October Week 2

Month: October	Week 2
Gentlemen Training:
Being gentle and kind to babies and animals Talk about how we need to be gentle with babies and animals to show them that we love them and to keep them safe from getting hurt. Demonstrate how to touch an arm gently and then guide their hand to touch your arm gently. Repeat softly, “Gentle.” Read one (or more) of these books: Be Gentle—Virginia Miller Hands Are Not for Hitting—Martine Agassi Tails are Not for Pulling—Elizabeth Verdick Be Gentle with the Dog Dear—Matthew Baek Practice playing gently with a stuffed animal, giving lots of praise when they are being extra careful and gentle. Here’s a website for books about welcoming a new baby in the home: http://www.readthatagain.com/by_topic/siblings_02.html
Day One
Literacy: The Letter F Sing the Alphabet Song. Look at the letter F. What does it look like? Practice tracing it with our fingers. What does it sound like? Glue leaves to an F. Read a Scarecrow book. Scarecrows—Lola M. Schaefer The Scarecrow’s Hat—Ken Brown The Little Scarecrow Boy—Margaret Wise Brown Scarecrow—Cynthia Rylant The Scarecrow’s Dance—Jane Yolen
Math: Do math activities from: http://ateachingmommy.com/2011/10/scarecrows/ --How many crows? --Number order puzzle --Roll and graph scarecrows --Scarecrow graph cards --Scarecrow size sort
Snack
Science/Social Studies: Seasons Talk about the four seasons we have each year. Use the seasons spinner and seasons booklet to explain. Do the What Do You Wear in_______________________ activity. We could either have the kids dress up in different clothes for each season (a coat, shorts, etc.) or sort some clothes by season, or we could do a simple magnet board dress-up activity. The Four Seasons booklet print-out: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Four-Seasons-Reader-208707 Make season trees. http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2012/03/learning-about-4-seasons-free-printable.html More ideas for making a season tree: http://kindertastic.blogspot.com/2012/01/seasons.html
Art: Make a scarecrow focusing on shapes: Either the shape scarecrow or paper plate scarecrow from: http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2013/08/books-for-fall-with-crafts.html
Movement: Scarecrow rhymes and dance Five Crows All Shiny Black (Five Green and Speckled Frogs) Five crows all shiny black, Sat on a scarecrow’s back, Eating some most delicious corn. Yum, yum! Scarecrow winked and shouted, “Boo!” Scared a crow and away he flew; Now there are four black shiny crows. Caw! Caw! Flippy-Floppy Scarecrow I’m a flippy-floppy scarecrow. (flap in the wind like a scarecrow) I’m stuffed with lots of hay (nod head yes) I take a stand out in the field, (stand still with arms out) And scare all the crows away. (make a scary face, flap arms, shout boo) One Little Scarecrow One little scarecrow (hold up one finger) To chase off the crows. When the wind blows (blow) This is how he goes: He flops to the left (flop body to the left) He flaps to the right (flap arms to the right) He spins all around (spin in a circle) Oh, what a silly sight! Old Black Crow (Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush) The old black crow is flying around, Flying around, flying around. (flap arms and fly around) The old black crow is flying around, Flying around my garden. So then I put my scarecrow up, My scarecrow up, my scarecrow up. (Put arms out to the side like a scarecrow) So then I put my scarecrow up, To scare the old black crow. It’s working now, ‘cause he’s on the run, On the run, on the run. It’s working now ‘cause he’s on the run, Goodbye, you old black crow! (Wave goodbye) *Play Scarecrow Says (Simon Says).
Day Two
Literacy: The letter f. Try to think of as many words as you can that start with the letter f. Do the F worksheet from: http://supersimplelearning.com/resource-center/wp-content/plugins/s2member-files/letter-recognition-phonics-f-lowercase-bw.pdf Do the pumpkin patch letter order game from: http://www.filefolderfun.com/SubjectPumpkins.html. Read a pumpkin book. Where is Baby’s Pumpkin—Karen Katz Pumpkin Eye—Denise Fleming Spookley the Square Pumpkin—Jim Troiano The Runaway Pumpkin—Kevin Lewis Pumpkin Soup—Helen Cooper Pumpkin Heads!—Wendell Minor It’s Pumpkin Time—Zoe Hall The Biggest Pumpkin Ever—Steven Kroll The Pumpkin Patch—Elizabeth King Pumpkin Day!—Nancy Elizabeth Wallace Too Many Pumpkins—Linda White The Pumpkin Fair—Eve Bunting The Bumpy Little Pumpkin—Margery Cuyler The Pumpkin Circle—George Levenson Pumpkin Town—Katie McKay Pumpkin Hill—Elizabeth Spurr The Littlest Pumpkin—R.A. Herman 5 Little Pumpkins rhyme Watch video: http://youtu.be/G2lLByjoU4U?list=PLgHYzoPcokjDsFlwiypGDRRupTioYOqf6 Make a pumpkin glove or finger puppets beforehand and do the rhyme together. We could also use the free printable little book from: http://www.prekinders.com/halloween-theme/ Finger puppet ideas: http://funhandprintartblog.com/2012/10/halloween-finger-hand-puppets-for-kids-round-up.html
Math: Pumpkin Seed Counting Create circles out of orange paper or use orange paper plates as “pumpkins.” Write numerals on each pumpkin, and ask child to match the correct number of pumpkin seeds to each pumpkin. (Example: Match 5 seeds to the pumpkin with the numeral 5 written on it.) From: http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2010/10/h-is-for-halloween-packet.html
Snack
Science/Social Studies: All about pumpkins from: http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2010/10/h-is-for-halloween-packet.html Pumpkin Investigations Explore a pumpkin with some of the following investigations: •   Ask children to guess how much yarn it will take to measure around the pumpkin.’s circumference They can cut the yarn they believe will be the right amount. Then perform actual measurements with yarn and compare real circumference yarn to your guess. •   Weigh the pumpkin. What else do you think would be a similar weight? •   Guess if the pumpkin will sink or float and see if you’re right! Grow Pumpkin Seeds Save one of your pumpkin seeds and let it sprout in a ziplock bag with a wet paper towel. You could also plant your pumpkin seed!
Art: Read Yellow Pumpkin, Yellow Pumpkin (focus is on colors) from: http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2010/10/h-is-for-halloween-packet.html Make 5 Little Pumpkins craft stick puppets from: http://www.sotomorrowblog.com/2012/10/five-little-pumpkins-with-craft-stick.html Pumpkin outlines from: http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2013/10/blank-pumpkin-faces-free-download.html
Movement: Rhyme: Pumpkin, Pumpkin Pumpkin, pumpkin Sitting on a wall. (children sit down) Pumpkin, pumpkin, Tip and fall.  (children fall over) Pumpkin, pumpkin, Rolling down the street. (children roll on floor) Pumpkin, pumpkin, Trick or treat! (shout "Trick or treat!") ~ Author Unknown From: http://www.thevirtualvine.com/pumpkins.html Pumpkin bowling From: http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/09/ghost-bottle-bowling-halloween-game-for-kids.html Or: http://www.seventeen.com/parties/ideas/pinterest-diy-halloween-party#slide-9

