Drama: Act out the story, including animal sounds.
Memory: Ask child to recall all the gift suggestions.
Thoughtfulness: Discuss gifts for Karsyn's birthday. Also discuss gifts for her daddy's birthday.
Science- Woodland Habitat: Explore the woodlands. Observe the trees and other plants that grow in the woods. Discuss what kind of animals live there. Coloring Page: Birthday, Bear, Hug
I have been MIA lately so I guess I'd better post an update. My last entry was rather negative.. I was having a bad day but that's been so long ago, I dont even remember it.
Kaylee turned 4 a few weeks ago. I've referred to her as my Little Ellie Mae Clampett and in her true to Elle Mae ways, she asked for either a snake or a turtle for her birthday. We considered granting her wishes but since these animals are supposed to live numerous years and in the hands of a 4 year old those years could become very limited, we opted for more conventional presents. I dont recall everything she got but I got her a teaching clock and a set of wooden puzzles.
Kaylee is still enjoying "school". Someone recently told her that when she starts school, she wont be able to sleep late and without missing a beat she said "I already go to school". They questioned where and she replied "Sunday School".
She has a preschool workbook from Wal Mart that she works in almost everyday. I have also found a way to connect her love of animals with learning. Every week, she gets to pick what animal she is most interested in and we research it. She learned where the animal lives and what it eats. She also colors pictures I print from the computer and occasionally we make an animal craft. There's a museum of natural history close by so she gets to see exhibits of wild animals from time to time.
One of her favorite activities is visiting the local pet shops. She has become a regular so they have started trusting her with some of the animals. Last week, she was allowed to feed the snakes. She fed them pinkies (baby mice). This was the highlight of her day.. maybe even of her year. She has told everyone who will listen about feeding the snakes.
Karsyn is beginning to take an interest in books. Every once in a while, she joins us while we read. On days that she is not interested in sitting, she has her own little section for school. A lower shelf is filled with things for busy hands and a rug or blanket is put down so that she knows her boundaries. I can tell her to do her work and most of the time she will play quietly for a few minutes.
(I don't remember which program I used to edit this picture but I love the way it turned out).
Lapbooking can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. I decided that if it could be simple, maybe I could do it. We started lapbooking when Kaylee was only 2. It gave her a hands on story time and helped her to recall the story.
This is not our first Lapbook but is one of Kaylee's favorites so I thought I'd post it.
This one is her newest "pet". It lives near my front porch in the azalea bushes. If you look closely, you can see that the web is much larger than the small area where the spider is sitting. In fact, the web is several feet wide.
I realize that some parents (and grandparents) would not welcome such an unsightly creature to live near the front entry of their home, but Kaylee loves the spider so he is allowed to stay, as long as he agrees to remain outside.
We spend several minutes every monring watching the spider and talking about what spiders eat. Then we walk around the yard, observing nature. We discuss the color of the leaves, the coolness of the air, and seasons.
Preschool Spider Theme:
BOOKS
Be Nice To Spiders - Margaret Bloy Graham
I Love Spiders - John Parker
The Itsy Bitsy Spider: Classic Verse and Rhymes - Jenny Press (Illustrator)
The Roly Poly Spider - Jill Sardegna The Very Busy Spider - by: Eric Carle
CRAFTS:
Spider Web
Supplies:
~Black Construction Paper
~White Paint
~Scissors
~Round, Metal Cake Pan or Pie Pan
~Marble
Cut a piece of construction paper
to fit into the bottom of the cake pan. Place about a half teaspoon of
white paint in the middle of the paper. Drop the marble into the cake
pan and tilt the pan back and forth. As the marble passes through the
paint it leaves trails of white on the paper. (You can also have the
kids glue plastic spiders on their pictures when they are dry!)
SNACKS:
Spider Cookies
Cut refrigerated cookie dough into sections as directed on package and place on a cookie sheet. Allow child to break four pretzel sticks in half and press eight halves
into opposite sides of the dough. Allow child to press two M&M's into
each slice to resemble eyes. Bake according to directions.
The weather was so pleasant, today. It was in the 70's with a slight breeze blowing, so we couldnt resist playing outside. Karsyn chased the cat and Kaylee found puddles to step in and make footprints. It was so nice to be outside without the usual Alabama heat. I think we managed to enjoy the weather for about 15 minutes and then discovered that we were feeding the mosquito population. I had a bite for every minute I was outside but the girls fared much better; they only had a bite or two. We returned indoors where we are prisoners and the mosquitoes watch and wait.
Sign Language: mosquito Coloring Page: mosquito Song: The Little Turtle
The
Little Turtle
This nursery rhyme is done with
appropriate hand gestures, then the preschool children can all run about
after the last verse.
There was a little turtle,
He Lived in a box
He swam in a puddle,
He climbed on the rocks.
He snapped at a mosquito,
He snapped at a flea,
He snapped at a minnow,
And he snapped at me.
He caught the mosquito,
He caught the flea,
He caught the minnow,
But he didn't catch ME!
I had considered not doing anything educational during the summer. Then I realized that education is everywhere, ALL the time. It is NOT something that only happens between September and May.
