L is for...

L is for Llama!

Each week, as we focus on a letter, we plan to do a letter paper craft like the one above.  At this point I believe I'll use the suggestions at www.abctwiggles.com where the L is for Llama pattern came from.  I plan to bind them together in a book after we do each capital letter.  It's a nice little review of sticks and curves, letter formation, and the sound it makes. 

L is for Lunch!

Shape Monster

Shape monster, shape monster

Munch, munch, munch.

How about a(n) orange oval for your lunch. 

Last verse:

Shape monster, shape monster

Munch, munch, munch.

Hope you enjoyed your shape lunch!

We just slipped this little rhyme into our week.  Initially I planned to have read Lion's Lunch but I was unable to get the book from the library so we didn't.  But it is a cute little chant that the children pick up quickly and seem to enjoy.  I do not know where I got this pattern and chant from.  If anyone knows, please let me know so I can give them credit.  Thanks.  I colored and printed the monster and shapes, laminated and put a piece of velcro (hook side) on the back so it would stick to the flannel board.  Actually, I've always used felt or magnet for these type of things and this is the first time I've actually used velcro, though I've heard about it for years.  Well, I'll tell you what...velcro works VERY nicely! 

Busy day today so I'll stop with those couple of activities.

L is for...

L is for Lion!

www.amazon.com
How's that for a front cover?  :-)  No words.  The back cover is a the picture of the mouse. 

This book we "read" today was a picture book based on the fable "The Lion and the Mouse".  The illustrator of this book is Jerry Pinkney.  This is definitely a picture book with the only words on the pages would be the onomatopoeia (screeech, whoo, roar, etc).  They children did very well and telling their own story.  For our journal I put "First, ________.  Then, ______________." Interesting what they put down as "first".  Both children drew versions of a lion and a mouse.

I find that the "magnet pages" available make great play dough mats.  This week it's our "fine motor" activity and we are working with the play dough every day.  Last year we did play dough about once a week.  This year, I'm not sure how it's going to pan out.  I think I'll put some space between the days so that they stay interested.  Anyway, typically what I do is have a task and then allow for free exploration.  I laminated the L is for Lion Magnet sheet found at http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/magnetpageprintables.html and encouraged them to create small ball of playdough to place into the circles on the lion and letter L. 

We also created a pattern lion.  We combined scissors and math today because our time seems to be "too short".  Mainly, that is happening because we can't really start until baby is asleep or else Ms. Amber is up and down and up and down dealing with the baby.  So, for the next few days I'm going to try combining some of the daily skill practice until baby gets on a consistent sleep schedule.  I also have opened up sensory play for during free play as they like to play with that longer and that allows for that.  Just playing it all by ear.  Love the flexible children I have here!  We'll get a good schedule figured out here in the next week or so I'm sure.

Younger "4" did an ABAB pattern and the older 4 did an AABAAB on her own.  :-)

Off to gather materials for tomorrow!