Ideas For These Themes?

[cheerfuldom]

Next week we are working on manners

The following, we are working on positions (behind, below, above, first, second, etc)

Any ideas for crafts or activities to go with this? I have some basic worksheets and a few ideas on pinterest but would love more!

We have also started letters and numbers. Very excited to finally have kids old enough to do some learning activities. I don't guarantee anything to the parents as far as curriculum and I don't force kids to participate but the goal here is just some fun opportunities for learning without the pressure or competition that I feel is inappropriate for preschool age.

[daycare]

We made a manners tree...


This is where I got most of our stuff from..

http://www.childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/people-house-home/239-manners-activity-theme.html?start=1

I also did a thing on teaching the kids about GERMs. Why hand washing is important. You sprinkle glitter on a paper plate and you have each kid stick their hand in the glitter. Then ask them to rub their hands back and forth and try to remove the glitter. They will still see glitter all over their hands. As they to clap their hands to get it off, tap them on the table, rub them together, anything that they can think of, so long they leave their hands to them self.

They will see it won't come off. Have them wash their hands. They will still see tiny amounts of the glitter on their hands. Explain to the kids why handwashing is good manners. It helps stop the spread of germs.

I have a few more things, but can't find them right now.. I think that funshine exprexss did a thing on manners, see if I cant find that book...

[MrsB]

Next week we are working on manners

The following, we are working on positions (behind, below, above, first, second, etc)

Any ideas for crafts or activities to go with this? I have some basic worksheets and a few ideas on pinterest but would love more!

We have also started letters and numbers. Very excited to finally have kids old enough to do some learning activities. I don't guarantee anything to the parents as far as curriculum and I don't force kids to participate but the goal here is just some fun opportunities for learning without the pressure or competition that I feel is inappropriate for preschool age.

I always teach the song "open shut them" when we do the manners theme. I also usually do placemats. I make cutouts of dishes/utensils and the kids have learn where the proper placement of the dishes go. Then I laminate them.

I also make a please/thank you chart for the week. Evertime they say please or thankyou without being prompted they get a sticker for their chart. At the end of the week they get to cash in their earned please and thank yous for prizes in the treasure box.

[cheerfuldom]

Thanks! Would love to hear more. The links to general websites are very helpful!!

[Countrygal]

For the "directions" I have done an obstacle course several times. Use whatever is handy. I have one of those little play tents. I set that up, and use a little table, a little chair, a box...whatever. I give different directions, one at a time. Everyone line up. First child goes through the obstacle course first. Go under the table.....in the tent.... in back of the chair.....through the tunnel.....outside the box.....etc. Next child, then next. Each time they go I add instructions. Second time through it's two instructions at a time "in the box and outside the tent..... on the chair and under the table....etc. Working up to as many instructions as each child can handle at a time.

The kids love doing this, and it's hard to get them to quit!

[daycare]

For the "directions" I have done an obstacle course several times. Use whatever is handy. I have one of those little play tents. I set that up, and use a little table, a little chair, a box...whatever. I give different directions, one at a time. Everyone line up. First child goes through the obstacle course first. Go under the table.....in the tent.... in back of the chair.....through the tunnel.....outside the box.....etc. Next child, then next. Each time they go I add instructions. Second time through it's two instructions at a time "in the box and outside the tent..... on the chair and under the table....etc. Working up to as many instructions as each child can handle at a time.

The kids love doing this, and it's hard to get them to quit!

this sounds like FUN.....

[MrsB]

For your directions theme.

I dont know how old the kids you have are, but I have done the cha-cha slide with mine. After practice most of the 3 & 4 year olds can do most of the directions. They absolutley love it. Even the youngins (2 and under) can get a few.

In fact, one of my 3 yr old DCB was the hit of his uncle's wedding. It was so funny how he got into it. I dont know if you have a newsletter or suggest at home activities but it is a great one!

[daycare]

simone says or a version of that is always fun with follow directions. I know my guy can't quite do it, so I change it up. I will tell them to listen to the direction very carefully. I pretend I have gum. I give each child a piece. Now put it in your mouth and chew. Let your mouth chew the gum and let your ears listen.

This way they are not talking...

then I will say put your hands on your head, but I will put mine on my nose. The kids laugh so hard.

Then I will say put your hands on your knees, but I put mine on my butt. They fall to the floor in laughter. It really gets them to listen to the words and not follow my actions.

I also do a look, listen and do as I say craft. It's a cheesy craft, but if they follow the directions I give, they have a fun project to play with at the end.

Last time we made musical maracas out of paper towel tubes....

we also do a worksheet, that requires the kids to follow directions. Even the littles that are 2 can do it.

the 2's will just point and say, where as the olders will actually circle objects and so on...

Example.

Give each child the same picture/color page.

lets say its a dog. Tell them color the eyes blue. The little can point

Draw a circle around the dogs nose

color the dogs tongue purple.

put an X on the dogs collar

You get the point..... They actually have fun with that one.....