Letter P is for Plants and #16

Day 1    Letter P     Theme:  Plants   Number:  16

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Circle Time:  Morning learning songs. Introduce letter P and review letters A-:O.  Read "My P Book."  Introduce #16 and review #’s 1-15.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound.  Introduce song:  The Winter Song

(tune: Farmer in the Dell)

Let's sing a winter song,

Let's sing a winter song,

The days are short, the nights are long.

Let's sing a winter song.

The winter wind is cold,

The winter wind is cold,

It freezes noses, ears, and toes.

The winter wind is cold.

Winter now is here,

Winter now is here,

Put on your coat, your hat, your gloves, Winter now is here.  

From:  http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/ice/ice_songs.htm 

Snack:  Who has a snack that starts with P?  Some letter P snacks:  peanuts, pistachios, pickles, potato chips, pretzels, popcorn.  Think of others.
Bible:  From:  The Big Book of Bible Lessons (found at Majesty Christian store).  Listening to  advice and accepting instruction. Proverbs 19:20.  Make Scratchy Paintings.  
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Group Lesson:  Flannel board from Mailbox Superbook pgs. 99 and 102.  In advance, color and cut out pictures of plant parts; then prepare them for flannel board use.  Gather kids; present each piece of flower as you name it. Next, teach poem.  As you say each line together, invite a different volunteer to identify the appropriate plant part and place it on the flannel board.  Repeat so each child gets a turn.  Poem:
Let's make a plant with all its parts.
These are the roots where growing starts.
This is the stem so tall and lean.
These are the leaves so small and green.
This is the flower that blooms so wide
And grows tiny little seeds inside.
Lunch/Rest:  Read two books while children relax, listen and enjoy!
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  We have kind of gotten into a routine where, when we play outdoors, the children want me to chase them and try to catch them.  When our them of the week changes, I become whatever matches our theme and give chase!  I have been a Dinosaur for letter D, a Gorilla for letter G, and a Horse for letter H thus far.  Maybe for letter I Iguana might be appropriate!  For the letter J, it is the perfect time to become the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and give chase!    For letter K, I could be a King and give chase!  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: . Tissue paper flower: http://www.monkeysee.com/play/2994-kids-crafts-how-to-make-a-tissue-paper-flower.  
2.  Valentine Flowers with roots:  From Pinterst:  I will add roots by tearing up brown paper bags or construction paper to look like roots at the bottom.  Materials:  construction paper (flower color and green for leaves), black marker, craft sticks, root material (brown paper bags torn up or brown construction paper torn to look like roots).

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Day 2    Letter P     Theme:  Plants   Number:  16

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Circle Time:  Morning learning songs. Introduce letter P and review letters A-:O.  Read "My P Book."  Introduce #16 and review #’s 1-15.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound.  Introduce song:  The Winter Song

(tune: Farmer in the Dell)

Let's sing a winter song,

Let's sing a winter song,

The days are short, the nights are long.

Let's sing a winter song.

The winter wind is cold,

The winter wind is cold,

It freezes noses, ears, and toes.

The winter wind is cold.

Winter now is here,

Winter now is here,

Put on your coat, your hat, your gloves, Winter now is here.  

From:  http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/ice/ice_songs.htm 

Snack:  Who has a snack that starts with P?  Some letter P snacks:  peanuts, pistachios, pickles, potato chips, pretzels, popcorn.  Think of others.
Bible:  Read a Bible story. 
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Group Lesson:  Poem:
Let's make a plant with all its parts.
These are the roots where growing starts.
This is the stem so tall and lean.
These are the leaves so small and green.
This is the flower that blooms so wide
And grows tiny little seeds inside.
Use the flannel board plant cutouts and discuss what each part does for the plant:  root:  holds the plant in the ground and absorbs water and nutrients from the soil; stem:  carries the water and nutrients to the rest of the plant and helps support it and direct the leaves towards the sunlight for them to produce the food source for the plant; leaves:  make food for the plant; flowers:  make the seeds to make new flowers!  Read a book about plants!
Lunch/Rest:  Read two books while children relax, listen and enjoy!
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  We have kind of gotten into a routine where, when we play outdoors, the children want me to chase them and try to catch them.  When our them of the week changes, I become whatever matches our theme and give chase!  I have been a Dinosaur for letter D, a Gorilla for letter G, and a Horse for letter H thus far.  Maybe for letter I Iguana might be appropriate!  For the letter J, it is the perfect time to become the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and give chase!    For letter K, I could be a King and give chase!  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: Plant flowers in various unlikely receptacles--cans, old dishes, yogurt containers--anything lying around the house or school that would act as a flower pot--even an old shoe!  Purchase flowers and/or seeds and soil.  If using seeds, have the children draw a picture of what their seed will grow into, and glue the picture to a craft stick and insert it into the flower pot. Discuss what a plant needs to grow:  light, water, dirt

