S-A-N-T-A Anchor Chart (Christmas Printable}

Use the S-A-N-T-A Anchor Chart during whole group or small group for students to practice concepts of print to include where to start reading, spacing between words, and return sweep. Students can also segment sentences and find letter and letter sounds.

Directions: Two ways to print have been included. The anchor chart’s original size of 24”x 20” if you have access to a large format printer. Second, is tiled on 8.5”x 11”. Simply print, trim along cut lines, and assemble to 24”x 20”. Recommended to laminate finished anchor chart to use dry erase markers.

DOWNLOAD>> S-A-N-T-A Anchor Chart (Christmas Printable}

I’m a Little Pine Tree Anchor Chart (Christmas Printable}

Use the I’m a Little Pine Tree Anchor Chart during whole group or small group for students to practice concepts of print to include where to start reading, spacing between words, and return sweep. Students can also segment sentences and find letter and letter sounds.

Directions: Two ways to print have been included. The anchor chart’s original size of 20”x 24” if you have access to a large format printer. Second, is tiled on 8.5”x 11”. Simply print, trim along cut lines, and assemble to 20”x 24”. Recommended to laminate finished anchor chart to use dry erase markers.

DOWNLOAD>> I’m a Little Pine Tree Anchor Chart (Christmas Printable}

Little Jack Horner Anchor Chart {FREEBIE!}

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.

Directions: Two ways to print have been included. The anchor chart’s original size of 20”x 24” if you have access to a large format printer. Second, is tiled on 8.5”x 11”. Simply print, trim along cut lines, and assemble to 20”x 24”. Recommended to laminate finished anchor chart to use dry erase markers.

DOWNLOAD>> Little Jack Horner Anchor Chart {FREEBIE!}

All About Christmas

With only 3 weeks until Christmas break, things are going to be super busy for my kiddos. The first week back after Thanksgiving break our kids are going to Hambrick's Tree Farm to pick out their class Christmas tree. Then on December 8th we are going to the Agrirama in Tifton, Georgia, December 9th is Donuts for dad, and December 10th and 11th are parent teacher conferences.

Here is a list of  my December lesson plan themes:

November 30 - December 4: Holiday Trees
December 7 - 11: Gingerbread Man
December 13-19: Holiday Traditions


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.

Small Group Activities:

Week 1

Serration Holiday Tree - Students will put green rectangles in order from smallest to largest making a holiday tree. Then students will glue "ornaments" to each level of their tree starting with (1) object for the smallest up to (5) objects for the last level. This is a teacher led group. Since Bright from the Start requires a book and a book related activity to be done in small group, Group 2 will listen and discuss, The Littlest Evergreen before completing their activity.

Differentiation: 

• Group 1: Provide 1:1 assistance, a visual model, and add dots for each level of the holiday tree for the students to match. Help the students practice counting with the last number representing cardinality.
• Group 2: Provide a visual model only. Assist students as needed. 
• Group 3: Verbally give instructions for the students. Move around and assist when needed.

Candy Cane Pattern - Students will use red and white craft beads and string on a pipe cleaner in an AB pattern. This is a teacher led group.

Holiday Stocking - Students will use sales ads and a die-cut stocking labeled with, I Want ________ in my stocking. They will cut out pictures of what they would like in their stocking. This is an independent group.

Santa's Rhyme -Students will match rhyming pairs. This is a teacher led group on Friday.

ABC Holiday Matching - Students will match uppercase to lowercase letters. Students will work in cooperative pairs using a file folder game. This is a teacher led group on Friday.

Sensory Experience - Students will use playdoh and holiday themed cookie cutters. The students will practice fine motor and cooperation skills as they share and take turns with the materials. This is an independent group on Friday.

DOWNLOAD>> Holiday Trees 5 Day Lesson Plan

Week 2

Gingerbread Man - Students will draw a picture of themselves chasing a gingerbread man. Students will complete the sentence: Run, run as fast as you can _______ (fill in with students’ name) can’t catch me, I'm the Gingerbread man. When all three groups have completed their drawings bind them and make a class book to put in the library. This is a teacher led group.

Differentiation: 

• Group 1: Students trace their name and/or write their name with teacher assistance providing hand-over-hand.
• Group 2: Provide name cards for the students to copy their name.
• Group 3: Students write their name independently.

Candy Cane Counting - Students will roll a die and count out the corresponding number of candy canes to put in the stocking. Then they will roll the die second time and place the corresponding number of candy canes in the stocking. Then they will count how many in all.This is a teacher led group.

Differentiation: 

• Group 1: Model and assist the students 1:1. Pair the students into heterogeneous groups.
• Group 2: Model and pair students into heterogeneous groups.
• Group 3: Pair students into heterogeneous groups.

ABC Holiday Matching - Students will match uppercase to lowercase letters. Students will work in cooperative pairs using a file folder game. This is the same game from last week used in an independent group.

Differentiation: 

• Group 1: Match upper/uppercase letters.
• Group 2: Match upper/lowercase letters.
• Group 3: Match letters to pictures beginning with the same letter.

Merry Christmas Splat - Splat felt worried that he had not been good enough to get a big present. Chart the students' responses on ways you can be helpful around your home. This is a teacher led group on Friday.

Holiday Word Puzzles - Students will put together holiday word puzzles. This is an independent group on Friday.

