CONSONANT BLEND WORKSHEET

Just click on this image to enlarge it. Print it out and use it to practice your sh,th,ch,br,and gr blends.

SIGHT WORD SEARCH

Just click on the picture to enlarge it. Print and make copies for your classroom.

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Book Reviews for Preschool and Middle School

ZOOPRISE PARTY

“Zooprise Party/Fiesta Zoopresa” is a charming biligual (English/Spanish) story that will introduce children to some unusual animals at the zoo. They will learn that friends come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds. Author Rebekha Delgado and illustrator Joy Delgado go a step further to help you teach your children when they offer a wonderful activity book and a priceless teacher’s guide. The guide has reading discussions, art ,games, and information about the many unusual animals found in the story. No preschool or elementary classroom should be without this heartwarming book! To purchase click on the Laughing Zebra Books link in the right side bar.

BUBBA AND GIGANTO: AGAINST ALL ODDS

The author, Lea Schizas, really captured the heart of high school boys in her book, “Bubba and Giganto:Agaist All Odds.” Through her "hip" dialog I could understand their fears and hopes to fit in. Because bullying is such a big problem in schools, it's important that through this book kids can start to understand some of the root causes. More importantly, it gives them alternative ways to fight back, not with their fists but with athletic challenges and with their words. Kids in school often have to make choices whether to bully, support the actions of a bully, or stand up against a bully. This book will give more kids the courage they need to stand up against bullying or better yet to reach out to the bully to help him understand his motives.

I loved the suspense the author created as we slowly learned the facts about the asthma death. The story is rich with interesting scenes in school and on the soccer field. It was heartwarming to experience these believable characters as they learned valuable lessons through their experiences and were truly transformed. This chapter book is highly recommended for grades 6 – 8. To order click on the Lea Schizas link in the right side bar.

COMPOUND WORD FUN!

COMPOUND WORD SLIDE
Click on the picture above to enlarge. You can print, laminate and cut out this activity for your use.

SILLY COMPOUND WORDS
1. Make two piles of words. (One for objects and one for animals)

Objects like: horn, ball, hat, pen, tree
Animals like: cat, dog, snake, bug, bird

2. Have the children pick one word from each pile, and put them together to make a silly compound word. For instance, hornsnake, ballcat, treedog, penbug, hatbird

3. Draw a picture of your silly compound word.

COMPOUND WORD SWITCH
1. Separate two compound words, and switch them around to make a new compound word.

handbag and foothill make two new silly words- handhill and footbag
catfish and butterfly make two new silly words- catfly and fishbutter
crabgrass and crossroad make two new silly words- crabroad and crossgrass
wheelchair and beeline make two new silly words- wheelline and beechair
cottonwood and pancake make two new silly words- cottoncake and woodpan
sunflower and armpit make two new silly words- sunpit and flowerarm

2. Draw pictures of your new silly words and have fun!

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VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR IN NOVEMBER!!

I'm very excited to be part of a virtual book tour which is slated to launch this November. Each week I'll be featuring a different author. You can add comments or questions that I can ask the author. I will interview these authors and get insights into their lives and their writing. Some of them might be authors that you have read or are using in your classroom already, while others are exciting new authors entering the book world. I am one of the latter. I have just signed a contract for my first children's book entitled, "Trouble on Earth Day." This book about a squirrel named Shelby and her family is a great way to introduce your children to conservation and recycling. After finding things around the house to recycle, Shelby hears someone crying outside her home. Without giving too much away, I can tell you that she helps another animal through a crisis using her recycled materials. Then all is well in the forest again! This book will come with several activity pages for children, parents and teachers to enjoy. I will be interviewed on other authors sites as well.

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Prefix and Suffix Activities!

To make a prefix wheel just click on the pictures to enlarge and print. You can change the words or the prefix as desired. Other re words: reapply, recheck, recopy, redry, refry, reglue, regrow, relearn, reload, reread, remix, rename, repaint, repay, retape, retest.

When introducing a new prefix or suffix, draw an elephant on the board and write prefixes on the raised trunk and suffixes on the tail. In the center, on the elephant’s body attach a series of base words. Explore which prefixes or suffixes make a new word. Make some practice cards for the kids to use at a center. Make some with prefixes, some root words, and some suffixes. Let the children mix and match to come up with a list of new words. The kids can make an elephant; write their new word on an elephant, and the meaning on the back. If their word doesn't have a prefix or suffix, they can cut off the trunk or the tail. They love that part!

Have the students find and circle prefixes or suffixes in simple stories they read in reading class. Also explain a lot about the root words and some different prefixes and suffixes you can use with them.

Here are some great websites with more good Ideas!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/wordbuilding/prefixes/tutor.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/wordbuilding/suffixes/index.shtml
http://www.firstschoolyears.com/literacy/word/other/prefixes/prefixes.htm

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CONSONANT BLEND FUN!

Consonant Blend Action Rhyme and activities!

Consonant blends are fun to do.
Read them all with me, won’t you?

Float and flutter in the sun.
Twist and twirl and have some fun.

Dribble and drive down the street.
Crawl and crouch on your own feet.

Swing and swim on the big lake.
Prance on in and bake a cake.

Try to fly up in the sky.
Fry some eggs and ask me why.

Consonant blends can really rock.
Practice them around the clock!