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Day 3    Letter P     Theme:  Plants   Number:  16

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Circle Time:  Morning learning songs. Introduce letter P and review letters A-:O.  Read "My P Book."  Introduce #16 and review #’s 1-15.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound.  Introduce song:  The Winter Song

(tune: Farmer in the Dell)

Let's sing a winter song,

Let's sing a winter song,

The days are short, the nights are long.

Let's sing a winter song.

The winter wind is cold,

The winter wind is cold,

It freezes noses, ears, and toes.

The winter wind is cold.

Winter now is here,

Winter now is here,

Put on your coat, your hat, your gloves, Winter now is here.  

From:  http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/ice/ice_songs.htm 

Snack:  Who has a snack that starts with P?  Some letter P snacks:  peanuts, pistachios, pickles, potato chips, pretzels, popcorn.  Think of others.
Bible:  Read a devotional and discuss.
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Group Lesson:  Teach song:  How Does a Flower Grow: (sung to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)
Oh, how does a flower grow, flower grow, flower grow?
Oh, how does a flower grow, in a garden?
First, there is a tiny seed, tiny seed, tiny seed
First, there is a tiny seed in the garden.
Next, there is a little sprout, little sprout, little sprout.
Next, there is a little sprout in the garden.
Then, a bud grows on the stem, on the stem, on the stem.
Then, a bud grows on the stem in the garden.
Last, there is a pretty flower, pretty flower, pretty flower.
Last, there is a pretty flower in the garden.

Game:  Reinforces counting:  Materials:  flower erasers, empty egg cartons, dice.  Directions:  Place the flower erasers in the middle of a table, in a basket or other container.  Give each child one egg carton.  Students take turns rolling the dice and placing the correct number of flowers in their egg carton.  When each compartment of their carton is filled, they are finished and may start over.
Lunch/Rest:  Read two books while children relax, listen and enjoy!
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  We have kind of gotten into a routine where, when we play outdoors, the children want me to chase them and try to catch them.  When our them of the week changes, I become whatever matches our theme and give chase!  I have been a Dinosaur for letter D, a Gorilla for letter G, and a Horse for letter H thus far.  Maybe for letter I Iguana might be appropriate!  For the letter J, it is the perfect time to become the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and give chase!    For letter K, I could be a King and give chase!  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: Homemade Chia Pets:  

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Letter O is for Ocean Lesson Plans and #15

Day 1    Letter O     Theme:  Ocean   Number: 15

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Circle Time:  Morning learning songs.  Introduce Letter O and review letters A-:N.  Read "My O Book."  Introduce #15 and review #’s 1-14.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound.  Knick Knack Paddywack song with motions.  Read a book about the ocean.
Snack:  Oatmeal cookies,Oreos, oranges (talk about these foods that start with O)
Bible:  Jesus Loves the Children:  "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."  Mark 10:14.  Talk about the meaning of the word blessed:  to ask God to do good things for another person.  Jesus Loves Me Bookmark craft using precut compressed styrofoam bookmarks, heart stickers and red marker.  Teacher will dot-write the words Jesus Loves (insert child's name) on bookmark, and children will decorate the bookmark.  
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Group Lesson:  Float and Sink Experiment: Children test items (cap, penny, marble, feather, toy fish, etc.) to see if they float or sink when placed in water.  Allow the children to hypothesize what will happen (can graph their guesses).  Then compare what happens with what they thought would happen.  Read a book about the ocean!
Lunch/Rest
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  Game:  need playground ball and masking tape.  Children will try to roll the ball toward the other children's feet as a kind of bowling game.  Children stand one-arm's length apart.  Bowler names a way Jesus showed love (welcomed children, taught about God, healed, died on cross, forgave sins) and rolls ball, trying to hit the feet of one of the human bowling pins.  First child hit with the ball becomes the bowler.  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: . Fishy Art:  .  From Mailbox Superbook page 167.  Copy fish pattern onto blue construction paper.  Cut out the fish and discard it or give it to the children to play with.  Set aside the resulting frame.   To make a fish painting, a child folds a sheet of construction paper in half and unfolds the paper.  He uses a paintbrush to drop several colors of paint onto one half of his paper.  He refolds the paper, gently presses the sides together, and unfolds the paper.  When the paint is dry, help him glue the prepared frame over his paper.  
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Day 2    Letter O     Theme:  Ocean   Number: 15

