All About Pumpkins

This week our class will be learning about pumpkins to include how big are pumpkins, do pumpkins sink or float, what does the inside of a pumpkin look, feel, and smell like, and what does a pumpkin need to grow. These are all topics our class will be investigating this week. 

Below is a link to our pumpkin theme lesson plans for the week. The lesson plans include the following types of activities: Morning Message with activity, Large Group Literacy, Phonemic Awareness, Small Group, two planned story times, and a closing activity. The standards are based on Bright From the Start GELDS.

DOWNLOAD>> All About  Pumpkins Five Day Lesson Plans

Classroom Activities:

Students will be involved in a variety of activities to promote language and literacy skills, mathematical reasoning, exploration, and fine motor control. Some of our center activities will include the following:

Art - Jack-O-Lantern creations. Students can decorate paper pumpkins and transform them into Jack-O-Lanterns. Students can also experiment with pumpkin pie scented puff paint.

Pumpkin Puffy Paint Recipe

• Shaving cream
• White school glue
• Pumpkin spice
• Orange food coloring

Directions: In a bowl mix together equal parts of shaving cream and white school glue.  Then add pumpkin spice to scent and orange food coloring to color.  Stir all ingredients, adding more scent and color if needed

Sensory Table - Students will explore picked cotton. Students will have to "pick" the letters using tweezers and place them in sorting cups.

Writing Center - Students will practice copying pumpkin vocabulary words and creating their on jack-o-lantern Stories.

Library - Students will read and listen to books about pumpkins. They can also practice their writing skills by using Magna Doodle Boards.

Math - Students will practice counting, sorting, and classifying objects.

Science - Students will explore ornamental pumpkins, pine cones, and squash using magnifying glasses. The students can sort objects based on how they feel: bumpy, smooth, rough, hard, etc.

Dramatic Play - Students will investigate a pretend pumpkin patch. Students will decorate ornamental pumpkins (like Mr. Potato Head).

Above are pictures of our Pumpkin Patch. A). Is a collection of ornamental guards, cotton, and Indian corn. The students can pretend to purchase the items from the market. B). I took an ornamental pumpkin and drilled holes into it. The students then decorate the pumpkin using Mr. Potato head pieces. C). Is a photo of the pumpkin patch as a whole. The students can pretend to be farmers and harvest the pumpkins for the market.

The students will participate in measuring activities. The picture to the left is where the students will determine how many pumpkins tall they are. 

The anchor chart is part of our morning message. The students are beginning to understand some concepts of print. Each morning I omit random letters. I use letter sounds and the students have to tell me the letter name. This week I started talking about upper and lowercase letters and when to use them. The students also had to use picture clues to determine what the question was. Then they wrote their name on die cut pumpkins and placed them under their prediction.

DOWNLOAD>> Pumpkin Measuring Anchor Chart FREEBIE!

DOWNLOAD>> Pumpkin, Pumpkin Poem Anchor Chart

DOWNLOAD>> Pumpkin Song Anchor Chart

YouTube.com Educational Links:

I have put together a collection of songs and read alouds about pumpkins.

CLICK HERE>> Pumpkin Theme Pre-K

Songs and Poems:

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate (hold up fingers for pumpkins)

The first once said "Oh my! It's getting late"

The second one said, "There are witches in the air"

The third one said "But we don't care"

The fourth one said "Let's run and run and run"

The fifth one said "It's Halloween fun"

Ooooooh went the wind

And out when the lights (clap hands to the word "out")

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight (roll arms)

Pumpkin, Pumpkin

Pumpkin, pumpkin

Sitting on a wall (have children sit down)

Pumpkin, pumpkin

Tip and fall (have children tip over)

Pumpkin, pumpkin

Rolling down the street (child rolls on floor)

Pumpkin, pumpkin

Trick or treat!!!!

We are Pumpkins Big and Round

Sung to: "Mary Had a Little Lamb"

We are pumpkins big and round, big and round, big and round;

We are pumpkins big and round, sitting on the ground.

See our great big shiny eyes, shiny eyes, shiny eyes;

See our great big shiny eyes, looking right at you.

See our great big laughing mouth, laughing mouth, laughing mouth,

See our great big laughing mouth, smiling right at you.

~ Original Author Unknown

Once I Had a Pumpkin

Sung to: "Did You Ever See a Lassie?"

Once I had a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin,

Once I had a pumpkin, with no face at all.

With no eyes and no nose, and no mouth and no teeth.

Once I had a pumpkin with no face at all.

So I made a jack-o-lantern, a jack-o-lantern, a jack-o-lantern,

So I made a jack-o-lantern, with a big funny face.

With big eyes and a big nose, and a big mouth with big teeth.

So I made a jack-o-lantern with a big funny face.

