Dec 28, 2013

Toddler Craft Ideas for Winter

There are many craft ideas for the winter holiday season for young children to make. Sometimes, the material and steps are not age appropriate for toddlers, ages one to three. The following crafts bring fun results through simple methods. They allow toddlers to have the hands-on enjoyment of creating art, as well as providing sensory experiences and introduction to new material.


 
 
 

Winter Snowflake Art Activity

Materials Required:

  • Dark construction paper (black, or blue)
  • Large Paper Doilies
  • Small Paint Rollers
  • White Paint (kid safe)
  • Tape
  • Small shallow paint containers

For the following art activity each toddler is provided a piece of dark construction paper, black or blue, with a large paper doily taped in the middle. White tempera paint is then placed into small shallow containers beside each child with a small paint roller made for children, which can be purchased at most craft establishments or large outlet stores. Alternatively, the toddlers could use a large paintbrush or sponges for painting. Young children love to paint, and enjoy the process equally and perhaps even more than the product. The children will hopefully paint their entire paper white. When dry, the doily is carefully peeled off by grown up hands and the image left behind resembles a winter snowflake.

Photo from SheKnows Parenting

 

Snowmen Craft Activity

Materials Required:

  • Contact Paper
  • Scissors
  • Cotton Balls
  • Googly Eyes
  • Orange Paper
  • Black Paper
  • Paper plates or firm paper (optional)

Before the toddlers begin this activity, the caregiver has some material to prepare. Small carrot noses and black hats should be cut out as well as snowman shapes from the contact paper. If this activity is being prepared for a large group of toddlers and there is a budget, simply make the snowmen smaller to allow the contact paper to be spread into more individual projects.

This activity is a fun, sensory experience for young children as they place soft cotton balls onto sticky contact paper. This paper can be found at most stationary or office supply stores. The children are provided snowman shapes and when the paper is peeled back, they are left with adhesive paper that can hold the cottonballs. The children can cover their snowman and finish the project off with eyes, carrot nose and a hat. Alternatively, the contact paper can be glued or stapled to a firm paper, such as small paper plates or thick white paper.

 

Painting with Holiday Cookie Cutters

Holiday cookie cutters provide wonderful winter shapes for paint stamping. The material required is paint, paper and the cookie cutters. This activity can be done as a group activity with toddlers on a large piece of paper taped to a table. The paper can then be used for wrapping paper or card making.

Final Thoughts



Toddlers love to be introduced to new material and fun hands-on activities. They may try to place the material into their mouths, but through the learning experience of cause and effect will soon realize it's better for paint to be used on the paper! Parents and grandparents truly appreciate these first time holiday creations.

Dec 18, 2013

Mitten Preschool Songs



Mitten Song #1

To the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"

Warm. warm. warm and dry
Mittens feel so nice.
So grab a pair in chilly air
Or in the snow and ice.


Mitten Song #2

To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"

Each mitten has a pair
Each mitten has a pair
Can (child's name) find its friend
(He/She) 's looking here and there.


Mitten Song #3

Thumb in the thumb place
Fingers all together
This is the song
We sing in mitten weather



Mitten Song #4

To the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus"

The mittens on my hands
They keep me warm
They keep me warm
They keep me warm
The mittens on my hands
They keep me warm
All winter long!



Mitten Song #5

For Jan Brett's The Mitten





To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"

The mitten on the ground.
The mitten on the ground.
Heigh-ho! It's cold outside.
The mitten on the ground.
The (mole) snuggles in.
The (mole) snuggles in.
Heigh-ho! It's cold outside.
The (mole) snuggles in.
(After the last animal, all pretend to sneeze and fall out of the mitten.)


FURTHER RESOURCES: Snow and Ice Preschool Activities
                                            Winter Felt Board Activities


Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 

Dec 15, 2013

Snowflake Preschool Songs



Learning about seasons is a steadfast component of most early childhood environments, whether at home, preschool or daycare. If children experience winter with hands on experiences, then songs contribute to the learning process. Music helps with language development and concepts. Throughout the winter, most of the songs we are familiar with fall under Christmas tunes. But, including winter songs about the season helps create an inclusive program for all. In preschool and daycare settings, snowflakes are a common theme for crafts and books. Following are some song and poem suggestions.

Snowflakes are Falling Down

(To the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down)

Snowflakes are falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
Snowflakes are falling down
Quietly without a sound.

Snowflake Poem

This poem is very lyrical and could be used with a piggyback song. It works well with felt snowflakes props to use on a flannel board.

