Friday, September 16, 2011

Reviewing Trains and the Letter "T"

What a week! We've choo choo'd our way all the way to Friday and today is the last day to give "T" a little more love.

For the Activity Binder:
I love love looooove this letter "T" image from Counting Coconuts. Create this as a great insert for the activity binder.


Materials
Construction Paper
Scissors


Review Activities
* Review your song for the week
* Re-read a favorite book
* Talk about the letter "T" and think about some other words that start with the letter "T":
* Tree
* Table
* Two
* TICKLES!!!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Piece Together a Train

Today we are doing a craft for the EXPERT train observer (and I'd say your little one is an expert after the fun week you've been having!). Using index cards and cut-out circles, assemble a train together. What is the caboose? What is the head car? This is a great opportunity to be able to go over the different parts of the train.


By the way, have you sung the Train song lately?

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Story Day! Make a "T"ent and read in it

If you haven't already, now it's time to crack into the books that you picked up from the library this week.

I think daily reading is essential for children, but this day make it even more special. Since we are going with the whole letter "T" theme this week, you can make a TENT by draping sheets over the couch....then READ UNDER IT TOGETHER. How fun is that? What kid doesn't like a fort. You can even bust out the flashlights to make it extra cool. My little warning though, just don't leave little ones alone around it, you don't want them to get trapped.



Have you checked out Good Reads? It is a great site to track the books you have read. I will track each book my child reads and give it a rating. Then I can go back and re-check out the books that got five star ratings. You can add books to "bookshelves." These are essentially tags. So I have "Dinosaur Train" and since my oldest read it with me, it goes on "K's bookshelf." However, since my youngest read it as well, it goes on "J's bookshelf." That way I can see which books each child read and liked!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Train hunt at the library

Library
Today is LIBRARY DAY! That means that you get to head on over to the library and go on a book scavenger hunt! Ask your child to find books about trains. You can help them out. If you can't find any, ask a librarian or even hope on a computer and put some books on reserve for your next trip to the library. Make it your goal to come home with 1 or 2 books about trains. (If you want to know what we will be covering in future weeks so you can get some books on reserve, check the sidebar on the right of this website).

One of the favorites (goodness, I have NO idea why!) is Dinosaur Train.
It is well loved by both kids in the house. Dinosaurs and Trains, kinda sounds like Snakes on a Plane, right? But the kids love it! I like the book because my daughter was very puzzled when the train tipped over, so it gave me a chance to explain how they go on the tracks and if the train isn't on the tracks, it can't move (let's just hope she doesn't have a permanent fear that a train will fall off the tracks!).

Is your library is closed? Check out some of the Wing It exercises for this week and maybe hit up the library some other day.

Letter
Also, take a chance today to review the letter of the week. You can draw it on a whiteboard, you can cut out the letter. Find some visual and put it up in your kid's room for the week. Try to talk about the letter a lot. While getting dressed in the morning, before bed, etc.

T t

Monday, September 12, 2011

Introducing Theme Day: Trains

This week is all about TRAINS


Introduction
Show a picture of a Train to your little one (double the fun. Print up this coloring page here, that way you have some a "wing-it" coloring activity):
Ask:
What is this?
What does it do?
What sound does it make?
Show that trains ride on tracks.
What letter does train start with? This is the letter of the week!


Let's also check out this fun song about trains



Craft
I really like this tutorial found at firstpallette.com. Here is the original link



Materials

  • Printable paper
  • Construction paper
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • Glue stick
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Animal magazine cut-outs (optional)
Prep: Print up animal templates. Since my little one's version of coloring is one streak across the page, I figured I would do the colored ones, although they have black and white ones as well!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Spiritual Sunday: Sharing

This lesson is adapted from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Nursery Book.


Have a family member describe what sharing is any why is it important.


Song:
Friends are Fun


Sharing Cube
Color, cut, and assemble the "Sharing Cube." Then have each family member roll the dice and practice sharing whatever that item is (you may want to start with adults first so they can set the example).


Movie
Cinderella
(P.S. You may want to share a bowl of ice cream while watching the movie *wink wink*)

Saturday, September 10, 2011

This Week's Theme: Trains

Sunday: Spiritual Day - On this day we will talk about sharing and why it is great to do when playing with others

Monday: Theme Day (craft and song) - On this day we make a little 2-dimensional train with animals in it and we talk about trains.
Materials
Printable paper
Construction paper
Crayons or colored pencils
Glue stick
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
Animal magazine cut-outs (optional)

Tuesday: Library and Letters - On this day we visit the library and try to find books on trains. We also chat about the letter T

Wednesday: Story Day - On this day we will make a "T"ent and read in it. How fun is that?!
Materials
Sheets and chairs
Books (of your choice)
Flashlight (totally optional, but totally awesome)

Thursday: Craft Day - We will assemble a train together
Materials
Index Cards or construction paper

Friday: Review Day
Today we are just going to review Trains and the letter T. We will also chat about what else starts with the letter "T" We will also add our activities to our activity binder
Materials
Binder
Construction paper
Glue