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Circle Time:  Morning learning songs.  Introduce Letter O and review letters A-:N.  #15 and review #’s 1-14.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound.  Knick Knack Paddywack song with motions.  Read a book about the ocean.Dive Under the Ocean Activity:  Put several ocean creatures under a sheet.  Call out a child's name and say, "(Child's name) dive under the ocean" then have that child go under the sheet and retrieve an ocean creature.  When they have their creature, have them tell the class what it is (or tell them if they do not know).  Provide information about each creature once the activity is finished.
Snack:  Oatmeal cookies,Oreos, oranges (talk about these foods that start with O)
Bible:  Read from the Jesus devotional book.  
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Group Lesson:  1.  Five Little Fishies in the Sea:  
Five little fishies in the sea, teasing Mr. Sharky
You can't catch me!  You can't catch me!
Well, along came Mr. Sharky (softly) as quiet as can be;
He snapped a fish up right out of the sea!
(Start with four little fishes and continue rhyming until you get to one little fishie.  The last line (instead of He snapped a fish up right out of the sea!) will become Now Mr. Sharky is lonely, can't you see. 
2.  Activity:  How long is a whale!  Ask kids if they know how long the largest sea creature in the world is.  Then get a rope (about 100 ft) and have them unwind it.  They will be amazed at how long a blue whale is.  
Lunch/Rest
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  Game:  need playground ball and masking tape.  Children will try to roll the ball toward the other children's feet as a kind of bowling game.  Children stand one-arm's length apart.  Bowler names a way Jesus showed love (welcomed children, taught about God, healed, died on cross, forgave sins) and rolls ball, trying to hit the feet of one of the human bowling pins.  First child hit with the ball becomes the bowler.  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: .Octopus Windsock:  From:  http://www.first-school.ws/t/octopus3d.htm.  
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Day 3    Letter O     Theme:  Ocean   Number: 15
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Circle Time:  Morning learning songs.  Letter O and review letters A-:N.  #15 and review #’s 1-14.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound.  Knick Knack Paddywack song with motions.  Read a book about the ocean.  Fishing for Letters:  Provide a magnet and magnetic letters.  Give each child an opportunity to "fish" for a letter and announce to the class which letter it is they "caught."
Snack:  Oatmeal cookies,Oreos, oranges (talk about these foods that start with O)
Bible:  Read from Children's Bible  
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Group Lesson: http://www.goddidcreations.com/oceananimalfacts.php:  
When a dolphin is sick or injured, its cries of distress summon immediate aid from other dolphins, who try to support it to the surface so that it can breathe.
Dolphins sleep with one half of the brain at a time, and one eye open.
Oysters can change from one gender to another and back again depending on which is best for mating. 
A dolphin's hearing is so acute that it can pick up an underwater sound from 24 kilometres away. .
Blue Whales weigh as much as 30 elephants
By swallowing water, the Pufferfish becomes too big for other fish to swallow. 
If a lobster loses a claw or an eye, it is usually able to grow another, although the new one is usually smaller. 
Dolphins sleep at night just below the surface of the water. They frequently rise to the surface for air. 
Shrimp can only swim backwards.
A blue whale's tongue is so large that fifty people could stand on it. 
A starfish can turn its stomach inside out. 
A baby grey whale drinks enough milk to fill more than 2000 bottles a day. 
The heart of a blue whale is the size of a small car. 
Giant cuttlefish have green blood.
Fish can’t close their eyes. They have no eyelids.
Fish never stop growing.  The older they get the bigger they grow.
Fish have cold blood.
Lobsters have blue blood.
When a crab loses a claw, another one grows in its place.
The seahorse is the fish that swims the slowest.
Whales breathe out of the blowhole that is on top of their head.
Octopuses are excellent climbers.  They have suction cups under their tentacles that help them stick to everything.
Lobsters are excellent swimmers and they use their fanned tails to move forwards and backwards.
Octopus can change their colour.
Shark's teeth are shaped like triangles or daggers
Sea sponges have no head, mouth, eyes, feelers, bones, heart, lungs or brain - yet they are alive.
Pearls are made from sand.
Octopuses and squids squirt black ink.
Lunch/Rest
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  Game:  need playground ball and masking tape.  Children will try to roll the ball toward the other children's feet as a kind of bowling game.  Children stand one-arm's length apart.  Bowler names a way Jesus showed love (welcomed children, taught about God, healed, died on cross, forgave sins) and rolls ball, trying to hit the feet of one of the human bowling pins.  First child hit with the ball becomes the bowler.  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: .Free Art - Child's choice  
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Letter N is for Nutrition and Number 14

