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.