Ii Art Activities Inchworms Have the children cut an egg carton in half lengthwise. Have the children use green tempera paint and paint the half of carton green. Decorate with markers, paint, stickers. Add pipe cleaners for antennae and buttons for eyes. *************************************************************** Igloos Have the children color or paint igloos on dark construction paper. Ask them to draw someone beside the igloo. Have the children tell little stories about their igloos. *************************************************************** Movement and Games Icicles Have the children pretend to be icicles as they move about on the play area. Choose someone to be the sun. When the sun touches someone, he or she must "melt" and fall down, laying very still. *************************************************************** Inchworms Play music and have the children move as inchworms on all fours. Show them to move like an inchworm, they sould move their arms first, making their bodies go down, then their bodies arch up as the move their feet forward. *************************************************************** Alphabet Appetizer Ice Cream If possible, make home made ice cream and have the children help measure the ingredients. 6 Eggs (whipped real good) 2 Good Cups Sugar 2 Tbl. Vanilla- - - - - -Mix well, then add... 1 Qt. Cream 1 Qt. Milk (not quite 1 quart) *************************************************************** Jj Art Activities Jack-O-Lanterns Give each of the children a round paper plate. Have them paint the back side of the paper plate with Orange tempera paint. Use black paint or markers to draw the face and add a green construction paper stem. *************************************************************** Jars, Jars, and More Jars Collect jars of different sizes with lids. Have the children practice finding the correct size lid for the jar. Let them practice size comparisons by arranging larger to smaller etc.. Practice counting skills as well as matching skill. *************************************************************** Movement and Games Jumping Jacks Teach the children how to do jumping jacks. Count the number of times you can do them, see how high you can count. You can also call out the letter "J" every time you do a Jumping Jack. *************************************************************** Alphabet Appetizer Jelly Rolls Give each child a slice of bread and help them to trim the crusts off. Show them how to flatten the bread with their hands or a rolling pin. Use Jelly or Jam and let each child spread some on their bread and roll up the bread. Enjoy. *************************************************************** Kk Learning Letters Through All Five Senses' Experience K EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND Concentration The art of concentration is a skill and must be practiced as any other skill. Prepare the children to pay at tention by grouping them in a circle when you want to present a new activity. This will help to block out distractions. Special activities help to boost children's concentration because the nature of the activity is special. The children learn to understand that these activities are usually in the classroom for only a week, therefore they want to pay attention to what is going to happen. Special activities should be used as a tool to help children learn to concentrate. Louise Binder Scott's STORIES FOR LISTENING are designed to improve listening skills and concentration. Play the story and show the film strip only once, then begin the interesting follow-up activities. By doing it only once children will learn to pay attention and concentrate. MATERIALS NEEDED 1.Alphabet card K 2.Sandpaper letter K 3.Objects (kangaroo, kitten, kite) and label K 4.Book - THREE LITTLE KITTENS 5.Locked suitcase with key, containing four sets of paper whiskers, four paper tails, and four sets of paper ears (1 set should be larger for Mommy cat) and tape *************************************************************** ATTENTION GETTER Nursery Rhymes: Old King Cole Polly Put the Kettle On *************************************************************** ACTIVITIES 1.Alphabet card. "What letter is this?" "What sound does it make?" "Does anyone's name start with the letter K " Ask someone to find the letter K on the wall alphabet. If the similarity between hard C and K comes up, explain that C and K sometimes make the same sound and move on. 2.Sandpaper letter K Trace the letter K with two fingers; then let each child trace it also. (a child has more control with two fingers than one) Song: Make a K in the air, in the air. Make a K in the air, in the air. Make a tiny, tiny K Make a great big K Make a K in the air, in the air. (tune:"If You're Happy and You Know It.") 3.Objects and label K Show label K and the objects. Ask children to identify each object and to say its initial sound. Ask if they know anything else that starts with K. 4.Book - THREE LITTLE KITTENS. Read the family book. Discuss the book. Discuss kitten and the K sound. 5.Locked suitcase and key - (containing costumes) Be dramatic about the key fitting in the lock of the suitcase. Use element of surprise when opening suitcase and finding costumes. Ask what we can do with them. (have a play) Let children act out the story THREE LITTLE KITTENS. Let all children pretend to be kittens and crawl to the play area. 6.Real kitten (or stuffed kitten), kitten food. Show kitten; let children touch and describe it, emphasizing being gentle. Discuss age, color, diet, habits, etc. of the kitten. Ask children to smell the kitten food. Ask what it smells like. Ask if it smells like our food. If possible, leave kitten in the room for further observation. (of course children should be reminded about being gentle) *************************************************************** OPTIONAL FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES 1.Kitten costumes. Special area for children to role play with kitten costumes. 2.Kitten puppets. Special area for children to role play with puppets - possibly a puppet theater. 