All About Thanksgiving

This week our class will be learning about giving thanks to include family traditions, what types of food we eat, what are we thankful for, and where do we go for Thanksgiving. 

We have previously studied the Mayflower, Pilgrims, and Native Americans.

Below is a link to our  giving thanks 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 >> Giving Thanks 5 Day Lesson Plans

DOWNLOAD>> All About the First Thanksgiving 5 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 - Mayflower creations. Students can decorate paper plate halves with brown paint, crayon, or torn brown construction paper. Cut sails out of the other half of paper plate. Have students add water, clouds, birds, and sun to a blank pieces of white construction paper. Assemble Mayflower on student's picture. Use a Popsicle stick for the mast.

Writing Center - Students will practice copying Thanksgiving vocabulary words.

Library - Students will read and listen to books about Thanksgiving. 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.

YouTube.com Educational Links:

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

CLICK HERE>> Thanksgiving Theme Pre-K

Songs and Poems:

Little Pilgrim

Sung to: "Twinkle Twinkle "

Little Pilgrim dressed in gray

on that first Thanksgiving Day.

Little Indian dressed in brown,

Came to visit Plymouth Town,

They both came to eat and pray

on that first Thanksgiving Day.

~Original Author Unknown

The Turkey Song

Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a little turkey

Short and Fat

Thanksgiving Day is coming

Now what do you think of that ?

I had better run as fast as I can

Or your mommy will roast me in a pan!

~Original Author Unknown

Albuquerque Turkey

Sung to: "My Darlin Clementine"

Albuquerque is a turkey

And he's feathered and he's fine

And he wobbles and he gobbles

And he's absolutely mine!

He's the best pet you can get yet

Better than a dog or cat

He's my Albuquerque turkey

And I'm awfully proud of that!

And my Albuquerque turkey

Is so happy in his bed

'Cause for our Thanksgiving Dinner

We have spaghetti instead!

~Original Author Unknown

Five Little Turkeys

Five little turkeys by the barn door,

One waddled off, then there were four.

Four little turkeys out under the tree,

One waddled off, then there were three.

Three little turkeys with nothing to do.

One waddled off, then there were two.

Two little turkeys in the noonday sun,

One waddled off, then there was one.

One little turkey - better run away!

Soon will come Thanksgiving Day.

~Original Author Unknown

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