Teacher Workshop March 2011 Science Books for Preschool

Transcription

Teacher Workshop March 2011 Science Books for Preschool
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: Soft and smooth, rough and bumpy:
A book about touch by Dana Meachen Rau
Themes or Topics to use it with: Senses
Summary of program:
Teach children about all 5 senses. Demonstrate how important
they are and how we use them.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Look, Listen, Taste, Touch, and Smell by Pamela Hill Nettleton
The Sense of Smell by Mari Schuh
Busy Bunnies Five Senses by Teddy Slater
Songs and Fingerplays:
My Skin (sung to On Top of Old Smoky)
On top of my elbow
On top of my knee
On top of my wiggly ears
Skin stretches on me
Just like elastic
And like rubber bands
Skin shrinks and stretches
Right over my hands
My Eyes (sung to Mary Had a Little Lamb)
I have two eyes so I can see
Flowers, trees, birds and bees
I have two eyes so I can see
I can see you and me
My two eyes see left and right
Black and white, ‘n colors bright
My two eyes see left and right
I see in day and night
My skin’s very special
And yours is too
Our fingerprints are unique
To me and you
*Additional songs can be found in “Sense-Abilities, Fun ways to explore the Senses” by
Michelle O’Brien-Palmer
Craft Ideas:
Cereal Rainbows
You will need a box of Fruit Loops (or similar cereal), paper, pencil and glue. For younger
children, you should draw a rainbow shape on to the paper then have the children glue the fruit loops
inside the shape. Older children can make their own rainbow shape, or trace it. You may also do this
project as open ended art by allowing the children to make whatever they wish with the fruit loops. Okay,
for the taste part, most children will want to eat the cereal while working, provide the children with 2
bowls of cereal, one for the art, and one to eat. To include hearing, crunch the fruit loops and ask what
sound it makes.
Portrait
Have the children make self portraits; then glue on wiggle eyes, cotton ball dipped in perfume
(nose), jingle bells (ears), sand paper (hands) and licorice (mouth). Use the caption “_________ has Five
Senses.”
Activities or Games:
Popcorn
Make popcorn for the children. (Popcorn is a choking hazard; it is not recommended for children
under the age of 3, for older children, direct supervision is required.) Before popping, look at the popcorn.
While popping, listen and smell. If possible, use a popper that allows the children to view the popping
corn, while also maintaining a safe environment. When done popping, look at the popcorn again. Have
the children feel the warmth. Allow to cool. Finally, the best part, have the children taste the popcorn.
Feely bags
What's in the bag? Kids have to guess by using their sense of touch in this activity. Gather objects
that are soft, smooth, rough, bumpy, etc. and put them into paper bags. Pass them around the classroom so
students can investigate with their hands to "see" the objects. When all the students have had the
opportunity to feel the objects, instruct them to share their ideas. List the suggestions for each bag on the
board, and then open the bags to reveal their contents. How accurate is the sense of touch as shown
through this experiment?
Water Sounds
Fill a bowl or jar ¾ full with water. Press an ear against the tank above water level. Now have a
partner hit two spoons together inside the tank above the water. Listen. Press an ear against the tank
below the water level and listen as the spoons are hit again. Now the partner hits the spoons together
below the water level, while the child presses an ear against the tank below the water level. Compare the
sound above and belove the water. Were they different? Do you think sound travels to our ears better in
watter or in air?
Songs
Our ability to hear allows us to enjoy music, communicate with one another, and stay safe.
“Name that Sound” is an exciting way to introduce different sounds to preschoolers so that they can learn
to identify them. Get a sound cd from the library. Rain, horns honking, ocean waves and animal sounds
are extremely stimulating. As the children to name the sounds they hear as they hear them.
*For more activities you can do with children, refer to “Everybody Has a Body” by Robert E.
Rockwell.
Snacks:
Cheese, yogurt, carrots, strawberries, popcorn, pineapple, etc. Try to get variety of colors,
textures, and tastes. See if the kids can tell you how they are different.
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
Smell my world (J DVD 612.8 SMI)- other sense DVDs available
Sense-Abilities: Fun Ways to Explore the Senses by M. O’Brien-Palmer (J 612.8 OBR)
Fun with my 5 Senses by Sarah A. Williamson (J P/T 372.21 WIL)
http://www.songsforteaching.com/healthsongs.htm
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: The Nutrition Alphabet by Paige A. Jones
Themes or Topics to use it with:
Food, Healthy, Taste, ABCs
Summary of program:
To introduce children to the importance of healthy eating.
Show them ways that eating nutritious food can give them
more energy and be fun at the same time.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
The Edible Pyramid by Loreen Leedy
Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins
Eating for Good Health by Shirley Wimbash Gray
What’s So Good about Vegetables? by Ronnie Randall
Songs and Fingerplays:
Apple, Apple, On the Tree
(to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star")
Apple, apple, on the tree,
I know you are good for me
You are fun to munch and crunch
For a snack or in my lunch.
Apple, apple, on the tree,
I know you are good for me!
Old Macdonald had a farm (food version)
Old Macdonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had some tomatoes, E-I-E-I-O
With a yum-yum here and a yum-yum there,
Here a yum, there a yum, everywhere a yum yum,
Old Macdonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
This is the way we eat our cereal
(to the tune of this is the way we wash our clothes)
This is the way we eat our cereal
Eat our cereal, eat our cereal,
This is the way we eat our cereal
At breakfast in the morning
Craft Ideas:
Apple Trees
Have the kids decorate a tree with apple ornaments that they color or have them finger paint an
apple tree.
Apple Faces
Print out an apple template and have the children color them. Go a bit further and glue on a face,
funny eyes, stems, feet, arms, etc. You can either get these body parts at a craft store or have the
preschoolers draw them and glue them on.
Activities or Games:
Healthy Versus Junk Food Craft
Provide magazines with pictures of food, either in the articles or the advertisements, to the
children. Ask them to cut out all the food they can find. Make sure each child has a stack of at least 10
different food items. Give each child a sheet of construction paper. Have the draw a line down the middle
of the paper. Tell them to glue healthy food items to one side and junk food items to the other side of the
line
What We Ate Book
Write down exactly what each child tells you he/she ate on the sheet of paper that will be the
child’s own page in the book. Allow the children to draw pictures or to decorate their own pages in any
way they want. Collect all the pages to make a “What We Ate For Breakfast” book. Cover the book with
colored construction paper stapled along the left edge. If you want a sturdier book, the cover can be
laminated or covered with clear contact paper.
Place the book in the book center. Read it and tell them how nutrition and breakfast is needed for
energy to play. Name all the different foods that children had for breakfast.
Snacks:
Do something like C is for carrot, and A is for apple. Every time a snack is presented to the class,
do that activity.
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
http://www.dltk-kids.com/nutrition/crafts.htm
Nutrition Activities for Preschoolers by D. Cryer (J P/T 372.37 CRY)
Food and Nutrition for Every Kid by Janice VanCleave (J 612.3 VAN)
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: Germs make me sick by Melvin Berger
Themes or Topics to use it with: Germs, Nutrition, Health
Summary of program:
Teach kids that healthy eating and cleanliness will help keep
you from getting sick and give you more energy for playing.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Good Enough to Eat by Lizzy Rockwell
You are What You Eat by Sharon Gordon
Felicity Floo visits the Zoo by E.S. Redmond
Songs and Fingerplays:
Five Little Germs
Five little germs, sitting in a row
The first one said, "On hands, I like to grow."
The second one said, "I like to fly in the air."