One little snowflake with nothing to do,
Along came another and then there were two.
Two little snowflakes playing in a tree,
Along came another and then there were three.
Three little snowflakes looking for some more,
Along came another and then there were four.
Four little snowflakes that finally did arrive,
Along came another, and then there were five.
Five little snowflakes having so much fun,
Out came the sun and then there were none.

Snowflake Action Song

The next song is a great action song for circle time or a group of children together. When running a circle time with a group of young children, it is essential to find songs that allow them to stand up and move their bodies around.
(To the tune of Are you Sleeping)

Dance like snowflakes
Dance like snowflakes
In the air
In the air
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Here and there,
Here and there.

Snowflake Teaching Song

One of the lessons to teach young children about snowflakes is how each one is different when observed closely. Just like people, we are the same, but different. Snowflakes are created when water droplets freeze on small ice particles. For young children, this song will help with this early introduction of winter weather concepts.

To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot.

I'm a little snowflake, falling down,
With so many all around.
We are not the same as you will see,
No other snowflake looks like me!

FURTHER RESOURCES: Snow and Ice Preschool Activities
                                           Winter Felt Board Ideas


Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 

Snow and Ice Preschool Activities



Activities surrounding ice for a preschool curriculum are appropriate during the winter season as many young children are experiencing these weather conditions at this time of the year. Bringing the weather inside to the classroom environment as well as bringing an indoor activity, like painting, outside is a fun way for preschoolers to learn and explore the cold sensations of ice and snow. In addition, even if the weather is warm outdoors, the ice can be made in the freezer for children to enjoy. The following article will present some craft, science and sensory activities for an early childhood setting.

Snow Inside a Sensory Table


A sensory table is commonly used for sand or water, but it can provide young children with hands-on experiences and learning opportunities with a variety of material. Snow can be brought into a sensory table from the outside along with pails and shovels. In addition, play dough and/or sand molds can be used with the snow to create shapes. The teacher can facilitate a learning process by asking open ended questions, such as why do you think the snow is melting?" and "What is the snow melting into?" and so forth.

Ice Exploration in a Sensory Table


Ice shapes made in a freezer, or placed outside overnight if weather is below freezing, with different shaped containers is a gret activity for the winter season during an ice and snow theme. A few drops of food coloring can be placed in with the water to make different color ice shapes. Placing little toys inside can be enjoyable for young children as well. The containers should have a wide opening to allow the shapes to easily fall out into the sensory tables. When all the ice formations are created and emptied into the sensory table, tools can be placed inside the table as well to allow children to explore the ice while fostering fine motor skills, such as spray bottles of water, salt shakers, and eye droppers


Check out these amazing sculptures from a preschool website:

http://www.dunlucepreschool.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=153425412
From Dunluce Preschool Website

Painting with Ice


Ice can be used instead of a paintbrush to create a unique way of making art. The ice brushes are created by using ice popsicles, which the caregiver can make by using store bought popsicle trays filled with water. When the ice sticks are ready, then each child will be provided a piece of paper, preferably finger painting paper which is shiny and firm enough to absorb liquid. Powder paint is then shaken onto the paper and the children can use the water melting from their ice to create the paint and picture.

Creating Art Outside in Winter


There are a variety of ways to create art outside with the winter weather. One way is to provide children with paint pucks and paintbrushes outside to paint ice, hard snow or the snowman! Another idea is to fill spray bottles with color water made with a some drops of food coloring. The spray bottles will leave color designs on the white snow.This activity does leave the the hands cold, so it is a good idea to warm up inside right after the creative fun.

Ice and Salt Science Experiment


A science tray filled with ice cubes and a salt shaker provides young children an opportunity to explore the two elements together, and determine what happens to the ice when salt is placed onto it. This can turn into a lengthier science activity as predictions by each child and then the results are recorded. Furthermore, the preschoolers can learn that salt is used on our roads and sidewalks to melt the ice for safety reasons.



FURTHER RESOURCES:   Winter Felt Board Ideas

Nov 24, 2013

Owl Theme within an Emergent Curriculum

Recently, I worked in a group childcare centre with an Emergent Curriculum. An Owl Theme came from the interest of the children, and then with the creativity of the caregivers and the children themselves, the theme unfolded into a learning process for all. We can still learn from other professionals, regardless of how long we are in the field. I certainly experienced this as I spent time within this Reggio influenced daycare.