Day 1    Letter N     Theme:  Nutrition   Number:  14

I discovered some very good lesson plans from Sesame Street for this unit.  I based most of my lessons from the Sesame Street site. Sign In:  
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Circle Time:  Morning learning songs.  Introduce Letter N and review letters A-:M.  Read "My N Book."  Introduce #14 and review #’s 1-13.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound.  
Snack:  Discuss what foods the children brought for snack are healthy, what colors they see, and why certain snacks are healthy.  Should we eat snacks throughout the day?  Explain that eating smaller meals more often is easier for digestion and keeps our metabolism (like fuel in a furnace) running constantly and smoothly.
Bible:  Read from devotional and discuss.
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Group Lesson:  Read "Growing Colors" by Bruce McMillan and have the children try to guess which food you are talking about.  For instance, "This food is very good for you.  It is red and has seeds and grows on a bush.  It is sweet to eat and some people put them in pies."  Answer:  raspberries.  Graph the children's favorite healthy foods.  Talk about "sometimes" food and "anytime" foods.  Sometimes foods are those that we keep to a minimum, because they are not as healthy.  Anytime foods are those foods that we can eat any time, because they are so good for us and help our bodies grow!
Lunch/Rest
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  We have kind of gotten into a routine where, when we play outdoors, the children want me to chase them and try to catch them.  When our them of the week changes, I become whatever matches our theme and give chase!  I have been a Dinosaur for letter D, a Gorilla for letter G, and a Horse for letter H thus far.  Maybe for letter I Iguana might be appropriate!  For the letter J, it is the perfect time to become the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and give chase!    For letter K, I could be a King and give chase!  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: .  Letter N is for Nest.  
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Day 2    Letter N     Theme:  Nutrition   Number:  14
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Circle Time:  Morning learning songs.  Letter N and review letters A-:M.  #14 and review #’s 1-13.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound.  
Snack:  Discuss what foods the children brought for snack are healthy, what colors they see, and why certain snacks are healthy.  Should we eat snacks throughout the day?  Explain that eating smaller meals more often is easier for digestion and keeps our metabolism (like fuel in a furnace) running constantly and smoothly.
Bible:  God's Family and Families in general. Discuss foreigners and feeling left out.  Discuss the benefits of families and being in God's family.  Make construction paper Family Trees  children will tell teacher about family members they can think of (grandma, etc.)
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Group Lesson:  Read "Feast for 10" by Houghton Miffln and do Math Link at end of story. Discuss what our plates should look like for meals. I purchased dry erase place mats with pictures of a plate, cup, silverware and napkin on it.  The children can draw what our plates should include for each meal.
Lunch/Rest
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  We have kind of gotten into a routine where, when we play outdoors, the children want me to chase them and try to catch them.  When our them of the week changes, I become whatever matches our theme and give chase!  I have been a Dinosaur for letter D, a Gorilla for letter G, and a Horse for letter H thus far.  Maybe for letter I Iguana might be appropriate!  For the letter J, it is the perfect time to become the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and give chase!    For letter K, I could be a King and give chase!  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: .1.   Healthy foods bracelets.  2.   Spiral Snowman:  

What You'll Need:

White paper plate

Construction paper: black, green, red

8-inch length cord

Pencil

Scissors

Fine-point markers: black, orange

Craft glue

1/8-inch hole punch

1. Draw a spiral on the plate, starting in the center and radiating outward. Leave a small circle in the center for the head. Cut along the lines of the spiral.
2. Draw the eyes, nose, and mouth on the head (the center of the spiral) with black marker. Color the nose orange. Fold the head upward.
3. Download the hat pattern and the arm pattern. Trace the hat and arm patterns on black paper twice; cut out. Apply glue to one side of each hat piece, and sandwich them together with the snowman's head in between. Let dry. Glue one arm to each side of the first spiral below the head; let dry.
4. Draw two holly leaves on green paper; cut out. Use the hole punch to make a red berry from the red paper. Glue the holly leaves and the berry to the hat.
5. Punch a hole in the top of the hat. Fold the cord in half, and tie the ends together. Push the cord loop through the hole, and thread the tied ends of the cord through the loop of the cord; pull tight.From:  http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/christmas-ornaments-and-decoration-crafts23.htm