The third one said, "I don't care."
The fourth one said, "I travel on a sneeze."
The fifth one said, "Wash your hands? Oh, please!"
Swish goes the water
Bubble goes the soap
And the five little germs
down the drain they float.
Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands
(Sung to Row, row, row your boat)
Wash, wash , wash your hands,
Play our handy game.
Rub and scrub, scrub and rub,
Germs go down the drain.
Craft Ideas:
My Germ
You need some crayola modeling dough or homemade play-dough. Be sure to have pipe
stem cleaners, buttons, pom poms, various pasta shapes, and other materials that can be glued on
later. Have children mold their interpretation of what a germ looks like. Let it dry, then have
your child paint, and decorate with various materials. When the pet germ is finished display it
near the sink that your child washes their hands at. This will remind them to wash, wash, wash
those hands.
Activities or Games:
Glitter Germs
Pour some brightly colored glitter into a basin or large pan. Ask a student to place both
hands into the glitter. Point out how much of the glitter sticks to the student's hands. Then ask
that student to shake hands with each of the other students. Have everyone look at their hands.
They will notice glitter on their hands that spread from the first student's hands. Explain that the
glitter is a lot like germs. Germs spread when we touch others, and sometimes that is how we
catch colds and other illnesses. Let them know that the good news is that we can keep germs
from spreading like the glitter did, simply by washing our hands. Now, wash hands to get rid of
the glitter. Explain how soap helps remove the germs more effectively. Rub your hands together
for 15 seconds. Have the students count with you. Then rinse and dry. Let each child take turns
washing his hands, and have the class count to 15 together. Point out that the glittery "germs" are
gone after hand washing
Pompom Germs
Take a hand full of pompom. At the end of the germ poem pretend to sneeze or cough
bring the handful of pompoms up close to your mouth. Then toss the pompoms lightly from your
hand. These fun little pompoms spread out just like the germs from a sneeze or cough. A great
demonstration on why we need to cover our mouth when we cough or sneeze
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
Germs Make Me Sick (J DVD 616.9 GER)
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: The Human Body by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
Themes or Topics to use it with: Human Body
Summary of program:
By using and having fun with different parts of the body,
kids can learn a healthy lifestyle all the while learning
what each body part does.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Everybody has a Body by Robert Rockwell
How do Your Lungs Work? by Don Curry
Dancing in My Bones by Sylvia Andrews
Songs and Fingerplays:
Me Complete
I have ten little fingers & ten little toes
Two little arms and one little nose,
One little mouth and two little ears,
Two little eyes for smiles and tears,
One little head and two little feet,
One little chin, that's me complete
Hokey Pokey
You put left leg in
You take left leg out
You put left leg in and shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey and turn yourself
around
That's what its all about!
Craft Ideas:
Macaroni Skeleton
Review the basic parts of the body. Next, have the children make a human body by gluing the
macaroni shapes to construction paper. The children now have their very own Macaroni Skeleton!
Counting with Fingers and Toes
Fingers and toes are often used to help children count, but this craft allows for fun while learning
using your appendages. Give each child a large piece of paper so she has enough space to trace both of
her hands or feet and number them. Instruct the children to trace either their hands or feet, helping or
asking fellow children for help if necessary. Label each finger with a number as children count how many
fingers or toes they have. Make the craft more fun by allowing them to decorate their hands as desired.
Activities or Games:
Finger Puppet
Draw eyes, a nose, and a mouth on one of each child’s fingers. They will enjoy creating puppet
shows with their finger puppets.
What are the functions of each body part?
Play a movement game to help explore balance, running, walking, standing and so on. Then talk
about what each body part lets you do:
Arms - Help us keep balanced.
Hands - Help us hold and touch things.
Legs - Run, walk and move.
Feet - Help us stand
Inside My Body
Create a life size drawing of the body and place the internal organs in their right spot:
Heart, Brain, Lungs, Stomach, and Bones. Talk about what each part does for the body.
Body Wiggle Game
Glue a picture of a part of the body on each side of a paper cube: head, hand, foot, eye, etc. Print
the name of each part on the cube below the picture. Then roll one cube and name the part that lands up.
Have the children move that part of their bodies. Throw the cube again and repeat the activity for each
part that lands up. After the children have learned the names of each part on the 2 cubes, throw both
cubes. They then have to move or shake two body parts. A little music can be added to this.
Snacks:
Fruits or vegetables- tell children how eating can affect parts of the body. For example, carrots
are good for the eyes. Milk is good for bones and teeth, etc.
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
Human body (J DVD 612 HUM)
Everybody Has a Body by Robert Rockwell (J P/T 372.37 ROC)
http://www.ehow.com/info_8031429_healthy-body-craftspreschool.html#ixzz1GgnOq0qj
http://www.songsforteaching.com/healthsongs.htm
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Themes or Topics to use it with:
Colors, Mixing Colors, Paint, and Painting
Summary of program:
An introduction to color and how to mix colors to
make new colors.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
White Rabbit’s Color Book by Alan Baker
Paddington’s Colors by Michael Bond
Elmer by David McKee
I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont
Warthogs Paint: A Messy Color Book by Pamela Edwards
Songs and Fingerplays:
Colors (to the tune of: Farmer in the Dell)
Oh, (name) is wearing orange,
Oh, (name) is wearing orange.
High ho the Derry oh,
(name) is wearing orange.
(Change name and color)
Find the Color (To: The Muffin Man)
Sing this song during group time and have
your children point to the color you sing
Oh, can you find the color_______.
The color_____, the color______?
Oh, can you find the color_______,
Somewhere in this room?
Color Mixing Poem
When I paint with yellow,
Topped with red,
The colors do change
To orange instead!
I can mix together blue,
And add red to get,
A very awesome shade
Of purple-violet!
One more mix to make, where I paint
with yellow,
Then add blue
The color I get is green like grass that
grew!
Craft Ideas:
Marble paint
Need: paper, shallow box, marbles, paint
Directions: Place paper in box. Put drops of paint on the paper. Add marbles to box. Gently tilt the box
so the marbles roll though the paint making designs on the paper.
Mix colors to make new colors
Need: red, yellow, & blue paint, white paper, brushes
Directions: One white paper put a dollop of red, blue, & yellow paint. Use different brushes to mix the
red & blue, yellow and blue, & yellow & red paint together.
Handprints
Need: yellow, blue, & red paint, large sheets of white paper
Directions: To help children learn the concept of mixing colors. Dip each child's hand in yellow tempera
paint...and the other in blue tempera paint. They can make a handprint with each hand. Then ask them to
rub their hands together. What color does it make? Make some more prints!
Science Experiment with Colors
Need: shaving cream, Ziploc bags, food coloring
Directions: Place a palm size dollop of shaving cream into the ziploc bag; add a few drops of blue and
yellow food coloring. Zip up the bag, removing all the air you can before sealing. The kids can "knead"
the bag to mix the colors - yellow and blue make Green! Try different color combinations.
Activities or Games:
Color Streamers Dance
Attach streamers in rainbow colors to paper plates - one for each child. Play the music. Have the
children dance and move their rainbow paper plates to the beat of the music.
Colors in Motion (use CD J MUSIC PALM CCC)
Have children follow the directions in the song.
Snacks:
Rainbow Pretzels
Need: red, yellow, blue food coloring, a can of white icing, paper plates (1 per child),
pretzel sticks (3 for child) Directions:Give each child 3 spoonfuls of icing on their plates. Place
a drop of different coloring on each spoonful. They can experiment mixing the colors together
with their pretzel sticks. They can sample their colorful creations and create new and interesting
color by mixing together. Add mini muffins or cupcakes for a fun snack!
