It’s Just a “Stone’s Throw Away” to Learning & Play the Nature Way!

Posted on May 22, 2013 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

Kids love to play outside!  If you ask any of our children what their favorite part of the day is, hands-down it will be outside play time.   Playing and learning with natural items can be a FUN part of outdoor play with a few simple ideas!  It doesn’t take children long to begin to develop their own ways of playing and learning with readily found items.  Below you will find some ideas to get the creativity started!

Nature-Crafted Dominoes

Materials:  Sticks (for making the domino outline), rocks, chalk, and assorted nature items that can be counted (Suggestions: small pine cones, rocks, leaves, acorns, flower petals, other seeds, etc.).

To Play (can be a small group or individual game):  have the children gather the items in a basket or a bag.  Collect as many rocks as the children can find (flat-sided ones work best for labeling with the chalk).  Make a domino outline (see photo above) from the sticks the children find.  Have the children label the rocks to resemble a domino (assist younger children).  Have the children shake one of the labeled rocks in their hand and carefully pour it out onto the ground (remind the children to “roll” the rocks carefully like dice and not to THROW them – we had a few FLYING rocks, but not many).

Once the children roll the “rock” dominoes, have them copy the dot patterns on the rocks to their stick domino outlines using some of the smaller items.  Count the total number of items in the domino.  How many items do you have ALL together?

In the photo below, we used basic addition skills (4+2) and put the corresponding number of flowers under the rock domino.  The kids loved playing this game and looking for different items to play with. We forgot that we were learning MATH; isn’t that the way it should be?!

For a competitive game:  Have a race to see which child can collect the most items in a predetermined amount of time.  For a cooperative game:  See if all of the children can work together to get a predetermined amount of items in 5-10 minutes.

 Patterning

Nature contains all kinds of natural patterns.  If you look closely at the tulip tree petals in the photo above, you will see color patterns that are the same.   Have the children look outside to find patterns that occur naturally.

To introduce basic patterning to the children, use some of the items the children collected for the domino game above.  For an ABC pattern, the children would use three different items and then repeat the pattern (in the photo above, our kids used sticks (A), rocks (B), and tulip tree petals (C)).  For very young children:  start a basic AB pattern with two items (ex: rocks/sticks) and see if the child can complete the pattern that is started.  An adult could also make an entire pattern row and see if the child could copy the pattern (using his own materials) in a separate row.

Tally Marks and Skip Counting

Materials:  lots of sticks, chalk, and several rocks.

Have the children collect sticks and help them break the longer ones into shorter lengths.  Label rocks by 5′s (5, 10, 15, 20, 25) with chalk.  Have the children practice laying the sticks to make a tally mark set.  To teach the concept of tally marks, there is a rhyme we chant with our children here.

Practice the rhyme with your children as they lay sticks to make tally marks.  Tally marks are a great way to introduce counting up by 1′s and skip counting by 5′s.

For younger children:  use single sticks to make tally marks.  Label the rocks with the numbers 1-4.  Have the children practice making single tally marks that correspond to the numbered rocks before moving on to larger numbers.

Nature-Crafted NAMES

Have the children practice forming the letters in their name with any items they can find in nature.  For younger children, see if they can form any letter they have had introduced with items they can find.  It is a fun way to explore and help cement beginning letter recognition.

ROCK Word Families

Materials needed:  Rocks and Chalk

Have the children find several rocks.  Label ONE rock with the two ending letters for different word families (for ex:  _at:  cat, sat, bat, pat, mat, fat, rat, hat; _it:  sit, lit, hit, pit, bit, kit, fit, bit; etc.)  Label other rocks with various beginning letters.  The children must choose a rock that has a beginning letter that would form a word in that word family.

The rocks can also be used for:   single letter recognition, CVC words, CVVC words, CVCe words, or for building any sight words your children have had introduced.  It is fun to see what the children do own their own after introducing ROCKS and LETTERS!

Nature-Crafted Flowers

Have the children look for any items in nature that they can use to create something.   It is amazing to watch young children assemble natural items into different forms.  What items can your own children use to make….ART?!

For MORE great ways to use nature items for play, please visit some of the extra resource links below:

From Fun at Home with Kids:

 Small World Floor Play with Nature and Insects and a Nature Sensory Board.

From Housing A Forest:

Nature Printing

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud

STICKS – Nature’s Perfect Toy

Nature Stick Garden

From Fantastic Fun and Learning:

Seeds Science and How to Make a Rock with Kids

Posted in Outdoor Play Activities, Spring and Summer Kid crafts, Summer, Trees and Leaves Theme, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stop the “Summer Slide” with Fun Beach Activities for Kids!

Posted on May 18, 2013 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

Beach Theme Counting Practice (Instructions Below)

Children love to visit the BEACH! The activities offered below are wonderful extension lessons to do after a trip to the beach (or the chance to explore a beach theme if a visit to the beach is not possible.) The suggestions below are designed for children in Preschool or Kindergarten, but are adaptable for children of differing skill levels.

