Direction To Success!

This week we are going to focus on Following Directions! For children in the pre-school age range, this concept can be pretty difficult to master. They are all about exerting their independence and trying to figure things out on their own. While this is great for them, their direction following skills need to be refined. As adults, we follow many directions everyday! To make this fun for them, we are going to act as if we are treasure hunters.

CIRCLE TIME:

What does "following directions" mean?  Ask the kids to wiggle and giggle until they hear you clap 5 times... once they have done this tell them they just followed directions! Directions are a list of things you need to do in order to complete a task. When you follow them, you will complete the task correctly. If you decide to try to complete the task without following the directions, you may never complete it! If you had not stopped wiggling and giggling when you heard the 5 claps, you would still be wiggling and giggling!

SCRIPTURE:

James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves, but do what it says.

I found a fun game to play to help preschoolers understand this lesson! I have linked to it HERE. It is an EZine article by Kathy Vincent. The game is called "Follow My Directions, Please".

It is a really fun game that goes well with our lesson and keeps with the Bible lesson also. Have fun!

LETTER OF THE WEEK:

A is for Apple   

http://www.first-school.ws/t/alpha_tracers_zb1/a2.htm Print the worksheet! Make the "Ah" sound for the kids and say Ah-Apple. Now have the kids do it.

Then have the kids trace the letter. Begin with their finger, then use a crayon. Practice writing the letter A.

Color the apple.

Beginning A Sound Activity

Collect around 10 items from around your house or classroom. 7 of them should be items that begin with A and the last 3 or 4 should begin with a different letter. You will need 2 bowls or boxes. One will be for "A" items and the other for the non-A items. Draw a large A on a piece of paper and an A with a circle and a slash through it on another piece. Label the boxes with these.

Some ideas of items could be an apple, airplane, animal, ant, alligator, apron, ambulance, arrow, acorn, axe, art.

Place all of the objects in a pile. Go through each item with the class. Pronounce each word for them. Place them back into the pile and ask each child to choose an object which begins with "A". Ask them to pick it up, pronounce it, and place it in the correct box. Praise them when they get it right. When they get it wrong, re-pronounce the name of the object again, placing emphasis on the first letter sound. Allow the child to try again!

This activity will really help them begin to hear and see the letter!

READING

Name Recognition - Name Puzzles

This is our last week for this! By now the kiddos should be able to recognize their own names. Some may even be able to recognize a few of their friend's names too!

http://freecoloringpagesite.com/coloring-pics/apple-coloring-3.jpg

Print out an apple for each letter of the child's name. Write each letter of their name on one apple. On a piece of butcher paper, write the child's name with a line underneath it. The idea is for the kids to put their name "puzzle" together by matching the letters on the butcher paper.

Give each child their letters out of order. Give them the Directions and watch them go! Once they have their name puzzle fully assembled, check it for accuracy. Then they can glue them down.

Place these around the room for decoration this week!

SCIENCE

Measuring with Rulers

Here is a great direction following science activity. To prepare, you will need to use a ruler to measure several objects around your classroom or play area. Write down what you measured and your results. Make it easy and only use inches.

Give each child a ruler and show them how to use it. Have them measure a couple of things so that they understand the concept. You don't even need to really talk about the different measurements. If they can handle that much information, then go for it. It depends on how advanced your class is.

Let them know they are going to be "Following Directions"! Pay close attention, because you won't be able to continue the activity until each part is done according to your directions. Ask them to measure the first item with their ruler and then come and tell you what they got. When a child has the correct answer (or close to it) congratulate them and direct them to the next item to measure. Continue this until they have all the items measured correctly!

This activity is a great way to introduce the kids to measurements and also allows them to follow directions!

MATH

Numbered Treasure Hunt!

You will need to make some numbered and color-coded cards for this activity. One set of cards will need to have the numbers 1 - 10 on them, color code however you like. The other set of cards will need to have a number of items on them. You can use stickers or drawings, whichever works for you. You need a card with 1 item, one with 2 items, etc. The idea is for them to find the "treasure" by following the "clues". You will also need a cheap treasure for the kids to find.

How to play: Place the cards with numbers on them around the room. Make sure they are not in plain sight, but shouldn't be too hidden. Next to the number 10 you will place the treasure. By each of the numbered cards there should be the next clue, or the next number they need to find. Depending on the age and knowledge of your class, you can have the numbers in order or in any order you like.

Give the kids the first numbered card. Show them that they need to count the items on their card in order to know where to go next. The number of items on their card will match a numbered card in the room. Once they find the numbered card, their next card with a number of items will be there to tell them where to go next. This way they are Following Directions and also counting!

Apple Counting Mats

Print the mats from Pre-kinders.com HERE.  Follow the directions on the page. You can use red playdough, red marbles, red stickers, or whatever works for you!