Color cereal necklace
Need: Colored cereal circles, string or yarn
Directions: String cereal circles on string. Tie string.
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art43112.asp
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/jell-0-jigglers-53920.aspx?pf=true
http://www.preschoolexpress.com/music_station06/music_station_aug06.shtml
http://www.preschoolkids.net/colors_theme.htm
http://www.songsforteaching.com/colorssongs.htm
The Mailbox Feb./Mar.2011 (Rainbow Picture)
Shortcuts for Colors & Shapes by Marilynn G. Barr, (J P/T 392.5 HIE)
CD- Bill Hooper’s Active Music for Children “Colors, Big Red Ball” (J MUSIC HOOP)
CD- Hap Palmer Learning Basic Skills through Music “ Parade of Colors” (J MUSIC
PALM)
CD- Can a Cherry Pie Wave Goodbye? “Colors on Parade” CD (J MUSIC PALM CCP)
CD- Can Cockatoos Count by Twos “Colors in Motion” CD (J MUSIC PALM CCC)
CD- Colorful Shapes “Colorful Buttons, Two Red Apples, Did You Ever See a Red
Bird/” CD (J MUSIC JUNI CS)
CD- Ralph’s World “All My Colors” CD (J MUSIC RALPH RW)
DVD- Shapes and Colors! (J 372.21 SHA)
DVD- Discovering Colors (J 535.6 DIS)
DVD- My World Learning: Colors (J 535.6 MYW)
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: I’d Really Like to Eat a Child
by Sylvanie Donnio
Themes or Topics to use it with:
Crocodiles, Reptiles, Jungle Animals
Summary of program: Introduce Crocodiles and their habitats
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Bill and Pete by Tomie de Poalo
Where’s Your Smile, Crocodile? by Claire Freedman
Crocodile Beat by Gail Jorgensen
Duck and Cover by Jackie Urbanovic
The Yucky Reptile Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta
Songs and Fingerplays:
Ten Little Crocodiles (sung to “Ten Little Indians”)
One little, two little, three little crocodiles,
Four little, five little, six little crocodiles,
Seven little, eight little, nine little crocodiles,
Ten little crocodiles swimming down the Nile.
(sleeping in the sun, jumping up and down, turning round and round)
Never Smile at a Crocodile
Never smile at a crocodile
No, you can't get friendly with a crocodile
Don't be taken in by his welcome grin
He's imagining how well you'd fit within his skin
Never smile at a crocodile
Never dip your hat and stop to talk awhile
Never run, walk away, say good-night, not good-day
Clear the aisle but never smile at Mister Crocodile.
Craft Ideas :
Clothespin Crocodile
Need: clothes pins, fun foam, eyes, green paint
Directions: Paint clothes pin green. When dry add foam teeth and eyes.
Crocodile Paper Bag Puppet
Make a puppet using a paper bag and the crocodile pattern found at http://www.firstschool.ws/t/bagcroco1bw.html. Let kids color the crocodile pattern, cut out the pieces and glue onto the
paper bag.
Activities or Games:
Crocodile Can’t Get Me
Have one (or several children) be the crocodile. The rest of the children are monkeys and must
cross the forest (a space that you specify) and not get eaten (tagged) by the crocodile. If they are caught
they join the crocodile and try to catch more monkeys, keep playing until everyone is a crocodile.
Feed the Crocodile
Need: poster board, markers, paper, glue, beanbags
Directions: Draw a large crocodile face on a poster board or the side of a box. Cut a hole out where the
crocodile’s mouth would be and add paper teeth. (Make the at least twice the size of the beanbags.) Tape
the board to a chair and let each the children take three tries to feed the crocodile(by throwing a beanbag
into the crocodile’s mouth)
Snacks:
Crocodile Krispies
Make rice krispie squares according to box directions, but substitute ½ corn flakes for the
cereal to create a bumpy texture. Add green food coloring to the butter/marshmallow mixture
before adding the cereal. Have children lightly grease their hands and shape their treat into
crocodiles on labeled pieces of wax paper. Let set and enjoy.
Crocodile Celery Sticks
Need: celery, plastic knife, vegetable dip
Directions: Rinse celery stalks in cool water and cut off tops. Cut stalks into pieces. Let the
children pretend the celery stick are crocodiles. Then eat and enjoy.
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
http.//www.associatedcontent.com/article/5668140/preschool_lesson_plan_
crocodiles.html…
http://www.childcarelounge.com/general-themes/alligator-crocodile.php
http.//www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/reptiles/games.htm
http://www.first-school.ws/tbagcroco2bw.html
http://www.preschooleducation.com/areptile.shtml
How to Hide a Crocodile & Other Reptiles by Ruth Heller
Crafts for Kids Who are Wild about Reptiles by Kathy Ross
CD- Animal Rock ”Never Smile at a Crocodile” CD (J MUSIC DISN AR)
CD- Animal Walks “Crocodile Creep” CD (J MUSIC STEW AW)
CD- Bob & Larry Sing the 70s “Crocodile Rock” CD (J MUSIC VEGG BLS)
CD- Wiggly Safari “We’re the Crocodile Band” CD (J MUSIC WIGG WS)
DVD- Save the Wonder Pets (J DVD)
DVD- All About Reptiles (J 597.9 ALL)
DVD- Wiggly Safari (J 782.42 WIG)
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: Class Two at the Zoo by Julia Jarman
Themes or Topics to use it with: Reptiles and their habitats
Summary of program: Introduction to snakes
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Rattlesnake Dance by Jim Arnosky
Small Green Snake by Libba Moore Gray
Little Britches and the Rattlers by Eric A. Kimmel
Opposnakes by Salina Yoon
Songs and Fingerplays :
Boa Constrictor
Oh, I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor, a boa constrictor,
I’m being eaten by a BOA CONSTRICTOR,
And I don’t like it-one bit.
Oh no, oh no, It’s nibbling on my toe, on my toe!
Oh, gee, oh gee, It’s up to my knee, up to my knee!
Oh my, oh my, It’s up to my thigh, up to my thigh!
Oh fiddle, oh fiddle, It’s up to my middle, up to my middle!
Oh darn, oh darn, It’s to my arms, to my arms!
Oh heck, oh heck, It’s up to my neck, up to my neck!
Oh dread, oh dread, It’s up to my heaaaad…Slurrrp!!
If I Were a Tiny Snake
Sung to: “the Mulberry Bush”
Oh, if I were a tiny snake,
A tiny snake, a tiny snake,
If I were a tiny snake,
I’d slither all around!
Craft Ideas:
Necktie Cobra
What you need: Old ties, polyfil stuffing, wiggly eyes, red felt tongues, glue, wire (from hanger)
Directions: If you want your snake to be bendable, straighten out a wire hanger or use some other type of
wire. Make sure you fold down the ends of the wire with pliers so the edges are very smooth. Insert the
hanger into the tie. Stuff the tie with polyfil from each end of the snake. Glue or sew the tail end of the
snake closed. Push some stuffing up into the point of the snake’s head(wider end of the tie). Glue the end
closed and glue on some wiggly eyes and tongue to finish.