Road Trip FUN with Wikki Stix

Shara at Mommy Perks has some great ROAD TRIP suggestions for families!  Check out her post if you are taking a trip to the beach (or anywhere!) this summer!

FUN items to look for at the BEACH!

Beach Scavenger Hunt - Beach Items

Print the beach items and laminate for each of the children.  At the beach, have the children look to find each of the items.  The scavenger hunt is a fun game to reinforce letters/words at the beach.  How many of the items can your child find?   If it is not possible to go to the beach, let the children look through books/magazines to locate each of the beach items in the file.  There is a great list of beach-themed books located in the EXTRA RESOURCES section at the end of this post.

Extension Games to Play:  for older children, cut the word and picture cards apart.  Have the children work to match the word with the corresponding picture.  For younger children, print two copies of the beach items file above.  Cut the strips apart and place each strip face down on a table or the floor.  Have the children play a memory game by turning two strips over at a time to see if they match.  If the strips do not match, both strips are tuned face down and play continues to the next child.  The game is over when all strips have been matched.

Beach Theme Counting (pictured above)

Materials needed:  Small beach-themed counters/shells, beach-themed plastic cupcake flags, homemade or commercial playdough, and a dry erase marker (to label the cupcake flags).

Label several plastic cupcake flags with any number the children have had introduced.  Have the children roll large balls from playdough and then flatten to a “pancake-shape” on a table or playdough mat.  Have the children place one labeled cupcake flag on each of the playdough shapes.  The children must then press the corresponding number of beach-themed counters into the playdough shape.  The children will love playing with the playdough and beach-themed objects!  It is a great way to PLAY with one-to-one correspondence and retain basic counting skills over the summer.

Beach-themed Patterning

Beach Patterning - Blank Pattern Strips

Materials needed:  Small Beach-themed items/seashells and the blank pattern strips (linked above).

Print the blank pattern strips above for each child.  Set out an assortment of beach-themed items or seashells for the children to use.  For very young children, start an AB pattern on the blank pattern strips and see if they can finish the row. Young children might also copy a complete pattern row that has been done for them. For older children, have them make more complex patterns without using the pattern strips.

Roll and Remove Math for Preschool and Kindergarten

Roll and Remove Math for Preschool and Kindergarten - Sunshine Math

Materials needed:  Sunshine Math file (linked above), permanent or dry erase marker to label the flags, Wikki Stix, and 1-4 dice.

Print the Sunshine Math file for each child and laminate for durability (if laminating supplies are not available, clear contact paper will work).   Cut out each of the suns in the file and label with a number the children have had introduced.   Place each labeled sun on top of a Wikki Stix to make a numbered flag.   Arrange the flags in a random order on a mat or a table top.  Have the children roll 1-4 dice.  As the children roll the dice, they must count the dots and remove the corresponding numbered sun flag,  The game is over when all sun flags have been removed.

Flip Flop Craft for Kids

Wikki Stix Flip Flop Zipper Pull Craft for Kids

Materials needed:  Two colors of Wikki Stix and scissors (safety scissors will work).

Have the children make a spiral shape from two strands of the same color of Wikki Stix (this shape becomes the bottom of the flip flop).  The children can cut two small pieces of Wikki Stix from the second color to make top portion of the flip flop (^).   Our kids made zipper pulls for their backpacks by attaching a small craft circle to the back of the Wikki Stix flip flops.  It’s a fun summer craft for the kids to make!

Oyster and Pearl Cookie Craft

For MORE Beach Activities including food crafts and Seashell games, visit EXPLORING THE BEACH at Squidoo!   

Extra BEACH Resources to check out!

13 Books about the Beach 

Scented Homemade Playdough with Jello

Recipe for Play Sand

20 Nature Related Beach Activities for the Whole Family

Beach-themed Sensory Table

Sandy Handprint Keepsake Beach Craft

Seashell Crab Craft for Kids

Posted in Beach Theme Activities, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

13 Creative Ways to use Wikki Stix at Home or in the Classroom!

Posted on May 6, 2013 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

Wikki Stix are versatile and creative tools that will help young children learn new skills at home or in the classroom!

1).  Use Wikki Stix as shoe laces on a tying frame.  The Wikki Stix will hold the loops much better than a regular shoe lace!  For tiny fingers, it is a great tool to enhance learning.

2) Use Wikki Stix to make tally marks.  The Wikki Stix will help cement important concepts.

3)  Use Wikki Stix for stringing and patterning.  The Wikki Stix do not have sharp points like pipe cleaners; they hold the beads better than strings, too!

4)  Use Wikki Stix to create numbers.  It is a wonderful fine motor task!

5).  Use Wikki Stix to circle counted groups of items – more than, less than, etc.

6).  Use Wikki Stix to create a tic-tac-toe board.

7).  Use Wikki Stix to create wheels for art projects.

8).  Let the children make the letters of their name with pieces of Wikki Stix.

9).  Use Wikki Stix to replace the strings for sewing cards.

10).  Make Wikki Stix Clocks and have the children make one or both of the clock hands.

11).  Use Wikki Stix to hold pony beads for counting coin values.

