October Week 5

Month: October	Week 5
Gentlemen Training:
Taking your turn to talk Read My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook. Talk about appropriate ways to interrupt when someone is talking and how it is polite to wait your turn to talk when someone else is talking. Go over the steps to appropriately interrupt a conversation found at: http://www.toddlerapproved.com/2012/05/my-mouth-is-volcano-and-other-tips-and.html Do some practice scenarios, including when two adults are talking and when you are talking on the phone. Also, go over what counts as an emergency.
Day One
Literacy: Sing the Alphabet Song. The letter this week is I. Practice tracing the letter with our finger, saying the letter, and saying the sound. Trace a capital letter I using a Halloween bag of goo from: http://www.playathomemomllc.com/2011/07/squishy-bag-a-tactilemultisensory-approach-to-pre-writing-and-writing-skills/ or http://lets-explore.net/blog/2009/10/paint-bag-writing/ Read a skeleton book: Skeleton Hiccups—Margery Cuyler Dem Bones—Bob Barner There’s something…riddles from: http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2010/10/h-is-for-halloween-packet.html
Math:   Spooky eyes dice game from: http://preparednotscared.blogspot.com/2010/10/spooky-eyes-dice-game.html Do the number tracing activity from: http://www.miss-kindergarten.com/2011/09/number-recognition-practice.html
Snack
Science/Social Studies: Body Parts: Talk about how we all have bones that hold us together. All of our bones connected together make what’s called our skeleton. Go over basic body parts with some songs. Watch the Skeleton Dance and do the worksheets along with it. From: http://supersimplelearning.com/resource-center/browse/song/s-v/skeleton-dance/#worksheets http://supersimplelearning.com/songs/themes-series/halloween/the-skeleton-dance/ The witch has an Itch (tune: Farmer in the Dell) The witch has an itch, The witch has an itch. Oh where, oh where, oh where does the witch have an itch? On her tiny little ____, her tiny little ____, The witch has an itch on her tiny little _____. (Children fill in body parts like toe, nose, etc.) 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! From: https://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/hinges?lang=eng Head, 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.
Art: Make Q-tip skeleton or X-ray from: http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/973091/3-fun-and-easy-halloween-crafts-for-kids or http://inspiredmontessori.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/i-got-x-ray-at-school-today.html
Movement: Who Has The Bone? (From: http://supersimplelearning.com/songs/themes-series/halloween/the-skeleton-dance/ ) For this game, you will need a plastic bone. A picture of a bone is fine, too. Have everyone sit in a circle. One player is the skeleton and stands in the middle of the circle, covering his eyes. Play "The Skeleton Dance" song. The seated players pass the bone around the circle until the music stops. All of the seated players put their hands behind their backs. When the teacher says, "Okay!" the skeleton opens his eyes and tries to guess who is holding the bone. He can ask, "Do you have the bone?" Seated students reply either, "No, I don't. Try again!" or, "Yes, I do. Here you are!" The player with the bone becomes the next skeleton. My neighbor also has a bone toss game that I might try to borrow. Fingerplays and songs: For This Is Halloween (tune:10 Little Indians) One little skeleton hopping up and down, One little skeleton hopping up and down, One little skeleton hopping up and down, For this is Halloween. Two little children playing trick or treat… Three little pumpkins standing in a row… Four little goblins running all around… Five little witches flying through the air… Skeleton Parade The skeletons are out tonight They march about the street With bony bodies, bony heads And bony hands and feet. Bony bony bony bones With nothing in between Up and down and all around They march on Halloween. From: http://thehometeacher.org/2011/10/skeletons-13-days-of-halloween-ideas.html
Day Two