October Week 1

Month: October

Gentlemen Training:

Times to be Quiet: Quiet v. Loud, Inside voice/Outside voice Talk about how there are times that we need to be quiet and times when we can be louder. Practice whispering messages to each other. Demonstrate whisper, inside voice, and outside voice. Make a ‘volume’ chart and have children arrange several different scenarios according to volume. Examples: when baby is sleeping, talking to baby, at the dinner table, at church, at school, at the store, at the park, playing in the backyard, at grandma’s house, talking to a friend, in the bathtub, in the house, etc. Practice sitting still and being quiet daily by starting out with sitting together on chairs for two minutes without making noise or wiggling. After a couple of times, increase by two more minutes. If needed do some wiggle songs before sitting still. Wiggle songs (most of these are from: https://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook?lang=eng): Hinges I'm all made of hinges, 'cause ev'rything bends From the top of my neck way down to my ends. I'm hinges in front, and I'm hinges in back; But I have to be hinges, or else I would crack! I Wiggle I wiggle my fingers. I wiggle my toes. I wiggle my shoulders. I wiggle my nose. Now, no more wiggles are left in me; So I will be still, as still as can be. If You’re Happy If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.* (clap, clap) If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap, clap) If you're happy and you know it, Then your face will surely show it. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap, clap) Oh, How We Love to Stand Oh, how we love* to stand And turn ourselves* around, Shake** the left and shake the right, But, best of all, sit down. Oh, how we love* to stand, To smile and not to frown, Lift** the left and lift the right, But, best of all, sit down. Stand Up I will stand up when "stand up" is said, Place my hands on top of my head, Bend down low and touch the floor, Shake my hands (one, two, three, four), Hands on hips and turn around, Give a smile, and then sit down. Roll Your Hands 1. Roll your hands, roll your hands, As slowly, as slowly as slow can be. Then fold your arms like me, like me, Then fold your arms like me. 2. Roll your hands, roll your hands, As swiftly, as swiftly as swift can be. Then fold your arms like me, like me, Then fold your arms like me. Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes, knees and toes, Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

