Boat creations

We make a lot of things out of "beautiful junk" or so I call it! Anything that is trash, but can be made into something GREAT is nothing like trash.

So today we made our own little boats out of my old plastic baby food containers. A few of the kids wanted to try the glass ones too, which I'm sure would float also! We went to work gluing on straws and cutting out triangles and of course decorating our "boats" with stickers and markers. I do let my kids use permanent markers often, but we discuss them every time and how important it is to be careful with them. So far, we've had minor accidents on the skin with them but nothing else - kids are so willing to listen when we explain it to them!!

Now, take these boats home and see if they'll float!! FYI: foam sails would work best so they can actually go in water. We happened to use construction paper today.

Happy sailing!

Wagon, Cars, and Boats Snack

For our snack today we made our own transportation vehicles. YUMMY!!

For these boats.....just cut your hard-boiled egg in half lengthwise. Remove the yolk and mix with mayonnise and parmesian cheese. Fill the egg cavity with yolk mixture. You can use toothpicks or celery strips to help the cheese stand up as the sail. VOILA - you've got yourself the cutest edible boat that the kids go crazy for!!

I realize I'm not the best picture taker, but these will have to do!! These wagon/cars are pretty self explanatory. Basically you can fill your celery with ranch or peanut butter, stick toothpicks in for the axels and stick on your carrots and raisins. If you want a wagon, stick the toothpick out the front with a raisin on the end for the handle. If you want a car stick the toothpick standing up tall with a carrot for the steering wheel. OR you can let the kids explore for themselves how or what they would like to make!!

Happy car making!!

Color WHEELS

Since many things that are "transportation" have wheels, we like to make something I call "Color Wheels". The kids are always amazed at how these turn out and are so excited to see a crayon take on a different shape - oooooo!!

I put a bucket of crayons in the middle of the table and invite the children to remove the papers and break the crayons into pieces. When they are finished preparing their crayons, give them paper cupcake liners and put their crayon pieces in their liners. Put them in a muffin tin and then put the crayons in a warm oven. When they are melted or squishy, remove them and let them cool.

When we did this I didn't have muffin liners and it almost worked better......To get them out, I just sat the muffin tin in hot water to loosen the wheels from the sides and they came right out.

Sink or Float?

Today we discussed how a boat and different objects are able to float! Floating and sinking depends on an objects density. If an object is more dense than water, it sinks. If it is less dense than water, it floats. An object is more dense than water if it weighs more than the same amount (volume) of water! WOW - what great new vocabulary words we learned today!!

One of the experiments we did was we rolled a lump of clay into a ball and put it in the water? What happens? Then, we molded the clay into the shape of a boat, and put it back in the water. What happens? AWESOME!!

Why does a ship float? Steel has a higher density than water, so why does a steel shop float? (same idea as the clay experiment). The inside of the ship is hollow and contains air which is less dense than water.

Transportation brush painting

For this activity, you'll need different sized brushes and about 4 or 5 different colors of paint and paper!

Simply put the materials out and let the children paint pictures of anything they want. We have obviously been talking about transportation and it seems what we are learning about is where a lot of the children's interests lead. I like to sit with them and discuss what they are painting, what they know about it, why the like it, and I add in little bits of information that they will help their interest grow......it's called teacher guidance and it's wonderful!!!

Brush painting is one of the most child centered, open ended, creative activities you can offer a group of preschoolers. In my classroom, whenever we have brush painting, the children can paint zero or ten pictures a day. I leave it up to them and I don't try and dictate a theme, but it often goes toward what we are learning about. The children may extend our "theme" into the experience for themselves. Or, they may just want to paint a picture of something that happened to them at home and that's great too!!

Happy painting!!

Transportation Time

In the block area for our transportation theme today we had these mini plastic vehicles and the transportation mat. I LOVE these little vehicles! They are so durable and the kids love to explore with them. You can get them from any of the major child development companies like Lake Shore, Discount School Supplies, etc.

At the time I took this picture the mat was a little kiddie wompus (is that a word?)....but the kids absolutley loved the mat today and driving, flying, boating, their way from the hospital to the police station to the school, etc. What a great way to explore transportion!!

