Letter B-Its a teddy bear picnic!

The next few posts are going to be a lot of catching up since I have not been able to blog for a while with pictures and everything.I wanted to start off by saying what I usually do to start things off.I always have rug time.First we talk about the month,the day and the weather.We review our letters either by sound or sing the ABC's.This week we started off with rug time.On Fridays or Mondays I like to go to the library.

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The kids got a ton of books! We got many books on Bears.The kids sat on the blanket and picked out their bears.We compared size,color and talked about the different bears.Then we talked about what they eat.We had teddy grahms and grapes which we pretended were berries.Then the kids handed me book after book.We probably read for a half an hour!

We of course talked about B and the sound it makes.We traced the foam letter and wrote it in the air.Then we had some music and movement.They loved the Teddy Bear Picnic song.We played Head Shoulders Knees and Toes,Ring around the Rosie which they held their bears for.

Then Lex practiced her uppercase and lower case b.While my teeny tot practiced lines and tracing.

After recess I introduced blue which starts with the letter B Lex exclaimed!We looked for blue things around the house.We found the blue crayon.Then I introduced the number 2.We talked about pairs and found many on our own bodies,including feet,eyes,ears,hands and so on.We then practiced writing our twos .Ro drew a circle.Yay!We went back to rug time where I introduced our theme for the Month which is Change.There is a lot of leave color changing happening right now.We also talked about how they have changed and grown.They are taller and grown out of clothes.We measure their height.

Kids hibernating in their cave

We did a fun fingerplay about a bear in his cave.Then the kids crawled on all fours and looked for food.I announced it was winter and they crawled in their cave  to hibernate.They really liked this game and played it for a while.

Day 2:

We had a very special breakfast this morning.I got the idea  from learnwithplayathome.com They turned out really cute i think and the kids loved the pancakes with pumpkin in it to bring in the fall tastes

We played memory to practice number 2.

I prepared a box of items some that started with the letter B and some without.Their job was to find the ones that started with the letter B.Then the kid's imagination really took off!Lexi put on the belt as a necklace and the sunglasses

She took the baby and was her Mom.She read the bat book.

Ro played in the boxes and tried a few things on.The box became a car and we had to get more boxes so everyone would have a car. 

Lexi got the play food and went shopping.I have learned to have structure but to allow them to take an activity where they want it to go.This was one of those times.Who knew that these items would entertain them for so long.They played the rest of the time.You can't plan those kinds of memories!

I am still here!

3 more months to go and the baby will be here! That isn't the only crazy part of our lives.These last few months have been like a whirlwind.We r now moved in but trying to sell our other house and unpack this one! To top it all I have lost my internet so it is rare that I get to blog.So sad.I miss it and all of you who suported me.I will do my best but my phone internet is not so good.I have started preschool again and we did the letter B .I am going to try to use my phone but we will see.I have so many great ideas I want to share I also want to make sure you guys are still breathing.

A is for apple--Preschool Play

Review A sound.Introduce number One.
Next is our Apple tree activity.Trace circles and color apples Red. I got this activity from http://www.kidzone.ws/prek_wrksht/shapes/circles.htm

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Five red apples finger play ”*. http://suite101.com/article/learning-about-colors-red-preschool-lesson-plan-a279150

“Five red Apples

Hanging on a tree (hold five fingers up)

The juiciest apples you ever did see!

The wind came past

And gave an angry frown (shake head and look angry)

And one little apple came tumbling down (fold one finger down)”.

Continue with four red apples until there are none. Apple finger puppets may optionally be used.

Story time:Where is the Apple Pie by Valeri Gorabachev

Guess what the snack is? Apples! Cut inside the apple and talk about what you see inside.

Awesome apple craft!dltk-kids.com




A second Story: Circle Dogs.By Kevin Henkes

Have them make play-doh circles on the dog.Don"t forget to count the circles.




I printed the play-doh mat from makinglearningfun.com

Letter A for Alligator-2 year old style

Introduce letter A and the number 1.A is for alligator.Have them make alligator snout with arms and snap them shut.
I printed out pictures that started with A. We has alligator,ant,apple,Astronaut.

Write an A and trace it with finger.
Story time:Snip Snap whats that?By Mara Bergman

5 little monkey finger play.I printed out some monkeys from PreKinders.com I am going to use these monkeys again for the number 5.

Snap that monkey right out of the tree

Mr. Alligator
Five little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator, "Hey, you can't catch me."
But along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be
He snapped a monkey right out of that tree!
(Next verses: 4 little monkeys, 3 little.......,2, 1...)
The last verse for 0:
No little monkeys swinging in a tree
'Cause Mr. Alligator caught them all, you see.
All alone is Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be
With only the wind blowing that tree.
(Blow like the wind)

Have them be the alligator and snap the monkeys right out of the tree.
Alligator hand print: http://theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com/
Alligator puzzle from http://www.first-school.ws/activities/hometoys/aalligator.htm

There was a Mom who had a boy.....

Rowen was his name O!

Today I got my idea from http://www.savvysource.com/activities/activity_bm_49_clothes-pin-names
You take cloths pins and write a letter on each.One for each letter of their name.Then write their name on a paper,mix up the clothes pins and have them try to match it to the letter in their name.At 2 years old I will have to guide him but I will use this often to get him comfortable and familiar with his name. I thought that he did pretty good though.

Here is a little project that my oldest started at school and brought home with him.All you need is tooth picks,marsh mellows and a lot of imagination!

Whats my name?

I ask my two year old what his name is and he just looks at me and smiles.If I say is your name Rowen he will them say his name.This week we have been talking about why we are special and recognizing his name.Today I wrote his name on construction paper.Then we took the glue and put cereal on his name.My Lexi joined in.It is a great practice for her writing her name.This took a while to finish.It is important to remember at this age that we go by their cues.When they are done time to move on!

One for Rowen and and one for the paper.

These are a few of my favorite things

Today I traced my little ones hands and we made a mat of their favorite things.They turned out really cute!Questions I asked were favorite color, favorite toy, food and things that they like to do.




For music and movement we did the hokey pokey.This is a great song for teaching parts of the body. Next we did if you are happy and you know it,Down by the bay and hickory Dickory dock.There is a cute little hand play that can be found at gryphonhouse.com.Go to free activities.Then music and movement.

Here is the schedule that seems to be the best:
9am-drop kids off and mom chores or errands
10am- snacks and story time
10:30-music and movement
10:45-lesson and activity
11:30-lunch