle, umbrella, underwear, uniform 
  • Vv: violin, vase, vulture, van 
  • Ww: watch, wagon, watermelon, window 
  • Xx: x-ray, xylophone , box, fox 
  • Yy: yarn, yak, yogurt, yellow 
  • Zz: zebra, zucchini, zigzag, zipper

Directions:


  • It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. Actual size for each letter card is 3.25” x 3.75” and each photo card is 2.625” x 2.6667”.
  • Once printed cut on the solid black line for the letter cards. This way the background goes all the way to the edge.
  • Once all pieces have been laminated and cut I used a calendar pocket chart to place all of the cards in and the photo cards are placed behind the letter.
DOWNLOAD>> All About the Letter Pocket Chart Activity

Credits:

Yogurt photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theimpulsivebuy/5013251526/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Zigzag photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryandjc/3630419433/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Queen photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixel_addict/1401218685/sizes/l/in/photostream/
www.MyCuteGraphics.com
www.KevinandAmanda.com

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Mailbox Student Address Cards

Download FREE from my Teachers Pay Teacher Store!
These mailbox shaped cards are the ideal printable to use for students to learn their name, address, telephone number and birthday.

You could also use the activity for the following:

  • Name recognition
  • Address knowledge
  • Telephone knowledge
  • Birthday
  • Letter recognition
  • Concepts about print
  • Emergent reading skills
  • And so much more!

Use Adobe Acrobat to fill in student information.The packet contains the following:

  • (4) Mailbox Cards with lines for writing information on.
  • (4) Editable Mailbox cards that you can use Adobe Acrobat to type in student information. 

Directions:

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. Then cut out along image lines and write student information on the cards with a permanent marker AFTER laminating. To re-use cards, simply scribble over permanent marker with a dry erase marker, then wipe clean. Something in the dry erase marker enables the permanent marker to be cleaned off the laminated card. Perfect to reuse the card instead of having to re-print new ones!

If you have any suggestions and/or comments to make this learning packet better, please feel free to email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.

Download FREE from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store






FREE Download>> Student Address Cards

Number Tracing Cards

Download from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store
Number Tracing Cards are perfect for little hands to use. Simply supply your little ones with dry erase markers or dry erase crayons and let them practice their fine motor skills while they are recognizing their numerals.



Directions

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. For added durability I cut the cards apart on the dotted line and folded the cards in half on the solid line. Then I glued the two folded pieces together with stick glue. I then laminated the Number Tracing Cards. NOTE: If you decide to assemble your Number Tracing Cards this way, leave at least an 1/8th of an inch of laminate film around each card when trimming. This way the laminate will not peel (if it’s the good kind). Then I punched a hole in the top right corner and used a book ring bind my Number Tracing Cards together. I am using the cards in my writing center this year.

If you have any suggestions and/or comments to make this learning packet better, please feel free to email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.

Download from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store







DOWNLOAD >> Number Tracing Cards

Credits


Alphabet Tracing Cards

Alphabet Tracing Cards are perfect for little hands to use. Simply supply your little ones with dry erase markers or crayons and let them practice their fine motor skills while they are recognizing the letters of the alphabet.

Directions

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. For added durability I cut the cards apart on the dotted line and folded the cards in half on the solid line. Then I glued the two folded pieces together with stick glue. I then laminated the Alphabet Tracing Cards. NOTE: If you decide to assemble your Alphabet Tracing Cards this way, leave at least an 1/8th of an inch of laminate film around each card when trimming. This way the laminate will not peel (if it’s the good kind). Then I punched a hole in the top right corner and used a book ring bind my Alphabet Tracing Cards together. I am using the cards in my writing center this year.
If you have any suggestions and/or comments to make this learning packet better, please feel free to email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.








DOWNLOAD >> Alphabet Tracing Cards

Credits




Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Rain, Rain GO AWAY!

http://www.wwals.net/tag/alapaha-river
Alapaha River on HWY 122


Lately it has been raining cats and dogs for the last two weeks. The Alapaha River is out of its banks and my yard looks part lake, part jungle because the grass is so high. So why not add some rainy day activities you can use at home or in the classroom.

