Learning Spanish for kids brought my preschool lesson plans more depth, but I found that I was not able to teach this beautiful language with all the correct pronunciations, nor able to make it as fun as I wanted the preschool lessons to be for my daughter. I turned to the Internet, and, as you may soon discover, I found this Spanish Online Lesson review site on the three best “how to speak Spanish online” courses out there today.

This Spanish Online Lessons site reviews the top 3 ways of learning Spanish online, and as you can see, it also gives a free course with one of the reviews, Rocket Spanish. This free course gives you a taste of what’s to come in the learning Spanish software, to better judge if its what you want.

I find the reviews of all three of the top ways to learn Spanish helped me to decide for my preschool lesson plans blog, and after this review person did all the in depth study, I merely had to pick my favorite — I went with Rocket Spanish for the fact that it incorporates games to play - after all, preschool lessons are about fun and learning!

Why not check out the site and make your own decision?

site http://spanishonlinelessons.net/

Technorati Tags: how to speak Spanish online, learn spanish for kids, learning Spanish CDs, learning Spanish software, preschool learning Spanish

Preschool Activities For Summer

Picnics and Barbecue
Jasmine W. offers this preschool curriculum activity plan saying the objectives are, “To talk about the different types of food that are appropriate for a picnic. To learn about the different tools that adults use for a barbecue. To learn what foods can be put on a grill. To learn what items are needed for a picnic.”

Materials:
1.   Picnic basket filled with picnic items such as ketchup, mustard,
utensils, paper plates, napkins, blanket, food items
2.   Empty ketchup and mustard bottles. Yellow and red tempera paints.
3.  Food magazines, paper, glue and scissors
4.  Three to 4 bottles of different flavors of barbecue sauce e.g. honey mustard, teriyaki, zesty spice, etc.  Slices of cucumbers or celery cut up into bite sizes.

Description:
Large Group Activity: During large group time, bring in a picnic
basket and ask children what they think the basket is for?  Ask what they think is inside the basket?  Then select a few children, one at time, to pick out something e.g. paper plates, cups, forks, spoons, ketchup, napkins, blanket, pictures of food appropriate for a picnic, etc. from the basket and talk about the items.
Art Activity: Ketchup and Mustard bottle painting: Fill ketchup bottle with thick red tempera paint and mustard bottle with thick yellow tempera paint.  Let children create their own designs or drawings on construction paper.
Art Activity: Collage of picnic items.
Nutrition / Math: Tasting different types of barbecue sauce.  Children dip bite size cucumbers or celery into the different sauces and tell which which sauce they like best. Chart children’s responses on a experience chart. Discuss which sauce has the most responses, which the least and why.
Flannel Board Fun: Summer Days (Reference: The Best of Totline Flannel Boards, page 270).

• A Picnic, Hurray! by Franz Brandenberg
• Barbar’s Picnic by Laurent deBrunhoff

Game: Going On Vacation
During this early childhood game by Arline, youngsters use coordination skills and follow instructions.

Materials: 2 suitcases, 2 summer shirts, 2 summer shorts, 2 sunglasses, and  2 summer hats

Description: Let the children know that you will be taking a pretend trip all week.  The first thing that you have to do when you go on a trip is to pack everything you need.  Let the children tell you what they would pack.  After you have discussed this, bring out your two pre packed suitcases.  Show the children what you have packed.
Now it is time for the game.
Have the children divide into two teams.  Have half of each team go to one side of the room and the other half of each team go to the opposite side of the room.  Tell the children that what they are about to play is a “relay race”.  The first time they play you will have to constantly instruct them what to do.
The first child of each team is handed the suitcase.  He or she will put on everything that is in the suitcase and then run with the suitcase to their teammates on the other side of the room.  He or she will take off the suitcase clothing only, and give them to their team mate to put on. Continue this until the last player puts on the clothes, runs to the other side of the room and packs the suitcase.  The first team to finish wins.

Bulletin Board Idea: Seaweed
Teachers create a sense of seaweed in the classroom with this idea from Lynn P. A wonderful addition to a Ocean or Sea Theme.

Materials: 2 or 3 inch wide green ribbon and a ribbon shredder.

Description: I used this idea in two ways.  On my bulletin board I put blue paper. Then I run a strip of the ribbon from the top to the bottom for length. Before I attached it, I shredded sections of it leaving about a three inch gap between each section.  Attach it to your bulletin board.  As you do your art projects associated with the ocean you can mount them on this bulletin board with part of the fish, lobster, whale etc. nestled amongst the seaweed.

If you make aquariums, or fish pictures, you can cut two or three inch long pieces of the ribbon and shred it.  Then divide into one inch sections and provide as a selection for the kids to use on their pictures.

The Ocean and Sea Theme is in the Rainbow Resource Room.

Dramatic Play: Lunch at the Beach
This early childhood dramatic play activity focuses on social learning experiences, creative thinking, and expressive and receptive language skills.

You will need:  Props related to beach activities; beach towels, hats, sunglasses, picnic baskets, dishes, a beach ball and sand toys.

Ask children if they have ever been to the beach and what they did there.  Show pictures or magazine photos of people at the beach and ask what do they think the people in the pictures are doing? Share the beach props and encourage children to talk about them by asking, “Who knows what this is?  What could you do with it?”  Allow children time to touch and explore each items.

In the dramatic play corner spread out the beach towels and props and silently observe how the preschool children use the materials.  If the children need help getting started you might ask, “What things can we pack to go on our picnic?  What foods would you want to prepare or take?  The children may want to extend the activity into another area (block area etc.) to have their beach picnic.  The children might want to move the sand table to their picnic site. This is a great indoor activity to try on a rainy summer’s day.  On a warm day this activity is terrific outdoors.

Science:  Colored Ice Cubes
Young children explore mixing colors and making observations during this early childhood activity by Kristen L.

Materials: 3 Ice trays, red, yellow and blue food coloring,
3 clear plastic glasses, and water.

Description: Tint the water with food coloring and freeze to make one tray of red ice cubes, one tray of yellow and one tray of blue.  Place three clear plastic glasses on the science table and put a different colored ice cube into each glass. Periodically, have the children observe as the ice changes to colored water.

Then place a red ice cube and a yellow ice cube together in another glass and have the children observe as the ice melts and creates orange.  Repeat the process using a blue and a yellow ice cube to make green and a red and a blue ice cube
to make purple.  Then let the children use the remaining colored ice cubes to set up their own color experiments.

Bubble Prints
Expand pre-school and kindergarten children’s knowledge of how bubbles form and what ingredients are needed to make bubbles during this activity by Marin F. Have fun too!

Materials: Dish soap (Dawn works best), water, straws, food coloring, plastic glasses and light colored paper.

