Wednesday, December 7, 2016

December 12 - S is for Snow






Song:
Dance Like Snowflakes (sung to Are You Sleeping)
Dance like snowflakes
In the air
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
here and there...everywhere!


App Activity:
Using this website from your mobile device to create virtual snowflakes. Help a child see (in real time) how the cut outs he/she makes effects the form of the snowflake. Set setting to "auto update".


Extend Story Time:

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin; illust. by Mary Azarian - Caldecott winner 1999. A biography of a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique formations.

Make a "real" paper snowflake with the help of this step by step guide. Have them watch you fold and cut the paper to prepare the triangle shape for them to cut. Then have them make cuts out of the paper. For the older siblings joining in: Talk about how the paper is like the digital version and how it is different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlQVkZA5j-A - show them this slow motion video of how a snowflake forms. Talk about the shape having 6 points.

Talk about SNOW, the letter S and other words that start with "S"....like "six".
Include science fact about snowflakes--made from water which is stuck and frozen to falling debris from the sky...: http://www.doublexscience.org/why-are-snowflakes-always-six-sided/

Have your child cut out and color lollipop covers using this template. Choose Elf, Santa, Snowman, Reindeer. Each template comes with a colored version and a black and white version. Choose the black and white version and have your child color them and write season's greetings to friends.

Create your own virtual snowflake with this website!
from your mobile or computer .


Saturday, November 19, 2016

November 28 - Wonder

Theme: Wonder

Stories:
The Night Gardener by Terry Fan and Eric Fan
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Marla Frazee

Song:
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
"We Call it Fall" by Brian Vogan

App-tivity: SmartBoard  Draw a star.

Extend story time:
Discuss the wonders of stories. Choose your child's favorite. What does the story make you wonder about? Is it feelings? Is it place? Is it a wonder from one of senses? Ask wonder questions throughout the book. Look for "w" words and say the "w" letter sound.

I Wonder (Celebrating Daddies Doin' Work) by Doyin Richards. Dad's can wonder what their children think of the things they do for their kids.

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown. A child wonders what is on top of the old abandoned railway.
The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas and illustrated by Erin. E. Stead.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

November 14 - N is for Not

Theme: What Not

Stories:
Sometimes It's Turkey, Sometimes It's Feathers by Lorna Balian and Lecia Balian
Fall Mixed Up by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Chad Cameron

Song:
"Turkey Song" by the Kiboomers
"We Call it Fall" by Brian Vogan

App-tivity: SmartBoard (write the Word of the Day!)

Extend story time:
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert - use this story to talk about what you may NOT see at first. Then, go outside and find leaves to make your own Leaf Man!

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Oct. 24- S is for Shapes

Theme: Shapes

Book: 
The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano
Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin (ebook) by Tad Hills

Song: Preschool Shapes Song (Education.com subscription)


Extend the story time theme:
Books:
Pumpkin Day by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Shapes by Sara Pistoia
Bear in a Square by Stella Blackstone

Activity:
Learn and draw shapes

Additional Activities:
  • Call out sign shapes when you are driving.
  • Find shapes of household items by playing the "I spy..." game


Today's Apps:

DoodleMath: Shapes
by NCSoft
Shape Tracer by Red Ape Mobile


Here's an additional app to consider....


Edushape by Dollspot.com

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

October 10 - P is for Pumpkin

Theme: Seed counting

Book: How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? By Margaret McNamara
Song: 4 Seasons Song (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter...these are the seasons of the year. (Sung to derivative of "10 Little Indians".)
Song: "Counting by Twos" Brain Boogie Boosters Format: CD by The Learning Station

Extend the story theme:
Books:
Pumpkin Day by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills (Format: ebook. Try HBPL Overdrive).

Activity:
Explore numbers using the 100 number board provided. Place a seed on each square. Say the number as you place a seed on the next number. Use the board to count by 1's. Group seeds in 2's, Place the pair on the board and count by 2's.

Additional Activities:

  • Extend 100 Number board provided to 5's and 10's. Observe the number pattern visually. 
  • Create a Number Bingo game. Use your favorite word processor, or spreadsheet software to create a 4x4 or 6x6 table. Enter numbers you want your child to practice. Have fun!



Today's Apps:

Use the Montessori Numbers by L'Escapadou lescapadou.com ($2.99)
Use the app to "flip" every other number to count by 2's. Practice saying numbers by using the "Say the number" feature. Try turning every 5th number (5, 10, 15, 20). Observe and explain the number pattern. Show how skip counting is "faster" because you are saying less numbers by grouping your counts.Turn on the "Say the number" to help your child learn the new numbers. Then, skip count. Use the Tracing tool to learn to write the numbers 0-10.

Montessori Numbers by L'escapadou 

Thursday, September 15, 2016

September 26 - B is for Body and Bones

Theme: My Body, My Bones

Book: More Parts by Ted Arnold
Song: "Shake Dem Skeleton Bones" by Kiboomers

Extend the story theme:

Books:
Dem Bones by Bob Barner
I Love You Nose, I love you, toes! by Linda Davick

Articles:


Videos:


Activity:
Name dem bones like the clavicle, femur, or vertebrae (Worksheet)

Today's Apps:

Magnetic Alphabet
by Dot Next
My Body
by Urbn Pockets



Monday, September 5, 2016

Sept. 12 - F is for Fruit

Theme: Fruit or Vegetable?

Book: 1 Big Salad by Juana Medina
Song: "Fruit Salad Salsa" by Laurie Berkner

Extend the story theme:
Books:
Edible Numbers by Jennifer Vogel Bass
Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

Articles:
"Difference Between Fruits and Vegetables" by Terynn Boulton

Videos:

Activity:
Color your fruit smoothie and follow the recipe. (Worksheet)

Today's Apps:

Smartboard
by GreenGar
Magnetic Alphabet
by Dot Next





Moose Math
by Duck Duck Moose