Activities

1. Have fun reciting this rhyme.
2. Create actions for this rhyme and perform it together as a class.
3. Let the children do a movement exploration activity with this rhyme.
4. Have the children circle all the consonant blends that they can find in the rhyme.
5. Create a book by drawing pictures for each line of this rhyme.

Consonant Blend Musical Chairs

Set chairs up in alternating directions, and put a consonant blend card on each one. Either use lively music or recite the above poem as the children march around the chairs. When the music stops everyone sits in a chair and comes up with a word that starts with the consonant blend on their card. If they can’t, they are out of the game. The last one left is the winner.


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Earth Day Activities II

Recycle toilet paper rolls to make napkin rings

1. Cut each roll in half.
2. Paint the ring.
3. Wrap 13 feet of thin ribbon around the ring and glue the ends.
4. Tie a large bow on the front.
5. Place a napkin in your new napkin holder.

Recycle cardboard and gift wrap to make a bookmark

1. Cut a cardboard rectangle 2 ½” by 7”.
2. Wrap it up like a gift.
3. Cut a 1” by 4” piece of construction paper.
4. Put each child’s name on the paper.
5. Glue it to the center of the bookmark.

Recycle short pieces of crayon

1. Put shavings of old crayons in a cookie mold.
2. Add several colors together.
3. Heat and let them melt together.
4. When cool, draw and see the interesting effects that you can make.

Pebble jar vase

1. Clean a large pickle jar. (4 ½” diameter)
2. Glue a 2” to 2 ½” jelly jar inside the pickle jar.
3. Place small rocks or pebbles between the two jars.
4. Tie raffia around the rim of the pickle jar.
5. Fill with dried flowers.

Make a pinecone birdfeeder

1. Tie some string around a large open pinecone
2. Spread peanut butter all over the cone.
3. Roll the cone in oatmeal, nuts, or birdseed.
4. Hang it from a tree and watch the birds feed.


Make a litterbug

1. Paint one section of a paper egg carton.
2. Poke three holes on each side of the body.
3. Place three pipe cleaners through the holes to make legs.
4. Glue beans, buttons, or small rocks on for eyes.
5. Glue yarn or a small twig for a mouth.


Recycle ice cream containers to make blocks

1. Wash them out.
2. Glue the lids on.
3. Paint them.
4. Have fun building things.

Recycle old nylons to make sachels

1. Cut a 4” section.
2. Tie one end with a ribbon.
3. Stuff with poppori.
4. Tie off the other end.
5. Hang them in closets.

Recycle old CD’s to make ornaments

1. Spray glitter on the CD.
2. Tie a ribbon through the hole to hang.
3. Take a picture of each child.
4. Cut the edges with pinking shears.
5. Glue the child’s picture in the center of the CD.

SIGHT WORD ACTIVITIES

BLIND PICK Place several sight words on a large poster board and hang it on the wall at your child's eye level. Like "Pin the Tail on the Donkey," tie a scarf around the child's eyes and spin them in place three times. Have them place their finger on a sight word on the poster. Remove the scarf and have the child read the word.

WORD SCAVENGER HUNT Hide sight words around the room.

BEACH BALL WORDS Section off a ball into many squares with a marker. Each square houses a sight word. Toss the ball to your child, who recites the word under their right thumb.

GAMBLE FOR WORDS Roll the dice. Pick the same number of sight words as the number indicated on the dice. He/she must be able to read each word as they pick it up. Set a time limit and see how many points he/she can earn.

WORD WAR Write sight words on a stack of index cards. A parent or older sibling can play this game with the child. Each player takes turns flipping a card over and the first one to read the sight word wins that card. Parents should count to 10 slowly before telling their child the sight word.

STINKY CHEESE GAME Cut triangles out of yellow construction paper. On 20 triangles write sight words that you want to practice. On 5 triangles write "stinky cheese." Put the triangles in a sack and shake it up. Your child identifies the sight word on the cheese he pulls out of the bag. If he chooses "stinky cheese," he holds his nose and says, "Stinky cheese!" in a silly voice.

UNIFIX CUBES Practice reading sight words that are taped onto the cubes. Make a tower of correct and incorrect words. Try the incorrect words again. Try to make a giant tower with all the sight words correct.

PINECONE WORDS Place poster board pinecones on a small Christmas tree. On the back of each one write a sight word. The children take turns running to the tree, grabbing a pinecone, and reading the sight word.

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COLOR ACTIVITIES AND GAMES!

COLOR BOWLING
Put a colored square on the front of several plastic soda bottles. (Rainbow) Call a color. The student rolls the ball and tries to knock the correct bottle over.

COLOR TOSS
Toss a beanbag into a box with a colored circle on the front.

COLOR JUMP
Make vinyl color shapes and tape them to the floor. Children jump from color to color and identify the color. Or you could just make masking tape squares with a small piece of colored construction paper in each. VARIATION: Give each child a command such as: “Mary, put both hands on the red square.” “Keesha, run around the blue square.”

COLOR BUTTON SORT
Print a color name on each paper cup. Have the children put red buttons in the red cup, etc. The children can count each color when they are done sorting.

COLOR COMBO
Write red, yellow, blue, green, purple, and orange on a paper. Show them how to combine the primary colors to make the secondary colors. (Red over blue makes purple) Using red, yellow, and blue colored tissue paper circles have the children glue the correct color under each word.