After Halloween, the children were interested in owls, which is understandable as so many stories and pictures display owls in the background of Halloween "scenes". Throughout the next week or two, the children were provided books on owls, staff looked for pictures of owls from calendars and other sources. Luckily the center had a wonderful felt story about a mother and baby owl. I was happy to include my felt story about 5 Fluffy Owls into the mix.


Five Fluffly Owls from Felt Board Ideas

Over the next few weeks, I heard the children and teachers learning about owls. We discussed what owls eat and learnt the definition of nocturnal, to name a few facts. Although it never transpired while I was there, we discussed the possibility of talking about how feathers are light and setting up a sink/float type game. I also suggested a creative movement activity of moving around the room as if we were feathers. The ideas were definitely flowing.

One day, when I came into work I saw this display of natural settings for children to explore, and I immediately grabbed by phone to take some pictures! Love it.




Perhaps, the most impressed I was about a theme incorporated into a Reggio (emergent curriculum) program was to observe the art projects. In my history as an Early Childhood Educator, I would have provided owl shapes from paper and then material for the children to decorate them with, such as feathers and googly eyes.  However, at this center, open ended art is encouraged. One day, a picture of a baby owl was sitting on the table for viewing and the children were provided white paint and white feathers to paint with. Another day, they had pictures of owls to look at and draw and then stories were written out about the drawings. Another day, they made owls with playdough and natural ingredients, which were then placed on display. There were lots of  ideas!



 One Monday I walked into the daycare, and there hanging on branches displayed in a vase were adorable owls. One of the educators was at Target and couldn't resist. The children played with these owls all day long. All week long. It was a perfect ending to the owl time period. Yet, that being said, I left this center to work elsewhere, so whoooo hoooo knows if the theme will continue along or if it has run its course. With an emergent curriculum the children are the drivers and the topic will follow with their interest and involvement.

Nov 21, 2013

Button Preschool Theme

Buttons are such a great way to allow children to add color and texture to glueing projects. Buttons are available to buy in large packages at most department craft stores, and dollar shops. If using buttons that have been donated, make sure to search through the buttons and use the ones that are flat with holes for better attachment. Be prepared for children to be using lots of glue for their art creations.

 


ART CRAFT SUGGESTIONS:


First of all, simply cutting out shapes, such as Hearts, Easter Eggs, or Pumpkins along with buttons for the children to search through and glue, makes for a fun and easy art process. Some other suggestions are....

  • Buttons for Leaves with Tree Shapes
  • Buttons with Flowers
  • Buttons with Teddybear Shapes or Gingerbread Men
  • Buttons onto Frames (have child holding a sign saying Cute as a Button---great present idea!)


From Preschool Crafts for Kids

SENSORY and MORE....





1. Buttons in sensory tables with scoops and containers
2. Place Buttons into playdough
3. Use Buttons for Sorting and Sizing
4. Activity Button Sheets: Making Learning Fun Website has great Pete the Cat activity sheets
5. Learning to Button Table activities


BUTTON SONG

To the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb

Trevor has buttons on his shirt, buttons on his shirt, buttons on his shirt
Trevor has buttons on his shirt, how many does he have.
(Change the name and clothing to match the children in the group)


With the popularity of Pete the Cat, including the story of his Groovy Buttons with the book and/or the felt story is a great idea!

 


Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 


                                              

Oct 27, 2013

Halloween Handprints



This activity not only creates a fun and playful Halloween craft, but the end result can be kept for a child's memory book collection. Whether with a group or just with one, crafts with older babies and toddlers can seem like a challenging feat. Yet, introducing children at a young age to art and craft activities provides them with opportunities to develop their creative selves. In addition, the sensory experience of paper and paint is greatly enjoyed by these little hands. In order to produce a finished result in this following activity, adult hands are definitely required to finish the project effectively. A good idea is to allow a toddler to have fun with the material and create his/her own masterpiece while simultaneously creating the ghosts.

Ghost Hands with White Paper


Material Needed:

  • White construction paper
  • Black construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Black felt pen or crayon

Fold the white construction paper into fours and trace one chosen hand from the toddler or older baby with a pencil, rounding at the top of the hand. Cut out the hands to create the ghost's body. On a black background, and with the toddler's help, glue the hands upside down onto the paper. Finish the ghost's body with two eyes and a circle for the mouth.

This song can be sung when the project is complete.

To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot

We are friendly ghosts up in the sky
All dressed in white, we fly so high.
Sometimes we call out, and say boo!
If you were a ghost, you'd say it too.