Day One

Literacy: Sing the Alphabet Song. Today’s letter is the letter E. Look at an E and trace it with our fingers. Practice the sound. Make an Envelope E from: http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2009/08/letter-of-the-week-e-2.html They can then put the letter E and pictures of things that start with the letter E into their envelopes. Read: Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson and We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger. Sing: Leaves are Falling Leaves are falling all around On the housetop On the ground Leaves are falling on my nose On my head and hands and toes.

Math: Review counting 1-10. Then add counting to 15. Do the leaf counting activity from: http://www.mpmschoolsupplies.com/ideas/3856/fall-leaf-counting/ Maybe we could roll a number dice or draw number cards and each child can put that many leaves onto the tree. We could also do some of the matching and sorting activities from: http://ateachingmommy.com/2011/09/leaves-unit-expanded/

Snack

Science/Social Studies: Talk about what leaves do. Look at some non-fiction books about leaves such as Awesome Autumn by Bruce Goldstone, Autumn Leaves by Bruce Goldstone, or Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids by Gail Gibbons. After the nature scavenger hunt, fill out the Meet My Leaf form.

Movement: Go for a nature scavenger hunt around the block. Each child will have a Ziploc bag to collect their finds. Maybe give them specific things to look for such as: a green leaf, something round, something brown, etc.

Art: Make a nature collage from the nature things we collected on our scavenger hunt. (This is why we switched our art activity and movement activity). Also, talk about fall colors: red, yellow, orange, and brown. Look at how you can make orange and brown by mixing colors. From: http://happyhooligans.ca/fabulous-fall-collage/

Day Two

Literacy: Sing the Alphabet Song. Look at the letter e. Review the sound the letter e makes. Make a big E and little e with play dough. Read: Leaf Man and Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert.

Math: Measuring longest/shortest, biggest/smallest Go outside and collect different nature objects such as leaves, sticks, rocks, etc. Practice sorting them from longest to shortest and biggest to smallest. Use apple cut outs, pumpkin cutouts, or leaf cutouts to measure each child and see how many apples, pumpkins, etc. tall they are. http://rainbowswithinreach.blogspot.com/2013/10/pumpkins-and-jack-o-lanterns-paint-and.html http://www.wildlifefun4kids.com/2013/10/08/fun-ways-to-measure-nature/

Snack

Science/Social Studies: Fall Sink or Float Activity from: http://b-inspiredmama.com/2013/09/fall-sink-float-preschool-science-activity/

Art: Make a leaf finger puppet from: http://craftsbyamanda.com/2012/09/fall-leaf-finger-puppets.html

Movement: Sing Fall songs and rhymes with motion. Use scarves or leaves to add more fun. It is Autumn (tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It) It’s autumn And it’s time to rake the leaves! It’s autumn And it’s time to rake the leaves! It is autumn That’s the season; We don’t need a better reason; It’s autumn And it’s time to rake the leaves! Leaves (tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) All the leaves are falling down, Orange, yellow, red, and brown. Falling softly as they do, Over me and over you. All the leaves are falling down, Orange, yellow, red, and brown. Fall Time Red and yellow, orange and brown. (count off colors on fingers) Leaves are falling to the ground. (simulate falling leaves with hands) We pile them up Oh So High: (pile leaves with hands) Then we JUMP in! (pretend to jump in) My friend and I! Leaves are Falling (tune: London Bridges) All the leaves are falling down, Falling down, falling down. All the leaves are falling down, It is fall time. They are yellow, red, and brown, Red and brown, red and brown. They are yellow, red, and brown It is fall time. Take the leaves and crunch them up Crunch them up, crunch them up, Take the leaves and crunch them up. It is fall time.

