Friday, May 15

Sadly, today is our last day for Online Preschool.

I'll 'see' our 4s for their Zoom graduations, and all but a few of you next year.  I hope that once restrictions are lifted, we can have a get-together this summer on the playground.

It might be unlikely for this summer, but today we're going to prepare for a virtual beach vacation!

2s: Beach

1. Story Time 

Let's listen to some poetry about creatures from down below read in lots of funny voices: Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae

2. Summer Numbers

From our website, please print out the 2s Summer Numbers activity. 

You can look at each page with your child, counting from 1-5 with beach items.

Let your child color the pictures and count each object.

3. Fine Motor Practice

In your bag, you'll find a bracelet and a bag of pony beads.

Show your child how they can string the beads on the bracelet!

3s: Beach

1. Story Time

Let's listen to some poetry about creatures from down below read in lots of funny voices: Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae

2. Summer Number Book

From our website, print out the 3s Summer Number Book.

Look at the numerals and the pictures with your child.  Have your child count the objects and see if they are the correct amount.

Have your child color the pictures and share it with someone.

3. Mermaid Memory Game

From our website, print out the Mermaid Memory Game, on card stock if you have it available.

Cut out, or have your child cut out, the cards.  Look at each pair with your child and have them identify the object.

Mix up all the cards and lay them out in a grid on the table or the floor.

Take turns turning over two cards at a time to reveal a match. 

4s: Summer

1. Story Time

Let's listen to some poetry about creatures from down below read in lots of funny voices: Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae

2. Scholastic Reader

In your bag, you'll find a copy of My Big World Splish, Splash, Summer!  If you don't have that, you can use the electronic version here: Scholastic My Big World.  The electronic version also has some dance music and other games.

Look at the magazine with your child.  What do they think it might be about?  Can they tell just by looking at the picture on the front?

Pages 2 and 3 are about summer safety.  Read each of the summer safety tips with your child.  Why are they important?

On the final page, there is a seek and find activity that has objects beginning with the letter S, like summer!  Can they find all the items?

Thursday, May 14

Day 44...

I just find it hard to believe that this school year is nearly at an end.

Remember over the summer to continue to expose your child to lots of different experiences when possible.

Read to them every day.  Let them splash in the puddles and play in the mud.  Collect rocks, and twigs, and chase butterflies.  Ride bikes.  Draw on the driveway.  Because next thing you know, they'll be driving!

2s: The Number 5, Shapes, and Fine Motor Practice

1. Number 5 with Stickers

From our website, print out the Number 5 Sticker activity for your child.  From your bag, you'll need the sheet of 1" stickers.

Ask your child if they know what numeral it is.  Have your child use their finger to trace the numeral.

Have your child use the dot stickers to place on the number five.  Have them name the colors as they pick the stickers off the sheet.  Or ask them to pick a specific color.

2. Small Motor Practice

From your bag, you'll need the baggie of pompoms and the cupcake wrappers with numerals.  You'll also need a pair of tongs or make a pair of tongs for your child with two spoons.  DIY Tongs

Put the pompoms into a bowl or dish.  You can put the cupcake wrappers in a cupcake tin or just on a tray.

Show your child how each cupcake paper has a numeral in the bottom.  Do they know what it is?  What does the number look like?  If they're unsure, use the 12345 page from the website or draw the numeral with dots underneath to show the number.

Have your child use the tongs to pick up the pompoms one at a time and put them into the cupcake papers until they reach the correct number.

3. Shape Puzzles

From our website, print out the 2s Shape Puzzles activity.

Cut out the large blocks and look at them with your child.  Point out that the object on the right looks like the shape on the left.  Can they tell you what the shape and the object are?

Now, cut the left and right sides apart.  Put the shape sides of the puzzles in a stack and lay out the picture sides so that your child can see them all.

Have your child choose the first picture and name the shape.  Can they find the picture of the object that matches the shape?

Finish all the shapes.

3s: Rainbow Fish

1. Story Time

Let's listen to a story about learning to share and the good feeling it can give you.  The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

Talk with your child about what made Rainbow Fish so happy in the end.

2. Decorate Your Fish

In your bag, you'll find a paper plate fish shape.  You'll also find a bag of tissue paper squares with one silver square and a large googly eye.  Set the silver 'scale' aside for now.