Language Activity

To develop language skills practice this rain poem:

Rain on the green grass
And rain on trees.
Rain on the rooftops,
But not on me!

http://www.MyCuteGraphics.com

Science Activity

Rain Gauge
Use an empty can or jar to make a rain gauge. Place the container outside to measure the rainfall. Have the rain have your child investigate how full the container is. Use words like more, less, about, estimate to build vocabulary. Also, as an extension activity have your child draw a picture to how much rain is in the rain gauge. This will develop scientific observation skills.

Art Activity

Eyedropper Painting
Materials: Assorted plastic medicine droppers for safety, and food coloring, plastic cups, white construction paper

Directions: Fill the plastic cups half way with water and add a few drops of food coloring to each cup. Let you child practice fine motor skills by using the plastic medicine dropper to get the watercolors. Then encourage your child to hold the plastic medicine dropper above the paper, then release the color creating a colored “rain” drop. REMEMBER it is the creative process and not the end product that contains. To promote language skills ask your little one to describe his/her painting to you. Then you can write his/her words directly onto their artwork and display.

Cooking Activity

Rainbow Fruit Parfait
Ingredients:
  • red = strawberries 
  • orange = oranges 
  • yellow = bananas 
  • green = kiwi 
  • blue = blueberries 
  • indigo = blackberries 
  • purple = grapes 
  • vanilla yogurt, granola bar
Directions: Cut up each of the fruits above, layer each fruit with vanilla yogurt in a cup and crumble up a granola bar on top. Chill for about 30 min. Then enjoy!

Literacy

Little Raindrop
This is the sun, high up in the sky, (hold hands in circle above head)
A dark cloud suddenly comes sailing by, (slide hands to side)
These are the raindrops, (make raining motion with fingers)
Pitter, patter down,
Watering the flowers, (pouring motion)
Growing on the ground. (pat the ground)

Thunderstorm
Boom, bang, boom bang! (clap hands)
Rumpety, lumpety, bump! (stomp feet)
Zoom, zam, zoom, zam! (swish hands together)
Rustles and bustles (pat thighs)
And swishes and zings! (pat thighs)
What wonderful noises
A thunderstorm brings.

Math

Rainbow Matching
Materials: Assorted fabrics matching the colors in the rainbow.
Directions: Cut the assorted fabric in 2 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inches squares. Have the children sort the fabric into groups by colors, textures, and size. Differentiation: For children having difficulty in sorting by colors, provide a corresponding colored paper cup or bowl for the children to use. The children can match the fabric to the container.

Gross Motor

Worm Wiggles
The purpose of this game is to move like a worm. Show you child how to lie on the floor and move their body forward without using their hands or elbows. This game will surly get a giggle or to and hopefully burn some energy off as well.

Amazon Book List

Rain or Shine: All About the Weather






Rain or Shine: All About the Weather

Let It Rain by Maryann Cocca-Leffler





Let It Rain by Maryann Cocca-Leffler





Maisy'sWonderful Weather Book
Maisy's Wonderful Weather Book

Whether it's snowy, rainy, or sunny, readers can explore the natural world with Maisy and find out how wonderful weather can be!

What's the weather, Maisy? It's sunny — hooray! It's windy — hooray! It's raining — hooray, hooray! Whatever the weather, Maisy knows how to make the best of the day. Little fans will be proud to help with the forecast by pulling the tabs and turning the wheels to make the rain come down, the snow fall, the lightning flash, and even a rainbow appear!


Splish!Splash!: A Book About Rain









Splish!Splash!: A Book About Rain



The Rain Came Down









The Rain Came Down



What Will the Weather Be? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)







What Will the Weather Be? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)


Resources/Credits:

Monday, July 8, 2013

Who Came to School Today?

I have continued working on my "Under the Sea" theme for my classroom. I can hardly believe that it is only 14 DAYS until the start of the new school term. I am both disappointed and excited at the same time. Disappointed because it means less time in the pool but excited to see how the new ideas and activities I created will work this year.

The activity I created is all original artwork. The Who Cane to School Today Attendance chart will be part of our morning ritual. The students will come in find their name on the sign-in sheet, sign-in, put their fish in the fishbowl, and then decide how they feel for the day on the How Do I Feel Today Chart.


Who Came to School Today? is used for attendance. The children come in and move their fish name tag to the fishbowl.


Who Came to School Today? is used for attendance. The children come in and move their fish name tag to the fishbowl.

