Playdough Ideas

Playdough is a wonderful physical and creative activity for young children that fosters a variety of developments and skills in children. Playdough can easily be made in the kitchen. Most recipes include instructions to  make playdough over the stove. An alternative choice is to use boiling water from the kettle. When making the playdough, it is a good idea to stir the ingredients quickly and knead right away to create the desired consistency. Ingredients can be added after if the playdough is too dry or too wet. The playdough mix should be kept in a plastic bag or closed container when it is not being used and depending on the air quality of a room, and the amount of hands that play with the dough, it should last for a least a week or longer.
This website is an awesome resource for playdough recipes: www.playdoughrecipe.com

 Following are some variations and suggested items to put out with playdough in addition to the classic rolling pin and cookie cutters:

• koolaid package inside the playdough recipe will make it smell fruity and provides color
• a touch of tempera paint or food coloring while making the recipe
• sparkles inside the playdough
• vanilla or other spices
• place buttons out with the playdough
• candles along with baking sheet or cupcake liners
• little plastic animals
• plastic utensils
• container lids that have a raised image for making prints
• ice cube trays
• craft sticks, popsicle sticks
• googly eyes

20 Ways to Set Up a Sensory Table

(Always add lots of scoops and containers, or whatever seems appropriate with the suggested material.)

1. Water with washable dolls for bathing, add in empty shampoo bottles, and cloths

2. Scissors and a variety of paper to cut

3. Goop: water, food coloring and cornstarch (make sure there is water and soap nearby for cleaning up)

4. In the fall, add leaves, both real and paper/plastic and different nuts, such as chestnuts, and pinecones with rakes and containers for sorting (ie; cupcake containers)

5. Freeze water with food coloring in different sized containers and place in sensory table. Try placing different toys inside the water before freezing, or fill up a rubber glove with water and freeze

6. Die rice different colors for a rainbow effect: place rice in ziplock bags with a touch of rubbing alcohol and food coloring, shake and let dry on a cookie sheet

7. Little birthday bags, tissue paper, minature boxes and bows for wrapping

8. For the water table, add food coloring to the water, place tinfoil on the base and a variety of pebbles, add plastic fish and boats

9. In the winter, put snow in the table

10. Place in table a big bowl of soapy water, and small jars filled with water and a few drops of food coloring and eye droppers to use

11. In the sand, place little plastic animals, such as turtles or lizards, and yogurt containers upside down with cut out holes for the animals to peek their heads out of, then add some wood and plastic leaves

12. Place glass beads all throughout the sand and scoops that will release the sand through, then add some little bags with zippers to hold the discovered jewels

13. Find different colored straws and place in table with scissors

14. During springtime, fill the table up with easter grass, plastic easter eggs and little bunnies, ducks, chickens, etc.

15.Water, soap, dishrack, dishes and cloths

16. Add farm animals, a barn and some dishes that hold water or oatmeal for them to be fed.

17. Potted soil, pots, rakes, empty packaged seeds, plastic flowers

18. Add magnets and a variety of items to attract and those things that will not, such as paperclips versus wood.

19. At Halloween, fill the table up with black beans and orange dyed rice, then add plastic spiders and bats

20. Mix a variety of dried beans together for a sensory mix that can be used again and again

Further Resources: Pinterest Sensory Board        

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Tips for Field Trips with Young Children

Field trips outside of preschool and daycare environments are a crucial component of offering quality programming. The trips involve proper planning and organization. Here are some suggestions for making a field trip safe and successful, followed by some field trips ideas.

Setting Dates and Location:  it is important to make sure the establishment where the field trip is planned has set dates with the commitment made weeks before the actual event. For some popular locations, such as a Fire Station,  it doesn't hurt to call months before the field trip outing. Then, a day before the field trip, call to reconfirm your visit. I have experienced arriving to places with children in tow and the employees being surprised by our arrival, and have learnt to always call and reconfirm! In addition, consider visiting the location to make sure it is safe for young children.

 
Parent Permission Forms: Provide informational sheets to parents about the upcoming field trip, at least two weeks prior to the event, along with permission forms for the families to sign. If money is required from the families for this field trip, then start collecting and recording well ahead of the field trip date.