Have your child put glue all over the fish/plate.  Let them place the colored tissue paper squares on the fish.  Put the eye on the fish.

Now have your child place the special silver scale on their Rainbow Fish.

Have them explain to someone else why the fish only has one special scale.

3. Cutting Practice

From our website, print out the Fish Cutting Practice activity.  Of course, you'll also need a pair of scissors for your child.

Have your child trace the cutting lines with their finger. 

Show them how to hold their scissors correctly if they need assistance.  Thumb in the small hole, 3 fingers in the large hole.  Open, shut them, open, shut them, open, shut them.

Have them hold the paper in one hand and the scissors in the other and begin cutting.  Have them start with the simplest line first and work their way toward the most difficult.

4s: Kindergarten

1. Story Time

Let's listen about everyone getting ready for kindergarten!  Mrs. Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

Does your child notice anything about the children's names in the book?

2. Journal page

Is your child excited about going to kindergarten in the fall?  What do they think their favorite part will be?

Use the journal page I'm Going to Kindergarten, printed from our website and have your child draw a picture about what they are looking forward to the most.

3. Practice

Normally at preschool we would have a practice kindergarten lunch complete with trays and milk.

Today or tomorrow, pack your child a lunch and practice having lunch in a lunchroom.  Use a cookie sheet or tray and have your child carry their lunchbox or bag and a drink on it to the table.

Set a timer for 20 minutes.  Encourage your child to unpack and set out as much of their lunch as possible on their own.  If they need help, they can raise their hand. 

Afterward, have them pack up what they need to 'take home' and then throw away their trash.

Wednesday, May 13

Did you know that suppressing your own stress can have a negative effect on your child?

In a recent study from Washington State University, researchers found that "parents suppressing feelings of stress around their kids can actually transmit those feelings to the children. The study found that children had a physical response when parents tried to hide their emotions."

How each parents' stress effects children is different, though.  When Dad is stressed, children also exhibit signs of stress with both parent and child being less emotional and engaged with one another.  When Mom is stressed though, the result to the child is both physiological and external.

It's alright to express to your child that things are not okay.  When your child expresses their own emotional stress, encourage them to communicate their feelings and listen.  You don't need to fix it.  You need to give your child, and yourself, permission to be frustrated and work through your problem.

Now, on to happier things...

2s: Shapes

1. Story Time

Listen to a story about an artist and the shapes he loves: Picasso Loves Shapes by Judiee Lee

2. Let's Go Fishing

In your bag, you'll find some foam shapes.  You'll also need a muffin tin, some child-friendly tongs, and a tray or pan with sides that can hold water.

No kid-friendly tongs?  See directions here to make some out of spoons and a rubber band.  DIY Tongs

Place the shapes in the pan and add some water so that the shapes are floating.  Set your child up with the pan, the muffin tin and the tongs.  Encourage your child to use the tongs to fish for shapes.  Transfer the shapes to the muffin tin and sort them accordingly.  You can also do this by color another time!

3. Shape Sorting

This is a great idea!

From our website, print out the 2s Shape Sorting Activity.  You'll need glue and you'll also need to cut apart the pictures for your child and make a pile with them.

I suggest starting with two or three different shapes and do this in several sittings.  Sorting 40 shapes may be a lot in one attempt.

Show your child the blank blocks with each shape at the top using the two or three shapes you've chosen.  Review the shapes with your child.  There are five real-life objects for each shape.

Have your child choose an object from the pile.  Have them first identify the object and then the shape it.  Which block should it go into?  Have your child glue it to the page.  Continue until you've used all the objects.  Finish another time with the other shapes.

Follow up by asking your child about objects around the house when you are together.  Setting the table - What shape are the plates?  Sitting in the living room - What shape is the coffee table?  Taking a bath - What shape is this tile?

3s: Shapes

1. Sing-a-long

Let's review our shapes some more... The Shape Song - ABCMouse

2. Shape Bingo

From our website, print out the 3s Shape Bingo activity.  Let your child choose their color to play with.  You'll need at least two people to play.  You'll also need a handful of pennies or something similar to use as markers.

3. Shape Sorting
I recommend doing this activity in multiple sittings.  Choose two or three shapes to work on at  a time.  Cut apart, or have your child cut apart, the object pictures for the shapes you've chosen.  Put those shapes in a pile.