Ghost Handprints with Paint


Alternatively, this activity could be created with white finger paint. Allow the toddler to freely paint onto a separate piece of paper and during this creative process, guide their hands over to black paper and show them how to press their hands flat on the paper to create handprints. This can be tricky for the adult, and the best result requires the grown up to gently guide hand over hand. When dry, the paper can be turned around and the little ghosts completed with eyes and a mouth drawn on each handprint with black felt pen. When finger painting with toddlers, it is a great idea to be prepared for cleanup before hand with soapy water and towels. Have a painting smock for your young child to wear or make one with an old adult shirt. In addition, toddlers should be instructed to keep the paint out of their mouths, but because it will be so tempting, make sure to use finger paint that is safe for children to use.


Halloween is a memorable holiday for all children, and this craft can also be used to mark your child's handprint and perhaps store away or place into a memory book. Handprints are always amazing to look at later on for both the child and the parents and marvel at how small they once were.

Brown Bear Preschool Theme

A preschool theme about bears could easily be divided into smaller topics surrounding specific kinds of bears: brown bears, panda bears, polar bears, teddy bears and so forth. That being said, the following article predominantly focuses on brown bears.

Fun Facts about Brown Bears


Circle time is a perfect place to provide some simple facts about the preschool program's theme with or without a book. Start by asking children what they know and record their answers down. The early childhood provider can then fill in the information that may have not been mentioned. This process of group learning honours the children for their input, ideas and knowledge. Some fun brown bear facts to share with the children are:

  • During winter a brown bear sleeps for four to seven months which is called hibernation
  • Through the fall, the bear will eat almost all day to store up fat in preparation for his long sleep
  • The bear will sleep in a den
  • While hibernating, the bear's heartbeat slows down
  • Baby bears are born in the den during winter, and when first born are the size of a chipmunk
  • A baby bear is protected by its mother in the spring and stays beside her for up to three years
  • Brown bears are found all around the world
  • They usually eat fruit, insects, roots and bulbs.
  • By the coast, brown bears eat salmon
  • Communities that live near bears, should place their garbage in protective bins

Bear Crafts


Bear Shape and Collage Material

A bear shape made out of brown construction paper which can then be decorated is an easy and fun craft for a preschool activity. Older preschool children can practice fine motor skills with scissors and brown paper, folded lengthwise with half a bear traced on its edge (very similar to a classic Valentine's heart craft). When the bear is cut out, it can be decorated with craft material and glue. Following are some suggestions:

  • pom poms
  • buttons
  • pieces of scrap material
  • dry coffee grinds
  • brown tissue paper
  • googly eyes


Brown Bear and Marble Painting

Marble painting is a classic preschool craft activity. The materials needed are large marbles or golf balls, paint, paper and a shoebox. Place a bear shape onto the bottom of the shoebox created from sturdy paper. Place a dollop of brown paint in the middle, making sure the paint is not too thick, and a marble or two. Close the shoebox and let the child shake it all around. The marble will move through the paint leaving a design on the shape. This craft activity is a great choice for children of all ages and abilities.

Bear Songs


Music is such an integral part of a preschool program, and children not only are drawn to the sound, but can learn through the lyrical words.


Little Bear
To the tune of Frere Jacques

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping
Little bear, little bear.
You will sleep all winter
Through the cold, cold winter,
Little bear, little bear.
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping,
Little bear, little bear
You will wake in springtime,
In the warm, warm springtime,
Little bear, little bear

The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Sung To: For He's a Jolly Good Fellow

The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
To see what he could see
To see what he could see,
To see what he could see.

The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see
Was all that he could see,
Was all that he could see,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see!

Brown Bear Stories


Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Bears are a popular topic for children's story books. Childcare providers will surely be able to collect a bundle of books to place on the library shelves during a bear preschool theme. Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle is a wonderful book to relay with felt pieces on a flannel board. The repetitive words provide young children an opportunity to join and develop language skills. Another wonderful story featuring a bear, is The Mitten by Jan Brett.

The Mitten by Jan Brett

There are so many ideas that can be included into a bear theme, here are just a few more:

  1. Have a Teddy Bear Day, and invite each child to bring in there favourite
  2. Hide teddy bears around the room and send the children on a bear hunt
  3. Place plastic bears into a sensory table with nature items and material for the children to create dens , such as plastic tubs
  4. Make bear shaped cookies
                                                     

Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 

Oct 11, 2013

Preschool Songs for Autumn: Leaves, Pumpkins and Halloween



Song #1

To the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down

Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are falling down, red, yellow, orange and brown


Song #2

To the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

I am a pumpkin, orange and round.
You will find me on the ground.
Sometimes big, and sometimes small,
You will find me when it's fall.
I am a pumpkin, orange and round.
You will find me on the ground.