Parent Volunteers: Place a sign up sheet a week ahead for helpers. On the field trip day, make special buttons for those parent helpers to wear, particularly  if many parents are joining in the field trip. This way, the teacher knows who to call upon for help. My suggestion is don't be shy about delegating parents on ways you need help, for instance, clearly ask a parent, "will you please hold this door open and then return to the line up". It's all about safety first, and parents will understand. At the end of the field trip try to individually thank each parent for their help. Often, these parent helpers will be repeated helpers throughout the preschool year, or daycare time period and they deserve recognition for their efforts.

Field trip Backpack: Prepare a field trip outing backpack for your classroom, filled with first aid, a spare set of clothes, a cell phone, kleenex, pen and paper, coins, plastic bags, and bottled water. Try and anticipate what you might need and prepare for those unexpected events. MAKE SURE THE EMERGENCY CARDS ARE UP TO DATE.

Group Identification: Bright colored tshirts with the daycare/preschool  logo and name on it is a great way to identify the children in a crowded place, particularly when the field trip is a busy place, such as the Aquarium.

Walking route: Before leaving for a field trip, if applicable, plan out the walking route.  Try and choose streets with traffic lights for crossing traffic, and consider where toilet emergencies could occur if necessary.

Setting up the Partners and Groups: Before leaving, place each adult with a small group of children that they will be responsible for when arriving at the field trip destination. In addition, carefully choose appropriate partners and their placement in the line up. Set up the children for success and safety. So, for instance, place an older child with a younger child, and separate children who like to get silly together or are very chatty with one another. Place an adult with any children who need extra help or guidance. In addition, spread out parent helpers, and always have one staff in the front and back.

Before leaving Checklist

1. Make sure all the children have gone to the washroom
2. Each child is wearing the field trip identification clothing: (ie: tshirt, cap) 
3. Talk to the children at a group circle about field trip safety: how to safely walk, being courteous of other people by lowering our voices, etc.
4. Make sure the children's emergency cards are with you in the backpack before leaving.
5. Place a note on the door with the walking route if applicable and the anticipated time of return for any late arrivals. Alternatively, arrange with other programs, to have children who arrive late to spend time there until your return.
6. Create the partners and line up arrrangement
7. Head count
8. Have Fun

DON'T FORGET TO COUNT CONSTANTLY WHEN YOU ARE OUT! This is the best way to assure you have all your children.

Field Trip Destinations

Overall, the questions to ask when choosing a field trip destination is will the location be developmentally appropriate and will the trip be educationally appropriate. Furthermore, will the children be able to follow the safety guidelines for this field trip location. Places to consider for field trips with preschool aged children:  

1. Library
2. Restaurants
3. Pet Stores
4. Post Office
5. Farms
6. Special Community Walks
7. Riding a Bus
8. Fire hall
9. Police Station
10. Nature Walks
11. Senior Citizen Homes
12. Grocery Stores
13. Garden Shops
14. Bus or Train Stations
15. Storytimes/ Drop In Events
16. Farmer's Markets
17. Factories
18. Water Parks
19. Art Galleries
20. Science Centers

            Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 

Show and Tell

Show and tell in preschool can occur throughout the school year or during a shorter period of time and usually involves one or two children at a time. Show and tell works best with older preschool ages, such as older threes and four year olds. The benefits of show and tell for young children are plentiful and with some organization on the preschool teachers end, show and tell can run fairly smoothly. This article provides some ideas for how to run a show and tell within a preschool curriculum and its benefits.

The Benefits of Show and Tell in Preschool

Although, at times, it seems hard to decipher the benefits of show and tell with young children, indeed this active involvement of the speaker and the listeners fosters a great deal of developments within each child:

•Learning How to Ask Questions and Answer: many preschool children do not understand the difference between a statement and a question, and so going through the process helps teach this concept.

•Speech Development: for the speaker, show and tell provides an opportunity to use descriptive language, concept thinking, story telling and so forth. Overall, it helps develop effective communication.