You could also use the activity for the following:

  • Name recognition
  • Letter recognition
  • Counting letters in a word
  • Counting how many are in school
  • Listening and following spoken directions to name a few.

The packet contains the following:

  • Who came to School Today? Finished size: 17” x 33”
  • Editable Individual Fish for students’ names.

Directions:

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. To attach the fish names to the chart use the Velcro dots.

Who Came to School Today? Fishbowl chart is tiled over (8) pages with a 1/8” overlap. To assemble cut, along image’s outline. When all pieces have been cut out, simply lay the corresponding piece a 1/8” over until print edges match. Finished size: 32” x 17”

I also have included Who Came to School Today Fishbowl chart as one piece measuring 32” x 17” on page 15 for those of you who would like to take it to a print shop or Sams Club which also offers large format printing at a reasonable price.

The individual fish for students’ names are (6) to a page and can be printed (2) ways. I created an Adobe Form for the individual fish names where you can type the name of your student directly on the fish. The form is set up to AUTO so it will shrink large names to fit on the fish. The second way is to simply print the individual fish names onto card stock, write individual students’ names, and then laminate for durability.

Summer Cooking with Your Little Ones

As everyone might suspect summer time is great but also extremely hot. Here are a few treats to help you cool down with your little ones.
 
Popsicles

Ingredients:
Pineapple juice
Grape juice (or any juice of your choice)
Craft sticks
Small paper cups

Directions: If frozen juice is used, mix according to the directions on the can. Fill the paper cups 3/4 full of juice. Place the cups in the freezer. When the juice begins to freeze, insert a craft stick in the middle of each cup. When frozen, peel away the paper cup and serve.



Watermelon Popsicles

Ingredients:
Watermelon
Crafts sticks
Small paper cups

Directions: Remove the seeds and the rind from the watermelon. Puree the melon in a blender. Fill the paper cups 3/4 full of juice. Place the cups in the freezer. When the juice begins to freeze, insert a craft stick in the middle of each cup. When frozen, peel away the paper cup and serve.


Zippy Drink

Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
2 cups orange juice
2 cups orange sherbet
Ice cubes
Orange slices

Directions: Peel the bananas, place in a bowl and mash with a fork. Add orange juice and sherbet and beat with a hand mixer or whisk until smooth. Pour into a pitcher; add ice cubes, and orange slices. Serve and enjoy!


Sand Dollar Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
4-1/4 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Dried fruit bits or sunflower seeds


Directions: Cream butter, oil, sugar, salt, baking soda, cream of tartar. Add in eggs. Slowly add in flour. Make balls and press into cookies. Place 5 sunflower seeds and/or pieces of dried fruit in middle of cookie to resemble a sand dollar. Bake 8-10 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Who Took the Cookie?

I had another ideal in the middle of the night, so I had to get it out of my head and on to paper! In September I am introducing the letters A, C, M, T and focusing on these letters the entire month. One of the books I am using is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. I thought why not tie the "cookie" theme together with a whole/small group activity reinforcing name recognition in print. I took an adaptation to the chant, "Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?" Below is the information about the printable which can be purchased from my Teacher Pay Teachers Store.

Who Took the Cookie? Activity Packet

Who Took the Cookie? Is based on the game, who took the cookies from the cookie jar. I am using the activity in both large group and small group for name recognition and print concepts.

You could also use the activity for the following:

  • Sight Word recognition
    A literacy rich interactive game to promote name recognition.
  • Letter recognition
  • Reading directionality
  • Counting words in a sentence
  • Counting letters in a word
  • Listening and following spoken directions to name a few.

The packet contains the following:

  • Cookie Jar Chart with the words to, who took the cookie? Finished size: 17” x 33”
  • Editable Individual Cookies for students’ names.

Directions:

  • It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. To attach the cookie names to the chart use the Velcro dots. 
  • The Cookie Jar chart is tiled over (8) pages with a 1/8” overlap. To assemble cut, along image’s black line. When all pieces have been cut out, simply lay the corresponding piece a 1/4” over until print edges match. Finished size: 17” x 33”
  • I also have included The Cookie Jar chart as one piece measuring 17” x 33” on page 12 for those of you who would like to take it to a print shop or Sams Club also offers large format printing at a reasonable price.
  •  The individual cookies for students’ names are (6) to a page and can be printed (2) ways. I created an Adobe Form for the individual cookies where you can type the name of your student directly on the cookie. The form is set up to AUTO so it will shrink large names to fit on the cookie. The second way is to simply print the individual cookie names onto card stock, write individual students’ names, and then laminate for durability.