October

October's theme is: Autumn and Halloween

I love this time of year! With the dressing up, imagination, creativity, and treats, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Last year, I was a princess, complete with a dragon, a knight in shining armor, and a jester. Dad was a wizard. We have so much fun! So imagine how excited I've been to do my lesson plans for this month!
First, here's the book list:

Books about Autumn/leaves

Leaf Man--Lois Ehlert
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf--Lois Ehlert
Autumn is Here!--Heidi Pross Gray
It's Fall--Linda Glaser
Leaf Jumpers--Carol Gerber
We're Going on a Leaf Hunt--Steve Metzger
Awesome Autumn--Bruce Goldstone
Mouse's First Fall--Lauren Thompson
Leaves--David Ezra Stein
Tap the Magic Tree--Christie Matheson
There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves--Lucille Colandro

List is from:  http://www.pre-kpages.com/best-books-about-fall/
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2013/08/books-for-fall-with-crafts.html

Books about Scarecrows

Scarecrows—Lola M. Schaefer

The Scarecrow’s Hat—Ken Brown

The Little Scarecrow Boy—Margaret Wise Brown

Scarecrow—Cynthia Rylant

The Scarecrow’s Dance—Jane Yolen

Books about Halloween

Tell Me a Scary Story...But Not Too Scary--Carl Reiner
Go Away Big Green Monster--Ed Emberley
There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat--Lucille Colandro
Skeleton Hiccups--Margery Cuyler
Where is Baby's Pumpkin--Karen Katz
Mouse's Halloween Party--Jeanne Modesitt
Vunce Upon a Time--J. Otto Siebold & Siobhan Vivian
Dem Bones--Bob Barner
In the Haunted House--Eve Bunting
Wobble, the Witch Cat--Mary Calhoun
Inside a House that is Haunted--Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Peek-a-Boooo!--Marie Torres Cimarusti
Maisy's Halloween--Lucy Cousins
Pumpkin Eye--Denise Fleming
Ghosts in the House--Kazuno Kohara
AlphaOops: H is for Halloween--Althea Kontis
The Costume Copycat--Maryann MacDonald
The Perfectly Horrible Halloween--Nancy Poydar
Halloween Day--Anne Rockwell
Moonlight: The Halloween Cat--Cynthia Rylant
10 Trick-or-treaters--Janet Schulman
Big Pumpkin--Erica Silverman
Mouse's First Halloween--Lauren Thompson
The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything--Linda D. Williams
Beneath the Ghost Moon--Jane Yolen
Spookley the Square Pumpkin--Jim Troiano
Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden
The Runaway Pumpkin--Kevin Lewis
From Seed to Pumpkin--Wendy Pfeffer
It's Pumpkin Time--Zoe Hall
Pumpkin, Pumpkin--Jeanne Titherington
Pumpkin Soup--Helen Cooper
Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pie--Jill Esbaum
Too Many Pumpkins--Linda White
The Very Best Pumpkin--Mark Kimball Moulton
Over in the Hollow--Rebecca Dickinson

Some great book lists:
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/category/books-about-halloween
http://simplykierste.com/2010/09/halloween-book-countdown.html
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/09/halloween-books-for-kids.html
http://www.pre-kpages.com/pumpkin-patch-dramatic-play/

Concepts to Learn:

 Gentlemen Training:

• Times to be quiet: Inside/Outside Voice, Sitting still
• Being gentle/kind to babies and animals
• Patience/Waiting
• What to do when you're scared
• Taking your turn to talk

Literacy:

• Letters E, F, G, H, and I
• Sequencing: Putting events in order
• Write a spooky story

Math:

• Counting 1-20
• Sorting
• Measuring: Longest/shortest, biggest/smallest, lightest/heaviest
• Basic adding with fingers

Art:

• Colors: primary colors and making new colors by mixing colors
• Shapes
• Tracing

Science/Social Science:

• Leaves/Trees
• Leaves
• Weather: wind and clouds

Music:

• Rhymes and songs
• Clapping a beat

 

Field Trip Ideas:

• Go for a nature walk around the neighborhood
• Pumpkin patch
• Corn maze
• Go for a drive in the mountains to see the changing leaves