•Emotional Development: giving children time to share a part of their home life, their interests, with the group creates an environment of caring and fosters their emotional selves.

•Respectful Listening: show and tell can create structure for preschool children to learn how to be respectful when someone is talking and to use proper manners

•Children Take the Lead: the act of show and tell, from choosing the item, to talking about it in front of peers, to showing it to everyone, provides children the chance to be in charge, and have their choices and voice honoured. This is especially true for the more shy children in the group.

What Items to Bring for Show and Tell

Many preschools and primary classes in elementary school, choose a theme for show and tell. Toys are often not permitted for show and tell as it can create challenges for sharing afterwards, and a sense of “look what I have and what you don’t”. Some theme suggestions are:

1.something used in the house

2.a photo that holds a story or experience that can be shared

3.something made

Preparing for Show and Tell

There are three important ways to prepare for show and tell as a preschool teacher by making enough time to include all children, informing the parents about how it will occur, and making a visual cue that will be sent home as a reminder.

Perhaps one of the most important parts of show and tell within a preschool curriculum is to inform the families beforehand. Send out a special letter or include in a monthly newsletter an explanation about how show and tell will be run. Provide parents with the what to bring guidelines regarding the chosen theme, the amount of items that are allowed (i.e.: no more than two), the size of items and a reminder about the importance of letting the child make the choice. Structure and guidelines that are clearly stated will help with the running of a show and tell. Many parents will say yes to their child’s request of a toy or bringing ten items to show, for example, in attempt to get out the door. Stating the importance of the process of show and tell versus the product is a good addition to the parent information note.

Decide beforehand how many children will show their special item in a day, making sure that you have provided enough time to allow everyone in the classroom to have a chance. Often, show and tell is forgotten or a child is sick, and so enough leeway time should be allocated in the curriculum. Create a clear chart for marking down who has had a turn and who has not to avoid confusion.

Clearly provide children who are having the next show and tell turn a visual cue to send home. One suggestion for a visual reminder is to clip onto backpacks bags that are labelled with large lettering, “its My Show and Tell Turn” or have a selected Show and Tell Mascot with the same label clipped onto the child’s backpack.

Preschool Teacher Tips for Running Show and Tell

Show and tell will bring out the different personalities of each child from the child who has been planning all week, and would love to act, lead and take over the entire circle if given the opportunity versus the child who is petrified and has been anxious all morning knowing he/she would have to speak loud enough for the rest to hear. Following the same steps with each child consistently will quickly illustrate to the children what to expect and the guidelines for this particular classroom activity. The following steps works well:

1.Child stands in front of the group who are sitting in a circle.

2.Child shows the item and talks about it, teacher guides gently if needed.

3.Child can show the item to each child, if he/she wishes by walking around the circle.

4.Child chooses two people for questions, then answers.

5.Everyone claps and the teacher says thank you for sharing.

Another tip is to model how to ask questions, and how to listen to the group at the very beginning of show and tell. This can be done with the help of another teacher or a parent helper. Puppets can also be used to demonstrate. Teaching children beforehand what questions are will also aid in the smooth process of show and tell. A final tip is many parents wish to record their child doing show and tell. Sometimes, the presence of the parent can bring comfort to a child and other times it can make them feel nervous. One way to solve this dilemma is for the teacher to take a photo or record on video the child to give to the parents afterwards as a special gift.

Show and tell is a steadfast part of early school time experiences and it holds all the same benefits no matter when or how it is done.

        Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 

Math Activity with a Pet Theme

Math Activity with a Pet Theme

At circle time, a great way to teach math concepts and to learn about all the pets collectively owned by the children and their families is to make a pet graph. Before this activity, prepare a graph onto a large sheet of paper with pictures at the top (or bottom) of commonly owned pets, such as a dog, a cat, a bird, a fish, and a hamster.

These animals will make the individual vertical rows. A few blank rows should also be included for other pets that are given. Then take a tally of pets. Each child will say what kind of pets they have at home and as the answers are provided, the teacher will mark off a block. After counting each row to encourage math development, questions can be asked:

• Which row is the highest?
• Which row is the lowest?
• What pet do we have the most ?
• What pet do we have the least?
• Can you guess how many blocks are in this row?