Paper plate snake
Need: Paper plates, Crayons or markers, paper for tongue, glue, string for hanging
Directions: Have children use crayons or markers to color designs on both sides of their paper plate. Cut
each plate around and around in a spiral so when you are finished, it resembles a snake. Draw on eyes
and glue on tongue. Glue string to snake head and hang. (If children are older, they may be able to cut the
paper plates themselves)
Paper Towel Roll Snakes
Need: paper towel tube, paint, eyes, tongue
Directions: Have children paint the paper tube whatever color they want. Start at the end of the paper
towel roll & cut in a circulatar or spiral line. At the end cut a head shape, then cut the tail into a tapered
shape. Hang snakes from the ceiling or the children can wrap the snake around their arm.
Activities or Games:
Snake Puzzle
Preparation: Color snake and laminate it. Cut into five sections.
Directions: Have children put the snake together in the right sequence.
Snake Color Match
Preparation: Make to snakes of each color or pattern and laminate. Have children match
the colors. (This can also be made with matching dots, letters, numbers & shapes.)
Snacks:
Snake Pretzels
Need: ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 cup flour, 6 teaspoons
water, 1 egg. Directions: Mix yeast, water, flour, sugar, and salt together. Knead dough on a
floured board until smooth, approximately 5 minutes. Break off walnut-sized pieces of dough
and roll into “snakes”. They can be made into letter shapes. Beat egg and brush on pretzels,
sprinkle with coarse or sea salt. Bake at 450 for 12 minutes or until light brown.
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/snakecrafts.html
http://eandosongsandfingerplays.blogspot.com/2009/04/snakes.html
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/animals/reptiles/snakes.html
http://www.onlinecoloringbookpages.com/images/snake-coloring-page-01.gif
http://www.prescholleducation.com/areptile.shtml
Learn to Draw Reptiles & Amphibians by Diana Fisher, (J 743.67 LEA)
Look What You Can make with Paper Plates by Margie Richmond, (J 745.5 LOO)
Crafts for Kids Who Are Wild About Reptiles by Kathy Ross (J 745.5 ROS)
Arty Facts: Animals and Art Activities by Janet Sacks, (J 745.5 SAC)
CD- Animal Songs, “Watch out for the Snake” (J CD MUSIC HEAV AS)
CD- Animal Rock, “He’s a lucky, lucky Snake” (J CD MUSIC DISN AR)
CD- Country Songs for Kids, Sneaky Snake” (J MUSIC HALL CSC)
CD- Sally the Swinging Snake, “Sally the Swinging Snake” (J MUSIC PALM SSS)
CD- Songs and Games for Toddlers, “Slitherly Snake” (J CD MUSIC MCGR SGT)
CD- Wiggly Safari, “Snakes-You can look…”(J CD MUSIC WIGG)
DVD- Spiders and Snakes, (J DVD 595.44 SPI)
DVD- Wiggly Safari, (J DVD 782.42 WIG)
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: Robin’s Home by Jeannine Atkins
Themes or Topics to use it with: Birds, Nests, Spring Season
Summary of program:
Introduce birds and how they build their nests in the springtime.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Baby Birds by Helen Frost
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
Songs and Fingerplays:
Birds Flying
Up, up in the sky, the little birds fly (fingers flying like birds)
Down, down in the nest, the little birds rest. (hands form nest)
With a wing on the left, and a wing on the right (hands on each hip)
Let the little birds rest all night. (head to one side, like tucking under wing)
“shhhhh! You might wake the birdies!” (yelled, of course)
The bright sun comes up. The dew falls away, (stretch & yawn)
Good morning, good morning the little birds say. (nod head to right & left)
Two Little Bluebirds
Two Little bluebirds sitting in a tree,
One named Jack (hold up pointer finger)
One named Jill (hold up other pointer finger)
Fly away Jack (fly one hand behind your back)
Fly away Jill (fly other hand behind your back)
Come back Jack (bring hand back to front)
Come back Jill (bring hand back to front)
Five Little Robins
Five little robins lived in a tree.
A father, a mother, and babies three.
Father caught a worm,
Mother caught a bug,
This one got the bug,
This one got the worm,
And this one sat and waited for his turn.
Craft Ideas:
Bird House Picture Frame
Need: crafts sticks, buttons, paint or crayons, glue, and paper (or Birdhouse Photo Frame kit from
Oriental Trading)
Directions: Paint or color craft sticks. Glue craft sticks into the shape of a birdhouse. Decorate with
buttons and paper.
Construction Paper Birds
Need: brown and orange construction paper, bird pattern from Flyaway Plant Pokes
(http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/bird-crafts3.htm), glue, scissors, markers
Directions: Cut out bird shape, wings and breast. Glue on orange bird breast and wings. Color birds
beak with markers or cut one to glue on.
Bird Feeders
Need: pinecones, peanut butter, birdseed, string or ribbon, plastic knife
Directions: Tie string to top of a pinecone; cover the pinecone with peanut butter. Roll the cone in
birdseed and hang out doors for the birds to enjoy.
Activities or Games:
Bird Nest
Need: margarine tub, small sticks, dried grass, leaves ribbon, string
Directions: Show the children how to mix the items with clay or thick mud to make nests in their bowls
or tubs.
Snacks:
Birds on a Branch
Need: celery pieces, peanut butter, raisins or fruit bits, paper plates, plastic knifes Directions:
Stuff celery pieces with peanut butter to make branches. Let the children top the peanut butter with
raisins or fruit bits for birds.
Bird’s Nest
Need: small bowl, grated carrots, mayonnaise, grapes
Directions: Make nests in small bowls using grated carrot mixed with mayonnaise. For eggs, add grapes.
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD) :
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/bird-crafts3.htm
http://patricia-f.tripod.com/learning.html
http://www.preschooleducation.com/snack.shtml
http://www.preschoolexpress.com/theme-station04/may04-birds.shtml
http://www.suite 101.com/article.cfm/kids_in_the_kitchen/112974
Look What You Can Make with Paper Plates by Margie Hayes Richmond
Animal & Art Activities by Janet Sacks
DVD- All About Birds (J 598 ALL)
DVD- Birds (J DVD 598 BIR)
CD- Birds, beasts, bugs & fishes, little & big by Pete Seeger ( J Music SEEG)
CD- Birds of America in Song by John James Audubon (SFX Nature BAS)
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: Home for a Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Themes or Topics to use it with: Rabbits, Habitat, Spring
Summary of program:
Introduce the children to rabbits, their habitat, and spring.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Hungry Little Hare by Howard Goldsmith
Harris Finds his Feet by Catherine Rayner
Rabbits and their Burrows by Linda Tagliaferro
Cottontail Rabbits by Kristin Ellerbusch Gallagher
Songs and Fingerplays:
Bunny, Bunny, Bunny
Bunny, bunny, bunny, you’re so funny (smile and put two fingers on dimple spots)
With your twitching nose (wiggle nose)
Bunny, bunny, bunny, you’re so funny (smile and put two fingers on dimple spots)
From your head (point to head) to your toes (point to toes)
Bunny, bunny, bunny your ears are funny (make rabbit ears with hands)
They’re too big for you,
Bunny, bunny, bunny, you’re so funny (smile and put two fingers on dimple spots)
Everyone loves you. (hug yourself)
Hop Little Bunny
Hop, little bunny, hop, hop, hop,
Hop, little bunny, don’t you stop.
Hop, little bunny, one, two, three,
Hop, little bunny, right to me.
Craft Ideas:
Paper Plate Bunny
Fold a paper plate in half. Draw a bunny face on one side. Glue on bunny ears out of pink &
white construction paper. You can add a little bow-tie if you like. A kit for this project can be ordered
from Oriental Trading #48/4985.