COLOR CARDS
Write the color names on one side of an index card and a construction paper triangle on the other side. After reading the color name, the children can flip the card over to see if they are correct.

PHOTO CUBE COLORS
Put a color and action command in each side of a photo cube. Example action command: 5 jumping jacks, or hop on one foot. Children take turns tossing the cube. If they can identify the color they get to follow the command.

STINKY CHEESE COLORS
Place color shapes into a paper bag. Also place a few triangles of construction paper cheese wedges. Children take turns picking a color out of the bag to identify. If they pick cheese, they hold their nose and say, “Pew, stinky cheese.”

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BOOK REVIEWS!

DAYS END LULLABY written by Karen Cioffi and Robyn Feltman

This enduring book offers you a soothing lullaby to read or sing to your children. The charming illustrations are sure to be pictures your children can relate to and treasure. Upon reaching the last page, my niece fell fast asleep. The lyrical words and sweet melody will lull any restless spirit into a deep and dreamy sleep. www.booksurge.com www.amazon.com

KEESHA'S BRIGHT IDEA written by Eleanor May and illustrated by Amy Wimmer

This book is full of delightful facts about energy usage and waste. This unusual book brings the relevant issue of energy conservation to life with fun characters and an interesting story. The colorful, hip illustrations with their many details keep young children’s attention. On almost every page you’ll find a box with quick tips of fresh new information, which stimulates class discussion. My students were eager to share their own energy saving stories from home, and couldn’t wait to share the new facts and tips they learned in school with their families. www.amazon.com

I coupled this book with a great activity. We made “I save energy” T-shirts with energy tips displayed. We hung them with clothespins on a rope across our classroom.

TROUBLE ON EARTH DAY by Kathy Stemke (yes, that's me!)

This children's picture book about a squirrel family that saves nuts, recycles, and saves a little yellow songbird is a great way to start a conversation about conservation with your children or your students. Coming soon!!

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THINGS THAT FLY!

How High Can You Fly?

1. Tape a large piece of paper to the wall.
2. Practice jumping and touching the paper with one finger.
3. Put one finger on an ink pad
4. Take turns: jump, touch the paper, mark with ink
5. Measure the height with a ruler

Make paper airplanes with each students name on it. Place a 25 foot measuring tape outside on the playground. Have flying contests and measure how far each plane goes.

Balloon Craft

1. print out the template (click on picture to enlarge)
2. color the balloon
3. take digital pictures of each student in the class
4. cut out and glue students into the box
(tissue box or strawberry carton)
5. tie lengths of ribbon or string to each of the 4 corners of the box
6. glue or tape the other end of the string to the balloon
7. tape a fifth piece of string to the top to hang

Air Balloon Action
(I’m a Little Teapot Tune)

I’m a big bright balloon, way up high,
(from squat, rise up onto your toes)

Gliding on air currents, watch me fly!
(arms out, fly around the room)

When the air is used up, I’ll come down,
(touch the ground)

Swirling and whirling, to the ground!
(turn, spin, and squat)

For a dot-to-dot hot air balloon go to:
http://www.first-school.ws/t/cp_transportation/balloon_trace_c.htm

EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES

I HAVE A NEW BOOK UNDER CONTRACT: "TROUBLE ON EARTH DAY!" A teacher activity book will follow. It's a great fictional story that teaches kids how to RECYCLE, RETHINK, AND REUSE things around the house!

Ladybug Rocks!

1. Wash an dry some smooth round or oval rocks.

2. Paint the rocks with acrylic paint in colors of your choice.

3. Paint a head using black paint.

4. Use a black sharpie to draw spots and an line down their backs.

5. Glue on two wiggly eyes. You can substitute beans for the eyes if needed.

Nest Building Activity!

For most birds, nest-building supplies consist of whatever nature has lying around — wood, grass, twigs, feathers, and fur. You can provide the birds in your neighborhood with easy-to-obtain nest fodder by stuffng a mesh onion bag with materials such as pet fur, colorful strands of cloth, bits of stuffing, hay, colorful yarn cut into short lengths, hair from your brush, or feathers from an old down pillow. (Avoid anything synthetic or sharp.) Snip a few large holes in the sack so birds can poke around, then hang it in a tree, ideally near a feeder so it will get noticed.

In the coming weeks, be on the lookout for birds visiting the sack, then watch what trees they return to — from the right viewpoint, you might even get to see your building materials being incorporated into the birds' nests.


Tin Can Herb Pots!

1. Completely wash and dry aluminum can. If necessary, sand off any rough edges from opening of can, and poke holes in the bottom with a screwdriver..

2. Paint can desired color, repeat coats if needed. Decorate however you like. Decorate with stickers if desired.

3. Place enough rocks or pebbles in the bottom of the can to form a single layer.
Add enough potting soil to fill the can two-thirds full.

4. Remove potted herb from its container and transplant into the can.

5. Place can on a plate (to catch any water drainage) and add some water to the newly planted herbs.

6. Paint craft stick whatever color you like. Use a black Sharpie marker to write the herb name onto the stick.

7. Insert your plant marker into the soil, being careful not to crush any roots along the way.

8. Place your new garden in a sunny window and remember to water them!

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Kathy Stemke on Education Tipster

Kathy Stemke on Helium
Kathy Stemke on Associated Content
Kathy Stemke’s Website

Rhymes with CH, SH, BR, GR, and TH Sounds!