12).  Have the children trace the outlines of pattern block shapes with the Wikki Stix.

13).  Teach the children how to braid using three Wikki Stix strands.

About Wikki Stix

Wikki Stix has been entertaining parents, teachers and children for more than twenty years! Wikki Stix One-of-a-Kind Creatables are the award winning original waxed yarn creativity toy. Wikki Stix are Made in the USA.   Follow on Twitter and Facebook for periodic discount codes.

Posted in Wikki Stix Thematic Unit | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Spring Weather and the 5 Senses!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

Children love to learn about the weather!  When exploring weather, children have many opportunities to use all 5 of their Senses!

Sight - Whats_the_Weather_Like

Observe the weather outside each day!

What is the weather outside TODAY?  Look in the newspaper each day and at the weather map in the paper (the children can also visit http://www.weather.com.)  Show the children how to tell where it will rain, snow, storm, or be sunny.  Save the week’s forecast from the newspaper for your city and compare it with the actual weather each day. Was the weather prediction in the paper correct? Have the children predict what the weather will be like tomorrow? Write down or graph what the children predict? See if they are right!

Smell  - RainbowPrintingPaper

Ask your children if they can SMELL the weather?  Take your children outside for a walk to experience the smells in nature after different types of weather (suggestions for things to smell:  tree bark, leaves, rain collecting in different areas, flowers, rocks, grasses, weeds, etc.)  *Note:  children with seasonal allergies should avoid smelling different weeds/flowers especially during the Spring*  Discuss with your children different ways to describe what they smell.  Have the children copy, stamp, or write a descriptive word (or words) onto the rainbow paper (linked above) after each of your  walks.

Scented Word Suggestions:

Bad Good Fruity
Stinky Sweet Woodsy
Yucky Yummy Perfumed
Earthy Sharp Musty
Spicy Fresh Sour

Hearing - Weather Sounds

Set out different items that could be used to make the sounds that nature makes. Set out a cookie sheet, pots, utensils, &/or storage containers and have the children make thunder with their hands.  Set out a pie tin and a cup with rice.  Have the children pour the rice into the pie plate making rain sound.  Have the children make sounds for each other. You might also have the children close their eyes while sounds are being made. What type of weather does it sound like? Make up some weather sounds of your own. You might also use shoes, paper towel tubes to blow through, beans for hail, etc.

Touch – Weather Sensory Bins (Clouds and Raindrops)

Materials needed:  Moon Sand, small bowls, tweezers, clear or blue glass flower arranging stones, white pompoms or cotton balls.

Put 2-3 lbs. of Moon Sand or rice in the Sand Table (you can use a plastic drawer or bins on a regular table if desired.)  Hide glass flower arranging stones and white pom-poms (fluffy clouds) in the sand.   Set out two bowls with two tweezers. Have the children sort the Raindrops and Clouds into different bowls using the tweezers to pick them up.  *Use different utensils to transfer the “raindrops and clouds” to bowls from the sensory bins (cups, spoons, tongs, etc.) to enhance fine motor skills.

Taste – Raindrop and Cloud Cups

Make a weather-themed snack with your kids.  Have the children layer blueberries (raindrops) and clouds (whipped topping) in individual bowls for a fun and easy snack. Serve with graham crackers and milk for a tasty and nutritional snack!

For more Weather Ideas for the classroom or at home, please see the Spring Weather Unit at The Preschool Toolbox!

 

Posted in 5 Senses Theme Activities, Spring Weather Unit, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Busy Bumblebee Song, Color Words and Numbers, and Bee Crafts!

Posted on April 16, 2012 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

Bottle Cap Beehive and Play Dough Bees Craft for Kids

Bottle Cap Beehive - have the children use bottle caps to make circle prints on yellow paper.  We used yellow and brown tempera paint, but the children could make their hives any color desired.  When the children are finished printing with the caps, cut the paper into a hive shape.

Laminate (or cover with clear contact paper) the painted beehives above (make sure the bottle cap paint prints are thoroughly dry) and let the children make play dough bees to play with on the beehive.

I’m a Busy Bumblebee Song (to the tune “She’ll be Comin’ Around the Mountain)

I’m a busy, busy, busy bumblebee, BUZZ! BUZZ!

I’m a busy, busy, busy bumblebee, BUZZ! BUZZ!

As I sit on a flower all day long,

I’ll grab that pollen and SING THIS SONG!

I’m a busy, busy, busy bumblebee, BUZZ! BUZZ!

~adaptation to traditional by The Preschool Toolbox

Bumblebee Rings to Make and Wear

Have the children make “Bumblebee” rings to wear while singing their song!  Make the bumblebee rings from one yellow Wikki Stix (spiral) for the body, 1/4 of a black Wikki Stix for each antennae, and 1/2 of a black Wikki Stix (to wrap around the yellow body and twist closed around each child’s finger.)

Bee Color Words and Colors - Bee Color Words and Color Match

Materials needed:  One Bee Color Words and Color Match printable (linked above) for each student and scissors.

