Georgia's Pre-K Program teacher newsletter, Vol. 1, Issue 2 (Sept. 2004)

September 2004

Phonemic Awareness Ideas

You should be developing listening skills with your children this early in the game. The purposes of listening activities to develop phonological awareness are: (1) to listen selectively and overcome distractions (2) to focus attention on a particular sound of interest and (3) to listen for a particular sound and pair it with its source. Make sure you are singing songs and playing games daily that require listening for directions such as "Hokey Pokey", "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," and "Open, Shut Them". You can also play games like "Guess what is making this sound?" by hiding what you are making the sound with and having the children guess what is making the sound. Listening is the first skill you

need to develop for phonemic awareness. Remember you should be doing a daily phonological awareness activity and documenting it on your plans and/or schedule. (C4 under Partially Meets on the PQA).
Some other listening activities for your Pre-K classroom:
BEEEEE......Bop!
Make a variety of nonsense sounds for children to copy. Vary the tone, inflection and volume of the sounds. Duh, duh, duh, DOP!
ALLIGATOR PIE
Repeat this chant using a monster voice, an underwater voice, a grandma's voice, etc.
Alligator pie
Alligator pie
If I don't get some I think I'm

gonna cry! Give away the green grass
Give away the sky But don't give away my alligator pie!
AT MY HOUSE
Tape record some common environmental sounds: a door closing, water running, a ball bouncing, etc. Cut pictures from magazines or use clip art that corresponds to these sounds. As students listen to the cassette, encourage them to find the picture that matches the sound they hear!

Bright From The Start Georgia's Pre-K Program www.decal.state.ga.us Volume 1, Issue 2
September 2004
Special points of interest:
Phonemic Awareness Story Time Box Sunflower ideas Farm Ideas Apple Ideas Fall Ideas

Before long your children will be great listeners and ready for the next level!!

Contact information:

STORYTIME BOX

Share the "gift" of reading with a special story time box. Wrap a lid and box portion (separately) of a hatbox or other box with colorful gift wrap. Place a book inside. Before introducing and reading the book aloud to your children, read the following poem:

In this box is a surprise for you, To make you feel happy when you are blue. To make you feel as special as you are, Like a bright and shining, twinkling star.
Let's open the box! Oh my, take a look! (Remove book from the box.) A gift for my friends--a (insert author's name) book. And we'll read this book together, you and me.

Remember! You should have at least 2 planned story times DAILY according to the PQA.
Section C4

Consultant of the Day 404-656-5957 888-4GA-PREK
Suspension/Disenrollment Mary Rieck 404-651-7420 mary.rieck@.decal.state.ga.us

SUNFLOWERS
Read aloud the book, Sunflower by Miela Ford. After reading the story, share a real (or artificial) sunflower with students. Encourage children to notice the tiny florets in the flower head, and the many seeds hidden beneath them.
Extension ideas:
*Draw and label the parts of a sunflower on chart paper during large or small group time and discuss (petals, stem, leaves, seeds, etc.)
*Discuss the life cycle of a sunflower. Draw the different stages on separate pieces of paper. You can then place them in your science area for a sequencing activity.
*Let children explore real sunflowers.
*Roast and eat sunflower seeds or just purchase some store bought ones and eat.
*Plant sunflower seeds and germinate.

*Talk about what a seed needs to grow (light, food, water). Draw on chart paper.
*Place sunflower seeds in your art area. Also display several pictures and pieces of artwork of sunflowers. Provide students with a variety of paints and papers in the appropriate colors and encourage them to create their own sunflower masterpieces.
*Place books and pictures of sunflowers in your science area. Place seed packets, seeds, and real sunflowers too.
*Add toy tractors, mini gardening tools, real or fake sunflowers to your block area and invite students to create sunflower farms.
*Fill a tactile tub with sunflower seeds. Add various size scoops and mini gardening tools. When you are finished with this activity, place the seeds outside for birds to enjoy.

*Create a seed counting or matching game for your math area.
*Add overalls, gardening gloves, a hat decorated with sunflowers, watering cans, seed packets, flower pots, gardening tools, etc. to your Dramatic Play area.
*Add books about sunflowers to your reading area: Backyard Sunflower by Elizabeth King, Sunflower House by Eve Bunting, My Backyard Giant by Mary Sawicki, The Sunflower by Marliese Dieckmann, Gift of The Sun by Dianne Stewart, Sunflowers As Big As The Sun by Shan Ellentud, Sunflowers by Kathleen Phol, The Sunflower Garden by Janice Udry, Sunflowers by Martha McKeen Welch, Max Loves Sunflowers by Ken Wilson

FINGERPLAYS and RHYMES for SUNFLOWERS

Growing Tall The yellow sunflower grows so high. It almost seems to touch the sky.
Mother says I'm growing, too. Sunflower, will I be as big as you?
by: Barbara Backer

Fields of Flowers (Sung to the tune of "Clementine") I'm a sunflower. I'm a sunflower.
I stand in the sun all day. I sway in the gentle breezes,
And face the sun always.
When the sun comes up each morning, My head lifts to face the light I keep looking at the sunshine, `Till I go to sleep at night.