MULTIPLYING PERFECT SQUARES (rap song)

Perfect squares are fun to do.
Come on guys; let’s do a few.

Zero times zero is zero.
Move with me, just like a hero.

One times one is always one.
Skip around, we’ve just begun.

Hey, two times two is four.
Let’s rock around some more.

Now, three times three is nine.
Slip and slide right on time.

Four times four equals sixteen.
Push and pull like a machine.

Five times five is twenty-five.
Come on kids let’s jump and jive.

Six times six is thirty-six.
Hip-hop and pop in the mix.

Seven times seven is forty-nine.
Float up high and you’ll be just fine.

Eight times eight is sixty-four.
Ride your bike around the floor.

Nine times nine is eighty-one.
Jumping jacks are always fun.

Ten times ten equals a hundred.
Spin and count up to a hundred.

Eleven squared is one twenty-one.
Come dance with me, we’re almost done.

Twelve times twelve’s one forty-four.
Let’s all march right out the door.

Perfect squares are fun to do.
Good job guys; we've done a few.

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WEBSITES KIDS LOVE!

Here are some great kids' websites that kids enjoy:

http://www.noggin.com/
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/index.ht ml
www.funschool.com
www.funbrain.com
www.pbskids.com
www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/
http://kids.discovery.com/
www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/
http://animal.discovery.com/
www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html
www.kidzone.ws/tracers/patrick/index.asp
http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/
http://www.kidsgames.org/
http://www.learningplanet.com/
http://www.learn4good.com/games/online.htm
http://www.highlightskids.com/
http://games.disneysblast.com/
http://www.cyberkids.com/fg/
http://www.history.org/kids/
http://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html (for older kids!)
http://www.smithsonian.org/websites_a_z/

Also children's book publishers such as Scholastic usually have good sites that have activities that coordinate with their books. It would be nice to read and then reinforce with activities.

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BECOME A FOLLOWER OF THIS BLOG!

If you become a follower, you will be updated on your dashboard when a post is published. I would appreciate comments on what you like or don't like about the blog, as well as what you'd like to see more of on this blog. I hope to hear from you. Thanks Kathy

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Action Rhymes and Activities for Sunday!

COMING SOON- ACTION ALLEY DAYS OF THE WEEK BOOK!

Skate on Sunday,
And don’t be shy,
S-u-n d-a-y!

We slip and slide on Sunday too,
We always have so much to do.

Skate exploration!
Skate around the room while saying the rhyme. Remind the children to slide their feet on the floor instead of picking them up. When the rhyme is done everyone freezes and holds their last funny position. For interest, add small jumps and turns like real figure skating.

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Action Harvest Poems and Songs!

PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN

Pumpkin, pumpkin, on the wall, (reach arms up high on tip toes)
Pumpkin, pumpkin, tip and fall. (sit on the floor)
Pumpkin, pumpkin, roll and rock, (rock side to side)
Pumpkin, pumpkin, down the block! (lay flat, log roll)

WATCH ME GROW (tune: Mary had a little lamb)

We are pumpkins, watch us grow, (squat/ slowly rise up, arms out)
watch us grow, (jump) watch us grow. (jump)
We are pumpkins, watch us grow, (squat/ slowly rise up, arms out)
Straight up don’t you know. (squat and jump up high then sit)

PUMPKIN POEM

One day I found a pumpkin seed. (Pick a seed up off the ground)
I planted it, and pulled the weeds. (Dig, plant, pull weeds)
It sprouted roots, and grew a vine.(Move your arms like sprouting roots)
A pumpkin grew; I called it mine. (Cross your heart and sway)
The pumpkin was quite round and fat.(Open your arms and rock on feet)
The vine, it crept just like a cat. (Walk on hands and feet)

PUMPKIN SONG (tune: I'm a little teapot)

I'm a little pumpkin, short and round.
Here is my big stem, next to the ground.
When it’s time to pick me, don’t you doubt!
Just cut me open, and scoop me out!

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ACTION MONTHS OF THE YEAR!

Come say and do twelve months with me,
Learn them in order, that’s the key.
January, February, March,
April, May, June,
July, August, September,
October, November, December!

In January I shiver and shake. (shiver)
In February, Valentines I make. (draw heart in air)

In March my kite blows in the sky. (wave hand)
In April, raindrops fly right by. (wiggle fingers downward)

In May, flowers grow in the pot. (wiggle fingers upward)
In June the days get really hot. (fan yourself)

July the 4th we celebrate. (explode like fireworks)
August swimming is really great. (swim)

September welcomes in the Fall. (fall like a leaf)
October harvest comes to call. (pick apples or corn)

November turkeys are on the go. (flap wings)
December ends with a Ho Ho Ho! (rub belly)

Energy Conservation Book Review and Activity!

Keesha’s Bright Idea written by Eleanor May and illustrated by Amy Wimmer is full of delightful facts about energy usage and waste. This unusual book brings the relevant issue of energy conservation to life with fun characters and an interesting story. The colorful, hip illustrations with their many details keep young children’s attention. On almost every page you’ll find a box with quick tips of fresh new information, which stimulates class discussion. My students were eager to share their own energy saving stories from home, and couldn’t wait to share the new facts and tips they learned in school with their families.

I coupled this book with a great activity. We made “I save energy” T-shirts with energy tips displayed. We hung them with clothespins on a rope across our classroom. I strongly recommend this book and give it a rating of 5.