Print the file for each of your children onto heavy paper and laminate.  Have the children cut out each of the cards (assist younger children).  Read the color words to your children and see if they can match the color word to the corresponding color.  For younger children, print two copies of the colors only page and have the children match the colors without the color words.  As the color words are introduced, it helps to have the children look at the beginning letter to help them decide what color word it is:  begin with the primary colors and expand as the children catch on (BLUE, BLACK, BROWN and PURPLE/PINK are going to present the same beginning letter and the children will have to look beyond the FIRST letter or two in those color words.)

Extension:  Print several copies of the file and have the children play a matching game (memory style) with either the words only, the colors only, or both.  Have the children turn the cards face down and pick two cards at a time.  If the cards match, the player gets to keep those cards. If they are not a match, the player turns the cards face down again and play continues to another student.

NUMBER WORDS and NUMBERS – Print the NUMBER WORDS and NUMBERS file – Bee Number Words and Numbers for the children and have the children match numbers to the corresponding number words.  Younger children can match numbers to numbers.  There are several blank bee cards for use with any numbers/number words your children might be working on.

Wikki Stix© Bees and Bee Stick Puppet Crafts

Materials needed:  Yellow and Black Wikki Stix© and crafts sticks (if making stick puppets).

Demonstrate for the children how to make a spiral out of the yellow Wikki Stix©.  We used three Wikki Stix© to make the bee’s body.  Make black spirals for the bee’s head.  Fold black Wikki Stix© and made the antennae, body lines, and the bee’s stinger.  The Wikki Stix© have an adhesive property that allows the body parts to stick together without using glue.

Extension:  have the children wrap a craft stick with yellow and black Wikki Stix© and press the bee (made above) to the craft stick.  We use the bee stick puppets when we sing the “Busy Bumblebee” song above.

Wikki Stix© Bee Stick Puppet Craft

Kids love to learn and talk about insects!  For MORE great teaching ideas see: 

The Organized Classroom Blog

 

Posted in Bugs and Insects Theme Activities, Summer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transforming Preschool “BAND AID” love into a Butterfly’s Life Cycle!

Posted on April 26, 2012 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

Using band Aids for a Butterfly's Life Cycle

Most kids WANT to use band aids (even for those imaginary “ouchies” that sometimes arise!)  While our kids were in a particularly long phase of “band aid love,” we transformed the interest into a “Butterfly’s Life Cycle” (and practiced our fine motor skills with all of the peeling and sticking).

Materials needed per craft:  One paper plate, 2 colored band aid strips, 3 circle band aids, 1 fingertip butterfly band aid, 1 small white gauze pad and first aid tape (or the children can roll two regular band-aid strips for the pupa stage), markers or crayons, scissors, glue sticks, and one life cycle printable - Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Help the children draw lines to divide their paper plate into 4 sections (or do prior to the activity).  Print the Life Cycle of a Butterfly labels (linked above) and have the children cut  apart.  Explain to the children that their are 4 separate stages to the butterfly’s life cycle.

1.  The Eggs – the female butterfly lays eggs and attaches them to leaves.

2.  The Caterpillar – the worm-like stage of the butterfly is the caterpillar.  The caterpillar eats leaves and grows.

3.  The Chrysalis (pupa) – after the caterpillar has grown it forms a chrysalis (or pupa) where changes take place within to transform the caterpillar into a….

4.  Butterfly – the butterfly then emerges from the pupa and the life cycle starts all over again.

After discussing the 4 Stages of a Butterfly, have the children place the circle band aids (eggs) at the top (left corner) of the paper plate.   The children can then glue the label (EGGS) from the printable under the band aids.

In the right corner (top) have the children use one of the colored band aid strips to resemble the caterpillar.  The children can adds legs or antennae with the crayons or markers, if desired.  Glue the label (CATERPILLAR) under the band aid strip.

The chrysalis stage can be made using a small gauze pad (rolled and sealed with tape) or by rolling two regular size band aids.  Some of the children colored the white gauze rolls green with markers (to more closely resemble the chrysalis).  Have the children glue the CHRYSALIS label under the bandages.

We made the final stage of the life cycle with a fingertip BUTTERFLY bandage and one regular strip band aid.  Have the children put the regular bandage on the plate vertically (to resemble the butterfly’s body).  The butterfly bandage is put across the butterfly’s body to form the wings.  The children should glue the strip with the word BUTTERFLY into the last section of the paper plate.

Have the children use markers/crayons to add any additional features they wish to make.

Our kids loved using the band aids to make the butterfly life cycles!  For more lesson ideas and files to print:  See the BUGS and INSECTS Thematic Unit at The Preschool Toolbox!

Posted in Bugs and Insects Theme Activities | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It’s SPRINGing up Fruits & Vegetables in Preschool!

Posted on March 24, 2013 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

  While our kids have been in a particularly long phase of playing picnic and restaurant, we have decided to update some of our fruit and vegetable activities to capitalize on the interest while it’s still here.  