Let me know what you think! Is it good, can it be approved upon? Comments, suggestions, likes and dislikes are always welcomed.


Friday, July 5, 2013

Blog Overhaul

I have worked pretty much the entire day and into the wee hours of the morning giving my blog a much needed overhaul. My son has come in the room several times to say enough is enough. Yet, I'm the type that has to get the creative idea out of my head and in to production. If not, then I lay awake tossing and turning.

I decided to take on the challenge of overhauling my entire blog because, I wanted a more polished theme that went with both my personality and my blog topic. So, like everyone else I ‘Googled it’ to find a FREE blogger template that was just right. A blogger template that was not too small, nor too big, but the perfect one. I found one that I like as you can see. With some minor tweaking I am pleasantly pleased with the outcome. The only thing I wish I could change is the columns’ width. I have so much information that I needed three columns, but the drawback is the width of the actual "post" column. I'll keep tweaking with the code until I find the perfect match.

Take a look at the changes and use the comment box to let me know how you feel, good or bad!

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Summer Ideas


Lanie's Little Learners Summer IdeasFix an area outside to let you child enjoy painting. Some ideas include inexpensive watercolors, white construction paper, and of course water. If painting is not something you’re interested in than choose markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc. Before your little one begins their “plein air” (outside) master piece, go on a nature walk through your yard, neighborhood, or local park and talk about all the different colors and textures you see along the way. To promote language skills use as many describing words when talking with your young child. Words such as enormous, tiny, hairy, smooth, bumpy, bright, dull, shiny etc. Describe the shape of the object, its dimensions anything to expand your child’s vocabulary. When you return from your adventure encourage your child to remember details from the walk and paint them or draw them. Remember it is about the creative process and not the end product. Talk with your child about their painting. Ask, “Tell me about your painting,” leaves an opened conversation as opposed to “what are you drawing?” For a science experiment, encourage your child to observe how fast the watercolors dry. Most of all have fun!

Credits: www.MyCuteGraphics.com     www.KevinandAmanda.com

My Many Colored Days

My Many Colored Days Activity PacketMy Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss is a wonderful way for parents and teachers to talk with children about their feelings. Each day is described in terms of a particular color, which in turn is associated with specific emotions. Using a spectrum of vibrant colors and a variety of animals, this unique book covers a range of moods and emotions. (Ages 3-8)

I am introducing this book during the first month of school as part of my Feelings Theme. I used the information provided from the Book Nook based on My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss to create visuals to retell the story with.


To purchase a copy of My Many Colored Days click here.

My Many Colored Days Activities Packet contains the following:

  • Each animal is in colored and coordinates with the story. 
  • Each colored boy is in color with the color word written on the cutout. 
  • Pages 12-27 are a printable book based on the story by Dr. Seuss. The printable book is used for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY! It may not be sold or re-distributed. The book is copyright protected and may be used for classrooms purposes only. The images are from the Ideas for Using Books to Support Social Emotional Development: My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss and can be found here: http://www.csefel.vanderbilt.edu/booknook/many_colored_days.pdf.

Directions: It is suggested that all pieces are printed on card stock and laminated for durability. Pages 2-11 print single sided, laminate, and cut individually. If you plan on using the visuals on a felt board simply attach the rough side of self-adhesive Velcro dots to the back of each piece. Another option is to use self-adhesive magnets. Also, to act out the story, print another set of visuals, laminate, and glue to craft sticks. Place the puppets with the book in your library. The book on pages 12-27 can be printed manually on both sides, laminated, and then either comb-bound or use book rings to make the book. Both the book and the puppets are being used in my Safe Place from Conscious Discipline.