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Day 3    Letter N     Theme:  Nutrition   Number:  14
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Circle Time:  Morning learning songs. Letter N and review letters A-:M.  #14 and review #’s 1-13.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound.  
Snack:  Discuss what foods the children brought for snack are healthy, what colors they see, and why certain snacks are healthy.  
Bible:  Read a Bible story from Children's BIble
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Group Lesson:  Read "Manners in the Lunchroom" by Amanda Doering Tourville. Discuss Fun Facts at end of the story.  Think about foods that start with each letter of the alphabet.  A is for apple, B is for banana, etc.
Lunch/Rest
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  We have kind of gotten into a routine where, when we play outdoors, the children want me to chase them and try to catch them.  When our them of the week changes, I become whatever matches our theme and give chase!  I have been a Dinosaur for letter D, a Gorilla for letter G, and a Horse for letter H thus far.  Maybe for letter I Iguana might be appropriate!  For the letter J, it is the perfect time to become the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and give chase!    For letter K, I could be a King and give chase!  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: Painting with fruits and veggies.  Provide the children with various fruits/veggies and paints.  Allow them to "paint" with the various food items and make whatever their hearts desire!
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Letter M is for Mouse and #13

Day 1    Letter M     Theme:  Mouse   Number:  13
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Circle Time:  Morning learning songs.  Introduce Letter M and review letters A-:L.  Read "My M Book."  Introduce #13 and review #’s 1-12.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound. 
Snack:  We sorted M&Ms (Christmas ones so only red and green ones.  I gave each child a large handful of M&M's.  The children graphed how many red ones they had and how many green ones.
Bible:  Read story about Moses
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Group Lesson:  Read "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" and do corresponding story strip.
Lunch/Rest
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  We have kind of gotten into a routine where, when we play outdoors, the children want me to chase them and try to catch them.  When our them of the week changes, I become whatever matches our theme and give chase!  I have been a Dinosaur for letter D, a Gorilla for letter G, and a Horse for letter H thus far.  Maybe for letter I Iguana might be appropriate!  For the letter J, it is the perfect time to become the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and give chase!    For letter K, I could be a King and give chase!  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: Draw a Winter Scene:  Give students chalk, glitter glue, cotton balls, etc. and ask them to draw anything that reminds them of winter.
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Day 2    Letter M     Theme:  Mouse   Number:  13
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Circle Time:  Morning learning songs.  Letter M and review letters A-:L.   #13 and review #’s 1-12.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound.  Read a mouse-themed book (I always am on the lookout for books that correspond to my themes each week, so I often have 5-10 books based on my themes.
Snack
Bible:  Read story about Moses
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Group Lesson:  See how many number 13's you can make!  I printed out many #1's and cut them out, and I printed out many #3's and cut them out.  The children are to look for the hidden numbers (I will hide them around the house) and then try to make as many #13's as possible by putting their found numbers together!  Human Clock:  My daughter printed out the numbers on a clock on a sheet of paper, so #'s 1-12.  She placed them on the floor as they would appear on a clock, so in circular formation.  She made two clock hands, the larger hand and the smaller hand.  She explained how o'clock means the long hand is pointing to the 12 (the minute hand) and the short hand will point to whatever hour of the day it is.  The children caught on right away and enjoyed when my daughter asked them to make it 7 o'clock, then 8 o'clock and so on. 
Lunch/Rest
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  We have kind of gotten into a routine where, when we play outdoors, the children want me to chase them and try to catch them.  When our them of the week changes, I become whatever matches our theme and give chase!  I have been a Dinosaur for letter D, a Gorilla for letter G, and a Horse for letter H thus far.  Maybe for letter I Iguana might be appropriate!  For the letter J, it is the perfect time to become the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and give chase!    For letter K, I could be a King and give chase!  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: Macaroni stringing.  I purchased macaroni and will provide string.  The children will practice fine motor skills by stringing the macaroni into bracelets or necklaces.  I am going to also test and see if I can turn the macaroni colors by using food coloring.  I will try this WITH the children as an additional experiment.  If it does not work, then we find out together.  We can talk about hypotheses, etc., and see how this works!
Free Play
Review/Pack up/Dismissal