Gingerbread Decoration - Students will use Little Debbie's Gingerbread cookies, white icing, and mini M&Ms to make their own gingerbread boy/girl. This is the only day the students will rotate through small groups in the same day. Save the cookies for the gingerbread hunt during large group literacy time. Once all of the gingerbread men have been made, make an excuse for all of the students to leave the room. Have another teacher hide the gingerbread men. Leave some evidence on the table showing the gingerbread men ran away. NOTE: Before school starts hide the gingerbread hunt cards around the school. I used Katie Mense's Gingerbread School Hunt cards found in her TPT store. 

I did this last year after studying about the gingerbread man all week on that Friday. Our school staff at Lanier County Primary School was awesome. We even went into the kitchen to see if the gingerbread men were there. The kitchen staff let us look in the ovens and everything. I still have students from last year asking if they are going to go on a gingerbread hunt in kindergarten.

DOWNLOAD>> Gingerbread School Hunt 

DOWNLOAD>> Gingerbread Man 5 Day Lesson Plan

Week 3

Syllable Counting -  Read and discuss, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Use story vocabulary and have students string a bead on a pipe cleaner for each syllable they hear. Story vocabulary words to use: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, sleigh, Santa, presents, elf,

Clap the syllables of each word and have the students count the number of claps and then string the beads on the pipe cleaner for each syllable. This is a teacher led group.

Hot Chocolate Math - Students will draw a number card and count out the corresponding number of marshmallows and place on their counting mat. Pair students into heterogeneously grouped pairs. This is a teacher led group.

Jingle Bell Pattern - Students will use (1) large jingle bell, (2) small jingle bells, and red/green beads to string creating a pattern. This is an independent group.

Rudolph Craft - Students will practice fine motor skills, listening, following directions and creativity making a footprint Rudolph. Students will trace their shoe on brown construction paper and cut out. Students then will add (2) eyes, (2) antlers, and (1) small red pompom. Both teacher led groups will do this on Thursday. Group 3 will do this activity as an independent group.

Classroom Activities:

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

Art - Wreath art, candy cane scented paint, and, snowman salt dough keepsake ornament.

Writing Center - Students will practice copying Christmas vocabulary words.

Library - Students will read and listen to books about Christmas. They can also practice their writing skills by using Magna Doodle Boards. Also, students will practice matching uppercase letter to lowercase letters on a large Christmas tree poster.

Math - Students will practice counting out mini candy canes and putting them into mini stockings. Students will sort and match pompoms onto Christmas tree color sorting mats. Students will practice candy cane positional patterns.

Science - Students will explore pine boughs, pine cones, and tree trunk cuttings using magnifying glasses. In the sensory box students will scope and make seasonal scenes using cotton balls, green spray painted pine cones, white craft beads, and figurines.

Dramatic Play - Students will practice socio-dramatic play by pretending to be Santa's elves. Students can practice fine motor skills by wrapping packages, stuffing stockings, and decorating a small Christmas tree. Students will also practice writing skills by addressing holiday cards that have been laminated.

Printable Links:

 Christmas Alphabet & Number Board Game

 Christmas Vocabulary Word Work - PreK to 2nd Grade Printables!

 Christmas Literacy Unit - PreK to 2nd Grade Printables!

 Christmas Math Center Activities - Over 87 Pages for PreK to 2nd Grade!

 Christmas Wreath Shape Match -- PreK File Folder Game!

 Christmas Tree 1 to 20 Playdoh Mats - Math Center for PreK to 2nd Grade

 Christmas Object Sort - Printable for PreK to 2nd Grade

 Christmas Stocking Color Word Matching Game - FREEBIE!

YouTube.com Educational Links:

I have put together a collection of songs and read a-loud books about Christmas.

CLICK HERE>> Christmas Theme Pre-K

All About the Farm

Last week our class learned about the farm to include what is a farm, what does a farmer do, how to make butter, what animals live on a farm, and what farm animal sounds can we hear. CHECK BACK FOR CLASSROOM PICTURES!

Below is a link to our farm 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 Farms 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 - Corn cob painting. Students can draw pictures of farm animals and farm scenes.

Writing Center - Students will practice copying farm vocabulary words.

Library - Students will read and listen to books about farm. 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 farm animals. Students can sort animals by how many legs, wings, no wings. Add blue construction paper laminated with the word "pond" printed on it for students to sort animals that swim. Add brown construction paper, laminated with the word "mud" printed on it for students to sort animals that like to wallow in the mud. Add green construction paper, laminated with the word "grass" printed on it for students to sort animals that eat grass.

YouTube.com Educational Links:

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

CLICK HERE>> Farm Theme Pre-K

Songs and Poems:

Five Little Pigs

Five little pigs went out to play.

The first little pig said,

"Let's go to the woods today."

The second little pig said,

"What will we do there?"

The third little pig said,

"We'll look for our mother."

The fourth little pig said,

"What will we do when we find her?"

"We'll hug her and kiss her and kiss her!"

Said the fifth little pig.

~Original Author Unknown

Five And Five Eggs 

Five and five eggs

Hold up hands

That makes ten

Sitting on top is mother hen

Fold one hand over the other

Crackle, crackle, crackle

Clap hands three times

What do I see

Fingers around eyes

Ten fluffy chickens

As yellow as can be

 Hold up ten fingers.

~Original Author Unknown

I Had A Little Rooster

I had a little rooster by the old barn gate

And that little rooster was my playmate

And that little rooster went cock-a-doodle-do

Dee-doodley-doodley-doodley-do

(Substitute other animals.)

~Original Author Unknown

This Little Cow

This little cow eats grass.

(Hold up one hand, fingers erect, bend down one finger)

This little cow eats hay.

(Bend down another finger)

This little cow drinks water.

(Bend down another finger)

And this little cow does nothing.

(Bend down another finger)

But lie and sleep all day.

~Original Author Unknown

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