~ Original Author Unknown

Credits:

MyCuteGraphics.com

All About Fall

It is really hard to believe that we are starting our 10th week of school. This week is a short week because of our Fall Break (Yeah)! So, we are going to be studying Fall and the changes that we are beginning to see. We are also concentrating on fine motor skills in the form of puzzles, writing, and painting. Since my class has a wide range of abilities, I am taking advantage of this short week to re-teach skills students have not mastered yet. This week I have three small groups, and yes I am grouping the students by ability. The individual groups will be working on the following skills: copying and repeating an AB pattern using leaf die cuts. Constructing a leaf tree where they are practicing fine motor skills by cutting out the tree and crumpling up color tissue for the leaves. They are also practicing counting out objects up to ten. Finally combing sets by using a roll and cover mat and dice.

Below is a link to our fall theme lesson plans for the week. The lesson plans include the following types of activities: Morning Message with activity, Large Group Literacy, Phonemic Awareness, Small Group, two planned story times, and a closing activity. The standards are based on Bright From the Start GELDS.

DOWNLOAD>> All About Fall Five Day Lesson Plans



Classroom Activities:

Students will be involved in a variety of activities to promote language and literacy skills, mathematical reasoning, exploration, and fine motor control. Some of our center activities will include the following:

• Art - Leaf paintings using a variety of methods such as q-tip painting, brushes, and marble.
• Sensory Table - Students will explore picked cotton. Students will have to "pick" the letters using tweezers and place them in sorting cups.
• Writing Center - Students will practice copying fall vocabulary words and creating their on Fall Stories.
• Library - Students will read and listen to books about the Fall. They can also practice their writing skills by using Magna Doodle Boards.
• Math - Students will practice counting, sorting, and classifying objects.
• Science - Students will explore ornamental pumpkins, pine cones, and squash using magnifying glasses. The students can sort objects based on how they feel: bumpy, smooth, rough, hard, etc.
• Dramatic Play - Students will practice socio-dramatic play. BUT check back next week as the dramatic play center is transformed into a pumpkin patch! 

The students practiced copying and extending a pattern during small teacher led group. 

After reading the book, Rosie's Walk, the students answered the drawing prompt: If you could go for a walk anywhere, where would you like to go?

This is our sensory box for the students to explore fall themed items from nature. The fall box contains the following real and found items: picked cotton, dried guards, pine cones, dried beans, and corn husks. The only item in the fall box that is not real are the leaves. I purchased the leaves from The Dollar Tree.

YouTube.com Educational Links:

I have put together a collection of songs and read alouds about Fall both fiction and non-fiction.

CLICK HERE>> Fall Theme Pre-K

Songs and Poems:

The Leaves are Falling Down   

(Sung to: "Farmer in the Dell")

The leaves are falling down

The leaves are falling down

Red, yellow, green, and brown

The leaves are falling down

~ Original Author Unknown

Scarecrow   

(Sung to: "Teddy Bear, Teddy bear turn around")

Scarecrow, Scarecrow, turn around.

Scarecrow, scarecrow, jump up and down

Scarecrow, scarecrow, arms up high

Scarecrow, Scarecrow, wink one eye

Scarecrow, scarecrow, bend your knee

Scarecrow, scarecrow, flap in the breeze

Scarecrow, scarecrow, climb into bed

Scarecrow, scarecrow, rest your head

~ Original Author Unknown

Five Leaves

Five little leaves so bright and gay,

We’re dancing about on a tree one day.

The wind came blowing through the town,

And one little leaf came tumbling down.

[Continue with 4 leaves, then 3, 2, & 1.]

~ Original Author Unknown

Five Red Leaves

Five red leaves, five and no more (Hold up 5 fingers)

The caterpillar ate one, now there are four (Thumb down)

Four red leaves, that's easy to see.

Along came a rainstorm, now there are three. (Index down)

Three red leaves, nothing much to do.

A big wind blew, now two! (Middle down)

Two red leaves, that's not much fun.

I glued one on my paper (Ring down)

Now there is one. (Hold up pinky)

Hang on, pretty red leaf! Your branches won't break.

You're one less leaf for me to rake!

~ Original Author Unknown

Leaves are Falling   

(Sung to: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")

Leaves are falling round the town

Watch them fall right on the ground

Autumn's coming, it is true

Then comes winter just for you

Leaves are falling round the town

Falling, falling all around.

~ Original Author Unknown

Credits: The Doodle Oven

All About Fire Safety

This week is Fire Safety Prevention week and our Pre-K class is going to learn about fire safety. We will be learning how to dial 9-1-1 and what information to include, what we do in case of a fire, practice a fire drill, and visit a fire station on Tuesday.

Below is a link to our fire safety theme lesson plans for the week. The lesson plans include the following types of activities: Morning Message with activity, Large Group Literacy, Phonemic Awareness, Small Group, two planned story times, and a closing activity.The standards are based on Bright From the Start GELDS.

DOWNLOAD>> All About Fire Safety Five Day Lesson Plans



I have turned our dramatic play center into a fire station (pictures coming soon!) In the literacy center I have included Roll and Cover letter mats with three different levels of learning. In the writing center there are fire safety vocabulary cards. I am incorporating the vocabulary cards as a method of one, increasing vocabulary and two, for my  students to practice their writing skills.