Literacy: Sing the Alphabet Song. Today’s letter is i. Make an “ice monster” out of a tissue box. Have kids feed the ice monster things that start with I. Print out pictures and dig out some toys of things that start with I. Read a Halloween story: The Spooky Wheels on the Bus—J. Elizabeth Mills Mouse’s First Halloween—Lauren Thompson Over in the Hollow—Rebecca Dickinson Write a spooky story together by drawing out cards from a pumpkin to fill in the blanks or just asking the kids to fill in the blanks. Once upon spooky night there was a _____________________. His name was ________________. He was very scared of _________________________.  Now this was a very special night because it was Halloween. [Character] decided to go trick-or-treating even though he was so scared of [fear]. He just hoped he wouldn’t run into one. Slowly and carefully, he stepped out of his house. Slowly and carefully, he opened his gate. Slowly and carefully, he stepped onto the sidewalk. Aaaaaaugghhhh! He ran into a _____________________. But it was not a [fear], so he wasn’t afraid. He said, “Happy Halloween!” and continued on his way. Slowly and carefully, he walked to the first house on the street. Slowly and carefully, he knocked on the door. Creeeeeeaaakkk. The door opened and there stood a __________________________. But it was not a [fear], so [character] wasn’t afraid. He said, “Trick-or-Treat” and then thanked the [ ] for his candy. Slowly and carefully, he walked toward the next house. He was almost there when a ____________________ jumped out at him from behind a tree. Aaaaauggghhhhh! [Character] jumped and began to run away. He wasn’t looking where he was running and tripped over a rock and fell down. His candy spilled all over the sidewalk and his knee hurt from falling down. [Character] began to cry. Suddenly a hand appeared to help him up. [Character] took the hand and stood up. He turned to thank the person who helped him only to discover it was [fear]. The [fear] smiled at him and said, “Are you okay?” [Character] gulped. The [fear] didn’t seem so scary anymore…actually, he seemed kind of nice. [Character] smiled and said, “Thank you for your help. Would you like to go trick-or-treating with me?” The new friends then went trick-or-treating together and had a very happy Halloween. We could draw pictures to go along with the story after we tell the story together.
Math: Candy Corn Math Counting teeth (Counting 1-20) from: http://learningandteachingwithpreschoolers.blogspot.com/2012/10/freeky-friday-freebie-blog-hop.html Candy corn math puzzles (matching dots and numbers) from: http://heymommychocolatemilk.blogspot.com/2012/09/candy-corn-math-with-printables.html Candy corn math printables: http://oceansoffirstgradefun.blogspot.com/2011/10/candy-corn-math.html
Snack
Science/Social studies: Erupting Monsters from: http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2012/09/erupting-monsters.html Before doing the activity, ask questions and have kids make predictions, such as what do you think will happen when we add this? Spooktacular Smorgasboard of Simple Science & Sensory Ideas for Halloween (lots of great ideas!): http://kindergartenbasics.blogspot.com/2012/10/spooktacular-smorgasboard-of-simple.html
Art: Do the Monster Eyes Activity from: http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2010/10/h-is-for-halloween-packet.html Possibly do the Halloween Footprint Bunting or Halloween spook banner from: http://mamapapabubba.com/2013/10/22/halloween-footprint-bunting/
Movement/Music: Talk about what a beat is in music. Practice clapping a beat and then drumming a simple beat. Songs and Rhymes: In The Graveyard (Tune: Clementine) In the graveyard, In the graveyard, When the moon Begins to shine There’s a doctor Crazy doctor And his monster, Frankenstein. Oh, my monster, Oh, my monster, Oh, my monster, Frankenstein You are very, Very scary Don’t come near me Frankenstein. From: http://thehometeacher.org/2011/10/monsters-13-days-of-halloween-ideas.html Creepy Crawly Monster (Itsy Bitsy Spider) A creepy, crawly monster Is coming straight at me. Closer and closer, He climbs upon my knee. Up to my shoulder the monster’s much too near, “Happy Halloween,” he whispers in my ear. Halloween, Halloween (Jingle Bells) Halloween, Halloween, Halloween is here. Ghosts and goblins, Spooks and bats, Are flying through the air. Boo! (Repeat) The Monsters are So Loud (When Johnny Comes Marching Home) The monsters stomp around the house, Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! The monsters stomp around the house, Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! The monsters stomp around the house, Their mothers and fathers send them out And they stomp some more outside…around the house. Second verse: The monsters yell around the house, Eeeeeeeeh! Eeeeeeeh! Five Little Monsters (play like This Little Piggie) This little monster has a big red nose. This little monster has purple toes. This little monster plays all night. This little monster is such a fright. And this little monster goes: “Tee-hee-hee, I’m not scary, I’m just silly me!” I’m a Monster (Allouette) I’m a monster, I’m a big, big monster. I’m a monster, this is what I say… Roar! I’m a monster, I’m a big, big monster. I’m a monster, this is what I do… Tickle! Here’s a link for some fun Halloween games: http://supersimplelearning.com/halloween/games/