FREE DOWNLOAD>> My Many Colored Days Activities

Examples of activities that can be used while reading My Many Colored Days and throughout the day to promote social and emotional development:

  • While reading the story, pause after each animal and discuss the animal’s color. Ask the children to share a time that they were in that mood. After reading the story, discuss the spectrum of colors in comparison to moods and feelings.
  • Extend the story by discussing different colors and their association with emotions. Explain that sometimes feelings are described in colors. We are all different and may have a different feelings or moods with each color. For example, although some associate blue with being sad others find it very peaceful and happy. Make a chart with different colors across the top. Ask children to pick which color represents how they are feeling. Talk about why they picked the color to represent their feeling. Write the children’s names under the color they pick.
  • Color spinner—Trace two hands, with the two palm edges touching, on one piece of card stock paper or file folder. The fingers will be facing the outer edge of the paper/file folder, while the palms are toward the center. (Note: Once traced, the hands will form a mirror image of each other.) Cut out an arrow and attach it with a brad to form a spinner between the two hands. Color each finger a different color using the colors represented in the story. Have the children pass the spinner around taking turns spinning the arrow and discussing what the color means for them. Talk about how different people may have different feelings associated with the same color. For example, in the story, purple makes the boy feel sad; for others it could mean feeling loved.
The ideas used above are from: Ideas for Using Books to Support Social Emotional Development: My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss.

FREE DOWNLOAD>> My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss – Book Nook Ideas and Activities

Useful Social & Emotional Development Links

The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5. CSEFEL is a national resource center funded by the Office of Head Start and Child Care Bureau for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country.

Creating Teaching Tools for Young Children with Challenging Behavior is a FREE product developed by the Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) that gives teachers practical strategies, developed from TACSEI’s research activities and experiences in Positive Behavior Support, to create a plan to support young children who are having challenging behavior.

Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive self-regulation program that integrates social-emotional learning and discipline.



Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Are You a Bucket Filler?


Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud is a great book to teach young children about caring for others. How our actions and words hurt people around us. The book uses colorful illustration to teach an important lesson, thinking about others. The book describes everyone has an invisible bucket, you might not see it but it is there. The bucket’s purpose is to hold your good thoughts that make you warm and fuzzy. The book goes on to say, how you can become “bucket fillers.” The book’s definition of “bucket fillers” is someone who is a, “loving, caring, person who says or does nice things that make others feel special.” The book also goes on to describe the actions of “bucket dippers.” According to the author, Carol McCloud, a “bucket dipper” is a person who says or does mean things that make others feel bad.

To purchase a copy of the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? click here


Find out how.I am using the concept of “Bucket Fillers” and “Bucket Dippers” as part of my classroom management system in prekindergarten. According to Bright from the Start guidelines we are unable to use traditional behavior charts. This upcoming school year I am introducing the book the first week of school. I have designed our classroom rules around this theme. I have also purchased (2) buckets one is green for the “bucket fillers” which means go or good. It is a concept young learners can easily grasp. I also have printed a picture of a girl smiling to attach to the front of the bucket with the words “Bucket Fillers.” The second bucket is red for the “bucket dippers.” Again using concepts early learners can understand, red meaning stop and think about your actions. The picture for the front of the bucket is a boy who is sad and has a tear rolling down his face.

After reading the book the children will hear scenarios that I have observed over the years of teaching and decide if the action is “bucket fillers” or “bucket dippers.” A child can draw a heart from the bag and depending on the age level either read the scenario or have the teacher read it. Then the child decides which bucket to place the heart in. This is a printable I have designed and can be found at TeachersPayTeachers.com.

Another activity for children to complete is a drawing prompt. Have the students draw a picture of how he/she can be “bucket fillers.” Let the child dictate his/her story to you and write the caption underneath. You can hang the pictures individually or combine and make a class book the children can revisit often.

In addition to the whole group activity I have designed “Bucket Fillers are people who…” poster illustrating our class rules. I also have designed a “Bucket Dippers are people who…” illustrating the opposite of our class rules. This way when a situation arises you can show the child what he/she is doing that is a “bucket dipper” and an illustration of how he/she can be “bucket fillers.”


DOWNLOAD>> Are You a Bucket Filler? Activity Pack

I have also incorporated a Kindness Recorder as part of our classroom helpers based on the ideas of Conscious Discipline. The Kindness Recorder’s job is to catch classmates being “bucket fillers” and add a heart to the bucket. At the end of the day we count how many hearts are in the bucket and say our Bucket Filler Chant which can be found at BucketFillers101.com.