Description:
1. First fill 3-4 cups about 3/4 full with water,
2. Add dish soap (needs quite a bit),
3. Add a few drops of food coloring to each one,
4. Ask children to take a straw and put it into the bubble solution,
instruct them to BLOW not suck or they’ll get a yucky surprise
in their mouth.  Ask them to blow until the bubbles are coming up
over the top of the cup,
5. Ask them to lay their paper over the cup and the bubbles will pop
leaving a beautiful design on the paper.
6.  Cover the entire paper with designs and hang around the room
for others to enjoy!

Comments: Make sure to lay newspaper or plastic under where you will be blowing bubbles to help catch spills.

There’s LOTS more Bubble Activities in the Rainbow Resource Room

Bug Table
Young children learn about bugs and their environment during this sensory experience from Sharon M.

Materials: Sensory table or plastic tub, potting soil, plastic fishing worms, plastic bugs and large rocks.

Description: Teachers fill the sensory table with potting soil and add the plastic worms, bugs, and rocks. Have 2 children at the sensory table with digging tools to search for bugs and worms. The kids will love playing in the dirt and seeing what kinds of insects they can find.
Comments: Your kids will love it!

If you’re looking for rhymes and fingerplays about insects and bugs you’ll find them at Preschool Nursery Rhymes about Insects and Bugs.

An entire theme about Creepy Crawlers is in the Rainbow Resource Room

Cooking & Science: Ice Cream In A Bag
Nichole P. offers this method for making a delicious summer treat. If you cool liquids down, how do they change?  Explore and observe how freezing changes milk.

Materials:
1 cup milk
2 tbs. sugar
1/4 cup salt
ice cubes
2 resealable sandwich bags
larger resealable bag
towel
plastic shopping bag, and twist tie.

Description:
1.  Add sugar and milk to the small resealable bag. Taste the
solution. Let out some of the air as you zip to seal. Seal this
bag inside another sandwich bag.
2. Place ice cubes in the bottom of the big bag.  Add the small bag
of milk and surround with more ice cubes.  Sprinkle about 1/4 cup
of salt over the ice. let out some of the air as you zip to seal.
3. Wrap a towel around the bag of ice. Place the bundle into a plastic
shopping bag and seal with a twist tie.
4. Shake the bag for about 15 minutes.  Remove the small bag and
quickly rinse off  the salt with cold water.
Did the milk change?  The ice cream you made is ready to enjoy!

Comments: You probably noticed that ice cream from your bag freezer
is soft and light.  Why?  The shaking adds air to the ice cream.
Machines keep the ice cream you buy moving as it freezes, so
there’s enough air to make it soft enough to eat with a spoon.

Fun and Easy Cool CookingThese cooking summer activities don’t require heat and make healthy snacks. Use ripe fruits and encourage pre-k children to do the peeling, cutting and mixing.

Summer Strawberries
Wash thoroughly, and drain enough for each child to have 3 or 4.  Leave stems on for holding. Dip in powdered sugar, granulated sugar, orange juice or other fruit juice, whipping cream or cinnamon and sugar mixed.  Don’t forget to plant some whole strawberries with their seeds in a pot, 1/2 inch below the surface of the soil, if you keep the soil moist, they may grow.

Cinnamon sugar can be premixed by combining 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.

Cool Fruit Shakes
Use any very ripe summer fruit, children peeling it if necessary. Blend in the blender with an equal amount of milk, adding honey or sugar (to taste). crushed ice, and vanilla or almond extract (to taste).  When you use 1/2 cup fruit, 1/2 cup milk, and 2 ice cubes, the yield is 12 ounces.  A preschool child’s serving is 3 or 4 ounces.

Fun Fruit Salad
Any number of varieties of fruit can be mixed in this easy salad.  Just make sure children cut the larger fruits into bite size chunks (peeled if the skin is tough or too dirty to clean), and dip the pieces into orange or lemon juice to prevent darkening.  Any fruit juice makes an easy and simple dressing if you pour it on, a tablespoon full at a time, till the salad is moistened.  Make enough to serve each child 1/4 cup.

• For desert, add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar mixed with 1/2 cup sour cream or sweetened whipped cream to the fruit.

Add marshmallows, raisins, nuts, or coconut (grated or shredded.

For more cool cooking ideas go the Food & Nutrition Theme in the Resource Room

Water Painting
For this lesson plan pre-k children use fine and gross motor skills, language skills and the science skills of observation experimentation and evaluation.  The concept of evaporation is explored.

You will need:
Water, plastic containers for transporting water and easel paint brushes in a variety of sizes.  Smocks or old shirts for the children and a hot sunny day.

Teachers explain to the children that, “Today we are going outside to paint with water.”  Encourage them to gather the smocks, paint brushes and containers for carrying the water. Once outside the sidewalk, pavement or the side of a building can become the canvas for a class mural.

Give the pre-k children time to experiment with painting on the different outdoor textures using brushes of various sizes.  Help children notice what happens to their pictures as the water evaporates, “What’s happening to your picture? Where did the water go?”
Extension: A Friend of the Preschool Rainbow agrees that this is a wonderful activity and writes: “You will need 1 or 2 buckets of water, 1 large paint brush per child…it won’t matter  if they get water on their clothes (it dries) and this is a great way to cool down on a hot summer day!

End of the Summer Book
This preschool curriculum idea by Kristin B. can be used at the end of any season to encourage youngsters to recall what they liked best and to develop creative skills.

Materials: Construction Paper, crayons, hole puncher, 3 4 inch strands of yarn, 1 marker (for the teacher).

Description: First, Write on a piece of construction paper, “What I Liked Best About My Summer”.  Then ask each child what was the best thing about their summer and have them draw a picture of this event.  Gather all the drawings together and form a book out of them.

Comments: Be sure to ask the children this question individually. They tend to “copy” one another and then you get 10 children with the same answer all drawing the same thing,

Technorati Tags: fun summer activities for kids, fun things to do for the summer, summer fun for kids

I just got a call from my two year old niece. She wanted to sing “Los Pollitos” to me. You can find this children’s classic in Play and Learn Spanish (Book + Audio CD): Over 50 Fun songs, games and everdyday activities to get started in Spanish (Play and Learn Language)

It is perfect for hand gestures. These gestures are ideal for language learning because they imprint the sense of the words as the child recites.

The text is: (translation follows)

Los pollitos dicen po, po, po
cuando tienen hambre,
y cuando tienen fro.

(the kids make gesture of shivering)

La gallina busca el maz y el trigo;
Le da su comida,
Y le presta abrigo

(the kids make the gesture of Mom hugging her kids.)

Po, po, po

(the kids should ham it up, making a little chick face!)

Translation:

The little chicks say peep, peep, peep
when they are hungry
and when they are cold.

The chicken looks for corn and wheat;
she feeds them,
and she keeps them warm

There are many reasons for wanting your children to learn Spanish. We want to help you find resources that will help you with The Everything Kids’ Learning Spanish Book: Fun Exercises to Help You Learn Español

Some parents are interested in preparing their children for life in today’s world where it is important to know more than one language. This is even more important in our hemisphere where it becomes increasingly valuable to know Spanish.