Sharing

For our lesson sharing, we watched a couple of shows: an episode from Daniel Tiger and from Howdy Town. Here's what Daniel Tiger has to say about sharing (http://www.pbs.org/parents/daniel/episodes/):

Episode 110: Daniel Shares his Tigertastic Car/ Katerina Shares her Tutu

Daniel Shares his Tigertastic CarDaniel and his friends are playing together in the park.  Daniel has a new toy car and isn’t ready to share it with the others.  But with his Dad’s help, Daniel learns that sharing means someone else gets to take a turn, and then he’ll get it back.

Katerina Shares her TutuDaniel is playing at Katerina’s house and the friends decide to perform a Jungle Dance show.  Daniel wants to be a lion, and Katerina wants to be a dancing flower, but they both need the same tutu for their costume.  With Henrietta’s help they find a way to share the tutu and perform a grr-ific Jungle Dance show!

Learning GoalsThe learning goal of this episode to help children learn about sharing.
The strategy song for this episode is: You can take a turn, and then I’ll get it back.

Fred Rogers Timeless WisdomSharing isn’t easy for children, and learning to share is a long process. It can be hard for children to understand what’s mine, yours, and ours. Sharing grows little by little, as children develop the ability to see things from another person’s point of view and to trust that what they share will be given back. - Fred Rogers

(By the way, this website from pbs.org is awesome! It has a ton of resources and ideas to go along with Daniel Tiger. And Daniel Tiger is awesome too!)

Howdy Town is just a DVD that we got from grandma one Christmas. It's a great show with horses and cowboys. The video that we have has one episode about making friends and another one about sharing.

We also read the following books and discussed them:

The Giving Tree--Shel Silverstein

Llama, Llama Time to Share--Anna Dewdney

Should I Share My Icecream?--Mo Willems

Stone Soup--Marcia Brown

I Can Share--Karen Katz

The Karen Katz book was my least favorite but the one the boys loved best (of course). They have read it to each other over and over and have it memorized!

Afterward, we did a sharing activity--painting a picture together. They had to take turns using the paint brush to make a picture together. You could do this with anything really--just have one thing to share or use. We also have been practicing sharing treats. The boys need to give a treat to their brothers first and then get one themselves.

Gentleman Training

I don't remember where I saw it, probably on Pinterest, but this mom does what she calls "Gentleman Training" with her boys. Basically, it's what I'm trying to do with my Manners Monday, but I really like the sound of Gentleman Training. So I've decided to change my wording--Manners Monday is now Gentleman Training. Side cute story--the other day at church Sam and Mark we're pushing the water fountain button for people, mostly because they like to play with the water fountain. But when a friend asked them what they were doing, Sam replied, "We're being gentlemen." I hope they will be my good gentlemen wherever they go. It's a work in progress!
Here are some of the concepts we are working on this year:

• Making friends
• Giving and sharing
• Working through conflict without fighting (we have a lot of fighting in our house, so this is a priority!)
• Identifying feelings
• Using words
• What to do when you're mad
• Saying you're sorry and forgiveness
• Cleaning, helping with chores
• Language (teasing, mean words v. nice words, yucky words, etc.)
• Using good manners in different situations (at the table, at someone's house, at church, etc.)
• Gratitude
• Empathy
• Making friends, greeting people
• Stranger danger
• Patience, waiting
• Being gentle/kind to babies, animals, etc.
• Respecting your elders/talking to adults
• Honesty
• Reverence
• Not interrupting 
• Respecting other's things
• Phone etiquette

I'm sure I'll be adding to this list as situations arise. You never know what three young boys are going to dish out at any given time. :)

Manners--Don't Be a Goop!

For our manners lesson this week, we sang our Polite Song, read Goops and How To Be Them, and then drew pictures of things Goops do.