Credits: MyCuteGraphics.com



Preschool Feelings Theme

I have collected over the years several sources to use with the Feelings Theme. I also recently have started incorporating Conscious Discipline into my prekindergarten classroom. This upcoming school year I have designed several games and visuals for the children to use along with Conscious Discipline. The information below is a few of my ideas and ideas friends, and colleagues have shared with me over the years.

Several of my printables are FREE and can be downloaded from TeachersPayTeachers.com. I try to keep all of my teaching resources in one area to make it easy for myself and others.

I hope you find the information useful. If you have any questions or comments do not hesitate to email me or post a comment. Suggestions and comments are always encouraged and helpful.


Objectives

1. To correctly identify feelings
2. To understand ways to safely express feelings
3. To practice discussing feelings

Art Activities



Happy Face, Sad Face 

Materials: small paper plate or circle shape per child, crayons, large craft stick per child, hand mirror

Directions: The children look in the mirror and make a happy face. They draw themselves on one side of the plate or circle including eyes, nose, and hair then and smiling mouth. On the opposite side they draw themselves with a sad face. Glue craft stick on the bottom.

Extension: Use these at circle time or a large/small group time later in the day asking questions about feelings. They turn their "faces" to show the side that corresponds to the question or statement.


Examples: You need to go to clean up the centers. Are you happy or sad? You find your favorite toy that you thought was lost. Are you happy or sad?



Paint a Feeling

Materials: Paint, brushes and paper

Free art expression. When they are done, ask them to name their picture with a feeling. Hang paintings with their descriptions.


Feeling Activity Mats

The packet contains four blank faces for young children to use playdoh to build how they feel faces. The mats can also be used with a dry erase marker and have the students draw how they feel. I am using the mats in my Safe Place area based on Conscious Discipline to encourage children to identify how they feel. I am also introducing the activity mats as part of my Feelings Theme to use at the beginning of the school year.

Directions: It is suggested to print on card stock and laminate for durability. Then cut out each face and place in your center. You could also print on card stock, glue in a file folder, and laminate the entire set.

DOWNLOAD>> How Do I Feel Today?

Cooking Activities

Comfort Cookies

Ingredients:3 cups margarine
3 cups brown sugar
3 cups flour
6 cups oats
1 tablespoon baking soda
2 cups chocolate drops (or butterscotch or peanut butter drops)

Directions: Mash, knead, squeeze, pound, pinch, etc. all ingredients in a large bowl until completely blended. Form into small balls about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in size and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Butter the bottom of a small juice glass and then dip it into white sugar, then pound the cookies flat with it. Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for approx. 10-12 mins.

Science Activities

Apple Experiment

Materials: (1) apple

Directions: Sit the class in a circle and show them the ordinary apple. Then pass the apple around in the circle and instruct the students to lightly hit the apple on the carpet. Once all of the children have had a turn, show the apple to the children. Ask the children does the apple look any different? What do you think happened to the inside of the apple? Explain to the children that the apple looks normal on the outside, but on the inside it is bruised. Cut the apple open and pass the apple halves around the circle letting the children examine the bruised inside. (Remind the children the apple is for looking and not eating.) Explain to the children that sometimes we cannot see how our words or actions hurt our friends on the inside, but like the apple our friends can be bruised on the inside by what we say and do.

Extension: Have the children draw a picture of how they can make a friend feel better when someone says something mean or hurtful.


Feelings CD

Materials: CD player, recorder, pictures of children showing various emotions.

Directions: Record the children making different sounds such as laughing, giggling, growling, crying, yelling, etc. Place the CD in the Science area along with pictures of the different emotions. The children then listen to the sound and match the emotion.

Bottled Up Emotions

Experiment to show what happens when we bottle up anger and emotions inside....we EXPLODE!
Materials: vinegar, baking soda, paper towel, gallon size ziploc bag.
Experiment can be found at All Things Beautiful.

Literacy Activities

Class Feeling Book

Materials: Digital camera, computer, and printer.

Directions: Ask your children (one at a time) to give their best happy, sad, mad, silly, and scared faces. Then take a picture of them. Print pictures and glue them on an 8.5”x 11” paper. Either type the words that describe the emotion or write the words directly on the paper. Combine all of the children’s faces into a class book. You can either secure using comb-binding if accessible OR punch three holes and secure using book rings. You can use the class book to lead a discussion about different feelings.