DOWNLOAD>> FREE All About Fire Safety Vocabulary Words

DOWNLOAD>> All About Fire Safety Activity Packet

All About Fire Safety Activity Packet contains the following:

• Vocabulary Cards
• Trace the vocabulary cards.
• Write the Room recording sheets.
• Ff is for Firefighter (Find the letter Ff maze.)
• Write the Letter Ff Worksheet
• Rhyming Word Match (Match the firefighter to the fire truck.)
• Alphabet Clip Cards (Look at the picture and use a clothespin to clip the correct upper and lowercase letter.)
• Draw & Cover Letters (Black - Uppercase Letters), (Red - Lowercase Letters), (Yellow - Beginning Sound Pictures)
• Number Puzzles (Numbers 1 to 5 and 1 to 10.)
• 1 to 10 Number Cards (8.5” x 11” number cards with numeral, ten frame, and number word.)
• 0 to 15 Number Clip Cards (Count the objects and use a clothespin to clip the matching number.)
•  Measuring (Measure the height of two objects and determine the tallest and shortest object.
• 1 to 10 Number Worksheets

Directions: Print on card stock, trim, and laminate for durability. Worksheets can be laminated and used with a dry erase marker.

Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards:

Approaches to Play

APL2.4a Demonstrates eagerness to learn about and discuss new topics, ideas and tasks.

APL1.4a Takes initiative to learn new concepts and try new experiences. Initiates and completes new tasks by himself/herself.

Language and Literacy

CLL1.4a Listens and responds on topic to conversations and group discussions for an extended period.

CLL1.4b Listens to and follows multi-step directions.

CLL1.4c Extends/expands thoughts or ideas expressed.

CLL6.4c Isolates the initial (beginning) sounds in words with adult guidance.

CLL7.4a With prompting and support, recognizes and names some upper/lowercase letters of the alphabet.

Mathematics

CD-MA2.4b Counts at least 10 objects using one-to-one correspondence.

Cognitive Process

CD-CP3.4b Uses both familiar and new strategies to solve a problem.

CD-CP3.4c With adult guidance and questioning determines and evaluates solutions prior to attempting to solve a problem.

Classroom Activities:

During centers the students experimented with red and yellow painting creating an orange "fire painting."

The shape fire engine is an activity to promote shape identification, fine motor practice, and composing and decomposing shapes. I varied the activity for the different levels of ability in my class. 

• Level 1 has students constructing the fire engine out of (1) large rectangle, (1) large square, (1) small square, and (4) circles. 
• Level 2 students will construct the fire engine out of (2) medium squares, (1) large squares, (1) small square, and (4) circles.
• Level 3 students will construct their fire engine out of (2) triangles, (2) squares, (4) circles, and (1) small square.

Fire Station No 1:

Our dramatic play center has been transformed into Fire Station No. 1. Below are pictures showing the different parts of the fire station.

There is two parts to our Fire Station. The first is the inside of the fire station where our little firefighters can pretend to cook, answer the phone, share and take turns.The second part is the firefighters actually fighting a fire using a large print out laminated and mounted on cardboard.

This is a picture of our fire engine. The students love pretending to spray the water on the burning building.

Songs and Poems:

Four Busy Firefighters

Four busy firefighters could not retire

Because they might have to put out a fire.

The first one rang a big brass bell.

The second one said, 'It's the Grand Hotel!'

The third one said, 'Down the pole we'll slide.'

The fourth one said, 'Get ready to ride.'

The siren said, 'Get out of the way!'

'We have to put out a fire today!'

The red fire truck sped on to the fire,

As the big yellow flames grew higher and higher.

Swish went the water from the fire-hose spout

And in no time at all the fire was out.

~ Original Author unknown

I Am A Fireman

(Sung to: "I'm A Little Teapot")

I am a fireman dressed in red.

With my fire hat on my head.

I can drive the fire truck, fight fire too,

And help make things safe for you.

~ Original Author unknown

The Matches Song   

(Sung to: "Mary Had A little Lamb")

Matches are for lots of things, Lots of things, lots of things,

Matches are for lots of things that grown-up people do.

If I ever find a match, find a match, find a match,

If I ever find a match, I know just what to do.

I'll give it to a grown-up friend, grown-up friend, grown-up friend,

I'll give it to a grown-up friend, 'cause that's the thing to do.

~ Original Author Unknown

9-1-1

I know a number that is really hot.

It's only for people in a hot, hot spot.

If you see a fire, if you see a crime,

The number is the same every single time.

This very special number is never for fun.

This very special number is 911.

~ Original Author Unknown

Youtube.com Educational Video Links:

• Sparky Says: Join My Fire Safety Club Video
• Fire Safety Video for Kids with Steve Songs & Sparky theFire Dog
• Kids Fire Engine and Fire Station Tour - Fire Truck Videosfor Children
• Super Smart Fire Safety Rules for Kids
• Stop, Drop, and Roll!
• Crawl Low Under Smoke

Other Links:

• Fire Safety Article