Bunny Mask
Make a bunny mask by cutting out the shape of a bunny face, which can be found at
http://www.ziggityzoom.com/print.php?activity+164. Cut out holes so kids can see and attach string so
kids can wear as a mask.
Activities or Games:
Bunny Pokey (sung to “Hokey Pokey”)
You put your bunny ears in
(Place hands on head to make ears)
You put your bunny ears out.
You put your bunny ears in.
And you shake them all about.
You do the Bunny Pokey
And hop yourself around,
That's what it's all about!
Additional verses: "You put your bunny nose in, You put your bunny tail in,
You put your bunny paws in"
Snacks:
Bunny Vegetables
Carrots, celery and dip
Springtime Snack
Invite students to transform cupcakes into bunny buddies! To begin, the student spreads
whipped topping on the top of a cupcake. Then he adds two small colorful candies for eyes and
one candy for a nose. Next, he places two pretzel sticks (whiskers) on each side of the nose.
Finally, he breaks a vanilla wafer in half and positions each half on the cupcake to resemble
bunny ears. From: The Mailbox 2005-2006 Yearbook Kindergarten-Grade 1 (Pg. 85)
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
http://www.twigglemagazine.com/April-activities/Rabbits-finger-plays-rhyme.html
http:??patricia_f.tripod.com/learning.html
http://www.ziggityzoom.com/print.php?activity=282
Mailbox 2004-2005 Yearbook,(J P/T 372 MAI) pg.190-196
Mailbox 2005-2006 Yearbook ( J P/T 372 MAI) pg. 83 & 85; pg. 85
CD- Animal Alphabet Songs, “Rabbit” (J MUSIC POL AAS)
CD- Best of the Laurie Berkner Band, “Fast & Slow (the Rabbit and the Turtle” CD (J
MUSIC BERK BLB)
CD- Bill Hooper’s Active Music for Children, “Hop Like a Bunny” CD (J MUSIC
HOOP)
CD- Family Fun Songs, “Bunny Hop”CD (J MUSIC COLL FFS)
CD- Happy Toddler Tunes, “Little Peter Rabbit” CD (J MUSIC COLL HTT)
CD- It’s a Zoo on Here, “I ‘m a Little Rabbit, Rabbit in My Hat, Little Bunny Foo Foo
CD (J MUSIC HARM IZH)
CD- Wiggles, Jiggles, & Giggles, “Mister Rabbit” CD (J MUSIC FITE WJG)
DVD- The Tortoise and the Hare
DVD- World of Peter Rabbit and Friends
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title:
Very Hairy Bear by Matt Phelan
Themes or Topics to use it with: Bears, Habitat, Spring
Summary of program:
Introduce the children to bears, their habitat, and spring.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Bear by John Schoenherr
Gruff the Grump by Steve Smallman
Big Smelly Bear by Britta Teckentrup
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
Songs and Fingerplays:
Five Little Bears
Five little bears were sitting on the ground.
Five little bears made a deep growling sound: Grrrrr!
The first one said,"Let's have a look around."
The second one said, "I have an empty tummy!"
The third one said, "I think I smell honey."
The fourth one said, "Shall we climb up the tree?"
The fifth one said, "Look out! There's a bee!"
So the five little bears went back to their play,
And decided to wait till the bees flew away.
Five Brown Bears
Five little brown bears
Playing be the shore,
One caught a shiny fish
And then there were four.
Three little brown bears
Dressed in navy blue
One of them tore his suit,
Then there were two.
Four little brown bears
Sleeping ‘neath a tree,
A bee came and stung one,
And then there were three.
Two little brown bears
Rolling in the sun,
One rolled down the hill
And then there was one.
Craft Ideas:
Bear Paper Bag Puppet
Need: brown paper bags, markers, bear heads, glue, pompoms
Directions: Glue bear head onto bag. Draw arms and legs onto bag. Glue on pompom tail.
Bear Stick Puppets
Need: bear cookie cutter, scissors, brown paper, markers, glue, craft sticks
Directions: Use a teddy bear cookie cutter or stencil to trace bear shapes onto brown construction paper.
Allow your preschool kids to use scissors and cut the bear shape from the brown paper. Use markers,
crayons, paper scraps and other craft materials to decorate the bears. Have the children put a dot of glue
on the end of a craft stick and attach the bears to the end of a stick. As an extension activity, put on a
Goldilocks and the Three Bears puppet play using the bear puppets.
Activities or Games:
Watch out for Mr. Bear (running game)
One of the children is chosen to be the bear. The other children must run past his cave.
If they are tagged they become a bear and help tag other children until everyone is a bear.
Bear Picnic
Have a picnic indoors or out. Have each child bring a sandwich cut in halves. One half is
for themselves and one half to share with a friend.
Goldilocks Play
Read the story of Goldilocks & the Three Bears. Have the children act out this story.
Snacks:
Teddy Grahams or Honeycomb cereal
Bear Claws
Need: canned biscuits, butter, sugar, cinnamon, foil
Directions: Use canned biscuits, two for each child. Pat one flat, break other into 4 balls. Brush
with butter, then sprinkle on sugar and cinnamon. Arrange on foil to look like a bear claw, bake
until golden.
Oatmeal (porridge)
After the children have acted out the fairy tale Goldie Locks and the Three Bears
Give each child a bowl of oatmeal. You will need: package oatmeal, bowls, spoons, honey,
cinnamon. Directions: Follow package directions and honey & cinnamon if wanted.
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
http://www.amug.org/~jbpratt/education/theme/animals/bears.html
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/pbear.asp
http://www.ehow.com/info_7941351_crafts-preschool-kids-involve-bears.html
http://patricia_f.tripod.com/learning.html
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/bears/bear_games.htm
CD- Animal Alphabet Songs “Bear” CD (J MUSIC POL AAS)
CD- Bear Tunes for Kids CD (J MUSIC HOLM BTK)
CD- Birds, Beasts, Bugs & Fishes, little and big “Bear Hunt” CD (J MUSIC SEEG)
CD- Frog in the Meadow “This little bear” CD (J MUSIC FEIE FM)
CD- Walk Like the Animals “Bear” CD (J MUSIC STEW WLA)
DVD- Bear Snores On (J DVD)
DVD- Hooray for Little Bear (J DVD)
DVD- Polar Bears (J DVD 599.736 POL)
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
Themes or Topics to use it with: Butterflies & Caterpillars
Summary of program:
Teach about how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
The Case of the Missing Caterpillar by Sam Godwin
The Crunching Munching Caterpillar by Sheridan Cain
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Beautiful Butterflies by Meish Goldish
Butterflies and Caterpillars by Anita Ganeri
Butterfly (DK Watch Me Grow Series) by Lisa Magloff
Songs and Fingerplays:
Caterpillar (match actions with words)
Little fuzzy caterpillar
In your warm cocoon
The cold winter's over and you'll be hatching soon.
Then you'll spread your wings
On a warm summer's day
And wave us all goodbye
As you fly, fly away.
Butterfly, Butterfly (Tune: “This Old Man”)
Butterfly; butterfly
Flying way up in the sky,
With a flutter, flutter here
And a flutter, flutter there
You just flutter everywhere.
On the grass, on the tree,
On the flower, then on me.
With a flutter, flutter here
And a flutter, flutter there
You just flutter everywhere.
Craft Ideas:
Make a Caterpillar
Have students make their own caterpillar by gluing various colors of die cut Circles to
cardstock. Have them add eyes, legs and antennae. They could make a scene on the paper to go
along with the caterpillar.
