* How about making P's on pink paper, pink pansies on P., or pumpkins on P. I draw a hugh P on a piece of paper and then the children put things on the letter that begin with that letter. Also, each letter has a puppet and a story. * Have a P Party. The children can have pretzels and popcorn and wear their pajamas. If you don't want to do the pajama thing, they can wear pink, purple, polka dot, or plaid. It's fun for them!! * POPCORN IN A POT (Tune: I’m a Little Tea Pot) I’m a little popcorn in a pot, Heat me up and watch me pop. When I get all fat and white, I am done, Popping corn is lots of fun. And someone previoulsy looped this popcorn song w/ activities but I don't know the tune: Pop! Pop! Pop! Pour the corn into the Pot. Pop! Pop! Pop! Take and shake it 'til it's hot. Pop! Pop! Pop! Lift the lid, what have we got? Pop! Pop! Pop..........POPCORN!! 1. ADD INSTRUMENTS After teaching the children the chant I add rhythm instruments. First we all play Tom Tom's on the "Pop! Pop! Pop!". Later I divide the class into two groups -- one group plays the Tom Tom's on the "Pop!" and the other group plays maracas on all the other lines. 2. ADD THE GAME My assistant and I hold opposite ends of a bedsheet. I tell the children that the bedsheet is the lid and under the bedsheet is the pot. Now I need some "popcorn." I begin by choosing 4 children to "get in the pot" and pretend to be popcorn kernals. The rest of the children play their instruments and recite the chant with me. To add to the action on the line: "Take and Shake it 'til it's hot" my assistant and I pull the bedsheet back and forth over the children's heads. On the line: "Lift the lid what have we got?" my assistant and I lift the sheet enough so everyone can peek and see the "popcorn" underneath...then we quickly cover the popcorn up again. On the final line "Pop, Pop, Pop....POPCORN!" we shake the sheet on each "Pop" and lift it high in the air on POPCORN! The "popcorn" children of course, POP up as high as they can jump on the final "POPCORN!" When the children become very familiar with this game we increase the number in the Pot. And one day we even put the whole class 15 - 4 year olds in the pot to pop! * Cute Poem For P If I only had a nickel I would buy myself a pickle. And I'd put it in the middle of a sandwich with some butter and baloney And I'd eat it if I only had a nickle for a pickle But I don't. Now everytime anyone in our class has a pickle for lunch we have to recite the poem!!!!! The kids really loved this one. * Day one- we colored a ditto with both the capital and lowercase letter on it after we glued on popcorn. Day two- pigs, we made them by sponge painting a large paper plate with pink paint then we added a precut face with ears that the kids glued on wiggly eyes and drew in the snout and mouth. We then glued the face on the body and added a pink curled pipecleaner for the tail. Day three - We made pizza. We made real pizzas from pillsbury dough, sauce, shredded cheese and pepperoni. and then a similar craft using a paper plate that they colored red and then added pieces of paper cut up to resemble cheese and red circles for the pepperoni. Kids loved it. Day four - we are making ponies. I have a picture of one the kids will color and then add the spring like clothes pins so they stand up. Day five - we are making pussy willow in a vase. The vase will be made of wallpaper scraps they will draw brown lines for the branches and use their fingertips dipped in paint for the pussywillows.