Other people think of the intellectual stimulation that learning a language provides. They think that they can give their children a an additional intellectual challenge in a painless way. Researcher in London, England have determined that learning a second language boosts brain power which remains throughout life.

Learning a language can be a source of pride and self esteem for the child who is fortunate enough to be exposed to learning outside of the classroom.

There are some parents who are concerned that their children grow up respecting the different heritages that surround them. Concerned that the nativist tradition of United States history is always present, many parents, not of a Spanish Speaking background, choose to prepare their children to accept and embrace the Hispanic culture they live alongside of.

Their reason to encourage their children to speak Spanish is based in part on the history of a previous group of Latin immigrants to the United States, the Italians.

“Some social critics were aware of the consequences of sudden assimilation. Mary McDowell, a social worker, wrote en 1904:

‘The contempt for the experiences and languages of their parents which foreign children sometimes exhibit… is doubtless due in part to the overestimation which the school places upon speaking English. This cutting into his family loyalty takes away one of the most conspicuous and valuable traits of the Italian child.’ She attributed the lawlessness of some of the immigrant children to their disrespect for their parents and therefore for all authority.”

(La Storia: Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience, Mangione and Morreale, p. 222)

Reflection on this same national history, and often more importantly personal experience, moves many Hispanic parents to keep their language alive in their children. They want to preserve their heritage for their children by giving them its most evocative and powerful manifestation, the language of their forebears.

Do the Parents Know Spanish?

Although most of us agree that it is a good thing for our kids to speak Spanish, most kids in the US whose parents were born in Latin American countries do not speak Spanish well.

Even if both parents speak Spanish at home, quite often the kids answer their parents in English. Look around at your Latin friends and relatives and you will see that most give up on teaching their kids to speakSpanish. Chicano and Puerto Rican families seem to have a little better luck than Latinos from other countries with keeping Spanish alive in their barrios but even their younger generation is losing fluency in Spanish.

However, parents who want their children to speak Spanish can go against the current and set the stage for their children to grow up speaking Spanish. It is not easy. Most families fail in their resolve but it CAN be done. Take a look at our bilingual study. How to Get Your Children to Speak Your Language/Cmo Lograr que Sus Hijos Hablen Su Idioma? You can find it in http://www.leerespoder.com/comoeng.htm. This report will give some hints on how to improve your chances.

But it is most important for you to get your kids reading Spanish BEFORE they learn to read in English.

Don’t be afraid that it will hurt their English. Unless they are living in a closed Spanish Speaking Barrio,their English will be perfect. They will absorb it on the playground and in the school. Your job is to keep the Spanish up!

Take a look at the fuller argument presented below for the importance of your child to learn to read FIRST in Spanish.

Finally, another idea for native speakers of Spanish: You may want to review (or study it for the first time) your Spanish. I found one great reference for you.

Whether or not the parents know Spanish will determine their strategy for exposing their children to the language. Obviously, parents who do not know the language well will not have native pronunciation.

If their children learn to read Spanish, they may not have the proper pronunciation. This is a tough issue. Some might say that pronunciation is not important for children. However, why not try to expose them to the correct values of the Spanish sounds. Parents should work on their own pronunciation to model as correctly as possible for their kids.

Nevertheless, the value of the parents’ involvement in reading and singing in Spanish with their children more than outweighs the disadvantage of the child hearing their poor pronunciation. Much of the damage can be remedied by having the child listen to as much Spanish spoken by native speakers as possible.

So, in general terms parents can fall into one of three groups:
1. those who know NO Spanish;
2. those who know enough to read, even poorly;
3. and those who can model correct pronunciation for their children. All these parents should make sure their children HEAR a lot of good Spanish but obviously those parents who know no Spanish will be more dependent on recordings for their children to listen to. Try to find some good audio resources. Besides the tapes and CDs you might buy or take out of the library don’t forget the radio and TV. All parents should expose their children to ask much passive listening of Spanish that they can. In most places there are Spanish language radio stations. TV programs from the Univision network are very widespread.

All of the above boils down to three tactics that are valid for all kinds of parents and all kinds of kids of all ages and level of Spanish………

1. Passive Listening: Everyone should keep the Spanish radio on as much as possible. Keep the radio or TV on while the child is doing other things. It has to be the sea of sound that they swim in while they are beginning their study of Spanish. The child doesn’t have to concentrate on it; they will not be listening to try to understand. After a while they won’t even hear the radio but it will be affecting them. Little by little they will begin to anticipate the rhythm of the language, even before they understand they words. They will also begin to recognize certain words.

2. Pattern Response Drills: Those parents who know some Spanish can try to run through all the permutations of the new expressions that the child learns. For example, suppose your child just learned to say. “Pedro tiene cuatro aos” rather than translating from the English incorrectly, “Pedro es cuatro”. Now to make this new element of the language stick, you should go on substituting different ages and the names of different people. The child will soon be able to say comfortably, “Mara tiene cuatro aos.” “Juan tiene ocho aos.” “Yo tengo tres aos.” “Cuntos aos tienes t?” There are many examples of these drills in most language courses but the parent can generate them herself.

3. Encouragement: Don’t correct their Spanish when they speak. Don’t interrupt the flow of their conversation. Don’t make their speaking Spanish to be another homework assignment. It should be something special, even something “secret” in your family. Kids like the mystery and intrigue of having something special of their own. Their speaking Spanish should be a joyful, non-threatening experience. If they make mistakes in their grammar, correct their errors by using the same expression correctly a few minutes after. Don’t come right back at them with the correct form or they will begin to feel conscious of their expression and choke off their freedom of expression.

also………..

The Alphabet: If your child is coming up on kindergarten age,
you have a wonderful opportunity to teach him or her how to read in Spanish BEFORE they learn the alphabet in English! Why? I will be brief, hoping that you will catch the direction of my thought (and my practice, with both my children and my grandson!)

Spanish is completely regular. They can learn the vowels in one sitting.This is how Spanish Speaking kids learn: from The Spanish Aphabet, (abacederos), the same as English Speaking children used to learn from primers. If your child learns to read (even if only simple words) Spanish first, in effect you are giving them a
great head start.

You can start the child reading the simple words like Mami, comida, mesa, Papi, mueca, carro, etc. Basically you are giving them phonics without having to buy any expensive program.
You can do them no harm because, they will have a basis of the sounds that DO hold up for English; they will have achieved the satisfaction and boost to their confidence by your enthusisastic affirmation of the achievement when they read “Mami y Papi” and other simple phrases.

As they progress in English they will still have to deal with the irregularities of this language. However, they will have learned the consonants by applying them to completely foolproof regular vowels.