Show your child the block pages for the shapes you've chosen to start with.  Have them name the shapes in each block. 

Ask them to choose a picture of an object.  Can they name the object and what shape it is?

Have them glue the picture in the correct box.

You can finish the rest of the activity at different times.

4s: Review

1. Upper- and Lowercase Letter Matching

From our website, print out the Alphabet Letter Tumble activity.

Have your child cut apart the lowercase letters.  Mix the lowercase letters in a bowl or pile.

Have your child match each lowercase letter from the pile with the uppercase letter on the board.

2. Sets of Three

From our website, print out the Three Frogs activity.  You'll also need crayons or markers.

Read the directions to your child.  Have your child look at the pictures of sets of frogs.  Which pictures have three frogs? 

3. Letter Sounds

From the website, print out the Beginning Letter Sounds activity.  You may also want to print out the alphabet practice page from the website.

Look at the activity with your child.  Have them identify the first picture and say the word out loud (it's a quarter).  Have them repeat the first sound.  What letter makes that sound?  Write that letter in the space provided.  If they are unsure how to write the letter, use the practice page to check.

Have them complete all the pictures and sounds.

Tuesday, May 12

Today is National Limerick Day.

A limerick is a silly poem with five lines.  They are often funny or nonsensical.  Limericks were made famous by Edward Lear, an author who wrote the "Book of Nonsense" in the 1800's.  This was an entire book of silly limericks.

The first, second and fifth lines rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables (typically 8 or 9).
The third and fourth lines rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables (typically 5 or 6)
Limericks often start with the line "There once was a..." or "There was a..."
(From DLTK.com)

Here's mine for today:

There once was a preschool director
She had staff who worked well together
With kids she played all day
Made snack and liked to say
"My job could never be better!"

2s: Shapes

1. Story Time

Let's listen to the story of three clever mice exploring shapes in Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh

2. Shape Collage

In your bag you'll find cut outs of different shapes.  You'll also need a piece paper and some glue.

Look at all the shapes with your child.  One by one, have them name the shapes.  They can also name the colors.

Let your child use the glue, paper and shapes to make a collage.  It might be a picture or it may just be shapes on the page.

Encourage your child to share it with someone else, telling them about the shapes that they used.

3. Counting with the Count

Watch a Sesame Street video about the Number 5: The Count Counts to Five

4. Counting to 5

From our website, print out the 2s Counting to 5 activity.  You can also print out the 12345 page.  This will help your child connect the written numerals with the number of objects.

Look at each picture with your child.  Ask: 'What shape is it?  What color are they?'  Have your child count the number of shapes in each box.

Use the 12345 page to help your child find the numeral.  Now, have them color in that same numeral next to the shapes.

3s: Shapes

1. Review Shapes and Colors

Let's review all our shapes and colors with the Storybots: Storybots Shapes and Colors

(Rectangle is my favorite song!)

2. Size Sorting

From our website, print out the 3s Size Sorting activity.

Look a the pictures with your child before you cut them apart.  What do they see?  What color/shape/size?

Cut apart, or have your child cut apart, each of the rows.

To start, keep each shape/color together.  Have your child line up the shapes in order of largest to smallest.

Now ask them 'How else can you organize the cards?'  For example, smallest to largest, all the smallest/largest, make a pattern, etc.

3. Shape Book

From our website, print out the 3s Shape Book.

Each page has the shape, a real-life example, a shape to trace with your finger, and a shape to trace the dotted lines.

Look at each page with your child.  Have them name the shape and the real-life object.  Can they think of something else that is that shape?

Have your child complete each page

4s: Review

1. Reading Comprehension

From our website, print out the story Mingo in the Sun.

Tell your child you are going to read them a very short story.  Slowly read the story to your child.

Now, read your child each question and let them select the answer.  If they need to hear the information again, read the entire story again.

Have them circle or color the correct answer to each question.

2. Puzzle Mix-up

You'll need two different puzzles that your child is normally capable of doing, maybe 10-20 pieces each.  If you don't have puzzles at home, you can print out the puzzles on our website.  Use card stock if you have it.

Mix the pieces of both puzzles up.  Have your child separate the pieces into two piles, one for each puzzle picture.  Now, have them assemble the puzzles and see if they were correct.

3. Number Bingo

From our website, print out the Number Bingo activity.  You'll only need to print out as many boards for the number of people playing.