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million." Walt Streightiff

NATIONAL FARM ANIMAL AWARENESS WEEK--September 19th

What a fun week this can be! There is so much you can do and so much fun to be had! What a variety of topics you can cover: farms, farm animals and their babies, barns, farm food, scarecrows--a perfect lead in to fall! Start by finding out what your children know about farms. Record on chart paper. Read some stories about farms and begin your study. Be sure to remember to make changes to your learning areas to reflect your cur-

rent topic of study. End your study by

your school for the children to see. Fol-

recording what the children learned on

low this recipe to make fresh butter.

chart paper or by creating a class book. Don't forget to sing "Old MacDonald Had A

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream Dash of salt

Farm" and do the "Chicken

Place cream and salt in a baby food

Dance". A great follow-up for

jars and tighten lids. Pass the jars

this study would be to visit a

around and shake vigorously for 20

farm, a dairy, a county fair or invite someone to bring some type of farm animal to

Draw and laminate a cow. Add a water filled latex glove as the udders. Let the children pretend to milk the cow in your house,
science or block area.

minutes. Rinse the butter in cool water. Serve on crackers or bread.

Volume 1, Issue 2

Page 2

AUTHOR STUDY--TOMIE de PAOLA

Tomie DePoala's birthday is September 15th. Bring out some of his books. One of my favorites is Pancakes for Breakfast. Before reading the story aloud, have children discuss how pancakes are made. Most may not know or think they come from the freezer section at your local grocery. Write down their ideas on chart paper. Read aloud the story and stop to discuss the difficulties along the way. After reading the story, make pancakes using the recipe in the back of the book. Yummy!
Tomie de Paola was born on September 15, 1934 in Meriden, CT. He cur-

rently lives in New London, NH. His mother was an avid book lover and read to him and his brother often. By age four he knew he wanted to become a writer and an illustrator. He would illustrate the books his mother read to him. By age 10, he was writing books for his younger sisters' birthdays. Today, he draws from his own childhood experiences when writing books. He has published over 200 children's books and has won a Caldecott Honor Award and a Newbery Honor Award.
Some other Tomie de Paola books to introduce to your children: Strega

Nona, The Popcorn Book, and The Cloud Book.
Author studies are a great way to introduce books in your classroom.

FALL, FALL, FALL!

Use this poem to welcome fall to your classroom. You can let the children create a "Welcome Fall" sign for your classroom as you begin your study.
It is Autumn (sung to tune of "London Bridges")
All the leaves are falling down, Falling down, falling down.
Falling, falling to the ground. It is Autumn!
As they fall they twirl around,

Twirl around, twirl around.
Twirling, swirling to the ground. It is Autumn!
Lots of colors touch the ground, Touch the ground, touch the ground.

leaves, etc.) Go on a fall scavenger hunt outside to look for signs of fall. Gather some items to place in your science area while you are on your hunt.

Red and yellow, orange and brown. It is Autumn!

Be sure to discuss the changes that will occur in fall (cooler temps, falling

"We worry about what a
child will become tomorrow, yet we forget
that he is someone
today." Stacia Tauscher

APPLES APLENTY

Johnny Appleseed's Birthday is September 26th. What a perfect time to explore apples. Be sure to read a book about Johnny Appleseed (you can always dress like him--wear overalls and a pot on your head.) Then include some classroom activities with apples. Show the children that apples come in many varieties. Cut up the apples and let the children have a taste test and then vote on their favorite kind. You can graph the results. Be sure

to cut open an apple and let the children explore. Show them the seeds and the star pattern they make if you cut the apple in half horizontally. You can then let the children paint with the apple halves. Simply dip the apple halves in paint and press onto paper.
Try these Apple Tree movements. Act out the following with the children:
Pretend you are a tree with outstretched branches.
Branches are heavy with apples.

Apples fall from the tree...plunk!! Apples bounce to the ground...roll. Reach up and pick apples and bend over to put in the basket. Pick up apples on the ground. Carry apples in a bag. Carry apples in a bag with two hands. Walk with an apple on your head.

Volume 1, Issue 2

Page 3

Bright From The Start

Song: "I'm a Little Scarecrow" (tune: "I'm a Little Teapot")

Try reading these books about scarecrows to your class:
*The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown *The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams *The Lonely Scarecrow by Tim Preston *Barn Dance by Bill Martin and John Archambault
After reading books about scarecrows, you can build a class scarecrow to keep in your room. Ahead of time, prepare a head for your scarecrow. You can always enlist the children's help, or ask a parent volunteer! You can use burlap, an old pillowcase, scrap material, etc. Collect some old clothes, a hat, gloves, some string or yarn, lots of newspaper and you are ready to begin!
Let your children stuff your pieces of clothing with newspaper. We don't suggest using hay or straw because of

the mess it creates and allergies. You can always explain to children that usually farmer stuff their scarecrows with hay and show children what hay is and just explain that you are pretending the newspaper is hay from the farm. You can use large safety pins to pin the clothing together when you are through stuffing. If you want your scarecrow to stand up straight you will need to run a sturdy pole up one pant leg and through the back into the head of the scarecrow. You can tie the ends of the shirt and pants with the string or yarn to hold in the paper. Add your hat and maybe a bandana around his neck and your scarecrow is ready! It is also a great classroom management tool! It is amazing what your scarecrow and see and predict!! Let your children name the scarecrow. For even more fun...make a girl scarecrow!!! Be creative and send your pictures to your consultant!!!

I'm a little scarecrow Stuffed with hay. Here I stand in a field all day. When I see the crows, I like to shout, "Hey! You crows, you better get out!"

CHECKLIST FOR SUCCESS

By this point and time, check to see if you have done the following:
__Received and reviewed all Pre-K information relevant to my position. __Studied the new PQA and completed a selfstudy. __Called my consultant if I had any questions or needed help in any area.

__Asked my Project/Site Director about any changes to the Guidelines. __Asked my Project/Site Director if I am signed up for training. __Held an orientation within the first 20 working days of school. __Taken pictures of all my children and their families and added them

to my display. __Have established a daily routine. __Introduced all learning areas and materials in the classroom. __Reading at least 2 planned stories aloud a day to the children. __Including a daily phonemic awareness activity.