With spring upon us, it’s always fun to start talking about bugs.  One of the most interesting bugs, of course is the butterfly.

Circle Time

Start by asking what they know about butterflies, and read some fun facts from a library book about them.  Show pictures of many different kinds and talk about where they live in the world.  Talk about the life cycle of the butterfly and how it changes from a caterpillar.  For some fun online facts and information visit www.kidsbutterfly.org

Creative movement

Play music and have them practice crawling like caterpillars, going to sleep in their cocoons, and emerging as butterflies with wings. Some fun songs about all kinds of animals including butterflies are on Janene Brady’s ‘I have a song for you’ CD. If you don’t have access to songs about bugs, simply put some classical music on and let them imagine being one.

Story Time

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
• Butterfly story, by Anca Hariton

Table Time

Butterfly craft – Supplies needed: Coffee filters, markers, clothes pins, spray bottle with water, paper plate,  pipe cleaners

Give each child a coffee filter and some washable markers, have them color the filters in whatever patterns they wish paying special attention to get the marker close to the edges, then spray each colored filter with water and watch the colors spread and bleed into each other. Set on a paper plate to dry. When dry, push into a clothes pin (either small or large) and twist a pipe cleaner around the top for the antennae

Egg Carton Caterpillar craft – Supplies needed: Egg cartons cut so there are six egg spaces in a row longwise, paint, paint brushes (foam work great!), paper plate google eyes, and pipe cleaners

Give each child a cut egg carton, paperplate with paint on it,  and a brush. Have them paint their caterpillar and then set aside to dry. When dry cut two holes into “Head” of the caterpillar and feed the pipe cleaner through leaving enough on each side to be antennae. Glue on the google eyes and you’re done!

Snack time:

• get some of the items the very hungry caterpillar ate so the kids can taste and try them
• bugs fruit snacks

Related posts:

1. Preschool Theme – Bugs and Butterflies
2. Insect Lore Butterfly Release Party
3. Preschool Science Lesson – Egg Carton Butterflies

Preschoolers are at such a fun developmental stage because they are learning to be an individual and starting to understand all the amazing things that they can do. This week’s preschool lesson plan will help your preschooler explore who he is.

This preschool All About Me theme can be done in a preschool setting, daycare setting, or at home as part of a homeschool preschool curriculum. Feel free to pick and choose activities that fit your preschooler’s developmental needs.

For activities that require specialized materials, I’ve tried to provide variations that you can do with things you have at home. Check out your local library for some of the great all about me books to do this preschool theme on a budget.

Preschool Supplies Needed this Week

• Preschool Book – I Like Myself!
• Colored construction paper, cut in half
• Buttons
• Pieces of yarn
• old magazines
• safety scissors
• paper plate
• paint
• a picture of your preschooler
• A Homemade Preschool Feel Box
• Non-toxic ink pad
• magnifying glass
• empty egg carton
• dried beans
• A sharpened pencil
• A rolling pin
• Wax Paper
• A large baking sheet
• Ingredients for salt dough – Salt, water, flour

Monday

Circle Time - Go through your daily circle time routine, including talking about the calendar, weather, and singing the days of the week song.

Introduce the “All About Me” Theme. Talk with the preschoolers about how there are things about each of them that are the same and there are things about each of them that are different. Explore some of the things that are the same about the preschoolers in the class. Have all preschoolers with blond hair stand up. Have all preschoolers who are wearing something blue stand up. Have all preschoolers who have brown eyes stand up.

Music and Movement – Sing Head Shoulders Knees and Toes. Sing it fast and slow. Loud and Soft.

Arts and Crafts – Create page one of an All About Me Book (a self-portrait).

Salt Dough Handprint - Help your preschooler make a mold of his hand in salt dough and bake it.

Language and Reading – Read I Like Myself! Have preschoolers share all of the things that they like about themselves with the preschool class.

Preschool Math Activity – How Tall Am I?

Tuesday

Circle Time - Go through your daily circle time routine, including talking about the calendar, weather, and singing the days of the week song.

Play  I Spy Friends to help everyone get to know all of the other preschoolers in their new preschool class.

Music and Movement – Sing If You Are Happy and You Know it. Add variation to the song by using unexpected actions such as, run around, dance around, say hello, etc.

Arts and Crafts – Create page two of an All About Me Book (Things I Like).

Language and Reading – Re-read I Like Myself! Have preschoolers talk about things they do to make themselves feel better when they feel sad.

Math and Science - Preschool Biology Activity – Eye Dilation

People Puzzle – Glue a picture of your preschooler to a piece of thick cardstock or cardboard. Cut the picture up into puzzle pieces and have your preschooler practice putting the pieces together.

Wednesday

Circle Time - Go through your daily circle time routine, including talking about the calendar, weather, and singing the days of the week song.

Introduce the Preschool Feel Box . Tell the preschoolers that they will take turns reaching inside the feel box. Let preschoolers know that you expect them not to guess what is inside the feel box until everyone has had a chance to have a turn. Include any item related to the current preschool theme. You may include a sock, a watch, a small hand or foot figure, a bar of soap, etc.

Music and Movement – Do the Hokey Pokey.

Arts and Crafts – Create page three of an All About Me Book (I Am Special).

Salt Dough Handprint - Help your preschooler paint his salt dough handprint.

Math and Science – Fingerprint Exploring

Language and Reading – Re-read I Like Myself!

Start a Preschool Alphabet Wall. Hang the printed letters on the wall. Have each preschooler help to decorate the letter that their name starts with.

Thursday

Circle Time - Go through your daily circle time routine, including talking about the calendar, weather, and singing the days of the week song.

Print your preschooler’s name and several other names (maybe members of your family) in easy to read letters on a piece of paper. Post the names all over the room. Have your preschooler walk around the room and practice finding their name. Talk about the things that are different about each name. Maybe several names start with the same letter but one is long and one is short. Talk about the things that are the same about each preschooler’s name. Name recognition is an important first step to literacy.

Music and Movement – Sing the ABC’s. Have your preschooler stand up when they sing the letter that their name starts with. Sing the ABC’s again. This time have your reschooler stand up and sit back down when they hear any letter that is in their name.

Arts and Crafts – Create page four of an All About Me Book (My Favorite Color).

Math and Science – Sit in a circle with your preschooler. Tell him that you are going to blow up a balloon and you need him to count how many times you have to blow before the balloon is full. Blow into the balloon and pinch it closed after each breath so you can count with your preschooler.

Language and Reading – Read Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon . This is such a great preschool book that teaches kids to have confidence in themselves and love the things that make them different. I’d highly recommend buying this one or checking it out from the library. Ask your preschooler to think of something that makes him different and talk about why that makes him special.

Friday

Circle Time - Go through your daily circle time routine, including talking about the calendar, weather, and singing the days of the week song.

Have your preschooler find one of his favorite things and use words to describe it to you. Ask him to be descriptive and try and describe it to someone who can’t see it, just like if he was talking on the phone.

Music and Movement – Play Ring Around the Rosy.

Arts and Crafts – Create page five of an All About Me Book (My Family). Assemble the book and have your preschooler “read” it to you by making up a story to go along with each page.

Math and Science – Play the Egg Carton Counting Game.

Language and Reading – Re-read I Like Myself!. Talk to your preschooler about how special you think he is and tell him what your favorite things about him are.

Related posts:

1. Creating Preschool Lesson Plans
2. Preschool Language Activity – I Spy Friends
3. Preschool Dental Lesson – Importance of Brushing Teeth

Right after we adopted our Boxer puppy last Spring, my then 3 year-old daughter decided she needed to have her own puppy, too.  Actually, two puppies.  Imaginary puppies — Holly and Polly!  I have no idea what kind of dog they are but they have been with us this entire last year.  She loves to talk about Holly and Polly, how well they behave, what they like to eat, how big they are getting.  Don’t get me wrong, she loves our Boxer to pieces…she just likes to have her own puppies that she’s in charge of, too!

Honestly, it never really occurred to me to buy my daughter her own stuffed puppies that she could pretend were Holly and Polly.  After all, she has plenty of stuffed animals!  But then I learned about Webkinz Jr.!  Sure, I had heard of Webkinz from my nieces but thought my daughter was a bit too young for those.  Now, with Webkinz Jr., she can join in on the fun her cousins are having but with an online experience tailored toward her age group (3-6yrs)!

WHAT ARE WEBKINZ JR?

Webkinz Jr. is a two part experience.  First, they are these amazingly plush stuffed animals!  I was amazed at how soft and snuggly they are!  My daughters each received a puppy (one blue, one pink) from Webkinz Jr. and those puppies are toted around everywhere with us!!!  They are also completely safe for even my 2 year old since they are free of any plastic eyes or noses that could potentially come loose.  This made me like the Webkinz Jr. plushes even more!  Oh, and they are available in the most adorable creatures — frog, elephant, bunnies, giraffe, bear, puppies, monkeys, and kitty.

Second, each Webkinz Jr. comes with an interactive online experience.  I know a lot of parents are hesitant to allow their preschooler and early elementary age children to pay online.  It can be a scary place!  However, the Webkinz Jr. site has far exceeded my expectations!  The site not only requires a parent to register for the child (which allows the parent to have control over different aspects of the online experience) but the page the child will be playing on is free of third party advertising and free of toolbars.

When you first register on WebkinzJr.com you will enter the code that came with your Webkinz Jr. plush and your child will have the opportunity to name their pet.  This code brings your child’s new plush friend to life online.  Now it is time for the fun!  At your pet’s home your child can feed her, bathe her, play, or put her to bed.  But the fun doesn’t end there!  Your child can also take their pet for adventures around the virtual neighborhood!

Your child can take their pet to the post office to create postcards, to the grocery store to do some shopping, and even going on field trips to the fire station to learn all about fire fighters!  My daughter’s favorite thing to do though is to take her puppy to the school where she gets to do all sorts of learning activities like math, creating machines, and color matching.  Every part of the site offers some sort of fun and educational value to your child.

But your will also learn about responsibility!  Much like a real pet, your child will need to make sure their virtual pet is being taken care of.  Meters at the bottom of the screen let your child know if their pet is hungry, tired, bored, or just needs some attention.

MY THOUGHTS, AS A PARENT:

I really love the WebkinzJr.com experience!  The plush animals are great and my daughters love playing and snuggling with them, but the online experience is really just amazing.  The user interface is fun and easy to use and the games are easily customizable depending on the age/educational levels of your child.  This makes the whole experience that much better because it’s not something your child will necessarily out-grow right away.  It also means that if your child is more advanced at language skills than math skills, you can adjust those levels individually!  You can also add animals to your child’s account each time get a new plush pet by entering in their Jr. Pet Code, found on the tag of the plush.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Webkinz Jr. if you have a child at the preschool age.  They will love their new animal friend and that they get to bring their new friend to life online!  Finally my daughter has a way to bring Holly and Polly to life!!!

*Disclaimer: I did receive two Webkinz Jr. plush pets from Webkinz so that I (and my daughters) could get a first hand experience with the product in order to bring you an accurate and personal review!

Related posts:

1. Bringing Up Baby – Early Literacy for Infants
2. Product Review: Playmobil Wild Life Care Station
3. ITZBEEN A Life Saver For Me

Autumn is filled with so many new things for preschoolers. School is starting up again, the weather is getting colder, and the leaves are changing colors. Help preschoolers experience all of the wonderful things the changing seasons have to offer with this hands-on autumn preschool theme.

Preschool Autumn Circle Time

Talk about the four seasons and what is different about each of them. Ask preschoolers what clothes they wear for each of the different seasons and what activities they do.

Talk about what happens to the leaves when they change colors in the fall. Ask the preschoolers what different colors of leaves they have seen.

Talk about what different kinds of fruits grow on trees. Explain to the preschoolers that different kinds of apples grow on different kinds of trees.

Tell preschoolers that when the leaves on the trees finish changing colors they fall off the tree branches and onto the ground. Ask the preschoolers why they think we rake the leaves up. Pretend to rake leaves up off the ground.

Preschool Autumn Arts and Crafts

Leaf Rubbings – Collect a variety of leaves. Help each preschooler place a piece of paper over a leaf. Using a crayon without paper, turn the crayon on its side and rub it over the paper. Preschoolers will create a copy of the leaf on their paper.

Preschool Autumn Hand Tree -Preschoolers are fascinated by the changing colors of fall leaves. This simple preschool art activity will let preschoolers create their own autumn tree. Preschoolers will strengthen their small motor skills as they trace their hand and practice using safety scissors.

Finger Painting – Finger paint with fall colors such as, brown, orange, and red.

Preschool Autumn Math and Science

Preschool Nature Walk – Give each preschooler a brown paper bag. Go on a nature walk and let the preschoolers collect various items that they find outside, such as, rocks, leaves, small sticks, etc. When you get back from your nature walk let each preschooler share what they found. Let preschoolers glue a few items on the outside of their back to decorate. Store larger items inside the bag.

Fall Counting Cards – Print out cards (on cardstock) labeled with the numbers 1-10. Place craft leaves, nuts, or something else fall related on a table and have the children practice counting out the right amount of items.

Preschool Science Activity – Why Do Leaves Change Colors? – To preschoolers, the changing colors of fall leaves may seem like something close to magic. This simple science lesson will help preschoolers to understand the process that leaves go through in the fall when they begin to change colors and what plants need to live and grow.

Preschool Autumn Music and Movement

Leaves on the Tree (tune of “Wheels of the Bus”)
The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown. . .orange and brown. .. .orange and brown
The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown, all over town.
The leaves on the trees come tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down
The leaves on the trees coming tumbling down, all over town.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish. .. swish, swish, swish.. . .Swish, swish, swish
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish, all over town.

The Leaves are Falling Down
(“the farmer in the dell”)
The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
Red, yellow, green and brown
The leaves are falling down

Preschool Autumn Pretend Play

Add preschooler sized rakes and foam leaves to your pretend play area. Let preschoolers pretend to rake up the leaves.

Fall Books for Preschoolers

We’re always adding ideas. Do you have a great fall Preschool activity that you want to share? Email it to us (with any photos) and we’ll include a link back to your site.

Related posts:

1. Preschool Autumn Hand Tree
2. Preschool Science Activity – Why Do Leaves Change Colors?
3. Preschool Theme – Winter

Teach preschoolers about the letter “A” with exciting circle time activities, arts and crafts projects, math and science activities, music and movement, and pretend play.

A is for Apple Circle Time

Talk about where we get apples from. Talk to the preschoolers about how apple trees grow from seeds and apples grow on the apple trees. Show them some seeds from the inside of an apple.

Feel Bag – Put some apple seeds or an apple inside a paper bag and have preschoolers reach in and touch it without looking. Ask the preschoolers to guess what is in the bag.

Make a Letter “A” Box. Fill a box with toys and objects that begin with the letter “A”. Have preschoolers add items to the box as they play.

A is for Apple Arts and Crafts

Letter A Apple Stamping – Cut an apple in half, dip it in paint and have preschoolers stamp it on a piece of construction paper. Look at the design it makes and the way the seeds look.

Letter A Collage – Have preschoolers cut pictures of things that begin with the letter “A” out of magazines. Help preschoolers to glue the pictures onto a piece of construction paper. Display the letter “A” collages around the classroom.

Marble Painting Apples. Have preschoolers paint a piece of paper by marble painting. When the paper dries, use an apple template to help preschoolers cut an apple shape out of the marble painting.

A is for Apple Math and Science

Apple Sorting – Give preschoolers a collection of apples in a variety of colors. Have preschoolers sort the apples by colors. This could be used as a math center or a group activity. Provide pieces of construction paper in red, green, and yellow. Have preschoolers place the apples on the matching piece of paper. This activity can also be done using apple pictures cut out using a template.

Apple Math – Use a template to cut out several different sizes of apples. Have preschoolers order the apple shapes from smallest to largest.

Apple Seed Counting – Save, wash, and dry the seeds from several apples. Divide a piece of construction paper into 4 squares. Write the numbers 1-4 in each square. Have preschoolers count out the same number of apples seeds as the number in each square says. As preschoolers perfect this skill you can practice this activity using higher numbers.

Seed Estimation – Have preschoolers touch a whole apple and guess how many seeds are inside. Cut it open and count the seeds together with the preschoolers. See who guessed the closest.

Make homemade applesauce with the preschoolers. This can be done easily by peeling and slicing two pounds of cooking apples. Add 1/3 cup of water and sliced apples to a pot and simmer until apples are soft. Mash apples with a potato smasher and add about 1/3 cup of sugar. Add cinnamon to taste and mix well. Serve while the applesauce is warm. Preschoolers can participate in each step along the way and love to eat something that they have helped to cook.

A is for Apple Music and Movement

Sing “Apple, Apple, On the Tree” (to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
Apple, apple, on the tree,
I know you are good for me
You are fun to munch and crunch
For a snack or in my lunch.
Apple, apple, on the tree,
I know you are good for me!
-Taken from The Mailbox Letter of the Week Book 1

Sing the ABC’s. Practice using sign language as you sing each letter. Even if the preschoolers do not know every letter, watching you use sign language will keep them interested in the song.

Apple’s in the Parachute – Use a 6ft or 12ft parachute, depending on the number of preschoolers, and bounce small red balls or balloons in the center of the parachute.

A is for Apple Pretend Play

Cut out and laminate apple pictures. Attach a piece of Velcro to the back of the apple picture and to a green tree template posted on your wall. Let preschoolers pretend to go apple picking.

Add empty plastic jars and toy apples or small red balls to the pretend play center. Have preschoolers pretend to cook applesauce in the pretend play center using a toy kitchen and toy cooking tools.

A is for Apple Language and Reading

Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg
Johnny Appleseed by Reeve Lindbergh

How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro
From Seed to Apple (How Living Things Grow) by Anita Ganeri

Related posts:

1. Preschool Theme – Fall
2. Letter A Apple Stamping
3. Preschool Theme – E is for Emotions

Preschoolers will love this fun theme that goes with the classic alphabet book Chicka Chicka Book Boom. Teach preschoolers the letters of the alphabet with this rhythmic book. Preschoolers will learn upper case and lower case letters.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Circle Time

Use a palm tree template to make a paper palm tree. Color the tree and use contact paper to cover it and stick it to a metal cookie sheet (preferably one with sides). Use plastic ABC magnets to act out the story as you read. This would also make a great language center. Preschoolers will love playing with magnets and learning their ABC’s.

Make or purchase a felt board set with a palm tree and alphabet letters. Use the letters to retell the story or as a language center.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Arts and Crafts

“Palm” Trees - Paint preschoolers hands green and the underside of their wrist brown. Press arm onto a piece of paper to make a palm tree. Cut out brown circles for coconuts and let preschoolers glue the coconuts to their tree. Have preschoolers glue letter stickers to the center of each coconut.

Letter “C” Collage – Print a large letter “C” on a piece of paper. Give each preschooler a copy. Have preschoolers go through magazines and cut out the letter “C” and things that begin with “C”.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Math and Science

What is a coconut? – Show preschoolers a real coconut. Let them feel the texture of the outside and shake it. When all the preschoolers have had a chance to explore the outside use a hammer and a nail to make a hole and drain the coconut milk. The softest points are the small dark circles. For faster draining, punch a hole in all of the circles. Wrap the coconut completely in a towel and place on the floor. Use a hammer to break open the coconut and get to the coconut meat. Be sure that preschoolers are far enough away for this step. Once the coconut is opened let all preschoolers have a chance to see what real coconut tastes like.

Make Chicka Snacks – Spread celery stalks with peanut butter. Use celery stalks that still have the leaves attached.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Music and Movement

Egg Maracas – Fill plastic easter eggs with rice or dried beans. Super glue the egg closed and let it dry. Give each preschooler an egg to shake as they dance to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Other Coconutty Songs

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Pretend Play

Include towels, sunglasses, beach balls, and sand toys in your pretend play center. Have preschoolers pretend that they are on a tropical island.

Related posts:

1. Preschool Art – Palm Trees
2. Preschool Theme – A is for Apple
3. Preschool Theme – Fall

February is Dental Health Month. Take the opportunity to teach preschoolers about the importance of good dental health. This curriculum theme will have preschoolers motivated to take better care of their teeth. Fabulous science activities will show preschoolers what really happens to their teeth if they don’t take care of them.

Preschool Dental Health Circle Time

Talk with preschoolers about which foods are good for their teeth and which foods are bad for their teeth.

Teach preschoolers how to correctly brush their teeth. Have them use their fingers to pretend.

Visit healthyteeth.org for information about teeth and gums to share with your preschoolers.

Get a Free Oral Health Kit for your Preschool Classroom from Colgate.

Preschool Dental Health Arts and Crafts

Tooth Cleaning Painting – Use a tooth template to draw a tooth on a piece of yellow paper. Have preschoolers “clean the tooth” by painting it white.

Dental Floss Painting – Give each preschooler a piece of dental floss. Fill a paper plate with paint. You can use several colors if you want. Have the preschoolers dip the dental floss into the paint and then, holding the dental floss with two hands, use it to paint on their paper.

Dental Collage – Make a dental collage by cutting pictures of food out of magazines. Grocery store ads are a great place to find pictures. Give preschoolers two paper plates each. In the center of one plate draw a happy face. In the center of the other draw a sad face. Have preschoolers cut out pictures of food and glue them to the happy plate if the food is good for their teeth and to the sad plate if the food is bad for their teeth.

Toothbrush Painting – Give each preschooler a toothbrush and a piece of paper. Fill a paper plate with paint and let the preschoolers use the toothbrush to paint on their paper. You can purchase cheap toothbrushes at a dollar store.

Preschool Dental Health Math and Science

Preschool Dental Lesson – Why the Dentist Fills Cavities. Give each preschooler an apple and have them carefully stab a fork into the apple several times. Ask the preschoolers to tell you the color of the inside of the apple. Talk about how cavities are small holes in our teeth. Let the apples sit out for a few days. The holes will turn brown. Ask the preschoolers to describe to you what the apple looks like where the holes are. Tell them that is why the dentist fills in our cavities and why we need to eat food that is good for our teeth.

Preschool Dental Lesson : Importance of Brushing Teeth - An egg shell is very similar to the enamel on our teeth. Soak hard boiled eggs over night in water, vinegar, and Kool-Aid and see how they change the next day. Each solution will change the hard boiled eggs in a different way. This is a great way for kids to see what different types of food can do to their teeth if they don’t develop good brushing habits.

Preschool Dental Health Music and Movement

Preschool Dental Health Pretend Play

Include a white smock, tiny dentist mirrors (these can be purchased at the grocery store), clean toothbrushes, a desk lamp with a flexible stand, and paper towels in your pretend play center. Ask preschoolers to take turns pretending to be the dentist and the patient. Be sure and tell preschoolers not to put things in their mouth. Explain that they can pretend to brush their teeth or look at their teeth by putting the props on the outside of their mouth and using their imagination.

Toys and Books to Teach Dental Health

Related posts:

1. Preschool Dental Lesson – Importance of Brushing Teeth
2. Preschool Dental Lesson – Why the Dentist Fills Cavities
3. Free Oral Health Kit for Your Preschool Classroom

This preschool theme will teach preschoolers all about the feelings and emotions that they experience every day. Emotional education is an important part of a well rounded preschool education.

Preschool Feelings and Emotions Circle Time

Talk with preschoolers about what we can do to feel better when we are sad or angry.

Preschool Feelings and Emotions Arts and Crafts

Have preschoolers draw pictures of how they feel.

Preschool Emotions Poster - Take pictures of the preschoolers in your class making faces showing different emotions. Make a poster using the photos and label them with the emotion that each preschooler is showing.

Have preschoolers make a collage of things that make them happy.

BALLOON FACE STICKERS (36PC) - Show your emotions by making balloon faces.

MAKE YOUR OWN FUNNY FACES STICKERS – Make faces that will make you laugh using these fun stickers.

Preschool Feelings and Emotions Math and Science

Make happy faces and sad faces and cut them out. Have preschoolers practice making patterns using the happy and sad faces. For younger preschoolers, you can draw a pattern of happy and sad faces on a piece of paper and have preschoolers match the happy and sad face cut outs to the ones on the piece of paper.

Preschool Feelings and Emotions Music and Movement

Listen to an upbeat song and have preschoolers dance. When they are finished dancing ask them how the song made them feel.

Preschool Feelings and Emotions Pretend Play

Provide dolls in your pretend play center and allow preschoolers to pretend the dolls feel sad and practice nurturing them.

Help preschoolers roll play by giving them one of the following situations to act out. Assign roles to preschoolers and ask them to try and solve the problems.

Related posts:

1. Preschool Emotions Poster
2. Preschool Theme – Valentines Day
3. Preschool Theme – Preschool Dental Health

The Signing Hands Preschool Theme introduces preschoolers to American Sign Language and the deaf culture. Preschoolers will learn what it means to be deaf and how they can use sign language to talk with their hands

Signing Hands Circle Time

What does it mean to be deaf? – Explain to preschoolers that some people are not able to hear. Tell them that when you cannot hear it is called being deaf. Ask the preschoolers how their life would be different if they could not hear. Have them think of ways that they would communicate with other people.

Talking with your hands – Tell preschoolers that sometimes people who are deaf talk with their hands. This is called American Sign Language or ASL. Explain to the preschoolers that people who are deaf are just like them, except that they cannot hear.

Signing Hands Arts and Crafts

Hand Stamping – Fill a paper plate with paint and have preschoolers spread their fingers and dip their hands in the paint. Have preschoolers use their hands to stamp handprints onto paper. Use fabric paint for this activity and have preschoolers stamp their hands on a white t-shirt to make a personalized t-shirt.

Finger Printing People – Have preschoolers dip their fingertips in paint and use them to stamp their fingerprints on paper. When the fingerprints dry, have preschoolers draw faces on the fingerprints and draw stick bodies with arms and legs.

ASL I-Love-You Craft – Use a simple cut out of your preschoolers hand to create the ASL sign for “I love you”

Signing Hands Math and Science

Hand Cookies – Have preschoolers help measure the ingredients for sugar cookies and stir them together. Roll out the cookie dough and use a hand shaped cookie cutter to cut them into hand shapes. Bake and let the cookies cool. Have the preschoolers decorate the cookies and enjoy them for a snack.

Signing Hands Music and Movement

ASL ABC – Sing the ABC’s while making the signs for the letters of the alphabet. Have the preschoolers follow along with the signs that they know.

Learn the signs to common preschool songs such as “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” or “Row Row Row Your Boat”. Practice singing and singing them with your preschoolers.

Signing Hands Pretend Play

What is it like to be deaf? – Have preschoolers spend an hour pretending to be deaf. Explain to them that they will not be allowed to talk to each other but that they must find other ways to communicate. Tell them they can point to things and try to use other body language to communicate. When the activity is over, sit down with the preschoolers to discus how they felt when they were unable to use words to talk to each other.

Related posts:

1. Preschool Theme – Valentines Day
2. Preschool Transportation Theme
3. Preschool Theme – Dinosaurs

Preschoolers are intrigued by all of the creepy crawling things in the world around us. The Bugs and Butterflies preschool theme provides preschoolers with the opportunity to learn hands on about the role that insects play in our world.

This Bugs and Butterflies preschool theme is great for the preschool classroom or for moms of preschoolers to do at home and includes open-ended art, science, literature, and music activities.

Bugs and Butterflies Circle Time

Turning into Butterflies – Talk to preschoolers about what happens to caterpillars in order for them to turn into butterflies. Tell them that they form a cocoon or a chrysalis when they are ready to turn into a butterfly.

I is for Insects – Ask the preschoolers who knows what the world “insect” means. Tell the preschoolers that it is another name for bugs. Ask them to help you make a list of all the bugs that they know.

Bugs and Butterflies Arts and Crafts

Mirror Butterfly – Fold a piece of construction paper in half and cut it into the shape of a butterfly. Open it up and paint one side of the butterfly. Fold it again and press it firmly. Open it up to reveal a beautiful symmetrical butterfly.

Stained Glass Butterflies – Shave old crayons and place on a piece of waxed paper. Place another piece of waxed paper on top. Hold an iron on top briefly. Cut into a butterfly shape and hand in a window.

Fingerprint Bugs – Have preschoolers press their fingers onto a stamp pad and then press them onto a piece of paper. Let them make as many fingerprints as they want. Using a fine marker add wings, antennae and legs to make bugs.

Egg Carton Ants – Cut apart three sections of a cardboard egg carton to make the body of an ant. Have preschoolers paint the egg carton to look like an ant. Talk about the different sections of an ant’s body. Use pipe cleaners to make antennae and legs.

Butterfly Feet – Help preschoolers paint the bottom of their feet. Stamp the right foot down as the left butterfly wing and the left foot down as the right butterfly wing. You want the preschooler’s big toes to be on the outside. When the paint is dry, have preschoolers decorate the butterfly with antennae, eyes, buttons, pom poms, glitter, and other decorations. Beneath each butterfly write: “Beautiful butterfly, precious and sweet, strange how it looks like [name of preschooler]’s feet!”

Bugs and Butterflies Math and Science

Hands on Science – Purchase a butterfly, ladybug, or other kit that allows preschoolers to watch insects go through the life cycle first hand.

Bug Walk – Give each preschooler a clean jar or other container. Ask the preschoolers what types of bugs they think live near their home. Go on a “bug walk” outside. Look for bugs as you walk. Have the preschoolers capture the bugs in their jars. If the preschoolers want to save their bugs be sure and punch some holes in the lid of the jar and add some leaves and grass for shelter.

Ants on a Log – Have preschoolers spread a piece of celery. Let them place raisins on top of the peanut butter to make ants on a log. Preschoolers will enjoy eating this healthy snack.

Bugs and Butterflies Music and Movement

The Itsy, Bitsy Spider
The Ants Go Marching
Baby Bumblebee

Bugs and Butterflies Pretend Play

Add plastic insects to your bean or sand table for preschoolers to find.

Have preschoolers pretend to be caterpillars by crawling around on the floor. Tell them it is time for them to form a cocoon. Give each preschooler a blanket and have them wrap themselves up in it. Tell them that while they are in their cocoon, their wings are forming and they are transforming into a butterfly. Tell the preschoolers that it is time for them to come out of their cocoon.

Bugs and Butterflies Language and Reading

Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey,
Along came a spider who sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet Away!

Create finger puppets with craft sticks to hold preschoolers interest in the nursery rhyme. Repeat this nursery rhyme often to help preschoolers memorize it. Memorization is an important skill for preschoolers to learn early.

Related posts:

1. Preschool Science Lesson – Egg Carton Butterflies
2. Caterpillar and Butterfly Preschool Theme
3. Preschool Theme – E is for Emotions