You'll need a handful of pennies for markers.

Cut apart the calling cards.  If your child feels confident, have them be the caller.

Draw a card and mark your board if you have that numeral.

If your child is unsure of what number is shown, use the 1 to 10 example page from our website.

The first person to fill their page is the winner!

Monday, May 11

It's hard to believe that this will be our last week of preschool for the year.

It certainly has been one that was out of the ordinary.

Don't forget to pick up your child's things today!
9:00-10:00 a.m. - ALL 4s
10:00-11:00 a.m. - ALL 2s
11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon - ALL 3s

EVERYONE

Did you know that according to a 2013 survey, the average preschooler asks more than 300 questions in a day??  A 4-year-old girl beats out everyone else below the age of 10 with close to 400 queries per day!

Of course you knew that, because you're the parent of a preschooler.  I know some days is seems like your child is the one who hits that mark before breakfast.

Let me tell you why it's important to allow, and encourage, your child to ask questions and how to handle the onslaught.

Children make sense of the world by asking questions.  They build concepts, skills, vocabulary and understanding of the unknown through question and answer.  Answering their questions fosters learning, plain and simple.

You are your child's primary source of information about the world an how it works.  Answer questions now and they will continue to turn to you for answers in the future.

Here are five ways in which you can support your child.  Most importantly, answer simply and honestly.

1. Gauge your answer by your child's age and interest.

Are they really looking for an in-depth answer, or seeking an uncomplicated one?  In other words, do they want to build a watch or do they just want to know what time it is?

2. Turn the question around and ask your child what they think the answer might be.  This helps deepen your child's thinking.

3. If you don't know the answer, that's okay.  Tell your child that you're not sure and investigate it together.

4. Ask your child questions first.  'Why do you think dogs bark?'  'Why do have to wash our hands?'  'Where do you think that plane is going?'

5. Motivate Higher Order Thinking.  This means encouraging your child to use the information that they already know to find solutions to new problems.  HOT is a life-long skill children can begin to develop now.

2s:  Number 5

1. The Numeral 5

I love Storybots!  Watch their video about the number 5: The Number Five


And here's a Sesame Street compilation of the Number 5: Sesame Street Number 5

2. Decorate

In your bag, you'll find a cut out number 5.

Have your child use their finger to trace around the numeral.

Now, have your child decorate the cut out.  You can use paints, stickers, crayons, thumbprints, anything!

3. You Have 5 Fingers and 5 Toes

Use a piece of paper and a marker or crayon to trace your child's hand and foot.
You can also paint their foot and stamp it on the paper!

Show your child that they have five fingers on their hand and five toes on their foot.

Ask your child to find you five of something - Legos, stuffed animals, books, rocks, etc.

Encourage your child to show someone else their fives.

3s; Numbers

1.  One to Ten

Watch the Storybots sing about the numbers 1-10: Storybots - Counting to Ten

As you're watching, pause the video and ask your child if they know what number comes next.

2. Number Bingo

From our website, print out the 3s Number Bingo.

You'll need something for markers.  A handful of pennies works well.

Cut apart the cards with the dotted lines from the last page.

Look at the numeral cards with your child.  Let everyone choose a board.  The numerals 0-10 are played with, though not all boards have all the numerals.

Tip: Don't point out the numerals for your child.  If they are unsure, let them hold the card and compare it to every space on their board until they have found the match.

You can also have them show you 'how many' with their fingers for each numeral.

Take turns drawing cards and announcing the numeral.  Keep playing until your board is filled up. The first person to fill their board is the winner!

3. Numbers and Numerals

From our website, print out the Numbers Puzzles activity.

Look at the sheets with your child.  Each numeral has a number of objects next to it.  Have your child count the number of objects and see if they match the numeral.

Cut apart, or have your child cut apart, the puzzles on the lines.  Mix up the numeral sides and then mix up the picture sides.

Have your child draw a numeral.  Can they identify it?

Now, have them find the picture that has the correct number of objects on it.  Ask them to count out loud to make sure.

Put that pair aside and have your child finish all the matches.

4s: Review

1. Alphabet Bingo

From our website, print out the Alphabet Bingo activity.  You'll need at least 2 people to play.

Cut apart the calling cards on the second to last page.  You can cut out and use the pips on the last page or it's easier to just use a handful of pennies.