Song #3

To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a Jack-o-lantern, look at me
I'm as happy as I can be
Put a candle in, and light the light
Don't be frightened, it's Halloween night.




Song #4


To the tune of Sing a Song of Six Pence

First you take a pumpkin, big and round and fat

Then carve the top off, and that will make the hat
Then you carve the nose out, the mouth and the eyes
Show to the children for a Halloween surprise!


Song #5

To the tune of Frere Jacques


Trick or treat, trick or treat,
Halloween night, Halloween night
In our costumes playing,
You will hear us saying
Trick or treat, trick or treat

Sep 24, 2013

Preschool Fall Leaf Activities: Developing Math Skills




Young children love to go for nature walks and collect autumn treasures. This collection from the outside can then be brought inside for some fun indoor activities. The following article provides some suggestions on how to use leaves (nuts and other fall finds) in an early childhood curriculum to encourage the development of math skills in young children.


Sorting Autumn Leaves

The best way to start this activity in a preschool or daycare setting is to go for a nature walk with the group of children and allow them to collect the leaves. If this is not possible, then a collection of real leaves, or even paper or silk leaves, can be used. In small groups or in a large circle, the teacher can ask the children how these leaves can be sorted into groups. She/he can ask questions such as:

  • How could we put these leaves into groups?"
  • What makes these leaves the same and what makes these leaves different?"
  • What colors do we see?
  • Are some leaves bigger or smaller?
  • I wonder how many leaves we have all together?
  • I wonder which group of leaves is the biggest?


Simply stating these questions allows children to think about size, shape and color differences and begins the steps towards basic math concepts such as categorizing.

Depending on the age of the young children, they will need more or less guidance in their sorting choices. Once the groups have been decided upon, then the categories can be counted. For instance, if the children decided to sort the leaves by color, then all the red leaves will be counted and so on. Perhaps, the children will decide to sort the leaves by design or size. This decision can be left to the children or given by the teacher. After the small groups of leaves have been counted then a graph can be drawn on a paper by the teacher and this illustration posted in the room.


Felt Leaves on a Flannel Board




Another way of teaching children about sorting leaves is to use felt leaves on a flannel board. Each child can be given a leaf to bring to the board to place into the appropriate category or row at circle time. Afterwards, the children can then be asked to come back to the flannel board to remove a leaf according to the teacher's request, such as "please hand me the biggest red leaf on the board". This latter activity works well as a transition out of circle time. When the leaves are coming onto the board, the teacher can remind the children of the words used for sorting size: big, bigger and biggest as well as small, smaller and smallest. A further step is to ask the children to repeat these words to encourage language development.


Sensory Table for Fall Collections

Placing fall collections into a sensory table provides children a hands-on activity with the autumn leaves, nuts, pinecones and so forth. By placing containers with small compartments, such as muffin tins or ice cube trays, the children are provided opportunities to sort and collect. Finding opportunities in this free time activity to ask open ended questions further develops math skills in young children. Asking a child to count how many nuts they have found, for example, fosters math skills.


Fall Themed Sensory Table in Preschool


Math opportunities are abundant in an early childhood setting during all seasons through planned activities which encourage the development of basic math skills.



Sep 7, 2013

Pete the Cat



Pete the Cat is very popular right now among young children, with its cool cat main figure. The stories by Erik Litwin  provide numerous ways to extend the learning lessons. The following list provides some links to excellent options for a Preschool Lesson Plan with Pete the Cat.


Pete the Cat Felt Story and Template

Button Preschool Theme

The Official Pete the Cat Website--lots of activities and product

Making Learning Fun--Activity Sheets to go with Pete the Cat


Mrs. Bremer's Class---Great ideas for learning colors and letters to correlate with Pete the Cat and His White Shoes

Coyne's Crazy Fun Preschool---fun ideas for Pete the Cat Theme

Teach Preschool--great photos of Preschoolers decorating white shoes for an Art Project

Pinterest Board: Pete the Cat Preschool Theme



Aug 30, 2013

Preschool Songs about Feelings




Perhaps, the most popular preschool song about Feelings:

Song#1  If You're Happy and You Know It


If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're happy and you know it, then you're face will surely show it,
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

Sad--wipe your tear, boo hoo
Mad--stomp your feet
Silly--shake your head
Sleepy--take a yawn
Scared--hide your eyes
Excited--say, "Hooray!"

