Georgia's Pre-K Program teacher newsletter, Vol. 1, Issue 6 (Feb. 2005)

February 2005

Heart to Heart! Valentine Ideas

Try some of these ideas to enhance some of your learning areas.
Cut ten large heart cutouts from white, red or pink paper and laminate. Label each heart with a different numeral from one to ten. Place the cutouts with a bowl of candy conversation hearts. Instruct the children to identify the number and then place that many conversation hearts on the cutout. You can introduce this activity in large or small group before you place in the learning area of your choice.
Use a heart-shaped box of chocolates for this idea. Make sure the chocolates are removed, but the wrappers are still in the container. Using

shape stickers, label the bottom of each wrapper with a shape. You will also need some candy kisses in the wrapper. Program the bottom of each of the kisses with the same shape stickers you used to program the wrappers. Make sure you have a match for each kiss. Let the children match the kisses to the wrappers. Make sure you let the children enjoy a kiss after they have worked on this activity.
Use conversation hearts as a sorting activity. Give children a supply of these hearts and then ask them to sort by color. You can then graph them onto paper and see which color there was the most of, the least of, the same, more/less, etc.
Make a matching game with left over valentines.

Provide each child with a valentine. Have the children sort themselves into groups according to the valentines that are the same.

Volume 1, Issue 6 February 2005

Place blank valentines in your writing area for children to practice signing. Write messages on heart shapes for children to copy onto their valentines.

Special points of interest:
Valentine Ideas Phonemic Awareness Ideas Math Ideas

Stock your art area with

Ideas to Share

pink, white and red paint,

lace, heart-shaped and other

doilies, left over valentines,

conversation hearts, red,

white and pink construction

paper and tissue paper,

heart and other valentine

stickers. Add anything you

can think of to add to this

area and encourage children

to create Valentine's.

Contact information:

PHONEMIC AWARENESS ACTIVITY

Consultant of the Day

404-656-5957

Alliteration is a very important phonemic awareness skill. Here is an idea to use to help reinforce this skill. Ask the children to bring in a picture of something that begins with a particular sound. Each child should have the same sound. Be sure to have some extras on hand for those children

tures to a chart or bulletin board. Model using the pictures to make up a one sentence silly story. It might take you modeling for several days before the children catch on, so don't get discouraged. Once the children get the idea, use this as a part of your large group activity or during work time for those who are interested in continuing. Once you have

ferent letter sound. This activity can be really fun! The sillier you get, the more they love it! You can record the sentences on sentence strips and then create a story. This really helps to reinforce the spoken word with the written word.

888-4GA-PREK Suspension/Disenrollment Mary Rieck 404-651-7420 Mary.Rieck@decal.state.ga.us
VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE:

who might forget to bring finished with the set, ask the chil-

www.decal.state.ga.us

theirs in. Attach all the pic- dren to bring more pictures for a dif-

DENTAL HEALTH

February is dental health month. There are several things you can do in the classroom to help your children learn more about dental health. Many children have already been involved in dental referrals this school year with the completions of their EED's. It would be a great idea to invite a dentist or dental hygienist to your site to share with your children. In preparation for this visit, it would be great if you could read books about dentists and healthy teeth and share facts about dental health with your children. Be sure to have things on hand in your classroom to help enhance your ideas. You can ask your local dentist office to donate a couple of items to your classroom. Many are willing to share. Most dental offices have model teeth and toothbrushes to teach children how to brush their teeth properly they would be willing to loan for a week. You can also ask them to donate items such as spare toothbrushes, pictures of teeth and cavities, x-rays of teeth, books about teeth, dental

floss, dental tools they would use on a child this age, trays, appointment cards and books, masks and bibs they use to protect our clothes. If you can't arrange for a visit to a dental office, then ask if you can come in and take digital pictures of key items in the office to share with your children. You can take a picture of the dentist with his mask on, some tools, the chair, etc.
Share with children what causes cavities. Talk about good and bad foods. For a small group activity, provide children with magazines and have them cut-out pictures of food. After the children are through, have chart paper ready that is divided into good foods and bad foods for your teeth. Let the children tell you what the food is and where they think it would go on the chart - good or bad. Glue or tape the pictures under the appropriate heading.