Mix up the calling cards and let your child choose one of the playing boards.

Have everyone put a pip on the center.

Draw a card and show it to everyone.  If you have the letter, put a pip on it.

The first person to get 5 in a row, wins!

2. Let's Get Moving!

Bop Til You Drop

3. Following Directions

From our website, print out the Flowery Types activity. 

Point out to your child that there is a color code to follow.  The activity is available in color, but your copier may make red and orange look too similar.  You can underline the color words for you child. 

When you look at the color words with your child, ask questions.  We'll use 'red' as an example.  You can ask 'What is the first letter of this color word?', 'What sound does it make?', 'What color word do you think this is?'.

Have your child color the flowers one color at a time.  Once the flowers are all colored, they can color the rest of the picture!

Friday, May 8

It's hard to believe that we're at the end of week 7 without each other.

Next week will be our last week of online activities.

I've had a blast compiling projects for you and your child!  From the many comments I've received, I know you have appreciated it.  I'm glad we could be here to help you through this time!

EVERYONE

This Sunday is Mother's Day.

May you get breakfast in bed and a day off!  But we know that makes Monday twice as hard...

Here's a book you can watch with your child about Mother's Day: The Night Before Mother's Day by Natasha Wing

And the classic book by P.D.Eastman Are You My Mother?  (I always liked the Snort)

Have a wonderful day, Moms!

Link to Preschool Private Page CLICK HERE

2s:  The Zoo

1.  Puzzles

From our website, print out the 2s Zoo Puzzles.

Cut out the last page with the right halves of animals.

Show your child all the pictures with the left halves.  Ask them 'What is missing?'

Show your child the right halves of the puzzles.  Have them choose the one that goes with the first picture, the chimpanzee.

You can glue them down, or if you want to use them over again, just place them in the correct boxes.

2.  Big and Small

Discerning the difference between sizes is a beginning math skill for children.

From our website, print out the 2s Big and Small Animals activity.

You can cut out the pictures at the bottom of the page for your child.

Can they match the large colored animal with a smaller black and white one?

Have your child put glue on the blank square and glue down the correct small animal.

3.  Elephants

Your child can learn a little bit about elephants in the wild by watching this video: Animals for Kids: Elephants

We can make our own elephant, though much smaller!

From your bag, you'll need the small paper plate, the large grey piece of construction paper and the grey ear, trunk and legs, plus the sticker eyes.  You'll also need some glue.

Have your child tear or cut the large piece of paper into smaller pieces.  Next, they can glue them to the paper plate.  Encourage them to cover the plate, but it's not necessary.

Next, ask your child where the elephant's trunk goes.  Once the trunk is on, have your child attach the legs and ear.  Finally, have them put eyes on their elephant.

Encourage them to share their creation with someone else!

3s: The Zoo

1.  Scissor Skills

From our website, you'll need to print out the Hungry Monkey Cutting Practice activity.

Point out to your child that there are different lines connecting the monkey to its banana snack.

Earlier in the week, they traced a similar page.  Today, they will cut on the lines.

Have your child hold the paper in one hand and their scissors in the other.  Open, shut them, open, shut them, open, shut them.

Have your child cut on the lines as close as possible.

2.  Dot-to-Dot

From our website, print out the 3s, Zoo Dot-to-Dot activity.

Ask your child, what do you think the picture will be?  Point out to them the Number 1 dot at the top of the page.  By sliding your finger on the paper, show them how to get to the Number 2 dot, and so on.

Let your child use a writing tool to connect the dots.  They can do it one dot at a time or keep the pencil on the paper and make a continuous line.

What is the picture?  Were they right?

Encourage your child to color the parrot.

3.  Counting Practice

From our website, print out the Zoo Animal Counting activity.

Look at the paper with your child.  Point out that each row looks to have a different number of animals on it.  What do they see at the bottom of the page?

Have your child cut the numerals at the bottom of the page apart.

Help them with their one-to-one correspondence by encouraging them to use their finger to point to each animal in the row as they count it.  How many are there?

Have your child choose the correct number and glue it to the end of the row.

Encourage your child to color the animals.

4.  Which Is Different?

From our website, print out the Which is Different activity.

Look at the pictures with your child.  As you go down the page, they should be more challenging.