Labeling Fruits and Vegetables with Wikki Stix

One Mouse Template  
Assorted Colors of Wikki Stix
Markers or crayons for labeling

Print the mouse template for each of your children (or the activity can be done as a small group activity).  Have the children make circles or spirals with the Wikki Stix (the Wikki Stix are great for enhancing fine motor skills!)  When the children are done covering their mouse with the Wikki Stix spirals or circles,  ask the children to brainstorm different fruits or vegetables that are the same colors as the Wikki Stix on their mouse. Draw a line and label each mouse with the name of a fruit or vegetable that corresponds with the color of the Wikki Stix.   After labeling each child’s mouse, discuss with the children different varieties of fruits and vegetables that may not be as familiar to them.

Extension #1:  Provide the children with a sample snack of the less familiar fruits and vegetables discussed above.  HINT: It is helpful to pair a new food with a more familiar (and LIKED) food when introducing foods to young children.

Extension #2:  Read “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff. Discuss foods and how to make healthy food choices with the children. Have the children complete the activity above “giving” their mouse fruits and vegetables with Wikki Stix spirals or bingo dot markers.   Complete the project by labeling all the colorful fruits and vegetables “given” to the mouse!

Foods Collage

Help the children make a large foods collage from old magazines.   Have the children cut out/tear any food pictures from old magazines.  The children can use glue sticks or even small pieces of Wikki Stix to mount their pictures to a poster board (the Wikki Stix will adhere to the pictures/poster board so no glue is necessary).    When the children have filled the poster board with their food pictures,  have the children play “I SPY” for fruits and vegetables.   It is fun for the children to locate their own pictures and those from their peers.

Potato Masher Prints

For fun painting/printing projects, have the children paint with non-traditional painting tools.  The children can use celery, carrots, apples, or potatoes to make prints.  In the photo above, we used a plastic potato masher to make the prints.

What other tools have your children used that are fun to paint and make prints with? 

THINKING MATH:  Fruit and Veggie PLUS ONE Problems

Ask the children to pick any number that they have had introduced.  Use that number in a PLUS ONE number sentence at the top of each child’s page (see photo above).  The children can then use crayons, markers, collage materials, or Wikki Stix to create that number of fruits or vegetables on their paper.  The child in the photo above, choose to use all carrots for his problem.  Some of the children mixed fruits and vegetables to do their own problem.

When the children are finished, have the children expand the learning by telling a story about their pictures.  The child who made all carrots said, “A farmer only planted 5 carrots, but the Easter Bunny came along and brought 1 MORE so there were 6!”  I LOVE when kids get into the habit of THINKING MATH!  It is truly awesome!

We have eaten MANY pretend fruits and vegetables this month!  Regardless of how OLD you are, when a toddler or preschooler offers you a pretend apple, you EAT it! 

For MORE activities/printables/suggestions for fruits and vegetables, visit us on Squidoo!

Posted in Fruits and Vegetables Theme Activities | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Creating a Foundation for Math Success in Preschool & Kindergarten

Posted on April 4, 2013 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

Spring Counting Game at Abc Teach

We’ve spent the last week collaborating with our friends at Abc Teach to bring you fun ideas, learning centers, and games for Math  at home or in the classroom.  

According to a study by David Geary, Curators Professor of Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri, “Once students fall behind, it’s almost impossible to get them back on track. We wanted to identify the beginning of school knowledge needed to learn math over the next five years. We found that understanding numbers and quantity is a necessary foundation for success as the student progresses to more complex math topics. In order to improve basic instruction, we have to know what to instruct. These are the factors that make a difference in the first-grade above and beyond intelligence and other abilities.”

We hope that some of the suggestions below will assist you in selecting activities for your children that will build basic math foundations for a lifetime of successful learning!

Greater Than or Less Than? - Great than or Less than

The greater than or less than game is a fun way for children to identify whether one group of objects is greater than or less than the number of objects in another group.

Materials needed:  One game file (linked above) per student, one die, any counters (we used chicks just because we found them on sale after Easter), and Wikki Stix.

Print the game file for each child.  Have the children roll a die and count the number of dots.  The children should then place the corresponding number of counters in the first box on the game page.  The die should be rolled a second time to determine the number of counters to place in the second box.  For larger numbers, more dice can be rolled.

As the children look at each of the two boxes of counters, they must determine if the first box of counters is GREATER than or LESS than the second box.  For younger children, play the game with an adult the first few times.  HINT:  it is helpful for the children to make tally marks with the Wikki Stix to determine if the first box has more counters or less counters than the second box (see photo above).

The children can then form a greater than > or less than < sign from the Wikki Stix and place it between the two boxes of counters.

Helping preschoolers and kindergartners understand that there are relationships between numbers and specific quantities will assist them in forming important math connections!

The Tally Mark Rhyme - The Tally Mark Rhyme

Teaching with rhyme is a powerful learning tool for young kids! Combining rhyme with a hands-on sensory tool will help cement the tally mark concept for years to come.

Materials needed:  One tally marks rhyme file (linked above) for each student, scissors, and assorted Wikki Stix.

Print The Tally Mark Rhyme for each of your children.  Say the rhyme and demonstrate for the children how to make a set of tally marks.  Practice the rhyme with your children as they make their own tally marks.  The Wikki Stix are easily cut into pieces with safety scissors, but younger children will need assistance.