Song#2 We All Have Feelings

Sung to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

We have feelings, yes we do
Happy, sad or feeling blue.
All our feelings are okay,
Each and every single day.
We  have feelings, yes we do
They belong to me and you.

Song#3 Itsy Bitsy Feeling Spiders


Sing the song Itsy Bitsy Spider with different emotions...

The sad little spider...
The happy little spider....
The silly little spider...

Make sure to use facial expressions, and change your voice to create the feelings when singing this traditional song!

Song#4 I Have That Happy Feeling


From the tune of I Have that Happy Feeling Here in my Heart


I have that happy feeling here in my feet,
Here in my feet, here in my feet
I have that happy feeling here in my feet
Here in my feet to stay.

I have that happy feeling here in my hands,
Here in my hands, here in my hands,
I have that happy feeling here in my hands
Here in my hands to stay.

Continue, on with other additions.

Song#5 The More We Get Together


The more we get together
Together, together,
The more we get together
The happier we'll be.



Another great way of mixing music with the topic of feelings, is to find different styles of music and ask children how the music makes them feel. Alternatively, combine this with painting.



This video from Sesame Street (gotta love Sesame Street) is just overall fun to watch for all ages. 



 



Aug 6, 2013

Preschool Songs for an Apple Theme




#1 To the tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider

Once a little apple seed was planted in the ground.
Down came the soft rain, falling all around.
Out came the sun as bright as it could be
And that little apple seed grew up to be a tree!


#2 To the tune of Yankee Doodle

Peel an apple, cut it up,
Put it in a pot.
When you taste it,
You will find,
It's applesauce you've got!


#3 To the tune of Ring Around the Rosie

Ring around the apple tree
All full of apples
Shake it, shake it
They all fall down

#4  To the tune of  5 Currant Buns in the Bakery Shop

Five red apples in the grocery shop
Bright and crispy with a stem on the top
Along came (child's name) with some money one day
He bought that yummy apple
And he ate it right away.


#5 Way Up High in the Apple Tree


Jul 26, 2013

Babies and Toddlers and Music!


Even though a young child is not talking or is in the first steps of learning a language, he/she can still communicate and enjoy songs through other forms of communication. If a song comes on that a child enjoys he/she will inevitably display facial expressions or body language that the particular song is a favourite. A child might clap his/her hands or jump up and down, perhaps even do a little dance.

Baby Communication

If an older baby or young toddler likes the music playing or is familiar with a song being sung, there are signs of communication.
  • eye widening
  • looking to where the music is playing
  • feet kicking
  • smiling
  • arms flapping
  • clapping
  • pointing
  • jumping up and down
  • dancing
  • actions from the song

Beyond Action Songs

Fingerplay and action songs have been the most well known way of allowing young children to participate with a song without actually singing the words. Thus, when singing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider", a child will bring his/her hands down to represent rain or turn his hands around and around to make the "Wheels on the Bus". But, there are still other ways that young children can communicate through visual presentations about what songs they want to hear.

Letting them Choose

With each option, a baby or toddler can choose the song to sing or listen to. One of the easiest ways of offering the choice is to place an item in each hand and then presented the items for a baby to choose from. Look for the baby's communication, such as a pointing gesture or smile. Following are some suggestions:

1. Song Cards: cards with pictures/symbols which represent the song, such as a star for "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". These cards work well as magnets.

2. Felt Stories: felt pieces on a flannel board illustrating the song, such as "Old Macdonald Had a Farm"

3. Songs Books: Many musicians publish their lyrics into a book format. A good example is Raffi's "Baby Beluga"

4. Puppets: Glove puppets and other similar props can be presented for a baby to choose.



The Benefits of Music for Language Development

Singing songs with repetitive lyrics encourages language development with babies and toddlers. Listening to the same word again and again in an appealing format of music, will encourage the process. Many children's first words come out of classic songs as the melodic sounds can be very conducive for learning. Music is an integral component of creating a rich environment for children of all ages.

Further Reading Suggestions:

Action Songs for Toddlers


Jul 25, 2013

Preschool Songs for All About Me Theme



All About Me is a great theme to include into a 3-5 year old curriculum. Commonly the theme is chosen to begin a preschool year, but focusing on the individuality of each child is a good topic any time of the year!

The following song includes actions:

Song #1  I am Special
(to the tune of Frere Jacques)

First ask the children to all stand up with their hands on their hips to sing:

I am special, I am special
You will see, you will see

Then turn around on the spot and sing

Someone very special, someone very special,

Ending with arms stretched right up in the air

Yes! It's me. Yes! It's me.