Can they spot the animal picture that is different from the others?  Circle it and explain why it is different.

4s: The Zoo and Numbers

1.  My Favorite Zoo Animal

Listen to the story by Rod Campbell Dear Zoo

We've learned a lot about zoo animals this week.  Which one was your favorite?  Would you want that animal as a pet, like the child in the story?

From our website, print out the My Favorite Zoo Animal activity.  Have your child color and cut out the crate on page 2.

Draw a picture of your favorite zoo animal on the first page.  Once it's drawn, use the flap to glue the crate so that it 'opens' over your animal!

Tell someone about the animal and why it's your favorite!

2.  Number Practice

From our website, print out the Zoo Roll & Write activity.  You'll also need a two dice and something to write with.

Have your child roll the dice and add the dots together.  Find the square that corresponds to that number.

Now, have your child write the number in that box.  There's a little number in the corner to help them.

Keep rolling until all the boxes are filled!

3.  Dot-to-Dot

From the website, print out the 4s Zoo Dot-to-Dot.

Have your child look at the picture and see if they can guess what the picture might be.  They'll have to connect the dots to find out!

Point out to them the Number 1 dot at the top of the page.  By sliding your finger on the paper, show them how to get to the Number 2 dot, and so on.

Let your child use a writing tool to connect the dots.  They can do it one dot at a time or keep the pencil on the paper and make a continuous line.

What is the picture?  Were they right?

Encourage your child to color the parrot.

4.  How Many Animals

From the website, print out the 4s How Many Animals.

It might look very busy to your child at first.  Help them come up with a strategy to count the animals.  For example, they can start with the first animal in the first row, the tiger, and count across the rows.  As they come to a tiger, they can cross it out or circle it.

Once they have counted all of one type of animal, have them write the number in the box next to that animal.

5.  Number Show &  Tell

Write numbers 1-20 on pieces of paper or post-it notes.  Have each family member choose a slip from the pile.

You each need to find that number of something in the house.  They don't need to be all exactly the same.  For example, my number was 7.  I found seven socks.  They didn't match, but they were all socks.

Set a time limit.  Come back together and share your number and then count for everyone what you found.

Have a wonderful weekend!  

Thursday, May 7

Fun Fact:

Kids and crayons go together.

Crayola estimates that the average 10-year-old has used 723 crayons, not counting the ones they ate as toddlers.

In 1993, and again in 2000, Crayola polled users and the most popular color for crayons was blue. Rounding the top ten were red, violet, green, carnation pink, black, turquoise blue, blue green, periwinkle and magenta. 

A study by Yale University shows that the familiar "crayon scent" is one of the 20 most recognizable smells in the U.S.

Link to Preschool Private Page CLICK HERE

2s:  The Zoo

1.  Story Time

Listen to the story of a child seeking a pet from their zoo.  Which animal will be just right for them?  Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

You can encourage your child to guess what animal might be in the box from clues in the picture.  For example, the first animal says 'VERY HEAVY' on the box because it's an elephant.  The second box is very tall, so it must be a very tall animal - a giraffe.  

Ask your child if they could really have any of those animals a pet.

2.  Dear Zoo

From our website print out the Dear Zoo Matching activity.  

Cut apart the cards.  Look at the cards with your child.  Point out that they are the animals and the crates from the story Dear Zoo.

Put the animal pictures on one side of them and the crate pictures on the other.  Encourage them to match each animal with the crate that it came in.  

You can also have them arrange all the crates and all the animals in size order - large to small and small to large.  Can you find another way to organize them?

3.  Color Practice

We listened to this song on Tuesday, but let's hear it again: The Color Song

4.  Color Hunt

Now that we've reviewed our colors, let's go on a Color Hunt!

Give your child a copy of the Color Hunt Matching activity from our website.

Tell them you need them to find something from every color.  Let them loose in the house.  Encourage them to carry the paper with them and then put all their finds into a certain place - like onto a throw rug, on a place mat, etc.

Once they've found examples for everything, have them show and explain to you their finds.

3s:  The Zoo

1.  Story Time

Listen to the story of a child seeking a pet from their zoo.  Which animal will be just right for them?  Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

You can encourage your child to guess what animal might be in the box from clues in the picture.  For example, the first animal says 'VERY HEAVY' on the box because it's an elephant.  The second box is very tall, so it must be a very tall animal - a giraffe.  