Tally Marks are a fun way for children to practice counting up by ones and skip counting by 5′s.

Wikki Stix Kites for One-to-One Correspondence

Our math post at Abcteach offers many activities and games that will help introduce basic math concepts to young children:

  • Creating 10 bars with Wikki Stix and Pony Beads
  • Kites Roll, Count, and Color Free Printable
  • +1 or -1 Game for Young Children
  • Skip Counting Suggestions
  • Odd/Even Recognition

We hope your children will enjoy learning and playing with math.   By offering early math “stepping stones,” our children will have the opportunities for future success!


Posted in Dominoes and Dice for Math, PreK, Preschool and Kindergarten Skills | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wet Chalk Kite Crafts and Learning Games for Young Kids!

Posted on April 16, 2013 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

The wet chalk kite crafts are a fun activity to do indoors or outside this spring.  The kites make a great craft to display, but the bow activities will also enhance early math and literacy skills.   

Wet Chalk Kites

Materials needed:  One square piece of paper for each child, chalk (drawing chalk works best for this activity, but sidewalk chalk can be used), any color of Wikki Stix, and small cups (for water).

Have the children use the Wikki Stix to make any design desired on the white paper (see photo above).  The children should choose several colors of chalk to use on each of the sections of the kite.

The children can then dip the chalk into the cups of water (the water will make the colors brilliant).   The children can color each of the sections as desired.  The Wikki Stix will keep each colored section of the kites separated.

When finished coloring each section, the children can remove the Wikki Stix and allow the kites to thoroughly dry.

When the chalk kites have dried, the children can make kite strings by attaching a long strand of Wikki Stix to the bottom of the kite.

Learning Activities to Accompany the Kite Crafts

Bows Template - Kite Bow Template

The Kite Bows file (linked above) can be used in many ways to enhance learning with young children when combined with the wet chalk kite crafts above.

HINT:  Laminate the kites after drying and use a dry erase marker for some of the learning game suggestions below.  The bows can also be laminated for use with the different games, too.

CVC Words - print the bows file and label each bow with  different vowels.  Label one of the kites with two letters (for ex:  C _ t).  The children must then find a bow that could be used to make a word.  In this example, the children would find a bow labeled with the letter “a” to make the word Cat.  **The bows will adhere to the Wikki Stix kite “string” so no glue will be necessary.

Sight Words – label the kites and bows with any sight words the children have had introduced.  Place all the bows face down on a table or the floor and have the children find the bows that match the words on each of the kites.  We have also used the kites for word families (see -ar word family kite pictured below).

Names – have the children write or stamp the bows with the letters that make up their names.

Patterning – label each of the kites with a pattern the children have had introduced:  AB, ABC, AABB, etc.  The children can then use the different colors of bows to create patterns on the Wikki Stix kite strings.

Numbers – label the kites with different numbers the children are working on.  The children must place the number of bows on the kite string that corresponds to the number on the kite.  Addition/Subtraction:  label the kites with a simple addition or subtraction problem.  The bows should be labeled with the sum to the problem.

Letter Recognition:  label the kites with an uppercase letter(s) and the bows with a lowercase letter(s).  The children must find the matching letters and place them on the kite string.

Color Recognition:  print two copies of the bows and place 2 or 3 colored bows on one of the kites.  The children must find the matching colored bows and place them on the kite string.  For older children, label the kites with a color WORD and have the children place the corresponding bow on the kite string.

Additional Crafting - the kite bow file also contains an additional paper bow template.  Our older kids used the template with Wikki Stix to make paper bows.

We hope your kids enjoy the kite craft and the kite bow extension games this spring!  If you have additional suggestions for games, please leave us a comment below to share with others!

For MORE Spring Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten, we have ready- made theme activities to download and print at:  The Preschool Toolbox!

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Spring and Summer Kid crafts, Spring Weather Unit, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Preschoolers GONE BUGGY! Ladybug & Insect Activities for Spring!

Posted on April 21, 2013 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

Ladybug Math Mat for Preschool and Kindergarten

Spring is a great time to introduce your children to BUGS & INSECTS.  Some children are frightened of bugs, while others will readily look for, touch, and play with any they find outside!  

Introduction:  Make a list of all of the insects the children have seen before or know the names of.  Sing the song Insects All Around as it includes many common insects the children may know!

Insects All Around

Insects all Around (Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

Lady bugs and butterflies,

Buzzing bees up in the sky.

Teeny, tiny little ants,

Crawling up and down the plants

Many insects can be found

In the sky and on the ground.

~Original Author Unknown

Ladybug Roll and Print Math Mat (photo pictured above) - Ladybug Roll and Print

Materials needed:  One Ladybug Roll and Print file for each child, red stamp pads OR red bingo dot markers, black fine tip markers, and 1-4 dice (depending on skill levels of the children playing).

Print the ladybug math mats for each of the children.  The math mats can be used with children of differing skill levels.  Below are some suggestions for use at home or in the classroom.