Transportation magazine collages

Hello to all - FINALLY again! We've had quite a week around here...my 9 month old got RSV and was in the hospital for about 5 days. Thank goodness that is over and now I am BACK!! Hurray!

This week we are moving on with our themes to Transportation! At the art table we made collages by cutting out pictures from magazines that were "transportation" pictures. I save my kids magazines I get and catalogs for cutting up in preschool.

There was so much discussion about what is or is not a transportation picture. Some of the kids were laughing up a storm, "A banana is NOT transportation - that is so silly!" What cuties.

We also talked about all of the different types of transportation we each had and ones we wish we could try. We had a lot in common with bikes, our own legs, cars or trucks, scooters, roller skates, etc. It also seemed that we had a lot in common on what we WISHED we could do.....hot air balloons, trains, tractors, BIG boats, etc.

The cutting that happens in this activity is so great for small motor development and the children really get to start using their thinking skills to look for a "specific" picture throughout the magazines!!

happy transporting!

Transportation - Day 4

Self-Selected Activities (AM 9:00-9:45..PM 12:30-1:15) *Cut and Color Table: SEWING CARDS - Students will sew different vehicles cut out of paper with pre-punched holes using yarn. Not only will this develop their small motor skills for writing, but it will also develop their eye-hand-coordination.

*Messy Table: CRACKING AIRPLANE PEANUTS - The messy table will be filled with peanuts today. This is to go along with the dramatic play "airplane setup". The students will develop their fine motor skills as they shell the peanuts and also use their senses as they feel, smell, taste and hear the different things going on at this table.

*Creative Art: PAINT A VEHICLE - Different vehicles will be cut out of large construction paper. The students will be able to choose which ones they would like to paint. This enhances their creativity as they create their vehicle. The teacher will guide discussion about transportation and vehicles.

*Dramatic Play: AIRPLANE - The dramatic play will continue the airplane setup today. Seats, costumes, airplane manuals, etc. Imaginations and social skills will be developed in this area.

Snack (small groups come at different times to eat during self-selected activities, unless we are making our snack. Then we will eat it during Large Group.)

*Snack: MYSTERY MUFFINS - this snack is helping learn about beginning sounds..our letter of the week is Mm. The children will develop basic math skills as we measure out the ingredients. We will all get to stir, smell and taste the delicious muffins as we talk about all the different things that start with Mm.

Large Group (AM 9:50-10:15..PM 1:20-1:45)

*Large Group: We will start large group by singing from the song can. This help the children get right into the group and get involved. We will start by making our Mystery Muffins so we have time to bake them. As they are baking we will read a book and talk more about transportation and safety. After we have enjoyed our delicous snack, we will practice the letter Mm.

*Transition: STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN - We will sing the song Stop, Look, and Listen as we hook up as a train and practice this interactive song.

Outside Play (AM 10:15-10:25..PM 1:45-1:55)

Small Group (AM 10:30-11:00..PM 2:00-2:30)

* Small Group: We will start small group by reading a book. Giving the kids a chance to relax and listen to a story about our theme. We will do more with graphing as we talk about the different things we like and graph them. We will discuss all of the differences between us and which things have more or less, etc.

Transportation - Day 3

Self-Selected Activities(AM 9:00-9:45..PM 12:30-1:15) * Cut and Color Table: PAPER AIRPLANES - We will make paper airplanes today which is always a fun activity! The students will develop their folding skills (fine motor skills) as the teacher assists them in folding the airplanes. They will also get to decorate them with the colors they choose using markers and crayons. After they are finished the children will enjoy flying their airplanes around the room. This often turns into a race or who's airplane twists, goes fastest, falls short, goes the farthest, etc. The kids really enjoy this!

*Messy Table: - RAINBOW CRAYON WHEELS - Old crayons, and muffin tins will be placed in the messy table today. The children will have the opportunity to peel their favorite color of crayons, break them into pieces and put them in the muffin tins. Later, we will bake them in the oven to melt the crayons. They will then turn into "color wheels". These are fun to make because the colors mix together causing a cool swirling effect and they are super fun to color with after because they are made of the students favorite colors and they got to take part in the creation!! The teacher will guide discussion on transportation that has wheels.