I said I would be brief. I am very convinced of the value of this method. I have no scientific proof, just intuition and my own experience. To work, you have to teach the child to read the alphabet in Spanish BEFORE they begin to learn in English. If they are already learning in English, it will confuse them. But if you get there FIRST, you will do them a great favor! to see a bunch of alphabet resources for you to choose from.

Toys and Games: Of lesser importance but still a possible beakthrough for certain children could be the use of Toys as a way to sneak in some fun and variety into the learning process. See if Spanish Educational Toys would be useful for your child.

Js Spanish - Value Line for kids If you or your child is computer savvy or if you want to combine math or science with Spanish you may want to check out the Educational Software for Children in Spanish: Reader Rabbit, Disney, Jump Start and many more…

Some First Recitations

A long time, universal, traditional favorite is “Pinpn”

Pinpn es un mueco,
muy guapo y de cartn

(the kids smile for “muy guapo”,
and act stiff for “de cartn”)

se lava la carita
(the kids make the gesture of washing their face)

con agua y con jabn.

Pinpn dame la mano,
(the kids reach out their hand)

que quiero ser tu amigo
(the kids make the gesture of shaking hands)

Pinpn, Pinpn, Pinpn!

Translation:

Pinpn is a doll,
a handsome cardboard doll.
He washes his face
with soap and water.

Pinpn give me your hand,
I want to be your friend.
Pinpn, Pinpn, Pinpn!

Another favorite of our kids was “La Mar Estaba Serena”
Kids like this one because it is easy to follow. The repetition helps them learn the relation between noun and adjective as well as the vowels in Spanish.

The same verse is repeated by using all of the vowels in turn. It begins by the parent singing, “La mar estaba serena; serena estaba la mar”. (The sea was calm; calm was the sea.) Then either the parent or one of several children taking turns shouts out, “con A!”, meaning, “Let’s sing it with all “a” sounds”! And you sing, “La mar astaba sarana; sarana astaba la mar.”

“con e”! “Le mer estebe serene; serene estebe le mer”.

“con i”! “Li mir istibi sirini; sirini istibi li mir”.

“con o”! “Lo mor ostobo sorono; sorono ostobo lo mor”.

“con u”! “Lu mur ustubu surunu; surunu estubu lu mur.

You’ll find the kids really like this one.

English (sic!) As A Second Language

It might be interesting to do some “reverse engineering” and look at the world of those Spanish Speakers who want to learn English. Check out http:www.leerespoder.com

Reading in Spanish for the Parents

If you want to keep up your Spanish. Try to keep reading books in Spanish on a wide range of topics, la familia, la salud, los negocios, el nio, el adolescente, etc. A good source is http://www.bookslibros.com/LibrosEnEspanol.php

Good Luck! Your Kids will thank you!

By: Frank Gerace

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Frank Gerace Ph.D has lived and worked in Latin America on Educational and Communication Projects. He currently teaches English in New York City at La Guardia College/CUNY. He invites parents interested in helping their kids learn Spanish to visit him at: www.bookslibros.com/SpanishForNinos.htm

Technorati Tags: kid learn spanish, learn mexican spanish, learn spanish beginner, learn spanish for kids, learn spanish games

Technorati Tags: Preschool lesson bike riding, riding a bike, riding a bike for exercise

Why Do We Celebrate Easter?

For many of us, Easter is a time for painting eggs, eating chocolate and admiring bunnies. In modern times, Easter has become an increasingly secular celebration, in which people rejoice at the coming of spring and its promise of new life. Just as with Christmas, this move away from Easter’s Christian origins can partly be explained by the diversity of people wanting to participate in the holiday. Nonetheless, many Christians would like to remind everyone of why we celebrate Easter.

Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion. Good Friday is a solemn church holiday which remembers this crucifixion of Christ on the Cross at Calvary. In the Roman Catholic church, Good Friday is marked with a fast. Many protestant churches mark the crucifixion on the Wednesday before Easter instead, coinciding with the sacrifice of the lamb in Jewish Passover. Lambs are a common symbol at Easter as a symbol for Christ, “the lamb of God”

On Easter Sunday, many Christians rejoice and sing at church services, made all the more special by the solemn remembrance before. Some Christians have developed other joyous Easter traditions, such as flying kites to symbolize Christ’s rise to Heaven. In the happy tone of Easter, here are a few Easter songs especially for children.

Christian Easter Song for Children

This song is sung to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Almost every child knows that song! Sing this song while kids make the Beaded Cross Easter Card.
Jesus is alive today, alive today, alive today. Jesus is alive today, it is Easter morning!

Bunny Easter Song for Children

This cute song is a great way to engage with young children on Easter. Sing this songs as you make Foam Egg Magnets.

Five Little Easter Eggs
Five little Easter eggs lovely colors wore,
(Hold up five fingers)
Mother ate the blue one, then there were four.
(Bend down one finger)
Four little Easter eggs, two and two you see,
Daddy ate the red one, then there were three
(Bend down one finger)
Three little Easter eggs, before I knew,
Sister ate the yellow one, then there were two.
(Bend down one finger)
Two little Easter eggs, oh, what fun!
Brother ate the purple one, then there was one.
(Bend down one finger)
One little Easter egg, see me run!
I ate the last one, and then there were none.
(Bend down last finger)

Why the name Easter?

Christian missionaries noticed that their celebration of the resurrection of Christ occurred during pagan celebrations of the spring equinox. The pagan goddess of fertility and birth celebrated at this time was called Eostre. The missionaries adopted the celebratory tradition into a Christian holiday. Easter eggs are of course the classic symbol of fertility and have been associated with spring celebrations since ancient times. Classically, eggs were forbidden to Christians during the 40 days of Lent between Ash Wednesday and Easter and thus became an important part of the Easter celebration.

Where does the Easter bunny come in?

Just like the egg, the bunny is another ancient symbol of fertility and new life. One Anglo-Saxon myth says that Eostere changed a pet bird into a bunny which laid colored eggs to entertain children. The Easter bunny become a figure much like Santa, which brings presents to good children. In a German tradition, children would hide brightly colored nests often made from bonnets around the house for the “Osterhase” or Easter bunny to leave colored eggs. This has evolved into the tradition of hiding Easter baskets, nests and eggs themselves.
Crafters can celebrate the Easter bunny with great Easter Bunny crafts here at FaveCrafts.

Favorite Easter Bunny Craft: Bunny Pocket Pal

A charming way to dress up your outfit.

The bunny pocket pal project is perfect for a Hodge Podge Crafts event. If you are a Mom or Dad planning a party, or a school or local park district looking for ideas with some left over crafts, the pocket pal craft project is perfect.

Materials:

* Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue
* Paper punch: 1/8′
* Craft sticks
* Craft foam, pink (ears), white (teeth)
* Ribbon
* White pom pom, 2 for cheeks
* Decorated egg
* Woodsies, assorted sizes and shapes
* Black pom pom for nose
* Black beads, 2 for eyes
* Acrylic paint, white
* 1/4″ flat brush

Steps:

1. Using ovals, square and circle glue wood pieces together to create bunny. Glue the tip of craft stick to back of the figure, making sure there is space enough to insert into a pocket. Let dry.