Websites/Resources:

Seasons:

• http://kindertastic.blogspot.com/2012/01/seasons.html
• http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2012/03/learning-about-4-seasons-free-printable.html
• http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Four-Seasons-Reader-208707

Autumn/Leaves:

• http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2013/08/36-leaf-crafts-kids-activities-for-fall.html
• http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/preschool-fall.htm
• http://sowsproutplay.com/activities/music-craft-for-kids-making-corn-shakers/
• http://happyhooligans.ca/fabulous-fall-collage/
• http://ourjourneywestward.com/preschool-leaf-study/
• http://www.science-sparks.com/2012/10/31/science-based-activity-ideas-for-autumnfall/
• http://craftsbyamanda.com/2012/09/fall-leaf-finger-puppets.html
• http://printables.familyeducation.com/fall-printables/leaves-roots-and-stems/72754.html?WT_mc_id=FE_Printables_2012-09-17_email#.UFdFrGMIiy0.pinterest or http://printables.familyeducation.com/tv/printables/AutumnLeavesActivityBooklet_2.pdf
• http://cuteandpeculiar.blogspot.com/2012/09/more-leaf-activties.html
• http://preschoolmom.com/Themes/FallLeaf.html
• http://mrskarensclass.blogspot.com/2011/10/leaves.html
• http://www.geocities.com/thetoddlerhouse824/fall.html
• http://www.mpmschoolsupplies.com/ideas/3856/fall-leaf-counting/
• http://ateachingmommy.com/2011/09/leaves-unit-expanded/

Halloween:

F is for Fall

Mommy & Me Book Club
Gathering Activity	Fall search activity in the leaves—hide apples in a bucket of leaves and let the kids dig through the leaves to find them.
Welcome Announcements:	Welcome Song (tune: London Bridges) Come along and clap with me, Clap with me, clap with me. Come along and clap with me, It’s time for us to start.
Circle Time	The More We Get Together Sing ABC song. Count from 1-10 forward and backward.
Book Time	Welcome Fall—Jill Ackerman, Little Scholastic Awesome Autumn—Bruce Goldstone (This is a gorgeous non-fiction book!) Leaf Man—Lois Ehlert
Art Activity (Fine motor skills activity)	Leaf rubbings-Place a leaf between two sheets of paper and color over it with a crayon. Darker colors work best. Decorate the letter F with leaves (F is for Fall). Make a leaf man. My son, Sam, is very creative (and really likes glue apparently):
Snack	Apple pie
Game  (Gross motor skills activity)	Leaf songs and rhymes with actions ALL THE LEAVES ARE FALLING DOWN Tune:  “London Bridges Falling Down” All the leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down   (Imitate leaves falling down) All the leaves are falling down, it is fall. Take the rake and rake them up, rake them up, rake them up  (Imitate raking leaves) Take the rake and rake them up, it is fall. Make a pile and jump right in, jump right in, jump right in,  (Children jump forward) Make a pile and jump right in, it is fall.                                                            Diane Chancy THE LEAVES ON THE TREES Tune:  “The Wheels On The Bus” The Leaves on the trees are yellow and brown, Yellow and brown, yellow and brown. The leaves on the trees are yellow and brown, All through the town. The leaves on the trees are falling down, Falling down, falling down. The leaves on the trees are falling down, All through the town. The leaves on the trees make a crunching sound, Crunching sound, crunching sound. The leaves on the trees make a crunching sound All through the town. Let’s rake all the leaves into a mound, Into a mound, into a mound. Let’s rake all the leaves into a mound All through the town. The children in the town jump up and down, Up and down, up and down. The children in the town jump up and down On the leaves on the ground.                                     Jean Warren SAW A LEAF Tune:  “My Darling Clementine” Saw a leaf, Saw a leaf, Saw a leaf falling down. It was floating, It was twirling, As it spun and spun around. Tried to catch it, Tried to catch it When it landed on the ground. But it kept right on twirling As it danced across the town.                                      Jean Warren
Closing	Good-bye Song (tune: Here We Are Together) Now we wave good-bye, Good-bye, good-bye. Now we wave good-bye, I’ll see you next time.
Other	Resources: http://www.preschoolexpress.com/music_station07/fall-leaves-songs-rhymes-sep07.shtml