DAYS OF THE WEEK SONG!

DAYS OF THE WEEK BOOK IS COMING SOON!
It includes movement activities to learn how to spell the days of the week, worksheets, matching activities, and much more!


7 DAYS A WEEK (Sung to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")
As they are singing the children can sit in a pike position on the floor and row with their arms.

ACTION CLOCK POEM!

MY ACTION ACTIVITY "CLOCK BOOK" IS COMING SOON!

I’m in the clock club, I’m OK. (Arms overhead make a circle)
I tick all night, and tick all day. (Marching, hands on hips)


I have two hands, and have a ball, (Marching, two hands out)
Because I have no arms at all. (Marching, hands behind back)


My minute hand, moves with such power, (Standing, circle arm quickly)
with sixty minutes in every hour. (Standing, circle arm quickly)


My hour hand just isn't as fast, (Standing, circle arm slowly)
In a big race, it comes in last. (Standing, circle arm slowly)


Quarter past, half past, in there place (Point arm to the left, then down)
Quarter to, o'clock on the face. (arm right, then up)


Twenty-four hours makes just one day, (Arms overhead make a circle)
There’s always time for us to play! (jump in place)

MONEY SKILLS!

Recognizing, counting, spending, giving, and saving money are important life skills that should be taught to young children. Educating, motivating, and empowering children to become regular savers will enable them to keep more of the money they earn and do more with the money they spend.

Here is a song and a rhyme that children love to say that will help them identify the different coins and bills we use as money.

COIN RHYME

Penny, penny,
Easily spent.
Copper brown
and worth one cent.

Nickel, nickel,
Thick and fat.
You're worth five cents,
I know that.

Dime, dime,
Little and thin.
I remember,
you're worth ten.

Quarter, quarter,
big and bold.
You're worth twenty-five
I am told.

THE DOLLAR SONG (to the tune of "Ten Little Indians")

10 little, 20 little, 30 little pennies.
40 little, 50 little, 60 little pennies.
70 little, 80 little, 90 little pennies.
100 pennies make a dollar!

2 small, 4 small, 6 small nickels.
8 small, 10 small, 12 small nickels.
14 small, 16 small, 18 small nickels.
20 nickels make a dollar!

1 tiny, 2 tiny, 3 tiny dimes.
4 tiny, 5 tiny, 6 tiny dimes.
7 tiny, 8 tiny, 9 tiny dimes.
10 dimes make a dollar!

1 big, 2 big, 3 big quarters.
4 big, 4 big, 4 big quarters.
1 big, 2 big, 3 big quarters.
4 quarters make a dollar!

MONEY PUZZLES

To help the children identify money, you can make simple puzzles for them to put together. For instance, just find an image of the front and back of a quarter on line. Glue the front and back together, then laminate for durability. Simply cut the sheet into large puzzle pieces for a fun activity. It’s a good idea to make the dime a small puzzle and the quarter a large puzzle.

QUARTER RUBBINGS

Make a large Qq or quarter on a poster board. The quarter (also called a quarter dollar) is worth 25 cents or 25 pennies. Have one or more children count out 25 pennies. One quarter can be written 25¢ or $0.25. The front of the quarter pictures a left-facing profile of George Washington, the first President of the United States of America.

The front reads, "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and the year the coin was minted or made. The small initial by Washington is the mint-mark, showing the location that produced the coin (D means Denver, Colorado, S means San Francisco, California, and P means Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

The back of the quarter pictures the presidential coat of arms (an eagle with outstretched wings). The back reads, "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "QUARTER DOLLAR." E PLURIBUS UNUM is Latin and means one out of many.

Let the children make crayon rubbings of the quarter using different color crayons. The children then cut out the rubbings and glue them to the giant poster board. This, too, could be used as a puzzle.

COUNT OUT MONEY (activity found on www.makinglearningfun.com)

Once your children have learned the value of each coin, place some money amounts on index cards in a bowl. As show in the picture above a child picks out $.45 for Cracker Jacks with a circle large enough for a quarter, and two circles large enough for two dimes. When they are ready, eliminate the circle clues, and have them count out the money on their own.

MONEY STORE is great fun. Let your child arrange empty food cartons or boxes to create a store. Either you or your child can put a price tag on each one. For young children the items may cost 1cent to 5 cents each, while older children can handle 10 cents to a few dollars. After shopping at the store they pay you with play money. At first, allow them to buy just one object. When they’re ready, increase the number of items.

MASH POTATOES

Parents should emphasize the importance of money by their example. Explain the difference between a “need” and a “want” using this game. You explain to the children that Mashed Potatoes represents something we “need” to survive as it provides nutrients for our bodies, and that Gravy represents something that may make the mashed potatoes taste better, but it isn’t something we “need” to survive. Therefore it is a “want.” You have then shown the difference between a “want” and a “need.”

The next step is to create flash cards or cut out pictures from magazines and have the children yell out MASHED POTATOES for something that represents a “need” or GRAVY for something that represents a “want.”

SET GOALS

Teach the children to set goals by earning and saving money for a particular purpose. Ask them what items they may want to save for. (toy, gift for someone, charity) This helps the children learn the value of money.