The book was a little too old for my boys, but we would summarize parts, skip parts, and discuss the pictures. The boys liked the idea of the Goops. Whenever they get a little out of hand, I ask them if they are acting like a Goop, and they usually behave better.

I will add some pictures that the boys and I drew once I can get my scanner to start working again.

Week Four

Manners Monday:
Sing the polite song and read, Goops and How To Be Them.



.
Tuesday-Literacy

Mommy & Me Book Club
Gathering Activity	Caterpillar activity page http://printables.familyeducation.com/childrens-book/printable/61357.html
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	Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Art Activity (Fine motor skills activity)	Make Hungry Caterpillar bags. http://teachingheart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/caterpillarziploc1.pdf Make ‘C’ Caterpillars http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/category/letter-c-theme
Snack	Things that start with ‘C’:cheese, cantaloupe I also really liked the ideas found here: http://www.cutefoodforkids.com/2011/10/22-very-hungry-caterpillar-inspired.html
Game  (Gross motor skills activity)	Catepillar rhymes: “Let’s go to sleep,” the little catepillars said, (Lay fingers on palm of other hand) As they tucked themselves in their beds. (Bend fingers around fingers of the other hand) They will awaken by and by, (Slowly unfold fingers) And each one will be a lovely butterfly. (Make a butterfly with hands) Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar into a corner creep. (Crawl index finger along arm) He’ll spin himself a blanket, (Spin hands around each other) And then fall fast asleep. (Rest head on hands, close eyes) Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar wakes up by and by, (Open eyes and open hands) Stretches his lovely wings, (Stretch) Then the butterfly will fly! (Make a butterfly with hands) http://kidsspace.torontopubliclibrary.ca/Offline%20Activities/documents/rhymes_actionpreschool.pdf
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://theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com/2012/06/join-fun-with-eric-carle.html

Week Three

This past week didn't go as well as it should have. We really only did our literacy lesson and our manners lesson. But next week will be better!

For our manners lesson, we sang our polite song (tune: Are you sleeping?):
We say "thank you";
We say "please";
We say "sorry";
We say "excuse me";
We cough into our elbow,
And sneeze into our elbow;
We are polite.
We are polite.

Then we just read Bear Says "Thank You".


On Tuesday we learned about the letter 'B' while reading one of my childhood favorites, The Berenstein B Book. 

Week One Review and Week Two Plan

Week One
Monday--Please
Tuesday--A is for Ant
Wednesday--Identifying colors
Thursday--Counting 1-10, the Scientific Method, and Ants
Friday--Exercising (on the Wii)

Week Two--The Plan
Monday--Focus: Please and Thank you
Sing Polite Song. Read Excuse Me! by Karen Katz. Practice passing around a gift box saying please and thank you.

Tuesday--Watch Your Baby Can Read (first video)

Wednesday--Secondary colors/mixing colors
Sing songs including the Color Song. Learn about mixing colors to get new colors using frosting. Make frosting paintings on wax paper.

Thursday--Counting 1-10 on our fingers. Learn the days of the week. Use phone app to practice.

Friday--Rolling a ball.

Manners/Virtues Resources

Parents are usually more careful to bestow knowledge on their children rather than virtue, the art of speaking well rather than doing well; but their manners should be of the greatest concern.

R. Buckminster Fuller 

I seek constantly to improve my manners and graces, for they are the sugar to which all are attracted.

Og Mandino

I will be editing and adding to this post often, so check back to see what's new!

Websites:

http://www.childcarelounge.com/general-themes/good-manners.php

Annotated Book List (I will write my thoughts about each book as I check them out from the library): 

Picture Books

Dear Miss Perfect: A Beast's Guide to Proper Behavior--Sandra Dutton
This book was okay, maybe a little too old for my kids though. The format is like the help letters in magazines and newspapers but for animals. It was cute, however, and it would be fun to have the kids look for good manners and bad manners in animals, ie. not taking a bath and being stinky like a skunk or eating food from the cupboards without asking like a mouse.

