ALL About ME!

CIRLCLE TIME

It is important for all children to develop a love for themselves early in their lives. They need to know that they are special. This week we will focus on things that make each child unique and help to foster an appreciation of who they are!

Tell the class a unique fact about yourself that they probably don't know. Then encourage each child to do the same. You will probably find out some very interesting information!

"ME" Bags!

You Will Need:
Plain brown "lunch" sacks
Stickers
Markers or crayons
Magazine cutouts of all kinds

The idea is to decorate their bag in a way that they love and then fill the bag with items with things that represent them. You need to write their names on the bottom of the bags. Once they are completed, you should gather the bags up and let the class try to decide who each bag belongs to based on what is inside!

BIBLE

God Made Me! Psalm 139:13-14

Follow this lesson from MinistryToChildren.com! http://ministry-to-children.com/god-made-me-preschool-lesson/

LETTER/READING

Name Game

Materials:

File cards or sentence strips with each student’s name printed on it.

Even though these activities are encouraging reading, the students are still being exposed to everyone’s name.

1. To begin, you need to say everyone’s name. Sit in a circle. Hold up a card to see if the student whose name is on the card recognizes his or her name in print. Then say it aloud and give it to the student. Continue until all names are passed out.

2. Study the name cards together to see if any of them are the same. Then look at the beginning letter. Ask the children with the same beginning letter to stand together. Which beginning letter is used the most? Which is used the least? Which alphabet letter is not used at all?

3. Toss the name cards in the center of the circle and mix them up. Can the students find their own name cards? Can students find someone else’s card?

4. Use these nametags or other permanent ones at the place where the child sits. Curious children will begin to study other classmate’s written name.

Long A Reading Lesson

You Need:
Index cards
Marker
Scissors

Write long A (with silent E) words on the index cards. Use words such as Tame, Late, Care, Cake, Plate, Cage, Game, Bake, Snake, etc. Cut all of the silent E's off of the ends of the words.

Set the cards in front of the kids. Show them the words without the silent E's. Pronounce it. Now show what happens to the words when you add the silent E to the end. Have the children pronouce the completed words.

SCIENCE

Measure Me Activity

You Will Need:
Several rolls of colored ribbon
Pictures of the kiddo's faces
Tape or sticky tac
Scissors

Lay each child on the floor and have them hold the end of the ribbon on top of their head as you roll the ribbon down to the feet. Make sure they are laying as straight as they can! Cut the ribbon at their feet. Stick the ribbon to the wall with the bottom touching the floor. Stick their picture at the top. Line up each child's ribbon side by side in a row. Once completed, you can talk about how each person is a different height and how some people are the same. Who is the tallest? Who is the shortest? Extend it and ask who thinks they are going to be the tallest when they are finished growing?





MATH

Graphing - All About Us

Make a graph chart on a piece of poster board. Include hair color and eye color. Across the bottom, make categories for brown hair, blonde hair, red hair and black hair. Also add the categories for blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes etc. Count up the number of people with each characteristic and add a square for each person who has it in each category. Its fun to look at the chart when it is complete and compare the similarities and differences in the class.

Sort & Count Bottles

Collect several empty water bottles. Remove any labels they may have. Write a number on each in sharpie marker. Provide a bowl full of craft poms. The idea is to have the kids count and add the number of craft poms to each bottle as is listed on that bottle. You can also color code them to add another layer if you wish!

From The Imagination Tree

MOTOR SKILLS

Fine - Tactile Names

You Will Need:
Paper
White School Glue
Small Plastic Beads

Write each child's name in the glue and then have them place the beads in the glue to trace each letter. This makes a really cool effect once dry! Hang them up in the room.

Gross - ABC Exercise Cards

Print the cards HERE. These are really fun! Each child should pick a card and then say the letter. They then should perform the activity listed on the card. Tons of fun and a great way to reinforce the letters.

ART & CRAFT

Art - Funny Faces Paper Plate Masks

You Will Need:
Paper plates
Lots of different kinds of dry noodles
Magazine cutouts
White school glue
Crayons
Craft Popsicle sticks

Give each child a plate. Draw where their eyes will be. Then allow the kids to create funny faces using the materials provided. When they are done and dry, cut out the eye holes so they can see. You can have a funny face parade during the week!

Craft - Body Part Puzzle

Print the puzzle HERE. Cut the pieces out and provide a clean piece of paper and some glue. Allow the kids to put the body back together. Discuss the different body parts.

BOOKS

http://www.amazon.com/I-Like-Me-Picture-Puffins/dp/0140508198

"Little ones in need of positive reinforcement will find it here. An exuberant pig proclaims "I like me!" She likes the way she looks, and all her activities....When she makes a mistake she picks herself up and tries again." --Booklist "Wonderful in its simplicity, here's a story that will help kids feel good about themselves." -- Boston GLobe

http://www.amazon.com/All-Myself-Little-Critter-Look-Look/dp/0307119386

In this simple, sweet, and very human picture book, Mercer Mayer's popular Little Critter shows us all the things he can do by himself, from tying his shoes (almost) to pouring his own juice (and only spilling a little). The wry illustrations often point up the fact that Little Critter doesn't do everything perfectly, but he makes an effort to do the best he can.







MUSIC

Hokey Pokey
http://bussongs.com/songs/hokey-pokey.php

Follow the link to find the lyrics and the music! Such a fun song to review body parts and get moving.

COOKING

ME! Gingerbread Cookies

You can make these from scratch (here is a good recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Gingerbread-Cookies-II/) or you can buy them pre-made and just do the decorating part.

The easiest way to let young kids decorate cookies is to put the icing in those cheap squeeze bottles. These make drawing on the cookies super easy.

Have the kids decorate their cookie however they like.