SAVING

Talk about the benefits of a piggy bank or savings account. Make a piggy bank. Use a large plastic jar, four empty thread spools, a milk bottle top and some construction paper. Glue the spools on one side of the jar for the pig's legs. The milk bottle top should be glued onto the plastic jar lid as the pig's nose. Use the construction paper to make pig ears and a curly tail. A grown up can cut a slot in the top of the pig for the money to be put in. Explain that the bank pays them for the use of their money by giving interest. Parents should encourage saving, but allow them to use some of their money on special occasions. Point out the increases in their savings account as interest is paid to them.

More Multiplication Tips!!

If you're children are struggling with multiplication, try these mental and physical multitasking activities to get your children back in the swing of things. This hula hoop game is fun with two or more players taking turns and keeping score, but can work as well with one.

HULA HOOP MULTIPLICATION

1. Have your children make individual lists of the multiplication tables. (skip counting) Fold each list and place them in a bowl.
2. Each child takes a turn picking from the bowl. They must recite the table while using the hula hoop. (Ex. 4,8,12,16...) The other child can time them and check for correctness.
3. Now the next player gets a turn. After several turns, the player with the highest time wins.
4. You can modify this activity by changing the movement. (Ex. jump in and out of the hoop, hop on one foot in the hoop, circle the hoop on your wrist)

CIRCLE AND BEANS MULIPLICATION

Cut a 12 cicles and laminate them for durability. Use a bag of beans for counters. Write a multiplication problem on an index card. Explain that the first factor is the number of circles you need to use, and the second factor is the number of beans to put on each circle. (Ex. 5x7=) 5 circles with 7 beans on each circle. The kids will love this fun way to use concrete manipulatives to understand abstract concepts.

Music, Movement, Phonics, Math

Music and movement are essential ingredients in any preschool classroom. Studies have shown that children retain more information when they use more of their senses in learning. By adding music and movement to the learning process children become more engaged, have more fun, and retain much more.

MUSIC APPRECIATION AND EXPLORATION

Staple a scarf onto a wooden dowel to create a flag. Create clear boundaries and rules for this movement exploration activity to keep your classroom safe. I like to tell each student that there is a bubble around him or her that cannot be broken. Anyone who breaks someone's bubble will have to take a rest. Play slow classical music and watch the graceful fluttering of the flags. Change to fast marching music and watch the sharp percussive movements emerge.

SMALL GROUP FLAG ROUTINES

After exploring some movements that can be done with a flag, divide the class into small groups and ask them to create a short routine. If space is a problem, this activity can be done outside and then one group at a time can do their routine in the classroom. A typical routine might be:
8 counts of giant arm circles
8 walks in a circle with the flag held out to the side
8 counts of circles overhead (helicopter)
8 counts of flags high, flags low

MUSICAL CONSONANTS IN ACTION
Using the tune, "You're Happy and You Know It," practice consonant sounds with movement.

If you’re happy and you know it,
Bounce around "b" "b"
If you're happy and you know it,
Bounce around “b” “b”
If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it,
Bounce around “b” “b”.

Creep along “c” “c”...
Dance with me “d” “d”...
Flap your arms “f” “f”...
Gallop now “g” “g”...
Hop along “f” “f”...
Jump so high “j” “j”...
Kick the air “k” “k”...
Laugh out loud “l” “l”...
March in place “m” “m”...
Nod your head “n” “n”...
Pull a rope “p” “p”...
Run in place “r” “r”...
Slide with me “s” “s”...
Tap your feet “t” “t”...
Vacuum now “v” “v”...
Walk around “w” “w”...
Yawn right now “y” “y”...
Zip your coat “z” “z”...

MATH SHAPES SONG

With masking tape, make a giant circle, square, triangle, and rectangle on the floor. As the kids sing the "Shape Song" a small group jumps inside the shape they're singing about. Everyone can draw the shape with his or her finger in the air. Make sure all the children get a chance to jump inside the shapes.

Tune: "Farmer in the Dell"

A circle's like a ball,
A circle's like a ball,
Round and round
It never stops.
A circle's like a ball!

A square is like a box,
A square is like a box,
It has four sides,
They are the same.
A square is like a box!

A triangle has 3 sides,
A triangle has 3 sides,
Up the mountain,
Down, and back.
A triangle has 3 sides!

A rectangle has 4 sides,
A rectangle has 4 sides,
Two are long, and
Two are short.
A rectangle has 4 sides!

The more music and movement you can incorporate into preschool activities the more fun and success the children will have in learning and retaining the material that they are taught.

Kathy Stemke on Education Tipster

Kathy Stemke on Helium
Kathy Stemke on Associated Content
Kathy Stemke’s Website

Have Fun with Puppets!

Use your puppet station to teach reading, creative writing, math, geography, art, science and even proper behavior and social skills. Incorporate great books and creative activities to keep learning fun!

1.Little Red Hen

a. BEHAVIOR- Share stories about helping others- what are situations where you could help someone-how does it make you feel?

b. SCIENCE- (Book Idea- “Bread Comes to Life: A Garden of Wheat and a Loaf to Eat” by George Levenson) What do you need to grow wheat- how does it turn into bread? Grind up some wheat into flour. Draw a chart of the sequence from the planting of the seed to the baking of the bread. Make bread.