Beautiful Butterflies (From Little Hands Art Book by J. Press; pgs. 76-77)
Materials: Wooden spring style clothespins and assorted colors of tissue paper.
Help the child accordion pleat colored tissue paper. Pinch paper in center for butterfly wings.
Wrap a pipe cleaner around the head of the clothespin for antennae. Draw eyes on with a
marker.
Activities or Games:
Patterning (from Mailbox Preschool April/May 2010)
Use sticky dots to make several different pattern cards with caterpillars (Yellow green,
yellow, green, yellow, green) Provide a supply of die-cut corresponding circles for each pattern.
Have students choose a caterpillar pattern and match the pattern.
Parts of a Butterfly (from Mailbox Kindergarten April/May 2011 pg.24)
Reproduce Butterfly with parts labeled. Talk as a class about the parts of a butterfly and
identify each part as shown on the page. Have students color each part as you talk about it.
Snacks:
Cucumber Caterpillar
Need: Cucumber slices, Julienned carrot strips, Raisins for eyes, Healthy dip
Give each child 5 or so cucumber slices. Have them arrange them on their plate to make a
caterpillar. Use the carrots to make small legs and antennae. Use raisins for eyes. Enjoy with
dip!
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
Spring Fling by Mary Jo Huff (J P-T 372.21 HUF) Has a Pattern for a butterfly and
caterpillar.
Daily Plans for Active Preschoolers by Jane Galloway (J P-T 372.5 GAL)
Monarch Magic: Butterfly Activities and Nature Discoveries by Lynn M. Rosenblatt (J
754.5 ROS)
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: I Love Bugs by Philemon Sturges
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! By Bob Barner
Themes or Topics to use it with: Bugs/ Insects
Summary of program:
Use this books to introduce to kids insects.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Bugs by Monica Hughes
Ants by the Editors of Time for Kids
Ladybugs by Cheryl Coughlan
The Great Bug Hunt by Bonnie Dobkin
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Songs and Fingerplays:
Bugs In a Rug (Can do as finger play and could make bug puppets.)
Five little bugs are sitting on a rug.
(Show five fingers)
One is the bee. Buzz, buzz, buzz!
(Place bee on rug or hold up)
Two is the firefly. Blink, blink, blink! (Place firefly on rug or hold up)
Three is the ant. Work, work, work!
(Place ant on the rug or hold up)
Four is the grasshopper. Hop, hop, hop! (Place on rug or hold up)
Five is the butterfly. Flap, flap, flap!
(Place on rug of hold up)
Now five bugs are snug
(Roll up the bugs in a rug)
All rolled up in a rug!
(Roll forearms around each other)
From: Mailbox 2007-2008 Preschool Yearbook, pgs. 254-257.
Bug patterns on pgs. 255-257.
Craft Ideas:
Model Magic from Crayola
After talking about and looking at different insects, have each child make their own
insect out of Crayola’s Model Magic.
Lady Bug
Materials: Red and Black construction paper, Scissors, Glue
Directions: For each child, trace a 6” diameter circle on red construction paper and a 3 ½”
diameter circle on black construction paper. Cut ½” black strips 6” long for back of each bug and
¼” strips 2” long for antennae. Have children cut out the 6 circles you have traced. Have
children glue the ½” strip down the center of red circle with 4 smaller circles on either side of the
stripe. Have children glue black head circle on lady bug, overlapping slightly. Roll antenna
strips around fat pencil to curl and glue on head for antennae.
Activities or Games:
Insect Memory Game
Create an activity station set up with an Insect Memory Game. Find pictures of common
insects and insects you have discussed with the children (two of each). Glue them to pieces of
cardstock cut to playing card size. Have 10-12 pairs set out. Explain the rules of the Memory
Game (find the cards with the two matching insects) Have it set up so 2-3 children can play at a
time.
Snacks:
Ants on a Log
Need: Celery, Cream Cheese, Raisins
Directions: Cut celery into 3” pieces. Spread cream cheese inside each piece of celery. Put 3-4
raisins on top of the cream cheese: Ants on a log!
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
DVD- Magic School Bus DVD: Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! (J DVD NF 595.7 MAG)
Daily Plans for Active Preschoolers by Jane Galloway (J P-T 372.5 GAL) pgs. 50-51:
Ladybug Day, pgs. 240-241 Bug Day.
The Giant Encyclopedia of Theme Activities for Children 2 to 5, (J P-T 372.13078 GIA)
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
Themes or Topics to use it with: Oceans, Ocean Life
Summary of program:
Use this book to give children a general idea of what
an ocean is and what lives in it.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Ocean by Kristin Ward
Fabulous Fishes by Susan Stockdale
Into the A, B, Sea by Deborah Lee Rose
Smiley Shark by Ruth Galloway
Over in the Ocean in a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes
Songs and Fingerplays:
Over in the Ocean In a Coral Reef
Use the book: Over In the Ocean In a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes
This story is written to the tune of “Over In the Meadow”
There is music in the back of the book to help the teacher with the tune.
Animals in the Sea (Tune: “The Farmer In The Dell”)
The whales live in the sea.
The whales live in the sea.
Heigh-ho, watch them blow.
The whales live in the sea.
The crabs live in the sea.
The crabs live in the sea.
Heigh-ho, they scurry so.
The crabs live in the sea.
The octopus live in the sea.
The octopus live in the sea.
Heigh-ho, they live in holes.
The octopus live in the sea.
The sharks live in the sea.
The sharks live in the sea.
Heigh-ho, watch them go.
The sharks live in the sea.
The oysters live in the sea.
The oysters live in the sea.
Heigh-ho, they burrow below.
The oysters live in the sea.
Craft Ideas:
Awesome Octopus (From: Big Book of Everything Preschool pg. 177 (J P-T 372.21 DOU))
Needed: Paper plates for body of octopus, construction paper strips for arms, Markers,
Big googly eyes (optional). Give each child a paper plate and have them count eight strips for
its legs/arms. Have them glue the strips around the edge of the plate to make their octopus.
Write the number 8 on the back of the plate. Have the children make a face for the octopus.
This can be used as a math tie-in: Counting to eight, identifying the number 8.
Activities or Games:
Salt Water/Drinking Water
Have two containers of water. One with salt water and one with plain water. Have
students taste a small amount of each and describe and compare the tastes. Have a chart and
make tally marks to show who liked and who didn’t like the salt water.
Mural
Use a long piece of white butcher paper. Have students paint the bottom half blue, for
the ocean. Have students make a sea animal (draw, paper plate animal). When the paint is dry,
attach the students’ animals to the mural.
Snacks:
Shark Snack
Need: At least one peapod for each student, yellow peppers, green olives(or veggies that
would work that children would eat). Give each child a peapod. Have them put it on their plate
so it makes an upside down smile. Use cut up yellow pepper to make the top fin and tail. Use a
slice of green olive for the eye. Eat it!
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
DVD- Who Lives In the Sea? Produced by Annie Crawley (J DVD 591.77 WHO)
Meet dolphins, whale sharks, seals, octopus and other sea animals.
Has a fun original score: “What Makes a Fish a Fish.”
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: Life in a Pond by Carol K. Lindeen
Themes or Topics to use it with:
Pond Life, Pond animals
Summary of program:
Use this book as an introduction to ponds & pond life.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming
Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan
Ducklings and Pollywogs by Anne Rockwell
Ducks and Their Ducklings by Margaret Hall
Songs and Fingerplays:
Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Five Green and speckled frogs, (hold up 5 fingers)
Sitting on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs (YUM! YUM!)
