Practice Preschool - Playful Perspectives Week 1

Lots of literature in this week's lesson plans :) We are frequent fliers at our library! I placed these books on hold in preparation for this week. Substitute books/activities as needed. 

This month's theme, as well as next month's theme, were themes I created as a student teacher at USU. Unfortunately, I can't find the digital files for the exact lesson plans I used and the hard copies are buried in a box in the garage since we live with family right now...I'll find them eventually! Hopefully before the month is over. 

Week 1

Day 1

• Sunbeam Lesson 10 "I am Thankful for Trees, Plants, and Flowers" (5 min)

Sing the following lyrics to the tune of "Once There was a Snowman": I can plant a tree, tree, tree . . .water it and watch it grow . . . tall, tall, tall. Talk about how nature blesses our lives and name fruits that grow on trees, gardens, animals that live in trees, and favorite vegetables/flowers. Practice saying a prayer of gratitude for these things. 

• View of a bug (5 min)

Read "Hey Little Ant" by Phillip Hoose and talk about what it would be like to be an ant in the world. Sing, "The Ants Go Marching".   

• Make a Book! (5 min)

*Materials:

-Paper, scissors

*Instructions

Fold your paper in half (hamburger style), in half again, and in half one last time. Open paper back to hamburger and cut a line from the fold to the middle. Open paper entirely and fold in half (hot dog style this time). Push sides together until they meet, then fold so you have a "book". Fill it with pictures of opposites, your child's current interests, nature, or anything you can think of! 

• Snack (5 min)

Today's tip: Anything from nature! Carrots, apples, celery, broccoli (little trees), etc. A fun dessert could be "Worms and Dirt" cups :)

• Free Play (20 min)

Big and small cars, community helpers dress up, dollhouses (Rowan loves these :O), scissor practice, role play with any current conflicts/social skills that need practice, fine motor/gross motor, etc. 

Day 2

• STEAM Lesson (Science) "Up Above and Down Below" (5 min)

Read the book, "Up Above and Down Below" by Sue Redding

Talk about how perspectives vary based on where you're at in the world. Go on a walk and then spend some time in the dirt exploring! Bring binoculars, a shovel, a magnifying glass, and anything else you can think of to reinforce the theme. 

•  More Opposites! (5 min)

Sing, "This is Big, Big, Big" song:

This is big big big (arms out to side)
This is small small small (cup hands together)
This is short short short (hold hands with palms facing each other)
This is tall tall tall (reach one hand above head)
This is fast fast fast (circle fists quickly)
This is slow slow slow (circle fists slowly)
This is yes yes yes (nod)
This is no no no (shake head)

• Zoom (5 min)

Read, "Zoom" by Isvan Banyai. This book is what inspired this theme, many years ago. A seminary teacher shared it in a lesson one day. There's no words in the book so you're actually just looking at the pictures but it's fascinating! Each page "zooms out" a bit as far as what you're seeing. Eventually you see the whole Earth on the page. 

Talk about how you live in a home, on a street, in a city, in a state, in a country, on a continent, on the Earth. An abstract concept for a young age, but a good thing to introduce! Show child a globe, if you have one.  

• Snack (5 min)

Today's Tip: Popcorn is a healthy snack! Try switching it up with adding some cinnamon!

• Free Play (20 min)

Visit a tall building or a place with many windows and talk about the view. Ask child questions while people watching/observing the world. My favorite question we asked at USU was, "What do you think the [college] students have in their backpacks?" One student said, "Blocks" :D Haha! 

Draw or print out a picture, cut it into squares, and have your child color what is on the square. Ask them questions about what it could be. Choose a picture that is large enough that the squares aren't discernable on their own. Put it back together after you've colored all the squares (spread it out over a few days/weeks for added mystery).