Easter Preschool Toddler Theme Week

Long time, no blog, huh? Well, it's partly because I didn't find the time and partly because I'm crazy busy (like the rest of the world). My college classes have gotten much more serious, but I'm truly enjoying myself. It's just difficult to find time to work, do homework, and still be a mother . . . .

However, we did manage to sneak out of town over the weekend for a trip to San Antonio (Sea World), and we had a blast!!! The weather was gorgeous, and none of us had been to Sea World so it was a great adventure. I loved the whales. The kids loved feeding the dolphins.

Back to work though . . . . it's a gorgeous day here, and the kids are playing in the sand so I have a few moments to update you on this week's theme. We are learning about Easter stuff (bunnies, eggs, chicks). We have a busy week planned, and we are very excited about the Easter Egg Hunt on Thursday as well as the possibility of the Easter Bunny stopping by to leave us some goodies.

CIRCLE TIME ACTIVITIES

I recently created a powerpoint presentation of our circle time songs using music by Dr. Jean Feldman. I just threw it together with an owl theme (since that is our room theme), and the kids love it. I don't use every song every day, and I plan to add more to it, but typically we sing "Hello, How are You" to start, followed by "Days of the Week", "Months Macarena", and "What Will the Weather be Today?" Her music is available for download online, and I recommend it. We have her "Tidy Up" song at the end of the presentation, which I use several times during the day, and the kids seem to clean much better with it on. (We use this presentation every day)

Monday - Egg color / shape powerpoint presentation (I can email this to you, but it is just a simple slide show with 10 colors of eggs (one per slide), two slides containing five of those colored eggs so I can ask for volunteers to find a certain color. Then, there are two slides with bunnies hiding shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle). When you push the button, the bunny moves to reveal a shape, and you have a child tell you the shape. (Frogstofairydust@cox.net if you want me to send it to you)

Tuesday - Egg numbers and letters magnet board activity. These are from Childcareland.com (can't say enough nice things about this site - it's wonderful). They are just egg shapes with numbers and letters on them. For fun, print out a bunny graphic (I got mine from scrappindoodles.com), laminate, and glue to a craft stick for a themed pointer.

Wednesday - Egg visual discrimination game. (this is also from childcareland.com) We play this as a group and also at individual centers.

Thursday - review ppt presentation on colors/shapes

Friday - review letter / numbers activity

SONGS (in addition to what we sing everyday)

Little Bunny Foo Foo

I'm a Little Bunny

MOVEMENT

The Bunny Hop (poem/movement)

Bunny Hop Race (hop to basket, drop in egg - relay type)

Hot Egg (Hot Potato) to bunny music

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES

Color egg hunt (they will hunt for a color designated to them)

Egg spoon race

Easter Egg hunt

BOOKS

The Night Before Easter

The Easter Bunny is Missing

Max's Easter Surprise

Knuffle Bunny

LEARNING CENTERS

Language: Easter Egg Tracing, Bunny Writing skills (childcareland.com)

Math: Plastic egg counting/sorting. Egg patterning.

Discovery: dying Easter eggs

Manipulatives: Plastic egg size sorting, file folder games (size sort, puzzle match)

Sensory: Pom Pom egg match (put matching poms for each plastic egg)

Blocks: Add bunny, chicks, and easter eggs

Dramatic Play: Easter Egg hunt supplies

Phew - that was a lot to share. And lastly, today's craft was painted Easter eggs. Just mix regular paint colors with white to make them pastel and let the kids use their imaginations. For fun, bring in dot paint/markers.

Lucky Leprechaun craft

Ok, I had great intentions with this craft. I made a pattern and scanned it, and I threw away the original pieces without looking to see if they scanned properly (I know - get it together chick!). Anyway, when I went to share it, it's gone because today is trash day. So, I am just going to tell you this is super easy to make yourself, and you have to trust me. Cut a circle from white cardstock or construction paper (use a toddler plate for a template). Do the same for a piece of peach tissue paper. Cut a green hat from construction paper, and then cut a band and a buckle. I used lime green for the band, but black or white would work too. Cut an oval nose out of pink construction paper and two little black eyes. Then cut orange strips for the hair. I used a paper crimper to add texture, but you can leave it alone or fold your paper in accordian style. I like to outline stuff with a permanent marker, but that's completely unnecessary. Use your marker to add eyebrows and a whimsical mouth after you glue everything together. SO CUTE (as my 2 year olds like to say about them).

I can't take credit for this cute craft project. It came from my Mailbox book - Day by Day Preschool Plans. This week is a Dr. Suess theme, and this craft is related to One Fish, Two Fish.

It was very simple to do, and the kids had a great time. Cut out a white fish bowl shape and then draw a black mark across it as in the picture. To make the water, mix blue food coloring with some corn syrup. Have your two fish cut out ahead of time, one red and one blue for each child. You can draw on eyes and a mouth on the fish. Let the kids paint the corn syrup mixture on the fish bowl and then stick the fish in there - be sure you talk about how many fish and the colors as you do this. Set the craft aside for several days on wax paper to dry. (Corn syrup takes a while, and it will drip if you hang it up - believe me . . . . I can't tell you how many times I have gotten corn syrup drips on the wall.) It is such a cool finish though - it's worth using it instead of paint!