How do you feel today?

Objective: Children will guess how a character in the story feels. Some may say happy, sad, mad or scared

Materials: Today I feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis, sets of faces made with paper plates showing different feelings, and a puppet.

Instructions: Read the book. Give each child in your small group a set of plates. Using a puppet, retell few situations that happened in the story. Have the children choose a paper plate to show how they think the character feels.


Feelings Vocabulary Cards: The packet contains 12 feelings vocabulary cards perfect to use in circle time, small groups, and word walls. I am using the Feelings Vocabulary Cards in my Safe Place area based on Conscious Discipline to encourage children to identify how they feel. I am also introducing the Feelings Vocabulary Cards as part of my Feelings Theme to use at the beginning of the school year.

Directions: It is suggested to print on card stock and laminate for durability. Then cut out each vocabulary card along the solid black line.

FREE DOWNLOAD>> Feelings Vocabulary Cards

Writing Activities

My Feelings Book

Materials: Pencils, crayons, several sheets of white construction paper fold hamburger  style forming a book. Printed on the cover page the following sentence: My Feelings Book

On each page write an emotional word: angry, happy, sad, scared, silly, and excited. Encourage the children to draw a picture of something that made them feel angry, happy, sad, scared, silly, and excited. Write down their story when they are done and display.


FREE DOWNLOAD>> My Feelings Book


Math Activities

Feelings Sorting Cards
The packet contains 9 feelings sorting cards perfect to use in circle time, small groups,

and math centers. I am using the Feelings Sorting Cards in my Safe Place area based on Conscious Discipline to encourage children to recognize facial expressions. I am also introducing the Feelings Sorting Cards as part of my Feelings Theme to use at the beginning of the school year.

Directions: It is suggested to print on card stock and laminate for durability. Then cut out each feelings sorting card along the solid black line. For a sorting game I suggest printing at least (5) sets. For a matching game like memory I suggest printing at least (4) sets. These cards can also be used like “Go Fish” cards.

FREE DOWNLOAD>> Feelings Sorting Cards


Dramatic Play Activities


1. Flower Shop – Plastic flowers, non-breakable vases, play money, cash register or something to store money in, notepad for taking orders, wrapping paper, and gift bags can be placed in the dramatic play area. Make a sign that says “Flower Shop.” Also, make a sign that has prices for different types of flowers. You can use a digital camera and take pictures of the plastic flowers. Print them out, glue onto a poster board and write the amount. For small children I would also include a picture of the money for the children to match up. The children may want to arrange, sell, deliver, and receive flowers.

2. Card Shop – Include blank cards, thank you notes, paper, pencils, crayons, markers, construction paper, glue, scissors, stickers, envelopes, and self-inking stamps. Make a sign that says, “Card Shop.” You can also include pre-printed strips for children to copy on their cards such as: I hope you get well soon, Thinking of you, Miss you, Sorry that you do not feel good, Good Job, etc. Also include sentence strips with both each child’s name and picture. This way the children can find a child’s name and write it on the card.

3. Post Office – Include a bag to be used as the “mail bag,” a blue shirt for the mail carrier uniform. Use the cards created from the card shop. Make a sign that says, “Post Office.” The children can use stickers to stamp their cards and deliver them to their friends via their cubbies.

Songs

IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT

Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
~Traditional

(Make up additional verses with other feelings; such as; If you’re angry and you know it, stomp your feet, or If you’re scared and you know it, hide your eyes.)


FEELINGS
Tune: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

I have feelings
You do too.
Let’s all sing about a few.

I am happy (smile)
I am sad (frown)
I get scared (wrap arms around self)
I get mad (make a fist and shake it)
I am proud of being me (hands on hips)
That’s a feeling too, you see.

I have feelings (point to self)
You do too. (point to a friend)
We just sang about a few.

THE MORE WE GET TOGETHER

The more we get together,
Together, together,
The more we get together,
The happier we'll be.

Because your friends are my friends,
And my friends are your friends.
The more we get together,
The happier we'll be!

Books

Below is a list of books to go with the Feelings Theme. I have a majority of the books in my collection or I check them out from my local library.

Feelings Links



Images provided by: