Wouldn’t it be nice to channel all this energy, if only briefly, each day?
I enjoy doing fun preschool activities in the summer with my children. Since I’ve been slow to start this year (read slightly overwhelmed), I thought maybe it would help me to blog about it each week. I try to keep things simple in the summer by assigning a type of activity for each day. So at the end of each week, I will be posting what I plan to do for the upcoming week. Feel free to leave comments about fun projects you are doing, too. I love getting new ideas.
Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies
Daily
Practice putting cards with letters of name in order. Have name written on 3×5 card for 4yo to look at while he does it–later it will be used for a check at the end of ordering the cards.
Practice writing first letter of first name 3x on the white board. Add letters as he is ready.
Monday-Story and Theme & Begin Week Long Book Project
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Have 4yo dictate new story: The Very Hungry Little Boy
Tuesday-Art or Craft
Paint full sheets of paper different colors to use for illustrations in The Very Hungry Little Boy
Wednesday-Food
Ants on a Log–celery, peanut butter, raisins (We’ll probably make caterpillars on a branch instead:))
Cut out shapes/illustrations and glue in book
Thursday-Physical Activity
Sing “The Metamorphosis Song” (Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
Source: Preschool by Stormie
I’m a little caterpillar,
See me crawl.
(crawl like caterpillars)
Watch me curl up in a ball.
(curl up into a chrysalis)
Then out of my chrysalis I will fly,
I’m a beautiful butterfly!!
(fly like butterflies)
Finish Book & Read
Friday-Scripture Story (Read & have children retell on flannel board)
Lehi Leaves Jerusalem (Book of Mormon Stories Reader Chapter 3)
Another idea I’ve done, one that could involve your older children in the preparations, is to make simple felt shapes (with punched holes) of all the foods in the book. Draw a little face on your child’s fingertip (what? Mom is drawing on me?!) and poke the finger caterpillar through all the felt shapes as your read the story.
A butterfly art project uses coffee filters and either straight food coloring or water colors that you dribble on with eye droppers. (There’s sure to be a science lesson about the way the colors spread as the filter absorbs them, no?) Then bunch the middle of the filter wings into a clothespin or pipe cleaner body.
Not related to this week at all, but here are some other ideas:
If you do a unit on colors, the book Mouse Paint is a fun one to use as a springboard for color mixing activities. Accompany it with “rainbow bananas” — slices dipped in gelatin powder.
One of our favorite early writing activities is a dark pan filled with enough salt to cover the bottom. Children use their fingers to draw letters (the dark will be revealed). Then shake and redo. Think of it as a cheap Etch-a-Sketch.
I am so excited for your weekly posts! Please keep ’em coming. I’m going to be part of a neighborhood preschool group this fall, and the lead mom wants to do a planning meeting this Friday. I fear I might be in “tryout mode,” especially since my child is the youngest in the group AND the only boy. But if I could wow them with ideas ….
Jenni, thanks for all of the great ideas! Please keep them coming. The face on the fingertip is brilliant. The little boys will love that.
I’m definitely going to do the coffee filter butterfly. I’ve done something similar with flowers as the end result before.
I’m checking my library this week for the Mouse Paint book. I was going to use Tomie dePaola’s The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush because I have it, but I like the mixing colors springboard you suggested. And we are absolutely doing the bananas dipped in gelatin powder!
I may have to try the salt activity today instead of the writing board. I’ve done it with flour before but never thought of revealing the bottom of the pan like you said.
Thanks, thanks, thanks! Good luck with your neighborhood preschool this fall. You’re always so full of simple, practical, fun and unique ideas that I highly doubt you are in “tryout mode”. Besides, your familiarity with children’s books rivals any children’s librarian. That alone should secure your spot!
I did the same thing but with just white paper. I had the kids paint the paper with watercolors. Like a rainbow. Then I took water and brushed over it. Let them dry overnight. Then i folded them like a fan and tied them with a pipe cleaner and made the antenas. We hung them up with string from the lights and the kids loved them. It is a fun activity.
Betty, I might have to try the plain white paper since I’m either out of coffee filters or I’ve misplaced them. Thanks for letting me know it works, too.