Share this song with your children. It is sung to the tune of "Jimmy Crack Corn".
The dentist says, "[Please brush your teeth.]" The dentist says, "[Please brush your teeth.]" The dentist says, "[Please brush your teeth.] And you'll have a healthy smile!"
Repeat the song, each time substituting one of these phrases for the underlined words.:
Please floss your teeth. Please eat good foods. And then make-up your own!

FIVE READ HEARTS

[Five] red hearts in the greeting card store, No red hearts in the greeting card store,

[Five] red hearts with lace galore!

No red hearts with lace galore!

Along came [child's name] with a dollar to pay. [He] bought a red heart and took it away.
Continue with four more verses, substituting four, three, two, and one for the number five in the first and second lines and substituting a different child's name each time. Then conclude with this last verse:

[Child's name] couldn't find a heart so [he] went away. Instead [he] have a ___________ for Valentine's Day!
Use this activity with a smaller group of children and act out this fun poem. Provide red paper hearts and play money to use as props. At the end of the rhyme, have the last child name something that could be given in place

of a card. Make sure you repeat the rhyme so all children get a chance to participate.
The Mailbox February/March 2002

GREAT GROUNDHOG FACTS

This is a fun day for children. Share some interesting bits of information about the groundhog with your children to spark their curiosity! What a great way to build vocabulary!
*A groundhog is also called a woodchuck or a marmot. *They are vegetarians and only eat plants such as clover, grass and alfalfa. *They hibernate during the winter. *At the sign of danger, a groundhog ut-

ters a shrill whistle to warn others. *Groundhogs live in a burrow. *A groundhog is covered in coarse, brown fur. *It grows up to 2 feet long and weighs 812 pounds. *It has very sharp teeth and claws.
Be sure to show pictures of groundhogs!

Volume 1, Issue 6

Some of the sweetest hours of life, on retrospect, will be
found to have been spent with books.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Page 2

MATH IDEAS

Make sure you give children daily opportunities to engage in math skills. Have children set the table for snack or lunch. Count to see how many children are present. How many girls? How many boys? How many are not here today? Be sure to make counting meaningful for children. Ask the line leader to "take 3 steps forward" or "count the children as they come in and let me know how many you count". There are many ways to incorporate math into the daily routine.
Use these ideas during work time to help reinforce math skills. Most of these ideas need to be introduced in a small group setting first, and then moved to a learning area so children can use the activity independently. The benefit to introducing the materials in a small group first is the children get to learn the proper uses of the materials you have provided. This is a great classroom management tip.
Marshmallow Math Give each child a resealable plastic bag containing a desired number of colored marshmallows. Provide a laminated graph

for each child to use that corresponds with the colors of marshmallows you have provided. Direct each child to sort his marshmallows according to color. Then have each child place the marshmallows on the graph. Help each child to interpret the graph by asking questions such as, "What color do you have the most of?", "What color do you have the least of?", "How many more/less yellow ones do you have than green?" Be sure to allow the children to eat some marshmallows after the graph is complete!
Counting
Collect several empty egg cartons. Label the bottom of each section with a different number 1-12. Provide a supply of counters (real or found) and two dice. To play the game, have a child roll one or two of the dice and count the number of dots showing and then place that number of counters in the corresponding section of the egg carton. If a child rolls a number that has already been filled, just continue to roll until he/she gets the number needed.

Estimation This is a great ongoing activity that will enforce this skill as well as involve your parents. You will need a clear container of jar with a lid. Create a letter to send home to your parents that sounds something like this: "It is your child's turn to fill our estimation jar with items for us to count. Please return the jar tomorrow. Thank you for your help." Choose a student to take the jar home with the note and wait for it to return. When the jar is brought back, give each child an opportunity to estimate how many

things are in the jar. You can do this several ways. You can have them record their guesses (with your help) on sticky notes and then post in a certain area of the room, or you can ask individual children their guess and then record on sign-in sheets or graph in your room. You come up with your own style that will work for you and your children. As children get the hang of this activity they will quickly catch on and invent their own ways to record their responses. If there are many items to count, it will be easier if you have the children count ten items at a time into small bathroom sized cups. Then you can count by 10's to see the total. After the process is complete, send the jar home with

another child.
Sorting This can be done daily as you line-up. All the girls, blue shirts, boots, pony tails, etc. Your imagination is your gift here!
Matching Use an old deck of playing cards. Cut each card in half.