Today, Ryan and Rowley were with their mom as she cleaned a house down the street. Karsyn took a long morning nap and Kaylee decided to skip story time. I was surprised because she loves to read, but today she wanted to color owls (her favorite animal). We briefly talked about owls, what they eat and where they live. I printed an owl coloring page, a tracing page to practice the letter "O", and a simple owl template for making a craft. Afterwards, she announced she wants to listen to the ABC song on the computer. She has not wanted to do that in a long time, I had almost forgotten about it. It's a FREE downloadable program from Kid Genius. She sang the ABC song several times, practiced typing her ABC's, then wanted to switch to counting (on the Kid Genius program). I was amazed!! The only role I played was clicking the mouse and starting the programs.
When she finished counting, it was time for lunch, then she took a nap. When she got up, she said she wants to draw the letter "C". I wasn't sure what she said so she cleared it up for me: "You know, 'C' is for cat. I want to draw a "C". I returned to the computer and printed a tracing page for the letter "C", and a cat coloring page.
A short time later, Ryan and Rowley came in and we all curled up on the couch to watch cartoons on PBS.
What would we have done today if I had skipped educational stuff for the summer months?
Several of you have asked how I managed when I had all four grand-kids for the first time. I should be an old hand at handling a group this age (as my own girls were only a year apart) but I am rusty. We did not accomplish everything I planned but we did manage to survive in spite of a few trials.
We read a Bible story, followed by a period of devotion, then read the book "Play With Me". Did they sit still? Well, they did at least stay in the room. Karsyn sat in my lap; Kaylee is adjusted to our routine so she was still; Ryan was mostly still; Rowley enjoyed story time but rolled around on the floor most of the time... I just let him roll and tumble.
I had planned on going outside to watch the "wildlife" but we didnt have any mosquito spray and I didnt want them to get eat up so we opted for inside activities. I printed coloring pages from the internet and they colored quietly while I got Karsyn to sleep.
Afterwards, they decided to play... sometimes not so quietly. The boys climbed, jumped, rolled, and tumbled with Kaylee right in behind them. There was a few scuffles and a few tears for their moms but over all, they had fun.
It's hard to predict everything that a group of two and three year olds will find to do. I left the room for a moment and returned to discover that they we happily playing in the kennel.
There is no way to prepare in advance for what toddlers will think of. All you can do is prepare to be entertained.
In this book, a little girl learns about patience as she seeks to play
with various animals. Only when she learns to sit still and quiet do
the animals come out to play.
Lesson Plan: Bible:Psalm
46:10a- "Be still, and know that I am God"
Science - Dew: The little girl went to the meadow while the dew was still on the grass. Walk in the early morning grass. Explain that the grass is wet because of the dew.
Science: Pond Life: Visit a pond. Observe the frogs, turtles, insects, fish, and birds. Discuss how making noise scares the animals. Practice sitting quietly.
Science:Up Close: Take some bread crumbs to feed the ducks at the pond or visit the rabbit at the museum and feed it some grass. Science: Snakes: Visit a pet store to observe snakes. Discuss that some snakes are dangerous and should not be played with.
Yesterday was a wonderful day. We started out with the pledge to the flag, read in Kaylee's Bible, read a devotion, discussed what we read, had prayer time. Then Kaylee selected "The Very Busy Spider" by Eric Carle for storytime and we sang "Itsy Bitsy Spider" .
Afterwards, we went outside to look for spiders. We sat and watched a small spider repair it's web. We took a few pictures of it but unfortunately spider webs dont photograph very well. We discussed why spiders build webs and what kind of food they eat.
Then we came inside and had another prayer and took a nap.
Later in the day, we visited the owls that live behind the museum. (Kaylee's favorite activity). We discussed why they are in cages. (They are permanently wounded and cannot survive in the wild). She practiced her owl call and collected some feathers and we headed for the car.
As we walked, we spotted a little brown bunny. The bunny seemed eager to see us and hopped up close. (It was in a cage but it hopped as close as it could). We picked some grass and fed it.
Today was not been nearly as exciting!! It was filled with the humdrum activity of errands and chores.
I am a mother to three grown daughters who all graduated from homeschool. I baby-sit my two granddaughters and use "Before Five in a Row" with them. My grandsons are also staying here while their dad is deployed. My mother thinks I should get a "job" but watching the grandchildren grow is the most rewarding job in the world. Come along as we explore God's world together.
Grand-Kids
Ryan is the oldest of my grandchildren. He is 4 years old and is my Tom Sawyer. He's the quietest one of the bunch but if he's not careful, he can be swayed by Huckelberry Finn. He enjoys being outside and getting dirty.
Kaylee is 4 years old. She is a cross between Ellie Mae Clampett and a Disney Princess. She loves animals and all that is involved with their care but she also likes girly activities. She enjoys learning new things and is always eager for "school".
Rowley is a typical little boy. He is 3 years old and is my little Huckleberry Finn. He's the adventurous one and has to be watched every minute of the day because you never know what he might be up to.
Karsyn turned 2 year old on September 16. She is also an adventurous child. She enjoys cuddling as long as it doesnt take up too much time because she has a want/need to be on the move.