  Courtesy of beaconlearning.com

This graphing exercise, which is great to post in the room for families to view, can be used for a variety of themes and  items. Here are just some suggestions: 

1. Flower counting with a spring walk
2. Stuffed animals on a teddybear day
3. Shapes
4. Fall leaves

Tropical Bird Crafts

Birds are a fun topic for a preschool curriculum. There are many categories of birds and different ways to include birds into a classroom or at home.This article provides preschool craft suggestions for making tropical birds.

Flamingo Preschool Crafts

A Heart Shaped Flamingo: this craft works well for a bird theme, as well as for Valentine's Day. The following materials are required:

Each child will be provided two matching heart shapes cut from pink construction paper. The older preschool children can certainly achieve this step as well. Pink pipe cleaners will then be positioned with the tips placed inside the hearts. One pipecleaner for the neck, and two for the legs. The hearts will then be glued together, securing the pipe cleaners into place. The flamingo's head is provided where a black beak and googly eye is placed. The head is then attached to the top of the neck.


A Handprint Flamingo: in this craft, a preschool child's handprint dipped in pink paint is used for the body of the flamingo. The legs and head can be cut out from clip art or from pink construction paper.

Parrot Preschool Craft

For many parrot preschool crafts, the project begins with the basic body of the parrot. The parrot shape can be front or side view, flying or perched.


Once the shape is chosen, cut out one for each child with color construction paper, such as orange or red. The children can then decorate the parrot using color material that can be glued onto the bird shape. Some examples are:

• feathers, found at craft stores
• strips of crepe paper
• tissue paper
• yarn
• strips of construction paper
• glitter glue
• rhinestones
• buttons

Peacock Preschool Crafts

A paper plate can be used for a body to make a peacock craft. Have a blue body shape available to glue onto the paper plate for the peacock's body. Then the rest of the paper plate can be decorated to make the beautiful feathers. The feathers can be created simply by using felt markers, crayons, bingo markers or paint. Other craft material, as above, could be used as well. The children can finish by making the face of the peacock by drawing or using googly eyes.

OR use a coffee filter, and blue and green colored water with eyedroppers!

Tippy Toe Crafts

Another suggestion for making a peacock is to allow children to finger paint with different colors to make the feathers of the peacock.

 Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas

Old Macdonald Had a Farm: Puppet Templates

Old Macdonald Had a Farm is such a classic children's songs. Singing the song with puppets or felt pieces is greatly enjoyed by young audiences! Additionally, if a child can have his/her own puppets then it will contribute to learning the song, identifying the animals and language development. There are many variations of puppets, one of my favorite is the glove puppet as discussed in my previous blog entry.

Another idea for making puppets to sing with Old Macdonald Had a Farm is to use large popsicle sticks and the template below.  Simply copy this template, make your own or find pictures offline. Print onto firm paper. Color the images and then preferably laminate the entire page. Cut out the pieces and glue to the sticks. Voila.

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Spring Felt Board Activities

 Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas

Children Counting Songs for Hand Puppets

Young children love singing and puppets, and combining the two provides an entertaining and learning experience for toddler and preschool ages. Many songs for puppets involve counting and numbers.

The puppets provide young audiences a visual presentation of things being subtracted and added while the number is being sung, thus fostering the development of math concepts and skills. The following article focuses on glove and stick puppets for songs that involve counting.

Finding the Puppets

Many puppets can be purchased, but they are also easily made. Glove puppets can be made by using a garden glove and felt pieces or other material glued to each finger. Some glove puppet makers use pom poms and googly eyes to make animals.

Stick puppets can be created with the use of large popsicle sticks or chopsticks and pictures on firm paper, preferably laminated, attached to each stick. Pictures can be downloaded on the computer or coloring book images can be copied. Alternatively, foam is a useful craft material for making stick puppets.

Singing with Puppets

In early childhood settings, the adult caregiver will use the puppet as a visual presentation for the young children to enjoy. In smaller group settings or home environments, the children themselves can be the puppeteers.