2. Using ‘ brush, paint bunny with white acrylic paint. Let dry.

3. Glue all trims into place:

Eye: Beads
Cheeks: (2) 1/4″ white pom poms
Nose: black pom pom
Teeth: two small rectangles craft foam
Inner Ear: Pink craft foam
Paws: punched circles from white foam
Bow: Ribbon
Wood Egg

The Legend of the Easter Lily

Christian tradition says that beautiful white lilies grew where Christ’s sweat dropped to the ground when he was being crucified. The Lily of the Valley is one of the first flowers to open in the spring, thus closely associated it with spring celebrations and Easter. The lily is also a symbol of the Virgin Mary. Christ used the symbol of the lily in one of his most famous quotes:

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?”
(Luke 12:27-28; see also Mt 6:28-29).

Easter Inspirational Poems

Use these Easter poems, sayings and verses to fill homemade Easter cards, embroider a pillow or simply share with family and friends as you dye Easter eggs.

Free Religious Easter Poems, Quotes and Verses

“Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there.” Clarence W. Hall
“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time.” Martin Luther
“On Easter Day the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer.” Douglas Horton

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

“Easter” by Kay Hoffman

Although it happened long ago,
that first glad Easter day;
within the true believer’s heart,
it’s just as real today.
The Roman guards who kept the watch,
the early morning gloom,
the angel’s words, “He is not here”
resounding from the tomb.
And oh, the joy in Mary’s heart
while in the garden fair
to see her blessed Lord appear
upon the pathway there.
Although it happened long ago,
it still is true today;
oh, let our hearts rejoice and sing,
the stone is rolled away.
May the spirit of hope that Easter brings,
Help you find contentment in little things,
And restore your faith in the Lord above,
Who gave His life for the ones He loves.

Short Poems and Easter Card Sayings

For renewal of life
For birds that sing
Thanks for Easter
Thanks for Spring

Easter brings the best surprises,
Baby chicks and buds in bloom
And Spring sunshine
That fills your room.
Easter brings the best surprises,
Baby chicks and buds in bloom
And Spring sunshine
That fills your room.

Go Here After The Video -> Crayola Model Magic Fusion Primary Colors

More Easter Craft Articles at FaveCrafts.com

Easy Easter Bonnet Crafts, Free Easter Cards, Religious Easter History, Videos, Tips and More
Easter Wreath Craft Ideas
Easter Egg Decorating Crafts, Crafts for Kids and More

By: Caley, Craft Editor at FaveCrafts.com

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

www.Favecrafts.com is an exciting resource for all things craft from expert tips to project ideas for every style and skill level. Peruse 1000’s of free craft projects, tips, videos and more. Find gift ideas for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Weddings, Halloween, and Easter for kids and adults

Technorati Tags: easter crafts for kids, easy easter crafts, history of easter

I was searching for some cool St. Patrick’s Day Crafts for the preschool age and up. (Ideas that were super neat for them to do, not the everyday crafts kind of thing.) I came across this site and thought I’d share it with you. It has some really awesome ideas in it.

Shamrock tee

What will your child be wearing on St. Patty’s Day? Funkify their day with a fun, homemade four-leaf clover tee. And who knows, maybe you will be inspired to personalize more clothes for them! It’s just that fun and easy.

Materials: Child-sized white t-shirt, green fabric color spray (Tulip makes a spray available at craft stores like Michael’s), cardboard, paper, scissors, trash bag

Directions:

1) Using the paper, cut out a stencil for the shirt. You can fold it into quarters and cut out a heart shape to make a four-leaf clover.

2) Lay a large trash bag flat on the floor. Arrange the cardboard inside the t-shirt and lay it on the center of the plastic bag. Have your child help arrange the stencil or stencils on the shirt.

3) Spray the color around the stencil(s) onto the shirt. Follow the directions on the bottle to dry properly and wash before wearing (it may be several days before the shirt can be worn).

Shamrock napkin rings

What better way to decorate your St. Patty’s Day table than with some fun homemade napkin rings. Anyone can make these and materials will cost you around $2. If you have older kids, you can get more creative, adding different colors of green or letting them paint the rings.

Materials: white foam sheet (cut into 2″ by 5″ strips - 1 per napkin ring), green acrylic paint, paper plate, stapler

Directions:

1) Make sure that your hands and your child’s hands are clean and nails are clipped. Set up an area on your table with plastic or newspaper to protect the table. On a small paper plate, squirt a bit of the green paint. Have a wet paper towel at the ready.

2) Lay out one of the white foam strips. Using your child’s pointer finger, dip it into paint and then put three finger prints in a shamrock pattern on the white strip. Create as many patterns as you like on the strip and then set aside. Repeat until all of the strips have the pattern. Use the wet paper towel to wipe your child’s finger clean before leaving the table.

3) Use a thin paint brush to draw a stem on each shamrock.

4) Let the strips dry over night.

5) Curve the strips into a loop with about 1/2″ of overlapping foam. Staple together.

Leprechaun’s purse

Okay, so St. Patrick’s Day isn’t one of those holidays where you hand our presents or hide candy. Nonetheless, these cute little totes are a cute and fun thing to make with kids — and maybe St. Patrick will deliver a few trinkets or handfuls of candy to the bags on St. Patrick’s Day eve.

Materials: 1 sheet of green felt, green patterned ribbon, scissors

Directions:

1) Using scissors, cut slits (about 1/2 inch long) along the edge of the felt, about 1″ apart, all the way around.

2) Weave the ribbon through the slits (little fingers are a big help with this — have them alternate between pushing and pulling the ribbon through the slits). Tie the ends of the ribbon together. Then, pull the ribbon tight, scrunching the felt to form a patch. Tie a second knot about four inches from the pouch opening.

3) Fill with candy, trinkets or whatever you desire.

Sarah W. Caron
watch?v=Ia7Gs8MSpiY

Technorati Tags: shamrock crafts, st patricks day, st patricks day pictures, st patricks day shirts

Isn’t Spring a wonderful time of year? It’s my favorite time of the year and not only because I was born on the first day of spring. I love the flowers blooming and the green grass and the buds on trees. Olihvia and I were out doing yard work yesterday and she has already picked me a beautiful bouquet of flowers from our yard. Check out these great spring activities for your preschooler.

Springtime Song
Preschool children learn about the spring season as they sing this sensory song from Nicole H.

Springtime Song
(Tune: Did you ever see a Lassie?)
My eyes can see it springtime, it’s springtime, its springtime.
My eyes can see it springtime, the grass is so green!
The green grass, the flowers, the sunshine and showers.
My eyes can see it’s springtime, and I am so glad. My ears can hear its springtime, its spring time, its springtime.
My ears can hears its springtime, the birds sweetly sing.
The birds sing, the lambs bleat the frogs croak, the bees buzz.
My ears can hear it’s springtime, and I am so glad!