2. Baby Hippo

a. GEOGRAPHY/SCIENCE-Where is Africa- what kind of habitat does a hippo live in? How long do they live? What do hippos eat? (Book Idea- “One Hippo Hops” by Jane Yolen and “Fun with African Stencils” by Sue Brooks)

b. ART- Make a class book of African animals with stencils.

c. CREATIVE WRITNG/STORYTELLING- The baby hippo is coming to your house for the weekend. What will you do with her/him- what games will you teach her -what will you feed her- how does she make you laugh?

3. Pizza Pie

a. SCIENCE- You open up a pizzeria for a specific animal, keeping in mind, their behavior and habitats. Draw the pizzeria and the menu. What would an emperor penguin want on its pizza and what would the restaurant be made of? (Book Idea-“Tacky the Penguin” by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger) Use this read along book with its CD at your listening center before you have puppet time.

b. MATH-With a large poster board circle (the pizza) cut it in half - 2 semicircles, cut those in half 9great introduction to fractions)

4. Aquarium

a. Science -Fish- How do they breath? Why are they covered with scales? (Book Idea- “What is it Like to be a Fish?” By Wendy Pfeffer and “My Visit to the Aquarium” by Aliki)

b. creative writing/drawing- if you were a fish what part of the ocean would you swim in- would there be a shipwreck- would you have a hide-away in seaweed or a coral reef- what other sea creatures would you see- starfish -jellyfish- what would you dream of at night? (illustrate)

5. Norman

a. CREATIVE WRITING/DRAWING- Norman is expanding his mind, learning new things, and working on his circus act. Do you have a pet that you can imagine having a different life? Perhaps a cat, which could purr so beautifully she becomes an opera singer. Invent an animal if you don't have one, like a dog that loves to cook or a fish that does ballet. How about an iguana that stars in a SCI-Fi movie? Describe this creature’s daily activity from dawn to dusk.

b. MATH shapes can be found all over the circus. (Book Idea-“Circus Shapes” by Stuart Murphy and Edward Miller)

Kathy Stemke on Education Tipster
Kathy Stemke on Helium Kathy Stemke on Associated ContentKathy Stemke’s Website

Handwriting Word Clues

For capital A, start at the rooftop, go down the slide to the sidewalk, then down the slide the other way, and cross at the fence.
For lowercase a, don't start at the fence. Start under the fence. Go up and touch the fence, then around and touch the sidewalk, around and straight down.
For capital B, go straight down to the sidewalk, around for his big chest, and around for his big tummy.
For lowercase b, start at the roof, go down, b-b-bounce up and around.
For capital C, start just below the rooftop, go up to touch, around, and up.
For lowercase c, start like little a: Go up and touch the fence, then around and up.
For capital D, start at the roof, go straight down, pick up, and go around.
For lowercase d, first little c, then little d.
For capital E, go down for a strong backbone, over for his hat, over for his belt, over for his shoes.
For lowercase e, get in the center of the space below the fence; go toward the door (or window), up to touch the fence, around and up.
For capital F, go down, over for his hat, over for his belt (but no shoes).
For lowercase f, start to make a little c up in the air, then straighten it out, go down, and cross at the fence.
For capital G, form a big C, then come back to the line to give him a tray to hold straight.
For lowercase g, first make a, then, gee, that's a good idea: If the ball falls, it falls into the basket.
For capital H, down for a wall, down for a wall, then cross at the fence.
For lowercase h, start at the rooftop, come down, and hump over.
For capital I, start with a straight back, then give him his headdress and his moccasins.
For lowercase i, go down from the fence, and give him a feather.
For capital J, go down, and turn to make a basket, and put his hat on.
For lowercase j, start at the fence, go down through the sidewalk, and turn the same way, and give him a dot.
For capital K, go down, come out here, into the center, and down to the sidewalk.
Lowercase k is just as tall as his daddy. Start at the rooftop, go down, pick up at the fence, into the center and down.
For capital L, go down and turn the corner.
For lowercase l, just a straight line down from the rooftop to the sidewalk.
For capital M, go down straight, down the slide, up the slide, and down straight.
For lowercase m, go down, hump around, hump around.
For capital N, go down straight, down the slide, down straight.
For lowercase n, go down, up, and hump over.
For capital O, always form a C first, and then close it up.
For lowercase o, same way: first a little c and close it up.
For capital P, go down, pick up, and around to the fence.
For lowercase p, start at the fence, go straight down into the ditch, come up and put his chin on the sidewalk.
For capital Q, first make a big O, and give the queen her walking stick.
For lowercase q, start with an a, come down, and give the queen some curly hair.
For capital R, down, pick up, and around to the fence, then slant down.
For lowercase r, down, up, and hook over.
For capital S, first form a c up in the air between the rooftop and the fence, then swing back.
For lowercase s, form a tiny c up in the air, and then swing back.
For capital T, go down and cross at the top.
Lowercase t is just a teenager, not as tall as his daddy, but not short either; cross at the fence.
For capital U, down, curve, and up (no stem).
For lowercase u, down, curve up, and straight down for a stem.
For capital V, slant down and up.
For lowercase v, slant down and up.
For capital W, slant down, up, down, up.
For lowercase w, down, up, down, up.
For capital X, down on a slant, pick up, back in the other direction.
For lowercase x, down and back.
For capital Y, start with a v up in the air, and put a stem on it.
For lowercase y, go down on a slant, pick up your pencil, slant down, touch, and on into the ditch.
For capital Z, make a 7, and then go back.
For lowercase z, make a little 7, and then go back.