One jumped into the pool (make your finger dive into a pool)
Where it was nice and cool.
Now there are four green speckled bugs.
ETC… (As you sing, count down the number of frogs)
Five Little Tadpoles (from Mailbox: Preschool April/May 2010)
Five Little Tadpoles, swimming near the shore
The first one said,, “Let’s swim some more!”
The second one said, “Let’s rest awhile.”
The third one said, “Swimming makes me smile!”
The fourth one said, “My legs are growing long.”
The fifth one said, “I’m getting very strong!”
Five little tadpoles, soon will be frogs,
They’ll jump from the water and sit on logs.
(Could have students act this out or make puppets for it.)
Craft Ideas:
Peek in the Pond
From: Mailbox Preschool Yearbook 2007-2008
Have each child color a copy of pages 295 & 296 from Mailbox 2007-2008. Read aloud the text on each
booklet page, prompting him to supply the name for each pond critter as you write each word in the
appropriate space. For the final page, have him name and then draw a pond critter. Help the child cut out
the pages and staple them to green cover with the title: Lets’ Peek in the Pond. Round the corners of the
booklet. Then, attach eye cutouts and add pupils.
Activities or Games:
Tadpole Time
From: The Big Book of Everything for Preschool; by Kathy Douglas(J P-T 372.21 DOU) pgs.
234 & 236. Read Jump, Frog, Jump by Robert Kalan and discuss where tadpoles live. Get some tadpoles
for the classroom and let children observe the tadpoles. Use Tadpole cards from pages 236 of the book.
Mix them up and then have the children put them in the correct sequence showing the development of a
tadpole to a frog.
Snacks:
Frog Day Snack (from Daily Lesson Plans for Active Preschoolers)
Use a frog cookie cutter to cut out the shape of a frog for a special treat, from finger jello.
Recipe: 4 envelopes unflavored gelatin, 3 pkgs. (3 oz. each) lime gelatin, 4 cups boiling water
Combine gelatin in a large bowl. Add bowling water and stir until dissolved. Pour into a 9” x
13” pan and chill until set (approx 1 hour).
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
http://www.childcarelounge.com/general-themes/frogs.php
http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/frog/
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
Themes or Topics to use it with: Plants and Trees
Summary of program:
Use this to introduce children to what a plant is, how they
grow, and the different parts of a plant.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Life Cycle of an Apple Tree by Linda Tagliaferro
From Acorn to Oak Tree by Jan Kottke
I’m a Seed by Jean Marzollo
How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan
Why Do Plants Grow in Spring? By Helen Orme
Songs and Fingerplays:
Trees
Elm trees stretch and stretch so wide. (Spread out both arms.)
Their limbs reach out on every side.
Pine trees stretch and stretch so high. (Have children reach way up high)
The nearly reach up to the sky.
Willows droop and droop so low. (Have children hang their arms at their sides)
Their branches sweep the ground below (Have them touch ground with fingertips)
Craft Ideas:
Harold’s Green Hair From: The Big Book of Everything for Preschool by Kathy Douglas, pg. 215
Children will learn that plants need water, sunlight and air to grow. Have each child
plant grass seed, in soil, in a Styrofoam cup. Put googley eyes on the cup and have them draw a
face. Write their name on the opposite side of the cup. Have the children take care of it: water
it, put it in the sun. They will realize that plants need sun, water and air to grow. It might also
need a trim! You could also put some planted seeds in a dark place and see if they grow.
Compare the results.
Activities or Games:
Amazing Plant (from My Big Science Book (J 507.8 MUG) p. 64)
Demonstrate how plants seek sunlight by planting a bean seed in a pot. Cover the pot
with a box with a window cut out on the tip. Inside the box put a piece of cardboard with a
window cut out, placed several inches above the pot. In a few days, open it up and the plant
should have grown through the first window. You can put another piece of cardboard in with the
window in a different location. The plant will bend to grow through that window. Shows how
plants seek sunlight.
I Am a Tree
Directions: Read a story about a tree. Discuss how trees have roots, buds, leaves, branches
and trunks. Go outside and have children touch the different trees around your school. Let them
look at the branches and roots. Encourage children to describe the texture of the tree bark and
leaves. Tell the children that they are going to pretend to grow like a tree. Have them plant their
feet firmly on the ground, bend down and become a tiny tree. Let them know that their body is
the trunk, their arms are the branches and their fingers are the leaves. Have the children slowly
grow toward the sun by moving their bodies up and spreading their arms and fingers toward the
sun. Next, let the children sway in the wind and move their bodies, keeping their feet in one
place. Remind the children that roots keep trees firmly planted in the ground.
Snacks:
Trees
Cut pieces of broccoli into short pieces that look like little trees. Talk about how they
look like trees. Have a healthy dip for children who choose to dip them.
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
DVD- Sid the Science Kid: The Bug Club, (J DVD) Don’t forget the Leaves episode
DVD- Trees from TV series: Backyard Safari (J DVD Non-Fic 582.16 TRE)
Rather long to watch in its entirety, but the teacher can select parts that
would pertain to her lesson.
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: Mouse’s First Fall by Lauren Thompson
Themes or Topics to use it with: Seasons, Autumn, Leafs
Summary of program:
Use this book to introduce younger children to fall.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Fall Leaves Fall by Zoe Hall
Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber
Kevin Discovers Autumn by Liesbet Slegers
Songs and Fingerplays:
The Leaves on the Trees (to the tune of Wheels on the Bus)
The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown,
orange and brown, orange and brown.
The leaves on the trees turn orange and brown,
all through the town.
The leaves on the trees come tumbling down,
tumbling down, tumbling down.
The leaves on the trees coming tumbling down,
all through the town.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish.
Swish, swish, swish. Swish, swish, swish.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish,
all through the town.
The Leaves are falling down (to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
Red, yellow, green, and brown
The leaves are falling down
Craft Ideas:
Autumn Handfuls (idea from http://www.preschooleducation.com/afall.shtml)
Need: Brown paper, yellow paper, Bingo markers
Directions: Place child's arm on sheet of brown construction paper (fingers should be spread
apart). Trace arm to near elbow and hand and cut out. Glue cutout to a sheet of yellow
construction paper and let the children use colored BINGO markers to make leaves for their hand
tree. (Red markers would make orange leaves, etc.) These can be used to decorate a
bulletin board, or just displayed as art.
Pinecone Bird Feeder
Needed: Pine cones, Yarn or twine, Creamy peanut butter, Bird seed, Popsicle stick, Plate
or dish with sides. Help the child tie an approximately 24-in. piece of yarn or twine around the
top portion of each pine cone. Place a large spoonful of peanut butter on a plate or in the dish
with sides and give the child the popsicle stick to spread the peanut butter all over the pine cone.
Repeat for however many pine cone bird feeders the child is going to make. To avoid getting
bird seed all over the place, it’s a good idea to do the next step outside. Have the child take the
peanut butter-covered pinecones outside. Pour some wild bird seed onto a plate and have the
child roll the pinecones in the bird seed. Sprinkle some more bird seed on the pinecones to make
sure they are completely covered.
Autumn Tree Collage (from http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Autumn-Tree-Collage.html)
Needed: Construction Paper, Magazines, Tape or glue, and Scissors
Have the children look through old magazines for fall colors and cut out various shapes to make
the leaves for the tree. Don't forget to cut out brown shapes to make your tree's trunk from
construction paper. Older children can cut out leaf shapes, younger children will find it just as
fun to cut out any shapes from their magazines! Tape or glue your pieces onto a piece of paper
until your tree is full! Make your collage even more fun by finding other pictures in magazines
to cut out, like a bird flying in the sky or a pumpkin to place on the ground. Why not write
"Happy Fall" or "Happy Thanksgiving" on your picture by cutting out letters from your
magazines and arranging them on your paper.