My body can feel its springtime, it’s springtime, it’s springtime.
My body can feel it’s springtime, the air is so warm.
The warm air, the breezes, no frost and no freezes.
(Variation: The warm air, the breezes, the pollen, the sneezes)
My body can feel it’s springtime, and I am so glad

Bulletin Board: “Spring Has Sprung” Muffin Liner Scene
Melanie M. offers this week long lesson plan saying, “This is a good lesson for teaching colors and texture. Children can use a variety of materials including muffin liners to create a spring picture.  This is a simple, multi step craft that can be spread out over a week, if you want, or you can do the prep work yourself and have the children construct their pictures in one session.”

Materials: Brightly colored muffin liners (a variety of sizes)
Popsicle sticks painted green
Leaves (can use real, silk or cut from anything)
Grass (I use the green shredded stuff that goes in Easter baskets, or you can use scraps of green tissue paper)
Finger Paint, blue, yellow, green
Circular object for the sun.

Description:
1. Day 1:  I take my kids out for a walk in the springtime and we play games such as I Spy to take note of what we see outside.  On windy days, we notice the cloud patterns and on nice days, we notice the clear blue sky.  I also get them to use their 5 senses to describe what they notice outdoors.  This is a good way to introduce the craft.

2. Day 2:  Indoors, I mix colors and show the children what new colors are
created when you mix them together.  I eventually lead them to the color blue.
On heavy paper, have children finger paint a clear blue sky or add drops of
black to make a stormy blue-grey sky.  I also give them a variety of tools to
textures their skies with.  On the bottom half of the paper, have the children
finger paint a green bottom.  Let these dry.  As an added painting activity,
give the children a number of popsicle sticks to paint green.  Let these dry for
next day.

4. Day 3:  Have the children take their green popsicle sticks and put a drop of
glue on the top.  Take a large muffin liner, stretch it out a bit and affix it
to the top of glue.  Put a small drop of glue in the middle of the large muffin
liner.  Take a smaller muffin liner and affix it in the center of the large
muffin liner.  You have just made a pretty flower.  Repeat the process.  Some of
my kids make two flowers, others make up to ten.  It’s up to them.  Let these
flowers dry.

Take your large sheet of paper and spread glue on the green section using your fingers or a paint brush.  Sprinkle your green grass basket filler over the glue.  Glue the backs of your popsicle flowers and affix them onto your grass.  Glue your leaves on.  Let your creations dry.

5. Day 4:  By now your creations should be completely dry.  You may notice that some of your green basket filler is loose in some places.  You can glue these
down and give extra glue in some places.  This is where the individuality of the
creation comes through.  I set out gold glitter glue, circular objects such as
jars, split oranges, pipe cleaner, paint and so on.  The kids can use them to make
sun, using any method they want.  Some of my children finger paint a partial sun
(because it’s cloudy outside and the sun doesn’t come out on days like these).
Let dry.

6. Day 5:  Your creation should be completely dry now and ready to be displayed on your spring theme bulletin board.  These creations are so colorful and so
beautiful when they are finished.  Parents also love them!

Comments: Depending on the age group, this activity can take a long time or can
be done in two days.  I did this with preschoolers and they absolutely loved it!
I think this activity would be ideal for any age group that is studying a spring
theme.

Sensory Painting With A Scent
Kelly B. encourages children to incorporate their sense of smell in an activity often associated with touch.

Materials: Paper (prefer stiff)
Several flavors of Kool-Aid
Paint brushes

Description: Mix each flavor in a separate container with about half a cup of
water. Allow the children to paint on the paper with the brushes after dipping them in the flavored water. The painting looks just like watercolor paints and it
smells so good. Actually the whole art area smells great! The children love
dipping their brushes in and smelling them before they paint, they try to guess
what flavor it is. They come up with some pretty interesting guesses.

After the painting has dried the children can scratch their painting with their
finger and smell the paint on their picture. Just like scratch and sniff stickers.

Comments: I found the children just loved this. They were so excited to be able
to paint with a drink they often have. The colors are perfect for spring too
because they are watercolor and appear pastel. It’s also a really cheap activity
because the drink mix is very inexpensive.
A Note of Caution: The diluted Kool-Aid stains clothing and countertops / tables. Gail was able to get it out of the tabletops, but not the clothing and strongly recommends that children wear smocks to protect their clothes.

Spring Bulletin Board
During this preschool activity by Diane S. teachers can encourage appropriate behavior, color recognition, name recognition, discussion on spring and how plants and trees begin to grow after the winter.

Materials: Bulletin board, large piece of brown paper, assorted smaller colored
paper, scissors, leaf and flower patterns.

Description: Teachers place on the bulletin board a large tree cut out of the brown paper, making sure you have a branch for each child in your class. Write the children’s names on the branches. Trace the leaves and flower patterns onto construction paper, the older children can do this themselves. Next, ask the children to cut them out. With the leftover brown paper, make two barrels one for each side of the tree. Place the leaves and flowers in the barrels.
The title I chose for my board is Our Class is Blooming!

During circle time talk about how the tree is bare and what happens to trees in the spring? Why does this happen? What can we do to our tree to make it look like it’s spring? Ask the children about the branches? What is on them that  is not on the trees outside? Have them identify their names. Go over the colors
of the flowers and leaves, are the leaves all one shade of green? Why not?
Can there be more than one shade of a color?

Next explain how the children can add leaves and flowers to the tree by doing their very best at school, following the rules, cleaning up centers, and doing their best on papers or crafts. At the end of each day have the children who have had a good day choose a leaf or flower to put on their branch. Encourage everyone to participate so that the class tree can become big and full by the end of the month.

Cooking: Ice Cream Sundaes
Young children create their own ice cream delights using fine motor control
during this fun activity from Debbie M.

Materials: Ice cream, assorted ice cream toppings, assorted sprinkles,
cool whip, cherries, nuts, eatable bowls.

Description: We do this for our spring parties.  We allow the children to make
their own ice cream sundaes and they have an absolute ball. They are able to add their own toppings as much or as little as they want. The only thing we as
grown up do is to put the ice cream into the eatable bowls because the ice cream
is frozen and too hard for the children to scoop. Both the parents and the children enjoy this extremely well.

Photosynthesis
During this preschool curriculum activity by Virginia G. students learn about the four elements (soil, sun, water, seeds) necessary for plant growth.

Materials: Poster board, colored markers, empty seed packet, (pictures of the type of seeds you are planting are great for later recognition of the plant), styrofoam cups, potting soil, seeds, water, plastic wrap and a sunny window.