NATIONAL WILD BIRD FEEDING MONTH

Did you know February was National Wild Bird Feeding Month? Encourage your children to help the birds to overcome their hardships from the long winter. There are lots of activities you can plan with your children that they can do independently during work time or in smaller groups. Try these and be sure to put out some bird watching "props" in your science area to encourage the children to further this experience. Add bird watching books and magazines and binoculars. Be sure you have plenty of paper and pencils so the children can

record the birds they might see. Try these ideas:
*Spread peanut butter on a pinecone and roll in sunflower seeds or wild bird feed. String the pinecone with yarn and hang on a tree or feeder outside of your classroom where children can observe.
*String cereal and hang on a limb or feeder.
*Collect uneaten bread from meals and crumble under a feeder or on the ground for the birds.
*Spread peanut butter on a bagel and then dip in sunflower seeds or wild bird feed. Hang with yarn.
*Purchase a window feeder for your room.

Volume 1, Issue 6

The best way to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas.
Linus Pauling
Page 3

TURN YOUR DRAMATIC PLAY AREA INTO A......

DOCTOR'S OFFICE! Use some of these ideas to help you get started. Your kids will be excited! Be sure to ask parents for any items they might want to lend to your for this experience. Add some of these props and let your imagination run:
Computer/typewrite/keyboard Clip boards Telephone Stethoscope Old x-rays Masks Gloves Wagon (ambulance) Prescription pads Lab jackets First aid supplies such as: bandages, tape, gauze, cotton balls, empty alcohol bottle and anesthetic tubes, soap Play doctor's kit Cot (the doctor's table)

Dolls (patients) Magazines for the waiting area File folders Pamphlets about health care issues Writing materials Empty, clean medicine bottles (you can ask a pharmacy for a donation of unused bottles)
Be sure to add a sign that says "Doctor's Office" so you can get credit for having related environmental print for your topic (PQA Item B5).
Set your dramatic play area up to resemble a doctor's office. Create a waiting area, a receptionist area and an exam area.
Think about all the excitement and learning taking place in this fun area. Encourage children to write prescriptions, sign charts, etc. Add books about

Health care issues and visiting doctor's. Some titles you might try to locate are:
My First Doctor Visit by Julia Allen
The Berenstain Bears Go To The Doctor by Jan & Stan Berenstain
One Bear In the Hospital by Caroline Bucknall
The Checkup by Helen Oxenbury
My Doctor by Harlow Rockwell
Chicken Pox! By Shen Roddie

BOOK EXTENSIONS

Mama, Do You Love Me? By Barbara Joosse is a great book to read this time of year. It explores the artic culture and a mother reassures her young child of her unconditional love. Examine facts from the culture explored in this book. Refer to the book's glossary to select certain things about the Inuit culture. Share these facts with your children (this will help you meet Georgia Pre-K Content Standards SS2b and SS3e) by writing them on chart paper and using pictures and symbols. For example: A hooded jacket is called a parka. After you write that on chart paper add a picture of a parka. You can also let the children share stories of their mothers love for them. It is a great way to record language for assessment purposes.

I Love You The Purplest by Barbara Joosse is another book by the same author worth exploring. Two brothers secretly ask their mother, "Who do you love the best?" She responds uniquely to each boy and conveys her love to both. In the story, the mother and her two sons, Max and Julian go on a moonlight fishing trip. Extend this story by adding fishing props in your dramatic play area. You can also make a fishing game for your math area by cutting out fish shapes, putting a small clothespin on each shape and writing a number on each fish. Add a stick that has fishing line or yarn tied to a magnet at the end. Add a bowl of fish counters or even fish crackers and let the fun begin. After the children fish for a number, have him/her identify the number and then count out that many fish. To extend this for your children who are ready, have a partner fish for a number as well, have both count out their fish and

then ADD the two together. You can also extend the story by doing some color blending in your art area. Julian loves mom the bluest and Max loves mom the reddest, but when she loves them both together, she loves them the purplest. Help your children blend these colors to see if this is true! Encourage other color blending exploration and then add them to your paint colors at the easel if there are leftovers!