Younger Children:  have the children roll ONE die, count the number of dots, and make a fingerprint or red dot mark in the corresponding numbered square.  The game is over when all the squares (#1-6) are printed with a red dot.  When the prints dry, the children can use black markers to make antennae, legs, &/or the corresponding number of dots to the ladybug prints (see photo at the top of this post).

Older Children:  have the children roll up to 4 dice.  For each roll, the children must make a dot mark or print in the corresponding numbered square.  The math mat has numbers through 24.  The children can also play with partners and choose to be either ODD or EVEN.  The odd player must only print a square when he/she rolls an ODD number.  The even player can only print a square when he/she rolls an EVEN number.  The game is over when one player has printed all the EVEN or ODD numbered squares.

The children can add features/dots to their ladybugs with fine point black markers once the prints are dried in the squares.

Wikki Stix Created Insects

My Insect - Drawing Insects

Materials needed:  One Drawing Insects file (linked above) for each child and assorted Wikki Stix.

As you read each line of the text at the top of the paper, have the child make that part of their insect with the Wikki Stix.  When complete, the children can share their insect creations with the rest of the class and discuss how each picture looks different even though each child made the same insect parts.

Ladybug Colors and Word Cards - Colored Ladybugs and Color Word Match

Recognizing Colors and Color Words

Print the colored ladybugs and word cards from the file (linked above) and laminate for durability.  Have the children cut out the ladybugs (or cut prior to the activity).  The children can practice recognizing color words by matching the color word ladybug cards to the corresponding ladybug color.

For younger children, use the ladybug word cards with the colored text.  Older children can match the black/white text cards to the ladybugs of the corresponding color.

 

Wikki Stix Created Insect Art – One-to-One Correspondence

Materials needed:  White paper and assorted Wikki Stix.

Have the children use the Wikki Stix to create any number they have had introduced on the white paper (assist very young children).  Using the assorted Wikki Stix, the children can make the corresponding number of ladybugs or insects on the paper.  Some children will want to add more details to the insect page:  a sun, clouds, birds, trees, grass, stick people, etc.  If is a fun way for children to learn basic counting, practice fine motor skills, and be creative!

For MORE literacy, math, science, art, large motor, crafts, and games, see the Bugs and Insects Unit at:  The Preschool Toolbox!

Posted in Bugs and Insects Theme Activities, Wikki Stix Thematic Unit | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My “Circle of Love” – Poem and Craft for Mother’s Day!

Posted on April 28, 2013 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

The Circle of Love keychain crafts are easy gifts for kids to make and give for Mother’s Day.  Mothers and grandmothers will delight in the poem while carrying the bead symbols of love on the keychains.

Materials needed:  Key Rings, Red/Blue/Yellow/White Pony Beads (one of each color per craft), old keys or craft keys (one per child), one poem per child (linked below), craft wire, cardstock or heavy paper, scissors, and glue sticks.

My Circle of Love - My Circle of Love

Print the poem above for each of the children.  Have the children cut out and glue the poem onto a piece of heavy paper (folded vertically in half).    The children can draw a picture or stamp/write their names on the inside of the card.  Set the card aside until later.

To make the key rings:  Cut a piece of craft wire for each child long enough to make a circle.  Have the children thread 4 pony beads onto the wire in the following order:  BLUE, RED, YELLOW, and WHITE.  Read the poem to the children as they place each of the colored beads on the craft wire.  After the white bead, the craft key should be added to the wire.

My Circle of Love Pony Bead Craft

Assist the children in making a circle from the craft wire and twisting it closed.  The circle can then be added to the key rings for the children (most key rings are too difficult for younger children to open – they will need assistance).

The children can hole punch the card to add the key ring craft and a ribbon, if desired.

We wish ALL who love and care daily for their children, a blessed Mother’s Day!

Posted in Mother's Day | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Introducing Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” to Young Kids!

Posted on May 4, 2013 by pschooltoolbox
Translation

Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf  is a composition written for chamber orchestra and narrator.  It is one of Prokofiev’s cherished works and will delight children while offering an opportunity to learn important skills through classical music.

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was born in Russia (show the children on a world map where Russia is located in relationship to where they live).   Sergei began learning piano from his mother, an accomplished pianist, at age 3.  By the time Sergei was 5 years old, he had written compositions for the piano; at 9 years of age, Sergei had written opera.

Prokofiev spent time in the United States, but moved to Paris and London.  In 1936, he  returned to Russia.  When in his homeland,  Prokofiev wrote Peter and the Wolf for a children’s theater in Moscow.  It was a huge success and has become a beloved classic among both children and adults.

Learning Objectives:  

1)  to use aural and visual skills to identify a variety of instruments/instrument families/instrumental themes;

2) to explore how music can convey different emotions; and

3)  to extend the story through:  movement, story sequencing and retelling, and musical art.

Maestro Classics Peter and the Wolf Book and CD

Maestro Classics is a great educational resource for all of the classics.  The Peter and the Wolf book and CD collection will have value for years to come!