Song#2 This is the Way...To Keep Our Bodies Healthy
              (to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)

Often an All About Me theme is overlapped with Health and Nutrition, and this a great song for such a topic. Including actions with the words makes the song more fun to sing for young children, and easier to learn.

This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands
This is the way we wash our hands, to keep our bodies healthy.

This is the way we eat good food, eat good food, eat good food
This is the way we eat good food, to keep our bodies healthy.

Other verses:
This is the way we exercise
This is the way we go to sleep

Suggestion: Ask the children for ideas and include into the song!


Song #3  My Fingers are Starting to Wiggle
               (to the tune of The Bear Went Over the Mountain)

A great song to sing anytime at a circle time! Helps children identify body parts and participate with movement.

My fingers are starting to wiggle, my fingers are starting to wiggle, my fingers are starting to wiggle
Around around around.

(My hands, arms, head, are starting to wiggle, etc.)   My whole body's starting to wiggle,
My whole body's starting to wiggle,
My whole body's starting to wiggle,
I guess I'll just sit down.



Song #4 Shaker Shaker
              (any tune that works)

A good song for group participation and togetherness. To begin this song, find something that will shake and make some noise.


Shaker, shaker, (child's name)
Shake it like you can,
Shake it like a milkshake
And pass it to your friend.


Further reading suggestion : All About Me Book

                                         

Jul 2, 2013

Dinosaur Preschool Songs


Dinosaurs: a commonly loved topic among most preschoolers! Following are some preschool songs to include into a dinosaur theme:


Song #1 Do You Know?

(To the tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man)

Oh, do you know the stegosaurus?

The stegosaurus, the stegosaurus?

Oh, do you know the stegosaurus?

He had plates upon his back.

Add.....Verses

Apatosaurus......he has a very long neck.

Tyrannosaurus rex......he was very fierce.

Triceratops....he has three big horns.


Song#2 We Were Dinosaurs

(To the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)

We were dinosaurs from long ago,
You could find us high and low

In the grass, and on the sand
In the water and on the land

We were dinosaurs from long ago,
You could find us high and low.



Song #3 The Dino Pokey

(To the tune of Hokey Pokey)

A great way to sing this song at a circle time is to provide each child with a dinosaur stick and for everyone to stand up!


You put the dino up, you put your dino down,
You put your dino up and you shake him all around
You do the dino pokey and you turn yourself around
Two stomps on the ground!

You put your dino in the front, you put your dino in the back
You put your dino in the front, and you give your knee a whack
You do the dino pokey and you turn yourself around
Two stomps on the ground!

You put your dino to your head, you put your dino to your toe
You put your dino to your head, and you wobble to and fro
You do the dino pokey and you turn yourself around
Two stomps on the ground!


Further resources:

Dinosaur Felt Board Story

Jun 28, 2013

Boat Song for Preschool Theme




This song is sung to the tune of Old Macdonald Had A Farm


Boats are big and boats are small
All around the world.
Some have sails that are so tall
All around the world.

They glide up a wave, and down a wave
Up a wave and down a wave.
Boats are big and boats are small
All around the world.

Boats with motors are so fast,
All around the world.
Hands will wave as they past,
All around the world.

They zoom over here and over there,
Over here and over there.
Boats with motors are so fast,
All around the world.

Fishing boats are in the sea,
All around the world.
Catching fish for you and me,
All around the world.

They fish up north and down south
Up north and down south
Fishing boats are in the sea,
All around the world.



Row Row Row Your Boat: Different Versions




Row Row Row Your Boat is such a classic children's song and can be sung various ways. It is fun if two children partner together and rock back and forth while singing the song. One daycare I worked at, the caregiver use to come around the corner and spray the children with a water bottle at the end of the song to surprise the preschoolers. They would love it.


Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Different Versions:

Row row row your boat
Gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile
Don't forget to scream! (scream)

Rock, rock, rock your boat
Gently to and fro.
Look out, give a shout!
Into the water you go! (pretend to make a big splash)

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the shore
But if you see a lion
Don't forget to roar! (roar)

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the lake
But if you see a little snake
Don't forget to shake! (shake body)

I found this blog where the author collected many more versions of Row Row Row Your Boat

I think my favourite of all, is when it is done as a round.