Description: Discuss the four elements needed to grow a plant. Soil, seeds, sun and water.  Enlist the students to help draw a sun in the upper corner of the poster board.  Make sure there are plenty of “rays’ extending down the poster.
Draw in the soil (brown) on the bottom 1/5 of the poster. Starting on the left side, draw a black seed in the soil.  Draw more seeds every few inches, but including some (green) “growth” in each until you have drawn a sprout.
Extend a few of the yellow sun’s rays all the way down from the sun to the sprout.
Add water drops (blue) and a sprinkling can just above the sprout. The class can color in the objects. Display the poster in a prominent place in the classroom.
Next, use the cups and soil to help students plant seeds in their own cup.  Add a few tablespoons of water, and cover with plastic wrap. Set in a sunny window for a few days (keep warm at night).  When the plants sprout, uncover.  Review the steps each day to remind students to water their plants.

Grass Heads
During this Spring curriculum activity by Jackie youngsters will have the opportunity to grow their own grass head and be responsible for watering it daily.

Materials: Old pair of nylon legs, grass seed, soil, small plastic containers (,jar or cleaned cat food tins), elastic bands, googlie eyes (the ones you sew on), pipe cleaners and a spray bottle.

Description:
1.  Cut nylon at the knee
2.  Scoop in 1 tbsp. grass seed
3.  Scoop in preferred amount of soil / compacted (size of  a softball).
Work the soil down to foot of nylon into shape of a head.
4.  Tie the open end of the nylon tight (snip excess nylon and  leave about 3 inches dangling).
OPTIONAL:
5.  Have the children pinch the soil through the nylon to make it easy to tie an elastic around for ears and nose.
6.  Sew on googlie eyes.
7.  Make glasses out of pipe cleaners
8.  Place grass head on top of small container (have excess 3 inch nylon dangling into the container
9.  Pour in 1/2 inch of water in bottom of the container every couple of days.
10. Spray water gently over grass seeds on top 2 times each day.

WATCH THE GRASS GROW and watch the children enjoy creating there own hairdo’s.

Lots more plant activities are in the Plant Activity Theme in the Rainbow Resource Room

Paper Plate Umbrellas
Combine movement with this easy hands on art and craft activity by Yvonne S.

Materials: Large paper plates, markers and crayons.

Description: Give each student a  paper plate with a small hole poked in the middle.  Let the youngsters decorate the backs of their plates with crayons or felt tip markers. When they have finished, have them stick their index fingers up through the holes in their plates to make the umbrellas.

Comments: My preschool class walks around in a circle saying this rhyme:

It’s raining, It’s raining,
Oh me, oh my!
But our umbrellas will keep us dry!

Lots of Windy March and Rainy April Weather Activities are in the
Rainbow Resource Room’

Game: Caterpillars and Butterflies
Annette P. developed this game from a poem that she found on the Preschool Rainbow. Young children join a group, take turns and use gross motor skill as they run around a circle and find their place again. This is very challenging for the children in Annette’s class.

Materials: A circular mat to sit round, a large model butterfly suitable for the children to hold.

Description: Sit together in a circle and recite and act out the poem Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar. At the end choose one person to get up and fly round the circle holding the butterfly model.

Fuzzy wuzzy, creepy crawly
Caterpillar funny,
You will be a butterfly
When the days are sunny.
Winging, flinging, dancing, springing
Butterfly so yellow,
You were once a caterpillar,
Wiggly, wiggly fellow

Little fuzzy caterpillar
In your warm cocoon
The cold winter’s over and you’ll be hatching soon.
Then you’ll spread your wings
On a warm summer’s day
And wave us all good bye
As you fly, fly away.

Comments:  I teach children with severe learning difficulties, ASD’s and PMLD’s from 2 - 6 years.  The children I teach found this very challenging but particularly the children with challenging behavior were motivated by the fact they had to sit still to get the Butterfly.
A theme about Butterflies is in the Rainbow Resource Room.

Kites!
Preschool and kindergarten children have the opportunity to develop pre-writing skills through tracing a diamond during this early childhood activity by Kim.  Patterning is reinforced using colored bow tie pasta to create the tail.

Materials: Diamond tracing pattern, crayons or markers, pencil, colored bow tie pasta, paper and glue.

Description: The children use a pencil to trace the diamond on paper.  Once they have traced their diamond they can color their kite any way they choose. Next, the children use the pasta to create a pattern on their kite tail.  The pasta is glued in place on the tail and the children draw on their paper.

Comments: The activity works very well with a mixed age group of children.

There’s lots more Kite Making activities in the Windy & Rainy Weather Theme which is in the Rainbow Resource Room

Technorati Tags: free preschool lesson plans, preschool thematic lesson plans

Many preschools and day-care centers celebrate Valentine’s Day by making crafts and artwork for loved ones. There are many other Valentine’s Day activities that preschool teachers and day-care providers can implement in order to create a fun and educational Valentine’s Day theme.

Here are some ideas the kids will love.

Ask the children and their parents to bring in pictures of loved ones or things the child loves. This can be people, pets or anything that the child is passionate about. Once all of the pictures are collected, post them on a bulletin board. Then during circle time, ask each child to share their pictures and discuss why they love them.

Crayon Heart Rubbing - Crayon rubbings are an easy, mess-free way to create great art in the preschool classroom. This Valentine’s Day themed project can be used alone or combined with other art processes, words or even turned into a special card. This project is for preschool or day-care age/grade level.

This project helps to increase fine motor development, explore artistic process, develop shape and color recognition, explore cause and effect relationship, increase awareness of pattern and texture.

The following materials are needed for the project: Precut cardboard or card stock (thick paper) hearts in various sizes and even textures, light colors of construction paper, crayons with the wrappers peeled (pink and red work great for Valentine’s Day).

The process to follow is: First an adult can precut heart shapes from card stock or a similar thick paper. Old cardboard boxes, cut apart, may work well. Different sizes of hearts can be cut. Second, invite the children to choose a heart from the sizes given. Next, have the children place a piece of light colored construction paper (or other thin paper such as printer paper) over the heart. Ask the children to feel the paper for the texture of the heart underneath. Then, hand out the peeled crayons. Show the children how to turn the crayon sideways and use it like a rolling pin. Make sure that the children are rubbing the crayon over the heart in order to produce the design on the construction paper. And repeat with different sizes of hearts and/or different crayon colors.

Following this activity, discuss the process used with the children in your care. Ask questions such as, “What happened when you placed the heart shape under the paper?” “What happened when you rolled the crayon over your paper?” “What shape did you see?” or “How did the paper feel?” Have a show and share to allow time for each child to speak about his or her unique piece of art. Point out different sizes of the shape and different colors used. Consider turning the artwork into cards. Ask who the card is for. This ties in the Valentine’s Day holiday theme.