MOTOR SKILLS

Fine Motor - Block Building

Build a simple structure out of wooden blocks or Lego blocks. Instruct the kiddos to replicate your structure. Simple activity, awesome results. This incorporates fine motor skills, problem solving, and structure building.

Gross Motor - Follow the Leader

You all know this game! Begin by explaining how to play. Everyone will stand in a line behind you. You say "follow the leader!" and begin to make different gestures. You can wander around the room or your play yard while patting your head, flapping your arms, stomping your feet. Pretty soon everyone will be having a blast and you can let a child be the leader!

Awesome for following directions and getting some gross motor activity!

ART/CRAFT

Art - Simon Says Drawings

For this activity you will need construction paper and crayons. Give each child a piece of paper and place the crayons in their reach. Tell them not to begin drawing yet! The idea of this activity is to Follow Directions! You are going to say, "Simon Says draw a house" and they should draw what yo asked them to.

This is a really fun way to practice following directions and when you all show each other your drawings at the end you can see how differently everyone's picture comes out!


Craft - Apple Tree Following Directions Activity

Fun activity from makinglearningfun.com! http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/AppleTree-FollowingDirections.html

You will need to print a page for each child. There are different levels of difficulty that you can choose from depending on the skill level of the kids you have.






MUSIC

Apple Tree (rockabyebutterfly.com)

APPLE TREE

Way up high in the apple tree

Five red apples smiled at me

I shook that tree as hard as I could

Down came an apple and

Mmmm, it was good!

Way up high in the apple tree

Four red apples smiled at me...

(keep going counting down each apple)

I'm a Good Listener

http://www.songsforteaching.com/intellitunes/goodlistener.htm

Follow the link for lyrics and tune!




BOOKS

http://www.amazon.com/Ten-Apples-Top-Theo-LeSieg/dp/0394800192/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378832506&sr=1-1&keywords=10+apples+up+on+top#_

Good counting book, plus it is about apples!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Berenstain-Bears-Trouble-Grownups/dp/0679830006/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1378832620&sr=8-2&keywords=the+trouble+with+grown+ups

Not really about following directions, but does give kids great insight into how it can be difficult for parent's when they don't follow directions!



COOKING

Snack Mix

Cooking is always about following directions. Without directions, putting together a recipe is very difficult.

Ingredients:
The BEST part about this is you can really use just about any combination you like!

Cheerios

Raisins

Chocolate Chips

Dried Fruit

Crackers

etc, etc, etc

Directions:

Place each item into a cup separately. Give each child a cup so that each is in charge of their ingredient. Provide a large bowl for mixing. They should follow your direction and add their ingredient when you call for it. Allow each child the chance to mix it up. Portion it out and enjoy your snack!

"I Can" Week! Confidence Building (April 1 - 5)

It is important for kids to have self-confidence and realistic, positive perceptions of themselves. Children who lack confidence tend to avoid risks, become socially awkward, and participate less in class and extracurricular activities. Parents and teachers can help instill self-confidence in young children by posing challenges and then stepping back to allow the children to achieve or fail and support and encourage their efforts.

To kick this week off, talk about "I Can" in circle time. Go around the circle and talk about something each child can do. Give them an example yourself first. Try to get them to come up with their own special answer, but offer assistance if needed. They should be very proud of their accomplishments! Just being able to put on their own shirt or brush their own teeth is a big deal at this age. Congratulate each other as you discuss each child's "I Can".


LETTER:  D d for "Do"

Being able to "Do" things on their own is this week's theme!

Trace the letter D and talk about words that begin with D http://bogglesworldesl.com/alphabet_worksheets/BigD.doc



SITE WORDS - NAME

The Name Game

For this activity, you will need alphabet stickers and paper.  I like to use the foam stickers so they are more substantial. Write the child's name on the paper. Place all the alphabet stickers in a big bowl. Make sure you have enough stickers so that each letter of each child's name is available.

Give each child their paper with their name. One by one the kids will search through the bowl and find letters. Each turn lasts until they find 1 letter that belongs in their name. When they find one of their letters, have them stick it on the paper below where you wrote it. Continue this process for each child until everyone has fully spelled their name.

This is all about letter recognition and spelling their name. Be very positive and give good praise when they are able to make correct matches. They CAN do it! As each child finishes their name, they should get a "prize" for completing the game!

SCIENCE

Ice Cube Painting

In keeping with the "I Can" theme, I wanted to pick something they can totally do on their own. Prep for this by making a couple of ice cube trays full of colored water. Just add a few drops of food coloring to the water in the trays. Try to make several different colors.

Give each child a piece of white paper or allow several children to color together on a piece of white butcher paper. This is a bit messy, but really fun! Use the ice to color the paper. You can provide napkins if they are having trouble holding the ice bare handed. If you feel comfortable, you could also freeze a toothpick in each ice cube (or maybe even a Q-tip) so they can use that to hold it.