What Do You Say, Dear?--Sesyle Joslin

The Scallywags--David Melling
I'm undecided about this book because I felt like it gives a mixed message. The other animals complain about the wolves', The Scallywags' manners. But when the Scallywags start behaving, the animals decide they're too boring, and it's better when they're just themselves. Good message about being yourself, but not so good for teaching manners.

Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf--Judy Sierra
This book was a cute story about B.B. Wolf trying to learn good manners and get a better image with his friends. A fun take on the Big Bad Wolf.

Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons--Amy Krouse Rosenthal
There isn't a storyline in this book, just words and definitions along with a cookie theme. For example, "Cooperate means, How about you add the chips while I stir?". The illustrations are wonderful, and the boys seemed to like the book. I would use it to talk about different ideas like being generous or compassionate.

Manners Can Be Fun--Munro Leaf

Poem Stew--William Cole

Goops and How To Be Them--Gelett Burgess

Whoopi's Big Book of Manners--Whoopi Goldberg

Emily's Everyday Manners--Peggy Post
Bear Says "Thank You"--Michael Dahl
This is a super simple and cute book about saying "thank you" and "I love you". It was great for my toddlers. Not too long and not too many words, but makes the point. There are also three other books in the series, Hippo Says "Excuse Me", Penguin Says "Please", and Mouse Says "Sorry".

Excuse Me! A Little Book of Manners--Karen Katz

This is a very short, simple book with flaps to lift that is great for very young toddlers. I used this book first just to introduce the manner lessons. I also added little discussions as we read the book.

How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food--Jane Yolen

The Golden Rule--Ilene Cooper

Don't Do That--Barry Louis Polisar

Lady Lupin's Book of Etiquette--Babette Cole

Manners--Aliki

Thingumajig Book of Manners--Irene Keller

Mary Louise Loses Her Manners--Diane Cuneo

Please is a Good Word to Say--Barbara M. Joosse

Time to Say "Please"!--Mo Willems

Rules of the Wild--Bridget Levin

This Little Piggy's Book of Manners--Katherine Madeline Allen

Books for Parents

365 Manners Kids Should Know--Sheryl Eberly

This is a great book to read as a parent just as a refresher course on manners. Eberly explains a wide range of situations and good manners for the situations. She also gives little activity ideas for each manner that can be as simple as tell your child about a time you said you were sorry (p.6) or a little more complicated, such as make a 'Thumbs Up' card and when your child gets 5 Thumbs Up, he/she gets a treat (p. 33). The most current edition addresses more current manners such as with texting. This would be an especially good resource for working with older children and teens.

Everyday Graces--Karen Santorum

50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know--Bryan Curtis 

The Book of Virtues for Boys and Girls--William J. Bennett

This is a classic that is sometimes forgotten nowadays. It has poems and stories for various virtues such as honesty, loyalty, and friendship. You can read the stories and poems to your children, or with younger children, tell it to them in your own words. I think for now I will tell the stories to my kids and have them draw pictures to go along with the story or find a picture on the internet to go along with the story. 

Manners Monday

Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.

Emily Post

Here are the basics for my manners/virtues lessons:

Lesson Plan Format
Song
Review of last week's lesson
Lesson/Story
Activity/Practice

My plan is to only spend about 15-20 minutes each Monday on these lessons. They should be fun, easy, flexible, and focused on concepts that the kids need to learn at that moment. So, if I notice that my boys are having a hard time with saying "Thank you", then I will plan a thank you lesson for that week. The concepts can also be taught over and over again (as much as needed) with different materials. I will also reinforce the concepts through out the week. Manner and virtue instruction is really on-going, but with these lessons I can refer back to them. "Remember what the boy in the story said..."

Concepts

• Please
• Thank you
• Sorry
• Greeting/Meeting People
• Stranger Danger
• Honesty
• Helping 
• Sharing
• Kindness
• Happy Attitude
• Gratitude
• Saying nice things--compliments
• Yucky words
• Phone etiquette
• Table etiquette
• Patriotism
• Service
• Reverence

Here is a little song that I made up:
The Good Manners Song (sing to "Are you sleeping")
We say thank you;
We say please;
We say sorry;
We say excuse me;
We cough into our elbow,
And sneeze into our elbow.
We are polite.
We are polite.