*Creative Art: EASEL PAINTING - The children will enjoy easel painting today. This is an enjoyable activity because it's something the children don't often do on a regular basis. The teacher will guide discussion about transportation and vehicles and see if it takes effect into their art. Their creativity will be developed.

*Dramatic Play: AIRPLANE - The dramatic play center will be made into an airplane today. The seats will be set up as an airplane, with costumes, airplane manuals, etc. Imaginations and social skills are developed in this area.

Snack (small groups come at different times to eat during self-selected activities, unless we are making our snack. Then we will eat it during Large Group.)

* Snack: WAGONS - We'll be making our snack as a large group today. Using celery, carrot rounds, toothpicks and raisins we will be constructing our own wagons. See the recipe page to find out how to make them!! Children will develop small motor skills as they put their wagons together and gain a sense of accomplishment. We will talk about the different ways they have used wagons as we put them together.

Large Group (AM 9:50-10:15..PM 1:20-1:45)

* Large Group: Happy Birthday Matthew! Large group will start by singing songs from the song can. The children will then develop their speaking skills and standing in front of a group as they share their share n' teach object if they brought one. We will then make our "Wagons" snack. This is made out of celery, carrots, raisins, and peanut butter. Not only will we get to explore new tastes, but the children will also gain a sense of accomplishment as they make their own wagon. We will then read a book on transportation. As the children listen and the teacher asks questions to involve them, they will learn more about vehicles and transportation. We will then learn the letter Mm through song and talk about the sound it makes and beginning sounds.

* Transition: ROW YOUR BOAT PARTNERS - the kids will get into partners and put their feet together and hold hands. As we go forward and back we will sing "Row, Row, Row your boat". This is a strengthening exercise and will also help the children develop new friendships.

Outside Play (AM 10:15-10:25..PM 1:45-1:55)

Small Group (AM 10:30-11:00..PM 2:00-2:30)

* Small Group: We will read "The Foot Book" and talk about how feet are also a form of transportation. How are the different ways we can move with our feet? Each child will get a chance to share a way they move with their feet. We will then graph different forms of transportation. Using little vehicles, we'll place them on a graph mat and discuss which one has more, less, etc.

Transportation - Day 2

Self Selected Activities (AM 9:00-9:45..PM 12:30-1:15)

* Cut and Color Table: CREATE-A-VEHICLE - The students will be able to use a variety of objects and “beautiful junk” to create their own vehicles. They will develop their creativity, small motor skills and social development as they interact and get ideas from friends and the teacher.

* Messy Table: CARS, TRUCKS, TRAINS WITH WET SAND - Different types of vehicles will be placed in the Messy table along with wet sand. This will be fun for the students to manipulate and roll play in!! Imaginations and social interaction will kick into gear with this fun and messy activity.

* Creative Art: CAR WHEEL PAINTING - Cars with turny wheels and paint will be set out at the art table today. The children will be able to dip their car wheels into the paint and roll them on their pieces of paper. This activity will develop new experiences, small motor skills and let them discover the different patterns and tracks various objects can make.

* Dramatic Play: BUS STATION - The dramatic play area will be set up as a bus station with chairs, a large steering wheel, stop sign, whistles, tickets, ticket booth, etc. This will be a fun chance to roll play and socialize while playing like they are riding a bus!

Snack (small groups come at different times to eat during self-selected activities, unless we are making our snack. Then we will eat it during Large Group.)

* Snack: We will make “cracker wheels” and have juice today for snack. We will be making this during large group and then eating it. This activity will give the children experiences of cooking and measuring, and a sense of accomplishment as they create their own snack. See "The Recipe page" to know how to make Cracker Wheels.

Large Group (AM 9:50-10:15....PM 1:20-1:45)

* Large Group: Celebrate Cambree's Birthday today! Large group will start by singing songs from the song can and also sing the transportation songs we learned on Tuesday. The children will then develop their listening skills as they listen to a transportation book and help Miss Chelsea predict, repeat, and ask questions. We will then make our "Cracker Wheels" discussing all different types of transportation and our favorite types of transportation, but especially transportation with wheels. We'll end large group by practicing the letter Ll discussing things that start with 'L' and "Lacing" shoes. Young children usually enjoy learning things they watch grownups do - so learning how to 'L'ace and tie their shoes is something they look forward to.