Ask your child if they could really have any of those animals a pet.  Why or why not?

2.  Jungle Animal Matching

From our website, print out the Jungle Animal Matching activity, on card stock if you have it.  Cut them out or have your child cut them out.

Look at the pictures with your child.  Encourage your child to name all the animals.

Ask your child what the difference is between the pictures.

Play a game of matching with your child.  Start with 3-4 pairs of pictures.  Turn them over, mix them up, and lay them out in rows.  Let your child turn over a card and then choose another card.  If it matches, they get to keep the pair.  Now, it's your turn.  Keep taking turns until all the matches have been found.

3.  I Spot a Giraffe

Let's learn some more about giraffe's with a video from the Houston Zoo:
All About Giraffes

From the preschool's webpage, print out the Giraffe Spots activity page.  You'll also need a handful of Cheerios (or similar cereal) and a die.


Giraffe Facts...
Giraffes can sleep standing up and less than a total of 30 minutes a day!

Giraffes are the tallest animal in the world.  They grow between 14-18 feet.

Giraffe spots are primarily for camouflage.

FYI:They also act as a way for the animals to dissipate heat.  There is a large blood vessel that goes around each spot with a series of smaller ones underneath the spot.  Those small vessels help to release heat to cool the giraffe.  (You can just tell your child they're for camouflage and to keep the animal cool on the hot savanna)

Point out the spots on the giraffe to your child.

Have your child roll the die and count the number of dots.  Put that number of cereal on the spots of the giraffe.  Continue until all the spots are filled.  (There are 24 spots in all).

Once the spots are filled, eat the cereal and start again!

4.  Let's Make a Giraffe

From your bag, you'll need the second yellow plate, the yellow oval, yellow ears, sticker eyes, and the 'horns'.  You'll also need some glue and a brown crayon, marker or paint.

Have your child draw/paint brown patches on the yellow plate.

On the yellow oval, have them draw two nostrils and a mouth.

Have them attach the ears and the horns to the giraffe.  Next, glue on the snout oval.  Finally, put the eyes above the snout.

Have them share with a family member one of the facts that they learned about giraffes.

4s: The Zoo

1.  Zoo Pals

Let's watch this video of two unusual pals at the zoo: Raina and Ruuxa

What makes them such unexpected friends?

2. Patterns

Understanding patterns help prepare children for learning complex number concepts and mathematical operations.  Patterns allow us to see relationships and develop generalizations.

You can make patterns with anything!

From our website, print out the Jungle Animals Patterns.

Have your child cut out the extra pictures from the bottom of the page.  Look at each pattern with your child.  Have them say the pattern out loud.  What picture should come next?

Have your child find the picture and glue it in the box.

Complete each row.  Be careful!  There are extra or similar pictures included.

3.  Beginning Sounds

When we learn a new letter each week, we also learn the sound that it makes.  Some letters can be tricky.

From the website, print out the Zoo Animals Beginning Sounds activity.

Look at each picture with your child and have them say the animal's name out loud.  Have them say it a few times, emphasizing the first sound they make.  I tried not to include any tricky sounds like /c/ vs. /k/.  Remember, it's the sound we're looking for, not spelling!

Have your child color in the correct letter sound for each animal.

4.  Rhyming Words

Here's another literacy activity that it helps if you say the words out loud.  That helps your child actually hear the sounds, as opposed to saying it in our heads.

From the preschool's website, print out the Rhyming Words Matching Game.

Cut out, or have your child cut out, the blue and orange cards.  Place the blue cards in one pile and the orange cards in another.

There are 24 pairs in total; you can start with a smaller amount, maybe 8-10 pairs at a time.  Don't feel like you need to do them all at once.

Have your child choose a blue card and say the word out loud.  Now have them say the words for each of the orange cards out loud until they find the one that rhymes.

Continue until you have used all the cards.

You can also make a Concentration game with the cards, taking turns turning them over to find a pair.

5.  Addition

From our website, print out the Raindrop Numbers activity.

In each block, there is a rainbow with raindrops falling from the clouds.

Have your child look at the raindrops and count them.  Start with the cloud on the left and move toward the right.  How many raindrops are there all together?

Look at the two numerals - which one is the correct answer?  Circle that number.

Your child can color the pictures afterward.