Either way, number recognition with the use of the puppet and lyrics still occurs. The songs can be sung by all those participating or listened to through recorded music. One album which holds a fair amount of songs appropriate for glove puppet use is Raffi's Singable Songs albums which can be bought in a collection containing all three CDs or by purchasing the individual albums.

Counting Songs with Things that Grow

The following songs correlate well to glove puppets and stick puppets, and they can all be used as poems instead of singing.

"Five Little Pumpkins"

Five little pumpkins sitting on the fence

The first one said, “Oh my it’s getting late”.

The second one said, “There are witches in the air”.

The third one said, “But we don’t care”.

The fourth one said, "Let’s run and run and run”.

The fifth one said, “I’m ready for some fun”.

Ooooh went the wind, and out went the light

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.



"Way Up High in an Apple Tree"

Way up high in an apple tree

Five little apples working looking at me

I shook that tree as hard as I could

And down came an apple, mmm, it was good.

Continue singing down until there are no apples left.

"Five Tulips in the Ground"

Suggested tune: "Down By the Station"

Five tulip bulbs planted in the ground,

Waiting very quiet without a sound.

The sun came up and the rain came down,

And one little tulip popped out of the ground.

Puppet Songs about Animals

The following songs are appropriate for counting and number recognition for they are about animals leaving and sometimes returning. By clicking on the title, the reader will be connected to further information, such as lyrics and tune.

• "Five Green and Speckled Frogs"
• "Five Little Ducks"
• "Five Little Monkeys"

Toddlers and preschool children learn through play, and the use of puppets to teach math concepts falls into this theory incredibly well. The puppets can easily be made and presented to young audiences with songs enjoyed through singing and listening.

Online Workshops in Early Childhood Education

Raffi

Raffi Cavoukian is a Canadian singer-songwriter who has been enyoyed by children audiences for over three decades. Since one of his earliest album, Singable Songs for the Very Young (1976), he has delighted young listeners with his albums and music.

Many of Raffi's published songs have become staples for early childhood caregivers throughout North America and beyond. His folk style music with mainly his voice and a guitar is conducive to teachable moments with children. The adult can put his music on, and if uncomfortable with public singing, then simply use additional aids like felt stories to encourage learning for the young children listening. If the adult likes to sing, then with our without Raffi being played, she/he can use his songs in any early childhood settings at circle time, for creative movement and so forth.

Raffi Songs for Counting

Many songs by Raffi correlate well to counting activities, particularly the songs with Five in the title. All songs with five in them can be transfered to glove puppets and other fingerplay activities. Try making these songs into felt board pieces to place on the flannel board as the song is being listened to. Similarly, making or buying glove puppets work well with Raffi counting songs.

In this way, the young children can hear the words and visually see the items being removed or added. Some suggestions that help with number recognition which are both from his album, Singable Songs for the Very Young are "Five Green and Speckled Frogs" and "Five Little Pumpkins".

Raffi Songs for Creative Movement

Many songs sung by Raffi can turn into action songs for young children simply by acting out the lyrics and adding some movements to go along with the music.

1. "There's a Spider on the Floor" (Singable Songs for the Very Young, 1976): this song talks about a spider that goes up the body right to the head and then jumps back to the floor. For this song, find a toy spider for children to use when following the lyrics. This action works well with a group of children sitting in a circle.
2. " Brush Your Teeth" (Singable Songs for the Very Young, 1976): when the lyrics are being sung, pretend to brush your teeth and act out any part of the song you can, such as knocking with the words, " ...and you think you hear a knock on the door".
3. "Shake My Sillies Out" (More Singable Songs, 1977): this is a wonderful song for children to have creative movement with, doing everything Raffi suggests in his song.
4. "Down By the Bay" (Singable Songs for the Very Young, 1976): the rhythm of this song provides many options for action, even by simply doing a follow me activity with children, such as clapping your hands, then hitting your head and patting your stomach.

Raffi Songs for Teaching Lessons

Many songs written by Raffi hold wonderful lessons for children and provide teachable moments as the words are being listened to. The following list provides just a handle of such songs.