Paper Plate Valentine People - These little Valentine People are so cute and lots of fun to play with, once you make them. Take a paper plate and draw a heart on it that takes up most of the paper plate. Cut it out. Show your child how to glue on candy conversation hearts to make eyes, a nose and a mouth. Next, take four narrow strips of red or pink construction paper and fold them accordion-style. Use glue, tape, or staples to attach them to the heart-shaped paper plate to make arms and legs. Then, trace your child’s hands and feet on red or pink construction paper. Cut them out. Attach them to the accordion-paper arms and legs. I know I love little crafts Olihvia makes that she incorporates her hands and feet as part of the craft. It is so adorable and make great keepsakes.

These also make fun Valentines to send to grandparents, and they look really cute suspended from the ceiling with nylon string for decorations. Make an entire family of Paper Plate Valentine People by varying the sizes. You can substitute little heart stickers for the candy hearts making it easier to store and transport your Valentine People.

Read Valentine’s Day Books Young Children Love - There are lots of books about Valentine’s Day. The following titles are suggestions. Some of the books include information about the origin and history of the day, and others explore the sentiment and traditions of Valentine’s Day. Your local library or bookstore should have a selection of good books on the theme too.

“Special Delivery (Care Bears) by Quinlan B. Lee

Clifford’s Valentine’s Day by Normal Bridwell

Queen of Hearts (Ann Estelle Stories) ” by Mary Engelbreit

Silly Tilly’s Valentine (I Can Read Book 1) ” by Lillian Hoban

Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond

“The Night Before Valentine’s Day by Natasha Wing

“The Story of Valentine’s Day” by Clyde Robert Bulla

“The Valentine Bears” by Eve Bunting and Jan Brett

“Blue’s Valentine’s Day” by Deborah Reber

“Valentine’s Day Is…” by Gail Gibbons

“What Is Valentine’s Day?” (A Lift-the-Flap Story) by Harriet Ziefert

“Biscuit’s Valentine’s Day” by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Valentine’s Day activities for toddlers and preschoolers should focus on the themes of love and friendship. Talk about the importance of sharing and being polite to others as well as discussing things and people they love. One of my favorite things to do is discover all the new and exciting early childhood projects available on the Internet. Give it a try.

Elizabeth Akers Farrell is the child care resource and referral specialist for the Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes office in Auburn

- Sources include: www.Suite101.com and www.universalpreschool.com

Technorati Tags: preschool, Preschool Valentines Day Arts and Crafts, Preschool Valentines Day Books, Preschool Valentines Day Theme, Themes

Well, Valentines Day is soon to be here again. I can’t believe it. It seems just like yesterday that I was preparing my daughter and my students for Christmas.  Time sure flies.

Isn’t Valentines Day a great time to introduce new songs and Valentine’s Day Preschool Books?

Be My Valentine Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter [Warne, 2002]. This charming board book features Peter Rabbit and his quest to find a special Valentine. It is perfect for toddlers and children up to the age of 4.

The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting. This is a classic “Bears” book. I loved it as a child and am sure your child will enjoy it as well. It is a sweet story.

How about some Valentines Goodies to bring to class? Or you could make these in class and send them home with the children. We all know how much kids love baking.

Heart Shaped Biscuits with Pink Butter

Let children roll out biscuit dough and cut out heart shaped biscuits using a heart shaped cookie cutter. Bake. To make the pink butter, fill small containers with lids (clean baby food jars work best) with heavy cream and a few drops of red food coloring. Next, instruct the children to shake the jars until it becomes butter. Then, spread the pink butter on the heart shaped biscuits. [Daylene, Perpetual Preschool].

Friendship Fruit Plate

For a heart-friendly option, try a friendship fruit plate. Explain that the color red and pink is associated with love and friendship. Ask the children if they can name various red and pink fruit. Then create a fruit plate using strawberries, raspberries, slices of pink grapefruit, cherries, sliced red apples, red grapes, cherries, or any other fruit that fits the bill.

Valentine’s Day activities for preschoolers should focus on the themes of love and friendship. For toddlers, this could involve talking about the importance of sharing and being polite to others as well as discussing things and people they love.

I hope you enjoy these Valentine’s Day activities. Please let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

Technorati Tags: Preschool Valentines activities, prescool valentines, valentines

I just got myself a Nintendo Wii and already my preschooler is enjoying Wii Fit with me. She has her own little “Mii” that she uses while she runs or hula hoops. It is great.  As a music teacher I had heard awesome things about Wii Music I decided to get it for my classes. You can do so much with it. The kids learn a LOT and LOVE it.

Nintendo’s new Wii Music game is spreading from the family room to the classroom, thanks to newly formed collaborations with select schools and educators. To help inspire students and promote an active appreciation for music, Nintendo is working with teachers to incorporate Wii consoles and Wii Music software into their lesson plans to offer teachers a unique tool for creativity and improvisation.

Nintendo’s collaborators in this effort include MENC: The National Association for Music Education, which is recognized as the world’s largest arts education organization and as a teaching resource for all levels from preschool to graduate school. MENC will help teachers in 51 cities across the nation integrate Wii Music into their curricula, making use of the game’s 60-plus instruments and fun array of tutorial exercises in rhythm, tempo and song structure.

“The goal of Wii Music is to inspire people of all ages to enjoy music,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “By partnering with educators and bringing Wii Music into their classrooms, we hope to give students a memorable, hands-on experience that helps them discover their own creative voice.”

The Wii console’s motion-sensing controls allow Wii Music users at any experience level to step up and jam, whether playing solo or as part of a group. Using the wireless Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers, players make simple, intuitive movements to strum a guitar, play a trumpet or bang a drum.

“At any grade level, it’s essential to provide students with the tools and encouragement they need to be creative,” said John J. Mahlmann, executive director of MENC. “We look forward to collaborating with Nintendo to drive awareness and advocacy for music education through Wii Music.”

Some teachers already have begun to incorporate Wii Music into their lesson plans.

“Wii Music has brought a renewed excitement to music class for students from first grade to fifth, myself and even some of the classroom teachers,” said Helen A. Krofchick, a music teacher at Doby’s Mill Elementary School in Lugoff, S.C. “I love how many music standards can be covered in such a short time. Students also have to use language skills, spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination. We have a school very supportive of the arts and Wii Music has empowered our program even more. Any system that is educational and can add a love of music to children’s lives should be in every classroom.”

Other collaborating and partner organizations currently include San Francisco’s Blue Bear School of Music and New York’s Opus 118 Harlem School of Music. Teachers in these programs will use Wii Music to build students’ familiarity with technology while bolstering their ability to create and improvise. Experts in the field of music say getting kids interested in music at an early age can help build a lifelong appreciation.

“The joy of playing music is something that should be experienced by everyone, regardless of age, talent-level or experience,” said Joe Lamond, President & CEO of NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants. “Research shows that more than 82 percent of people who don’t currently play a musical instrument wish they did. Wii Music can help address this by providing a positive introduction for millions of people who might not otherwise be inclined to try.”

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com. For more information about Wii Music, visitwww.WiiMusic.com.

For more information about Nintendo, visitwww.nintendo.com.

Technorati Tags: nintendo wii, preschool music, wii music