3.STORIES FOR LISTENING, by Louise B. Scott "Crickety-Cricket" - follow instructions. *************************************************************** SPECIAL ACTIVITY: Kitten pattern Materials: poster paints (blue and green), 9 x 12 white vellum paper, pre-cut kitten pattern, assorted construction paper (brown, grey, white, etc.) Prefold vellum paper in half lengthwise - or draw line through center of paper. Demonstrate how to paint the bottom half of vellum green and the top half blue (to the line). While paint is drying, demonstrate how to trace and cut out kitten pattern and then glue on picture. Tape divider is to separate materials. Marker is to draw face on kitten. Tray is to collect scraps from cutting *************************************************************** Art Activities Kites Use construction paper and have each child make their own kite by cutting a design they might have seen. Use yard and ribbon to make a tail. Hang from the lights or window for display. *************************************************************** Keys Provide an assortment of keys for the children to look at, talk about, sort and count. After they have had time to do these things, have them pretend they have a special key to open anything in the world. Ask them what they would use their key. You could have them draw a picture of their story and you could write their story on the picture. *************************************************************** Movement and Games Keep It Up Before hand, blow up a balloon and write the letters Kk on it. Have the children blow up the balloon and tie it shut. The children can now see how long they can keep the balloon up in the air without letting it touch the ground. Every time they touch the balloon, the can say the letter "K". *************************************************************** Alphabet Appetizer Kangaroo Pockets Provide a half slice of Pita, or pocket bread for each child. Show the children how to butter it and put a slice of cheese into it. Have them wrap it up in aluminum foil and place in the oven for a short while. *************************************************************** Ll Art Activities Leaf Wreaths Have the children collect various and interesting leaves. Take a paper plate and cut the center out of it. Have the children glue their leaves around the outer edge to make a wreath. Attach a paper clip on the back and you can display their wreaths on the wall. *************************************************************** Lacing Cards Use old greeting cards you have received and glue the two folds together. Punch holes around the edge in various patterns. Give each children a piece of yarn and they can practice their sewing skills by lacing cards. *************************************************************** Movement and Games Leap Frog Ask the children to play a game of leap frog. Every time they leap over a person, they can say the letter "L". *************************************************************** Alphabet Appetizer Have the children help you make Lasagna for lunch. They can help layer the noodles, hamburger and sauce. Have someone help cover the dish and set the timer. Select one person to monitor the timer's progress so everyone knows when lunch will be ready. *************************************************************** Mm Art Activities Masks Give each child a paper bag to fit over their head. Help them to cut out openings for eyes, nose and mouth. Supply a variety of materials for them to decorate their masks. *************************************************************** "Me" Book Have each of the children bring 4 or 5 snap shot sized pictures from home. Use Zip Lock baggies for the children to insert 2 pictures front to back. You can insert a cardboard between the pictures to make it more sturdy. Add 2 binders on the zipper end and the children can flip through their own book. *************************************************************** Movement and Games Marching Pretend you are in a marching band and have everyone play an imaginary instrument. March around the room to music or make your own. *************************************************************** Alphabet Appetizer Monster Mash Give each child a bowl and a fork. Have them mix and mash 1/2 banana, 1/4 C. Applesauce, 1/2 Tsp. Honey and 1 Tsp. peanut butter. Have them sprinkle the top of their Monster Mash with Cinnamon and eat. *************************************************************** Nn Art Activities Noodle Art Color various noodles with food coloring and a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Use different colors. Pour out on paper towel on a cookie sheet and let dry. Have the children design a picture using the noodles. *************************************************************** Nests Give each child a small paper plate. Have the children tear up newspaper into small pieces. Use a mixture of glue and water and have them build their nests on the paper plate. While the nest is drying, have the children cut out a bird to sit in their nest. *************************************************************** Movement and Games Necklace Relay Divide the group into two teams. Provide an old cheap necklace, or one you have made from noodles, for each team. The first player in each line puts the necklace around his or her neck and shakes hands with the next person in line. The second player must remove it and place it on their head, so on and so on. The first team to have everyone wear the necklace wins. You can also do this activity with a mens neck tie. Makes the game more challenging. *************************************************************** Alphabet Appetizer Nachos Let the children take a serving of chips and you can melt Velveta Cheese for a more mild taste or use Nacho Cheese and serve in small bowls for them to dip their chips in. *************************************************************** Oo Art Activities O Necklaces Have the children string Cheerios on yarn or string. Be sure you knot the one end before they start stringing their necklace to prevent the O's from falling off. *************************************************************** O Button Pictures Give each child a handful of buttons or O-shaped cereal to glue to a paper in the shape of an O. Encourage the children to use their imaginations to create a picture around the O, using the letter as part of the design. Example, the outline of a face. *************************************************************** Movement and Games Duck, Duck, Goose Sit in a circle (the letter O) and play the game of Duck, Duck, Goose. *************************************************************** Alphabet Appetizer Boiled Octopus Take a hot dog and cut a + from each end towards the center. DO NOT cut completely to the center. Place the cut hot dog into boiling water for a minute or two and the ends will curl up and the hot dog will resemble an Octopus. *************************************************************** Pp Art Activities Pudding Painting Mix up several batches of instant pudding for the children to finger paint with Polk-a-dot Ps Prepare a P for each child to cut out and decorate with polk-a-dots. Use buttons, paints, stickers, etc. *************************************************************** Movement and Games Pass the Potato Have the children sit in a circle, let them pass a potato around by tossing it as you play music. When the music stops, whoever is holding the potato is "out." *************************************************************** Alphabet Appetizer Peanut Butter Have the children help shell enough peanuts to make 2 cups. Put aprox 2 Tbls. of salad oil into a blender and gradually add the peanuts, blending until smooth. Server on crackers, bread, celery or apples. *************************************************************** Qq Art Activities Queens Cut crowns out of construction paper for each of the children and have them decorate with feathers, paint, stickers, sequins, etc. **********************************