Teaching Toddlers to Read

Children develop much of their capacity to read in the first three years of life, when their brains grow to 90% of their adult weight. Talking, singing and reading to your child develops and strengthens links between their brain cells which enable them to understand and develop language skills. Therefore, you should read to your toddler as often as possible. Teach him the alphabet, letter sounds, and some simple sight words. Then teach him to blend sounds together to make words. Because a toddler has a short attention span, you need to keep the practice sessions very short and full of fun.

Reading aloud to your child helps your child to learn the correct way to read. By hearing you read the words on the page and sound them out, he learns that letters make words, and words make sentences, and sentences are how we communicate with each other. Communication is very important in how a person relates to the rest of the world. Reading aloud to your child encourages interpersonal communication, which is vital to a child's development.

There are many activities that will make reading fun, and help to keep the toddler engaged in reading.

1. Use musical instruments to create suspense, or silliness. This can bring a story to life as well as keep each child engaged. You can even have them make simple shakers with beans or rice inside a can. They can use it at different times. For example: shake the shaker when you hear the word ______.

2. Have the children act out what you read. If the character walks to the store, they should be able to walk in place as they reach a door and open it and grab some groceries. This should be fun and can help on those days it's raining out and their energy levels are high.

3. Use a prop bag to illustrate parts of the story. If your reading “Miss Spider’s Tea Party,” you might have a rubber spider, silk butterflies, a tea cup, and a handkerchief to wipe the spider’s tears away.

4. Ask your child questions about the story. Reading comprehension is one of the hardest things to teach a child if it doesn't come naturally to him. In order to comprehend something, you must be paying attention to it. Help your child to develop his ability to comprehend stories by asking him questions either about what he thinks is about to happen or what has already happened. This develops critical thinking, which helps later in life in making major decisions.

5. Do a fun activity after you finish the book that relates to the book in some way. For instance, if the book is about a tall person, make your own stilts using metal cans. If you read a book about lions or the circus, you can have your child jump through a hoop like a lion at the circus. This activity may be done indoors or outdoors. Add words of encouragement such as, "Come my beautiful lion!" Continue raising the hoop, then alternate between high and low.

Reading to your child on a regular basis will give him an appreciation and respect for reading. If reading is important to you, it will become important to your child. A bookcase full of a variety of great books should be available. The "Dr. Seuss" and "Dick and Jane" books are wonderful, because they are full of repetition. This will enable your child to learn sight words such as: it, at, on, in, the, etc. Learning sight words will help keep the frustration level down when they start to read books.

Here’s a fun sight word game called, “Stinky Cheese.” Cut triangles out of yellow construction paper. On 20 triangles write sight words that you want to practice. On 5 triangles write “stinky cheese.” Put the triangles in a sack and shake them up. The toddler pulls out a triangle. The child reads the sight word on his cheese. If he chooses “stinky cheese,” he holds his nose and says, “Stinky cheese!” in a silly voice.

Most toddlers are physically active and love to move. Take advantage of this natural trait by moving to short rhymes that introduce letter sounds. An A-Z list of Action Animal Phonics Rhymes that promote lots of movement can be found on this blog in the blog archive. Introduce a new sound each week and have fun.

Toddlers learn quickly with hands on activities. Make clay out of flour, salt, and warm water. Form a large A, a, and apple out of the clay. After the letters and apple dry have fun painting them and practice the letter sounds by singing silly songs. Take turns thinking of a word that begins with that letter/ sound. For example: say "A is for a a a a aaaaligator." You’ll be surprised what words the toddler will come up with. Your toddler will be proud of the letters he makes and will want to show them to everyone.

Another great way to teach a toddler letter sounds is to make a personalized book. Take a photo of the toddler with food that starts with each letter and paste it on top of an 8”-11” piece of paper. Under each picture with large letters write, Aa – Brian eats an apple, Bb- Brian eats a banana, Cc- Brian eats a carrot, etc. He will certainly learn his name, learn the letter sounds, and enjoy seeing himself in his phonics book.

Once your toddler has learned the letter sounds, it's time to start blending them together to make words. Here, too, fun must be a vital ingredient. Plain Unifix cubes are a wonderful manipulative for the development of small motor movements in toddlers. By gluing uppercase and lowercase letters to each cube and cover with clear nail polish for durability you can use them to teach reading skills as well. Make several sets of each. Make sets of opposite words, rhyming words, and sight words.

1. These are great for practicing the alphabet. You can link them together using all uppercase, all lowercase or uppercase A-lowercase a.
2. Put each child’s name in a zip lock bag for name practice.
3. You can build words with them.
4. They are great for word families too. Have (a-t) linked together and ask what letter can go in front to make a word.
5. Link together word opposites like, big-small, or long-short.
6. Link together words that rhyme like red-bed, or tall-fall.
7. Practice reading sight words that are on the cubes. Make a tower of correct and incorrect words. Try again on the incorrect words. Try to make a giant tower with all the sight words correct.

By making reading fun with exciting books, games, and manipulatives, toddlers will learn to read naturally. Fill their world with letters and words by decorating their rooms with alphabet posters and shelves of colorful books. My daughter was eager to learn, and she was reading just before her third birthday. But, each child is an individual with their own interests and timetable. The key to teaching toddlers to read is to surround them with fun reading tools, and let them set the their own pace for exploration and reading.