preschool lessons Archives - Page 4 of 4

Community Helpers – Overview

February 14, 2014 by Mama Carmody 5 Comments

Community Helpers – Overview

Teaching your child about community helpers can help them understand and feel more secure in their ever widening world. Learning about community helpers can help them realize that they don’t need to be afraid when they hear sirens in the neighborhood or in the car. The sirens are signaling that there are people out there to help take care of them. Police officers are there to help us when there is an accident. Firemen help us if there is a fire. The doctor and dentist help keep us healthy and the school teacher helps us learn new things.

When I taught preschool, we studied community helpers in the three year old classroom. At home, you might want to introduce some of them even earlier; for instance, the doctor. Children have to go to the doctor regularly, from birth, so reading books and talking about the doctor may help put them at ease. Before my children went to their first dental appointment, I read books to them so they would understand what was going to happen.

In the following posts you will find book suggestions and crafts to do with your children to help make learning about their world fun. Enjoy playing pretend with your children as they become the doctor and you are the patient. Please come back and leave comments about the books and crafts you enjoyed together. I would love to see pictures too. You can share them on the Love to Laugh and Learn Facebook page.

Doctors: Love to Learn about Community Helpers
Dentists: Love to Laugh and Learn about Community Helpers
Police Officers: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
Firefighters: Love to Learn About Community Helpers

Stars: Learning Activities for Shapes

April 17, 2013 by Mama Carmody 11 Comments

Stars: Learning Activities for Shapes

Are you ready to have fun with stars? Take your child out late one evening and lay in the grass or on a blanket and watch the stars. If you live in the city you may have to drive away from the bright lights before you can see them. Enjoy playing with stars, eating stars and doing crafts with them. Please come back and share comments of the fun things you have done.

Content:

Toys
Craft:
Popsicle/Craft Stick Star
Snacks
Story Time
Related Posts

Toys

What star shaped toys do you have? Maybe a shape sorter with a star in it? How about a special pillow you sleep with at night? When I was little I had a star shaped police officer’s badge. I used the Lauri Toys Shape and Color Sorter in my preschool classroom. It has a star shape and the children really enjoyed it. Please leave a comment and let me know what star shaped toys you have at your house.

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Craft

Popsicle/Craft Stick Star

Materials Needed:

Popsicle/Craft sticks
Glue
Paint
Paint brush or foam brush
Paper to protect workspace

Instructions:

1. I covered my workspace with parchment paper because I bought it for $1 at the Dollar Tree. You can cover your space with whatever you have.

2. Since I wanted to use multiple colors I painted my sticks before I put them together.

3. After the paint dried, glue the sticks together in the shape of a star.

4. I’m going to use a ribbon to hang the star in my window.

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Foods for snack or meal time

Star fruit, chicken and star soup, occasionally around Christmas you can find star shaped pretzels or crackers, use a star shaped cookie cutter to cut vegetables, cheese and bread

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Story Time

I See Stars (All about Shapes) by D. H. Dilkes
Reading Level: Birth – 5 yrs old
D. H. Dilkes has a great series of little books that discuss different shapes. In this book you will find many different stars. I like the fact that the illustrations are photographs of everyday items. The text rhymes and is simple which is great for a young child that is just being introduced to shapes.

Laura’s Star by Klaus Baumgart
Reading Level: Ages 4 and up
An adorable book about a little girl and a falling star. Laura was looking for a special friend to tell her secrets to and found it in a most unusual place. The sparkling little star adds so much to the story and the illustrations.

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Frazee
Reading Level: Ages 3 and up
A beautiful story to go along with teaching the star shape. The children in the book go on all types of adventures with stars. They see them in the sky and they make some and put them in their pockets. I like how the author encourages a child’s imagination such as saying stars look like silver eggs you could put in a basket. The illustration shows a little girl holding a basket up in the air as if she was gathering the stars. Be sure to take your child along on this wonderful adventure with stars. They will learn that sometimes they might even feel as shiny as a star.

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The Lessons – Overview

November 4, 2011 by Mama Carmody 22 Comments

The Lessons – Overview

As I stated in my very first post, some of the first learning concepts I will be sharing will be geared more to younger children. I have taught 3 & 4 year old classes and pre-kindergarten classes so these initial concepts come from the lessons that I used at that time.

My Child Is Younger Than 3 yrs old

Even if your child isn’t within the above mentioned age ranges, be sure to read through the lesson because there may be parts of it that you can use. If your child is younger (birth – 2 yrs old); you can just read them the books that are being used in that lesson. It is never too early to start reading to your child.

Depending on the child, they may be ready to do the craft, even if they are under 3 years old.

My Child Is In Grade School

Still read through the lesson. Maybe your child likes arts and crafts and would enjoy the craft associated with a particular lesson. Possibly reading through the lesson gives you an idea of another activity you could do with your child to reinforce the concept.

Please Share

If you have any ideas that you would like to share, please do. You can use the comments at the bottom of the blog or share an idea on the Love to Laugh and Learn Facebook page. I look forward to hearing from you and chatting with you.

Learning Should Be Fun
When Do Children Start Learning
Colors – Overview
Community Helpers – Overview
Shapes – Overview