While they are coloring, discuss what is happening to the ice. When water gets really cold, it turns hard and becomes ice. When it gets warmer it melts and becomes water again!  You can also discuss how the different colors are interacting with each other as they melt and mix together. Are they creating new colors?

"I Can" ACTIVITY

Following Directions



Completed Pyramid

 Following directions is a very important concept for kids. Trying to follow directions and failing can be very frustrating, especially for kids. In order to empower them, we are going to do a special "I Can" activity.

Use blocks, legos, or whatever other building material you wish. Give each child a specific direction to follow in the building of your item. It is best to have a definate end product you are trying to complete, so that they know when they have accomplished it. For example, build a basic building with Legos. Ask the first child to build a square base to start. Assist them, encourage them, but do not do it for them. Remember, they CAN! Then ask each child to take a turn and add to the building. Give them very specific directions. 

Once the building is complete, give great praise and talk about how great they did. Allow them to really feel proud of what they have accomplished. You could take a picture of it, print it out, and write on it that WE BUILT THIS! Post it in the room to remind them that they did it! It is also fun to knock down whatever they just built, so let them have at it.





MATH

Pom Pom Gripping, Sorting, Counting

You can use the same painted egg cartons from a couple of weeks ago. Each child will need a set of tongs. Put a bunch of pom poms in different colors in a bowl. The kids will need to pick up each pom pom with tongs and place it in the corresponding colored egg carton section. (This is also a fine motor activity)

Once all the pom poms have been sorted by color, they should count how many of each colored pom pom there are. Organize them by number. Put the largest pile of pom poms first, then the next largest, and so forth.


Pom Pom Math

Use a divided plate for this activity. The top 2 sections will be what you are adding and the answer will go in the big bottom section. Place 1 pom pom in a top section and 1 pom pom in the other top section. Discuss what you get when you add 1 pom pom to 1 pom pom. Physically take the pom poms from the top trays and place them together in the bottom tray and say "1 pom pom plus 1 pom pom equals 2 pom poms!" Try this with 2 in one section and 1 in the other. This is a great visual way to begin to understand adding items together. Do this with them several times this week and see if they can begin to do it on their own at some point! THEY CAN!



MOTOR SKILLS

Cutting Practice

Print the worksheet HERE and allow the kids to practice cutting straight lines using preschool safety scissors. (you guessed it, they can!)



CRAFT

Beading Bracelets

Provide colorful beads and pipe cleaners and direct them to create a beautiful bracelet!




BOOKS
Get it on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Can-Be-Anything-Jerry-Spinelli/dp/0316162264/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363802173&sr=1-1&keywords=i+can+be+anything#

Just like the title suggests, this book talks about how kids can be anything they want to be!!


Get it on Amazon!  http://www.amazon.com/Incredible-Ways-greatness-shine-through/dp/1401907822/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363802321&sr=1-1&keywords=incredible+you

A fantastic way to introduce the concept of being unique and powerful!



ART

Glue Painting

Materials Needed:

White school glue

Food coloring
Small paint brushes
Paper

Squirt some glue into a small bowl and add food coloring until it is the color you want. Create several different colors. Direct the kiddos to paint with this just as they normally would. The glue creates some really cool pictures that have texture! They CAN make cool art. Be sure to hang their masterpieces around the room. (if they have the manual dexterity to squeeze a glue bottle, they could paint that way also)

MUSIC

Create Homemade Instruments

This is a fun project! This way they CAN make their own music!

Castanets: make using poster board and buttons. Cut out rectangles of poster board (or cardboard), fold in half and glue a button to the inside edge of each side. Click them together for some great rhythm. (used bottle caps instead of buttons in the image)

Tambourines:  take 2 foam plates. Lay one down and place some beans, beads, rice, etc  on the plate. Lay the other plate on top with the edges together and tape the edges down. Depending on what you put inside is how the instrument will sound. You could make a couple of different versions of this.

Egg Shakers:  fill Easter eggs will rice and glue or tape shut. Shake, shake, shake!

Guitar:  Take a shoe box, cereal box, or tissue box. If you are using a cereal box or shoe box you will need to cut a hole in the center of one of the big flat sides. A tissue box is fine as-is. Wrap large rubber bands around the box longways to create the strings. Tape a paper towel tube to the top to act as the "neck". Strum away!

COOKING

Fruit Pizzas

They CAN do this all on their own!

Ingredients:

Sugar cookies or graham crackers

Vanilla frosting

Various fruit cut into small pieces

Give each child a cookie or graham cracker. Allow them to spread theirs with the frosting. Then they can add whatever fruit they want. Voila! Yummy fruit pizza they totally made themselves. :)