Jun 27, 2013

Rainbow Fish Craft Ideas: Printable Template



The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister is a story about a fish with sparkly, shimmering scales, who initially will not share his scales with the other fish. He soon realizes it is better to share his scales and have friends to play with, then to be alone. This story plot relates well to a young child's life and having a theme, whether for a day or longer, all around The Rainbow Fish, can be enjoyed within any early childhood environment. The theme may be incorporated into other lesson plans, such as an ocean theme, rainbow and color lessons, and with discussions about friendship and sharing. The following article provides a craft, drama, song and cooking activity for The Rainbow Fish preschool theme.


Rainbow Fish Craft Ideas


Provide each child the outline of the rainbow fish, whether you use this template to cut out fish shapes with color construction paper, or copy and past the template and make prints. Following are different ideas to create a rainbow fish.


  • tissue paper cut into pieces
  • construction or card paper cut into pieces
  • recycled candy wrappers
  • old birthday cards
  • wrapping paper
  • buttons
  • tin foil pieces
  • beads
  • rhinestones/jewels
  • bingo markers
  • sponge painting


When the young children finish gluing the scales onto the small paper plate, the fins, tail and googly eye can be attached as needed to finish the project.


**Alternatively, toddlers could use bingo markers for the scales.


A Drama Activity for a Rainbow Fish Theme



Try having the young children act out the story in a large space, such as a gym or fenced in yard. Each child will be given his role by having a letter taped onto his/her body. The fish characters will have the letter F , which can be many more than the book displays. There is a starfish and octopus in the book, which again, can be extended with other sea creatures, to provide more characters for the children to act out and use their imagination. The child who is selected to be the rainbow fish might wear a shirt with scales attached to it. The scales can be attached with material and thread or fabric paint. The shiny scales must be attached with a devise that can be removed by a preschool hand, such as Velcro. As the story is being narrated by the adult, the rainbow fish will eventually give a shiny scale away to each child who is a fish swimming around.

Rainbow Fish Preschool Song


Singing some songs to correlate to The Rainbow Fish theme will inevitably work well with a group of young children. Aside from singing some classic ocean songs, like "Slippery Fish" by Charlotte Diamond, singing songs about a rainbow would work as well. The following rainbow fish song is sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star":



A rainbow fish in the sea

All the colors, a sight to see.

Red and yellow, green and blue

Yellow, orange, purple too

A rainbow fish in the sea

All the colors, a sight to see.



Preschool Cooking Activity: Rainbow Bagel


For an activity involving food, and preparing a snack to eat, try providing each child with a small bagel. Then make small dishes of different colored cream cheese, created by using a small amount of food coloring. Each child can enjoy spreading different colors of cream cheese onto his/her bagel to create a rainbow snack. This activity is not only fun, but also fosters fine motor development and self help skills.



You might also like....


Rainbow Fish Felt Board Story


Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 

                                  

Jun 26, 2013

Transportation Songs for Preschool Theme


Transportation is such a classic topic for preschool environments. Following are some songs to include into a transportation theme.


Song #1
"The Wheels on the Bus":

The cars on the road go beep beep beep...all around the town

The planes in the sky go zoom zoom zoom...all around the town

The trains on the track go chug, chug, chug...all around the town

The boats on the water go swish, swish, swish....all around the town


Song#2
Suggested tune: “Old Macdonald Had a Farm”


Drake (child’s name) the driver drives his car

Vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom.

And on his car there are some wheels,

Vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom.

And the car goes beep beep here and beep beep there.

Here a beep, there a beep, everywhere a beep beep.

Drake the driver drives his car,

Vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom.


Pat the pilot flies the plane,

Zoom, zoom , zoom, zoom , zoom.

And on the plane there are some wings,

Zoom, zoom ,zoom.

And the plane flies up here, and lands there,

Up here and lands there.

Pat the pilot flies the plane,

Zoom, zoom , zoom ,zoom, zoom.


Sally the Sailor has a boat,

Swish swish swish, swish, swish.

And on the boat there is a sail,

Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish.

It glides up a wave, and down a wave,

Up a wave and down a wave.

Sally the Sailor has a boat,
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish.


Song#3

To the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

Twinkle twinkle traffic light


Standing on the corner bright

Green means GO, we all know

Yellow means WAIT, even if you're late

Red means STOP......

Twinkle twinkle traffic light,

Standing on the corner bright.


Song#4

To the tune of Farmer in the Dell

Jack takes a trip


Jack takes a trip

He packs his bags and calls a cab

Jack takes a trip

They travel there by plane

They travel there by plane

Up and down and all around

They travel their by plane
 


 Further reading suggestions:

Car Preschool Theme by Christine Moore

Transportation Theme by Christine Moore