The Value of Play

Making AB patterns in preschool

As we continue to explore the letter K this week, the children worked on practicing their skills for identifying and making AB patterns… Introducing patterns first begins with a hands-on type of activity followed by the activity page. The activity pages we use are usually something I have created on my own computer. They are [...]

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Christmas bows and boxes in preschool

The other day, I shared with you how our curriculum coordinator puts together activity boxes for the classrooms. I thought I would now show you one of the activities in action… In this particular activity box, the children found boxes with numbers (1 – 5) printed on the outside and a set of Christmas bows. [...]

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Making lid soup at home with a two year old

I had a surprise visit from little Wy this week and we needed something to do so I set out the little table and chairs I keep in my office and a basket of dishes for us to play with… Wy set out all the dishes and that is when I realized that we need [...]

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Colorful fine motor play in preschool

The children have been exploring this wonderful color matching game…. The game board was colored with markers then laminated and the clothespins were painted to match each color… The children simply used their fingers to squeeze a clothespin and clip it on to the matching color on the wheel… It is a wonderful way to [...]

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Playing with pompoms in preschool

We have a basket filled with colorful pompoms for the children to play with in the classroom… Each child grabs a supply of pompoms to begin with and places the pompoms on their own tray. The trays help the children define their personal space and they help to keep the pompoms from rolling all over [...]

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Take time to let twos tumble in preschool

Young children have a need to get their energy out. They will do it in all kinds of ways – some of which you, as a teacher, may like and some you may not like! Keeping in mind that children have a need to get out all that energy out – it is up to [...]

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The value of scooping and pouring and counting candy corn in preschool

If there is one area in my own professional development that I have come to appreciate more than ever, it is the value of sensory play. I have always included sensory play in my lesson plans but it hasn’t been until this past year that I have really taken the time to sit down with [...]

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Patterning with gumdrops in pre-kindergarten!

I have to say out of all the things I have observed the children do over the past several months, Gumdrop Day was one of the most successful and fun days for me to observe and for the pre-kindergarten children to enjoy!  This post is part one of our Gumdrop Day – tomorrow will be [...]

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E is for elbow in preschool

I have already shared how we integrate the letter of the week with a tactile experience but I wanted to take a minute to elaborate on what we did for the letter E. Trying to find something that the children could glue on the letter E that started with the sound of the letter E [...]

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We are writing on the walls in preschool

In this classroom the children are literally writing on the walls! The bottom half of the wall is painted in chalk board paint around two whole walls of the classroom. Each of the children who have decided to write on the walls have a piece of chalk in one hand and an eraser in the [...]

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G is for gumball counting in preschool

The children spent time doing a little counting as they played with play dough… There are many ways to reinforce counting with young children but some of the best ideas engage children through a little exploration, discovery, and play. The children were invited to roll up play dough to make gumballs on their gumball machine. [...]

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Pumpkin patch play in preschool

All it takes is a little imagination and suddenly you have your very own preschool pumpkin patch! The children explored the pumpkin patch with a few orange pom-poms and green construction paper. The children used clothespins to pick the pumpkins from their patch and then put them in their basket! I thought it was interesting [...]

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The challenge of cooking in preschool

Cooking in preschool can be a challenging process – especially when you have 1 teacher to 10 three year olds. Every one wants a turn to stir, pour, crack an egg, and everyone wants to stick their finger in the batter no matter how many times they are told that they need to keep their [...]

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Play dough nature printing in preschool

Today is National Play-Doh day! Shara Lawrence Wiess of Early Childhood News and Resources is great about remembering special or unique holidays and this one of them – be sure to see all her ideas here! I was trying to come up with something different to do with play-dough and my brother suggested that I [...]

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Billy Goats Gruff fairy tale and block play in preschool

Expand the story of The Billy Goats Gruff into the block center at your preschool!

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At play with Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Having fun with Goldilocks and the Three Bears in preschool!

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