* Transition: GAME - Slow-Stop-Go - We will have a red Stop sign, a green Go sign and a Yellow slow sign. As we listen to music, the children will have to watch for the movement signals. When they see the GREEN sign, dance quickly; Yellow sign, dance slowly; Red sign, stop!

Outside Play (AM 10:15-10:25...PM 1:45-1:55)

* Small Group: The teacher will start with a transportation book helping to develop listening skills and also predictability by asking questions and getting them involved. As a group we will discuss Transportation Safety and all of the different safety rules we can think of that have to do with transportation. The kids usually enjoy discussions like this because we don't have to stay thinking inside the box - it can be any type of transportation and any type of safety rule, it gets fun! If there is time left over we will practice our "Ll's" on the white board (they love the whiteboard!)

Transportation - Day 1

Self-Selected Activities (AM 9:00-9:45....PM 12:30-1:15)

*Cut and Color Table: VEHICLE COLLAGE - Students will look through magazines to find different vehicles (guided by the teacher) and make a collage out of them. Discussion such as, the kind of vehicle they have, transportation they have been on before, what kind of vehicle or transportation would they like to go on, what vehicles paste the pictures onto their paper. Vocal development and vocabulary will be enhanced also social development as they work together.

* Messy Table: CARS, TRUCKS, TRAINS, WITH WET SAND - Different types of vehicles will be placed in the Messy table along with wet sand. This will be fun for the students to manipulate and roll play in!! Imaginations and social interaction will kick into gear with this fun and messy activity.

* Creative Art: PAINT A VEHICLE - Different vehicles will be cut out of large construction paper. The students can choose which ones they would like to paint. This helps their small motor skills and creativity as they create their vehicle. Sometimes just the joy of painting is enough for them!!

* Dramatic Play: BUS STATION - The dramatic play area will be set up as a bus station with chairs, a large steering wheel, stop sign, whistles, tickets, ticket booth, etc. This will be a fun chance to roll play and socialize while playing like they are riding a bus!

Snack (small groups come at different times to eat during self-selected activities, unless we are making our snack. Then it will be done during Large Group.)

* Snack: GOLDFISH AND WATER - We will eat goldfish and water for snack today. Self help skills will be developed as the children pour their own water, get their goldfish, cups and napkins. The children will converse with each other developing their socials skills and taking turns.

Large Group (AM 9:50-10:15 PM 1:20-1:45)

* Large Group: Large group will start by singing songs from the song can. We will learn a few new transportation songs throughout the week and we will incorporate them into our song can. The children will enhance their speaking skills by sharing their “share n’ teach” object and also enhance taking turns. We will read a transportation book which will develop listening skills and help the kids relax after a busy day. We will learn the letter Ll through song and sign language and learn how it is written. The children will then practice their letter Ll’s on their own piece of paper. We will talk about things that start with ‘L’ and each child will get two pieces of licorice to make their own Ll’s out of word that starts with ‘Ll’.

* Transition: For transition, we will brainstorm what transportation is and the different kinds of transportation. The teacher will guide the beginning and the children should have fun trying to figure out all sorts of different ways to get around this world. Not only with our bodies but also from horses, to bikes, and a Hot air balloons to trains, the list could go on and on.

Outside Play (AM 10:15-10:25 PM 1:45-1:55)

Small Group (AM 10:30-11:00 PM 2:00-2:30)

* Small Group: The teacher will read a transportation book helping to develop listening skills and also predictability by asking questions and getting them involved. Each child will then get a turn putting their hand in a “Feely Box” with all sorts of different toy forms of transportation. The student has to feel it only and guess what it is. If they guess it write, they get to hold the object. We will then play a game of “Red Light, Green Light”…One player is the light and turns his back to the rest of the class. The “light” says “green light”, or “red light” which determines if the class runs or freezes. The first person to touch the “light” is the next “light”.