Musical Themes

Prokofiev introduces a variety of instrument families and characters through instrumental themes in Peter and the Wolf.  Peter is played by the violin (string instrument family); the bird is played by the flute (woodwind family); the duck is played by the oboe (woodwind family); the cat is played by the clarinet (woodwind family), the Grandfather is played by the bassoon (woodwind family); the Wolf is played by the french horn (brass family); and the Hunters are played by the timpani (percussion family).

Print and download the Instrument Cards – Peter and the Wolf.   Play a recording of Peter and the Wolf for the children.  As each instrument (character) is introduced, stop the recording and show the children the picture card of the corresponding  instrument.  Discuss the instrument family each instrument belongs to as the cards are explored (Prokofiev introduces the string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instrument families in Peter and the Wolf).

Our kids love the animated Disney version (links below) because the animals are given names:  the cat (Sonia), the bird (Sasha), and the duck (Ivan).  As the children begin to recognize each of the instruments, they will quickly associate each animal’s name with the corresponding instrument.  They will delight in saying, “That’s SASHA, played by the FLUTE!”  As the children become more familiar with the instruments, print a copy of the cards for each child.  When the recording is played, ask the children to hold up the corresponding instrument cards.  The instrument card file can also be printed and used as a matching activity, if desired.

Music. Feelings, and Emotions – a listening map

Music embodies powerful emotions for adults and for children.  It can soothe, excite, express sadness, uplift, be humorous, and create joy among many other feelings.  When listening to Peter and the Wolf,  ask the children how each of the instrumental themes make them feel.   Help the children use descriptive words as they listen to each of the characters and their corresponding instruments.  Does the instrument sound happy, sad, heavy, loud, light, soft, strict, harsh, smooth, sneaky, slow, strong, determined, fast, or relaxed?    Help the children form a listening map for Peter and the Wolf.  

Example of a Listening Map:

1)  Peter enters the meadow – how does the music sound – does the music sound light or scary?

2) We meet the Bird - is the music fast or slow?

3) We meet the Duck – do the children LIKE the unique sound of the oboe?  Can they almost FEEL the duck waddling?

4) We meet the Cat – does the clarinet sound relaxing and smooth or heavy and harsh?

5)  Grandpa arrives – does the bassoon sound happy or angry?

6) We meet the Hunters – is the sound of the french horn light/happy or strong/determined?

7) Peter ropes the Wolf – does the music get faster or slower to help us FEEL specific ACTIONS?

Extension Activity:  Play the recording and ask the children to freely move to the music (let the children use scarves or streamers, if desired).  It is an amazing sight to watch children moving to Peter and the Wolf.   It is an expressive activity that will allow the children time to feel and incorporate the music in their own way.  After the movement activity, ask the children how they felt as the music played.  Help the children to find words for their movements (skipping, fluttering, prowling, waddling, floating, flying, stomping, crawling, marching, twirling, etc.)

Story Sequencing and Retelling - Peter and the Wolf Sequencing Strips

Print the Sequencing Strips (linked above) for the children.  Read each of the strips to the children (the strips contain the corresponding instrument as a visual aid).  Have the children try to retell the story by placing the sequencing strips in the appropriate order.   The children could also retell the story in their own words.  We digitally record the children as they retell the story to play it back for our group as we continue learning.

Musical Creations and Rhythms

Ask the children to free draw or paint while listening to Peter and the Wolf.  It is fun to watch the children draw as the different themes are introduced.  Some children will choose black for the wolf and lighter colors for the bird.  Painting and drawing can help the children express the emotions felt by listening that they do not have the vocabulary for quite yet.

Wikki Stix Created Music Notes for Hands-On Play and Learning!

Introducing children to basic music notes will invite the children to practice  important rhythms.

Quarter note:  a quarter note gets ONE whole beat.  Have the children use Wikki Stix to make a quarter note.  Ask the children to clap and say, “quarter” with each rhythmic clap they make.  We use the metronome app by Frozen Ape Pte. Ltd. in our classroom which helps the children establish rhythms as they clap ($1.99 on iTunes).  Teaching children to “keep a beat” will help their bodies incorporate the rhythms that will enhance future reading skills.

Half note:  a half note gets TWO counts.  Have the children use Wikki Stix to create a half note.  Ask the children to clap and hold the clap for two counts.  We clap and say, “Half note/ HOLD IT” before we clap again.

Whole note:  a whole note gets FOUR beats.  Have the children use Wikki Stix to create a whole note.  Ask the children to clap and hold the clap for four counts.  We clap and say, “Whole/ note/ four/ beats/” before we clap again.

Extension:  Ask the children to do different movements while learning music note values:  jumping, hopping, bending, reaching, etc.

Resource links:

Free Printable/Ideas for a Peter and the Wolf Puppet Theater 

Peter and the Wolf CD and Book – Maestro Classics  

Prokofiev and Walt Disney You Tube 

Disney’s Peter and the Wolf - (1 of 2)

Disney’s Peter and the Wolf -  (2 of 2)

Musical Instruments Coloring Pages 

Learning about Instrument Families 

Interactive World Map 

Posted in Feelings, Preschool Themes, Storytelling with Young Children | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment