It is hard to believe that we have already been working on our preschool program for 6 weeks. I honestly didn't know what it would look like and how we would play it out with three kids close in age yet at very different stages. That part can still be a little tricky at times. But for the most part, Lilly is content playing near us and Dominic is content trying to be like his big sister. There are very few things he won't participate in. Yes, there is lots of paint and glue eating attempts and he doesn't understand why he can't run around with the scissors, but he's learning! It works and I feel like we have hit our stride! Despite the added work of prepping for "school", my days as a stay at home mom are so much better with homeschooling. Just as the kids do better with structure and routine, so do I. I no longer wonder what the heck we will do Monday through Wednesday from the time we wake up until lunch! It's the same everyday- get ready for school, prayer, calendar, review, songs and finger plays, story, art time, sensory play, free play, math time, and independent work. Having the structure three days a week makes Thursdays and Fridays feel free and open to plan our day however we want (and its more of a treat)!
With that said, it was onto the letter F this week!
Monday- F is for Fish!
Books- Fish Eyes: A book You Can Count On By: Louis Ehlert
Little Fish (a finger puppet book)
Songs/Magnetic Board Stories- Once I Caught a Fish Alive and 5 Green and Speckled Frogs
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| After digging in our box that has objects that start with the letter of the week, we learned that frog starts with F! We had fun singing 5 Green and Speckled Frogs using magnetic pictures to help us along. |
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| The kids love it when its their turn to help remove or put up pieces to our felt and magnetic board stories. |
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| The illustrations in Fish Eyes were fun to talk about. There were stripped fish, spotted fish, and different colored fish. Ava and Dominic finger painted their own fish. |
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| Ava is really into figuring out how to make different colors using the primary colors. This activity was great with helping her explore colors even more! |
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| Ava's finished fish. |
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| Dominic's finished fish. |
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| The sensory table has become really fun to fill. At the start of the new week the kids cannot wait to open it! I make them wait until after art time. Ava's first question when she walks into the part of the basement where the table is kept is, "Mommy is there something new in the sensory table this week?" So far I have been able to say yes! This week the table was filled with shredded paper and shredded green metallic gift filling. I bought both at the dollar story. The yellow was meant to be the hay and the green was meant to be grass. I added animals and a small barn to make a farm scene. |
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| We made this activity last week on a rainy day, but it fit perfect with our theme of the day! While the kids fished, we sang a few rounds of Once I Caught a Fish Alive. |
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| "I caught one!" |
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| Ava is practicing to write capital and lower case Fs. Dominic says, "I practicing too!" |
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This math activity was also found from http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2010/11/letter-f-for-fish.html
For this activity, Ava had to count the number of fish on each page. After finding the number, she had to glue the correct numeral next to the number. I assemblede the book out of order on purpose so she would actually count and not just put a number because it was the next in order.
Tuesday: F is for Farm!
Books: Peek-a-Boo Farms
The Barnyard Dance By: Sandra Boyton
Song: Old McDonald
Kind of slim on the pictures for this day! On Monday afternoon, Kyle took the kids to the zoo to check out the farm animals so they would be ready for Tuesday. We talked about what we see on a farm and what different farm animals are used for! We also had the farm sensory table opened again! |
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| Ava created her own farm scene. |
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| Old McDonald's Farm! |
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| Using pattern blocks and mats printed from www.prekinders.com, Ava created different farm animals. This activity was a hit and has remained out all week. |
F is for Fall!
Book: Fall
Songs/Magnetic Board Stories: 5 Little Leaves and Raking Leaves
Today's theme worked out well because it provided a great introduction to some fall related toys and activities that I will leave out through November. Recently at the Dollar Store and thrift store, I purchased artificial pumpkins and gourds.In addition to making our classroom more fall feeling the kids are having fun playing "pumpkin patch!" I also created fall themed magnets out of fall foam pieces I found at Micheal's. I was able to introduce them through a math activity.
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| After discovering that Fall starts with F, we talked about how Fall is one of the four seasons. We looked at each tree and discussed how they change with the seasons. |
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| We are not even close to being through the Fall season, yet Micheals's is making room for their Christmas stock. I found these great fall foam stickers for 40% off! We made fall wreaths with them. |
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| Using the same foam pieces we made wreaths out of, I created fall magnets. I placed various amounts of magnets on the board. Ava needed to count them and pull down the correct numeral. |
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| After playing with the magnets as described above, I gave her a numeral. She needed to show me what that looked like by placing the correct number of magnets next to the numeral. |
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| Dominic enjoyed putting the magnets on and off the board when it was his turn to do math with mommy. |
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| We couldn't talk about fall without getting outdoors to rake and jump in the leaves. |
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| Having fun jumping in the leaves! |
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| True to Ava, she raked for a few minutes jumped in the pile once and was off to look for bugs! |
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| We finished our school week with a batch of pumpkin muffins! (Did I mention that Dominic managed to empty an entire bottle of nutmeg on himself and the floor just minutes before the county social worker knocked on the door for a home visit with our foster daughter!? It was an eventful baking session, but the muffins were delicious!) |
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