1. " The More We Get Together" (Singable Songs for the Very Young, 1976)---friendship
2. " The Sharing Song" (Singable Songs for the Very Young, 1976)---friendship and sharing
3. "Everything Grows" (Everything Grows, 1987)---life, growth
4. "Big Beautiful Planet" (Rise and Shine, 1982)--environment
5. " Willoughby Wallaby Woo "(Singable Songs for the Very Young, 1976)--rhyming

Raffi is more than an accomplished musician, he is an active environmentalist. For more information on Raffi, visit RaffiNews.com.

This article, written by Christine Moore, was originally published by suite101.com

How Does That Children's Song Go?

It use to be that when we couldn't remember the tune or lyrics of a children's song, we were left asking our friends and family members for help. Nowadays we google it!  Not only are the channels/websites great for childcare providers, young children can enjoy it as well. Here are some of the sites I have found. Feel free to add to the list!

kidsTV123

Bus Songs

Kididdles

The Teacher's Guide

CullensAbcs

Children Love To Sing

The Advantages of Singing for the Early Childhood Educator

Children enjoy singing songs with their teachers. Music is an important part of a child's development. But, singing is also an effective tool for educators in an early childhood setting, such as a preschool or daycare, to guide children, create structure and teach!

Using Singing for Guidance

When a teacher changes her tone in speaking it will often grab a child's attention. If she lowers her voice and speaks clearly in short sentences with an authoritative voice, it helps the child understand the importance of her message. On a similar and lighter note, singing can grab the attention of a child or an entire group of children and will help guide towards more appropriate behaviour.


A teacher does not necessarily have to know a song with specific lyrics to use in a guidance situation, but rather she can just sing her words. Often using one or two common tunes will be helpful at the beginning and then it will become more natural of a process and any song can be used. So, for instance if a group of children are running around in a circle inside, a teacher could start singing to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star: Walking walking when inside, put those running feet away. Another example for using singing for guidance is when walking in a group, such as for a fire drill or a field trip, is this song sung to the tune of She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain:

Oh, our quiet train is leaving here we go, sshh, sshh

Oh, our quiet train is leaving, here we go, sshh, sshh

Oh our quiet train is leaving, our quiet train is leaving,

Our quiet train is leaving, here we go, sshh sshh.

Using Singing to Create Structure

In early childhood settings, singing is commonly used to help children learn the routine of their day. Songs are used for cleaning up, transitions, gathering for circle and much more. To illustrate, here are some favourite clean up songs:

1. Time to put the toys away, toys away, toys away, time to put the toys away, so we can have our snack (this can be changed to suit a program).
2. Now we've had our time to play, it's time to put the toys away.
3. Clean up, clean up everybody, everywhere, Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share.
4. I see Sally picking up toys, I see Johnny putting them away.

There are many songs that can be used for circle time and transitions as well. Find some songs that can be remembered and use on a daily basis. The children will then learn the songs, and be cued for transitions in the curriculum.

Singing is a Teaching Tool

Singing can be used for teaching, of course. Children love to hear songs, and learn them as well. Some songs are more educational then others and when used in connection to a theme being used in all areas of a curriculum, the song will contribute to the learning process of a child.

Educators can find songs at circle time that will correlate to a preschool lesson plan. Sometimes a song cannot be found in available sources and so making one up can always do the trick. For instance, let's say a preschool teacher is teaching the children about dinosaurs and there are no preschool songs that are quite right. She decides to make up her own song using the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star:

We are dinosaurs from long ago, you could find us high and low.

In the grass and on the land, in the sea and on the sand

We are dinosaurs from long ago, you could find us high and low.

As the children continue along the learning lesson of dinosaurs she puts in more lyrics. They do not have to rhyme, but repetition and simplicity work well with young children.

One tactic to use for making up songs is to find a tune and the first two lyrics to start the process each time, then the rest will often fall into place. For instance, "I am a ____ look at me, I'm as happy as a I can be..."

Young children love singing and music, and a classroom that is filled with singing with age appropriate lyrics, helps create a fun and appealing space for preschoolers to learn.