Information For Families
The Early Childhood Team has developed two formats for you to choose from..
If you are able, please send one or two photos of your child via email to your child’s teacher that can be shared. We’re sure all the children would love to see their friends’ faces!
Format 1:A Daily Slideshow that will give your child exposure to familiar songs and activities they see and hear daily at school. This powerpoint is very child friendly, press Go and let them watch. Click the day of the week below and open into a web browser.
For the remainder of this month, our learning adventures will focus on farm animals. Our literature selections will help us explore humor through incongruity in stories (mixed up animal/farmer roles, etc.). The activities and literature available weekly will reflect our theme as well as some opportunities that will promote curiosity and a continued love of learning!
Format 2 W/Bonus Ideas: This is a guide for parents, with links and additional activities provided if your family is wanting more or if you do not have access to streaming videos.
The first slide in the series is an overview of the stories available to your child daily as well as a menu selection of activities to go along with the theme. The stories and activities can be done in any order that you choose! Each story is a link to a video reading by one of the teachers and each activity on the grid links to another slide that has the directions for adults and links.
We would love to have each child do one story and one or two activities per day but we know that isn’t always going to happen. You need to choose what works for your family during this difficult time. THE most important thing is for everyone to stay healthy and happy!
Literacy Activity
Author Study
Janet Morgan Stoeke
Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards
LANGUAGE ARTS 2.C.ECc: With teacher assistance, describe the role of an author and illustrator
An author study at the preschool level can be as simple as reading a collection of books by the same author. Here are a few additional ideas!
Helping children become more aware of authors and illustrators nurtures
an understanding that they can also use print and pictures to make stories!
Math Activity
You can help your child by pointing out patterns throughout the day.
· Notice a pattern on your child’s clothing. “Look, you have on stripes today! Red, blue, red, blue.”
· Make a pattern with toys. (car, block, car, block)
· Make a pattern by doing something. “Let’s make a pattern with how we move. Jump. Step. Jump. Step.”
· Make a sound pattern with rhythm instruments. BANG, tap, tap, BANG, tap, tap. Start out by making a pattern and having your child copy you.
· Create patterns with objects you find in nature.
Patterns are arrangements of things that repeat in a logical way. Those arrangements of colors, shapes, gestures, sounds, images, and numbers are a crucial concept for young kids and contributes heavily to their early math understanding.
Art / Fine Motor
Outdoor Activities
Sidewalk Chalk Farm
Head outside and draw a sidewalk chalk farm!
If you have any farm themed toys, such as a barn, tractors, or animal figurines you can incorporate those into your child’s play as well!
Sidewalk Puffy Paint
Supplies:
Directions:
the mixture into separate bowls, add food
coloring, and stir
corners
Art / Fine Motor
Indoor Activities
Supplies:
liquid watercolors
Directions:
2. Add several drops of food coloring or
watercolor
3. Slowly add water until the
desired consistency is reached
Edible Mud Play Dough
Supplies:
Directions:
1. Mix dry ingredients together.
2. Add wet ingredients and mix
evenly, and it’s ready to be
played with.
Dirt Dough
Outdoor / movement
Duck Duck Goose
If you only have two people...roll a ball back and forth, saying duck, duck, and then on goose the person with the ball gets up and runs while the other person chases and tags the person with the ball.
Jolly Phonics
Group 3 & 4 Review
Monday- Tuesday
Jolly phonics Printable Group 3
Wednesday- Thursday
Jolly Phonics Printable Group 4
2nd STEP
Saying the Problem
Problem solving is an important skills to begin developing in preschool. Skilled problem solvers get along better with other children and have fewer conflicts and problems with aggression. Young children will need adult support as they learn to solve problems with others.
Watch this video lesson and check out this printable visual with the problem solving steps. Also, take a look at this home link for additional activities and talking points.
Journal
Journal Writing is something our students do one time per week. This is something that should be the child’s own work. We often start out with a simple item to draw, basic shapes, lines or people. Encourage them to choose colors with a purpose, even scribbling with intent is appropriate for 3 year old students. For those students who are 4 and will be going to kindergarten, we often see clearer images that they can elaborate on and tell us about. The key is not to make strokes on their paper. You can model for them on your own page, but let their work be theirs.
Here are some journal topic ideas you can pick to write about this week.
My favorite animal
Me and …. (anyone they care about)
This is something I saw on my walk today.
The link below is an example of our blank journal paper that you can print, however any paper will do! We’ve also included the directions that teachers use at school.
Music
All Things EC - Fun at the Farm
What We Do and Why
We do a lot of singing and creative movement in our program. Singing and moving to music give the children a chance to move freely, practice new skills, and feel good about what their bodies can do. The children love our daily time for singing together, and it helps them develop the ability to cooperate in a group. We also use music to deliver learning concepts related to our thematic unit.
What You Can Do at Home
You don't have to be musical to enjoy music with your child. Taking a few minutes to sit together and listen/sing/dance to music can provide a welcome break for all of you. We hope you and your family will enjoy these fun farm songs!
Fun at the Farm songs link allthingsec.com.
Story Extensions
Minerva Louise Extensions
Additional Stories