Activities or Games:
Seeds & Seed Carriers (from More than Magnets (J P/T 372.21 MOO) p.21)
Go on an outdoor walk and see how many seed & seed carriers you can find. You may
want to find a few examples so the children know what they are looking for. You can also have
the collect pinecones to make the pinecone bird feeder craft.
Snacks:
Nuts, seeds (sunflower or pumpkin), apples, apple cider, peanut butter
Fall Toast
Take white bread and have students help put in toaster. Spread toast with peanut butter.
Decorate it with a fall tree by using two thin pretzel sticks or one short thick pretzel stick.
Arrange them on bottom of bread. (this is the tree trunk) Then take mini M&M's and have
students pick out the fall colored ones and place them on the top of the pretzels. (these are the
leaves).
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
http://www.preschoolexpress.com/music_station.shtml
http://www.preschooleducation.com/sfall.shtml
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: What Will the Weather Be Like Today? by Paul Rogers
Themes or Topics to use it with: Weather
Summary of program:
Use this book to introduce children to the different
types of weather. Have them look at the pictures and tell you
how they know what type of weather it is.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
Weather ABC by B.A. Hoena
The Cloud Book by Tomie dePaola
Today is Rainy by Martha Rustad
Songs and Fingerplays:
I'm a Little Rain Cloud (to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot)
I'm a little rain cloud fat and round
When it thunders I make this sound.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Rolling around.
Splash! The rain comes tumbling down.
Oh My, What Will the Weather Be? (to the tune of Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be?)
Oh my, what will the weather be?
Oh my, what will the weather be?
Oh my, what will the weather be?
It will be (rainy, cloudy, sunny, snowy, windy…) today.
Craft Ideas:
Cloud Windsock (from http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/earth/mcloudwpuppet.htm)
Need: Construction Paper, Scissors, Glue or Stapler, Streamers or Ribbon or Yarn,
Markers or crayons. Have the children cut out a cloud shape from the construction paper (you
could layer 2 pieces to make it sturdier). Hole punch a few holes along the bottom. Thread the
streamers, ribbon or yarn through. If you hang this outside, you can tell which direction the wind
is blowing based on which way the streamers are moving. You could also draw a face on the
cloud.
Umbrella with rain Picture (from http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/weather/art.htm)
Need: Construction Paper, Rice, Rubbing Alcohol, Tempera Paint, glue
Directions: Have your children cut out umbrellas from different colored construction paper.
Then have them draw someone holding the umbrella and glue colored rice (recipe at end) as rain
coming down on the person. To color rice, mix 1 cup rice with about 1-2 tsp rubbing alcohol in
ziploc bag. Mix around. Now add in blue tempera paint. Mix well. Add more color and mix, if
needed. Air dry rice by spreading out on a baking pan covered in paper towels. Let dry for
several hours.
Activities or Games:
Blow Bubbles (from Weather Mania by M. DiSpezio (J 551.5 DIS) p.16)
Go outside and blow bubbles. The children can see which direction the wind is moving
in by watching which direction the bubbles float away.
Make a Weather Wheel (from http://www.mommynature.com/documents/weather-chart.pdf)
Using the templates, have the children color the different triangle with the different types
of weather. Discuss what each type of weather is and let them take it home to show their parents
how much they’ve learned.
Snacks:
Cloud Bread
Let kids spread marshmallow fluff on their bread. This will look like clouds.
Rainbow Fruit Salad
Get fruits of all different colors to make a ‘rainbow’ fruit salad.
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
http://www.preschoolkids.net/weather_theme.htm
http://www.mommynature.com/documents/weather-chart.pdf
http://raisingcreativechildren.com/color-rice-sensory-table/
Teacher Workshop
March 2011
Science Books for Preschool
Book Title: Me and My Place in Space by Joan Sweeney
Themes or Topics to use it with: Space
Summary of program:
A good book to introduce the idea of outer space.
Stories that also work with this book/topic:
On the Moon by Anna Milbourne
The Sun by Thomas Adamson
Astronauts by Tami Deedrick
Songs and Fingerplays:
Zoom Zoom Zoom
Zoom zoom zoom we're going to the moon
Zoom zoom zoom we're going to the moon
If you'd like to take a trip
Climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom zoom zoom we're going to the moon
5 4 3 2 1 BLAST OFF!!!!
The Leaves are falling down (to the tune of The Itsy Bitsy Spider)
Climb aboard the spaceship,
We're going to the moon.
hurry and get ready,
We're going to blast off soon.
Put on your helmets
And buckle up real tight.
Here comes the countdown,
Let's count with all our might.
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1---BLAST OFF!!
Craft Ideas:
Glittery Space Picture (from http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Paper-Planetarium.html)
Need: Construction paper, black and colored, Glitter glue, Scissors, Paint brushes, Wax paper.
Directions: Cut out circles in different sizes and different colors. Cut a piece of wax paper about 12" long
(make it longer if you'll be framing it with a paper bigger than the standard 81/2" X 11"). With a large
paint brush, paint on glitter glue all over the wax paper and then place your planets (circles) on top of the
glue. Cut a frame from a black piece of construction paper Place on top of the wax paper to frame your
solar system, and trim around the edge.
Alien Me
After reading ‘Me and My Place in Space’, have the child draw a picture of what they think the
alien version of themselves would look like. You could also ask them to draw what they wish their planet
was made out of. Maybe it could be made from all of their favorite things… Kool-aid rivers, etc.
My Spray Bottle Solar System (http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/space/art.htm)
Need: Paint, Spray Bottle, Paper, Crayons/Markers, Various Other Art Supplies of Your Choice.
Directions: Dilute white paint with water and put it in a small spray bottle. Let your children spray this
mixture onto black construction paper. This will make the paper look like space. Next show your children
several pictures of the solar system. Then invite them to design their own solar system on the paper using
paper, markers or crayons.
Activities or Games:
Creating Your Own Night Sky
Materials: Plastic or Styrofoam cup, a pencil or screw driver, paint (various colors) a flashlight.
Directions: Have the children paint the cup. Then poke various holes all over the cup (teacher may need
to help with this). Then stick the flashlight inside the cup and turn it on.. (make sure you are in a dark
room) have the cup facing the ceiling so the light reflects off the ceiling. You have just made your own
night sky. You could even have them come up with their own constellations.
Snacks:
Bagel UFO
Take a bagel and spread with cream cheese or peanut butter. Slice fruit/veggies (such as
bananas, carrots, strawberries) and put on spread to make the windows/lights of UFO. Hard-boil
eggs and place those in the center of the bagel. You can use food-coloring to decorate the eggs-to
add color to the snack.
Astronaut Pudding
Easy and fun to make astronaut food. Use one package of instant pudding for every 3 or 4
kids. Divide the pudding mix evenly into ziplock sandwich bags. Add enough milk to each bag
to correspond to the package directions. Let the kids mush, squeeze and shake the bags until the
pudding starts to get thick -- about 2 minutes. Chill it if you want or eat it right away. Just trim
off one corner of the bag and suck it out like real astronauts do! The kids loved this!!
Additional Resources (websites, books, music, or DVD):
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/space/space.htm
http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Space-Crafts-for-Kids.html
http://www.preschooleducation.com/aspace.shtml
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/space/outerspa.html