Day 3    Letter M     Theme:  Mouse   Number:  13
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Free Play in Learning Centers
Circle Time:  Morning learning songs.  Letter M and review letters A-:L.  #13 and review #’s 1-12.  Review the vowel song.   Begin blending consonants with short a sound.  Read a mouse-themed book.  Letter M hunt.  I will hide many letters of the alphabet around the room (I have printed them from my computer).  The children will be asked to find only letter M's!
Snack
Bible:  Read story about Moses
Free Play in Learning Centers
Group Lesson:  How many Cookies?  I will provide a cookie jar and some cut-outs of chocolate chip cookies.  I will also need dice.  The children will take turns rolling the dice.  They will count the number of dots they roll.  They will choose that many cookie cut-outs to put into the cookie jar (or take out of the jar, depending on how you want to do it). 
Lunch/Rest
Gross Motor/Phys.Ed:  1.  Outdoor play if weather permits.  We have kind of gotten into a routine where, when we play outdoors, the children want me to chase them and try to catch them.  When our them of the week changes, I become whatever matches our theme and give chase!  I have been a Dinosaur for letter D, a Gorilla for letter G, and a Horse for letter H thus far.  Maybe for letter I Iguana might be appropriate!  For the letter J, it is the perfect time to become the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and give chase!    For letter K, I could be a King and give chase!  Aerobics inside:  I will put on some fun music and show the children some movements they can do for exercise:  kicks, jumping jacks, side to sides, knee raises, hamstring curls--this is a little introduction to aerobics!
Art/Fine Motor: Mouse masks and Letter M Mice! 
Free Play
Review/Pack up/Dismissal    

Activities Up Through Christmas!

 Our Thanksgiving Tree.  Every day through November, the students told me one thing they were thankful for.  I wrote it on these little circles and hung them on our "tree."  Next year, it would be a nice idea to do this with leaves.

 I is for Igloo, Ice cream, Instruments, Icicles

 Madison with the Christmas bear building a den of pillows.

 Jakey

 Casey

 

Mrs. M and Christmas bear!

 Checking out the Christmas angel!

 Indian or Native American headbands for Thanksgiving!

 Casey wore his headband all day. 

 Jake's headband

 Place the beans on the numbers:  I had each child place the correct amount of beans on each number sheet.

 Finally, a good sticky snow!  Check out how big these balls of snow are getting. I was having difficulty rolling them once they got so big, but the kids were still willing to push them through the snow!

 Snow fun!

 The students made these crosses to correspond with our Bible lesson.  The diamonds represent each child, who are diamonds in God's eyes!

 Christmas muffin tins and pom-poms make pretty flowers!

 Working on a few worksheets.

 Madison has been asking me frequently if we could make gingerbread cookies, so today was the day! 

 Jakey loves when we have sprinkles.  He ignores putting them on the cookies and just eats them!

 Outreach project:  The children helped pack Christmas bags for needy children.  They were so great doing this, never asking anything for themselves and being very particular about what each child would have in their bag.  They took it very seriously, and I was very proud of them.

 These are the children's gifts to their parents.  I laid out many, many Christmas cards, all over my table and all over the floor, and asked each child to choose 7 cards that they liked for this project for their parents.  I traced their hands onto the cards and cut them out.  Then I provided many buttons for the children to look at and asked each child to pick out 20 or so buttons t hat they like for the project.  I used a glue gun and glued everything onto an artist's canvas.  I got the canvases at Michael's craft store.  I watched for them to go on sale and purchased them then.

 Each child signed their project.

 Now to wrap the presents.  It was so sweet to watch how each student took pride in wrapping their presents just so! 

 This is a Christmas tree cut  from old Christmas cards.  My daughter Julia made a template out of cardboard.  The children then chose several cards, and we cut out the design from the template and glued each card to a sheet of cardstock.  Then I gave the children foam cutouts that they could decorate around the outside of the tree.

 Madison's wrapping job.  I enlarged this photo of the three students to attach to the gifts.  Madison designed the card!  I think it turned out very pretty.

 Jake's card for his parents.

 Casey put a lot of time and effort into adding lots of art work to his gift.

 Our preschool Christmas party!  All of the kids gave presents to each other.

 Decorating ice cream cone Christmas trees.  I purchased sugar cones, icing, and a variety of candies.  The children spread the icing on the cones and then decorated with the candies.

 Madison and her mom.

 One completed tree!