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Kindergarten Readiness: Social Studies, Math, Science, Art and Music Part III

Jan28

cartoon_house_st5This is a series on readiness skills and resources for preschoolers taking the next “Big Step” to kindergarten.

This week I want to look at mathematic concepts and science. Behind each skill is a website that has worksheets to print or online games to play. This is the last in the series. 🙂

Social Studies

  • Recognizes basic traditions such as birthdays
  • Understands that people live in different parts of the worlds and have different customs and traditions
  • Explores simple maps and visual representations of neighborhoods or communities (Making a map)

Mathematics Concepts

  • Compares the size of groups of objects using language such as “more,” “less” and “same as” (kidzone website is a great resource!)
  • Arranges objects in size order (big to small, or small to big) (havefunteaching has answer keys for self checking if you want to set up a work station)
  • Uses comparison words, like “bigger,” “smaller,” “heavier,” etc.
  • Understands concepts of none, some and all and more than and less than
  • Identifies and draws a square, circle and triangle (practice worksheets for shapes)
  • Correctly counts four to ten objects (tlsbooks has a large variety of worksheets)
  • Knows that the final number counted represents the total number of objects in a set
  • Recognizes some numbers, 1 – 10 (FREE Number sense worksheets)
  • Can distinguish numbers from letters, and understands that numbers relate to quantity
  • Understands the effects of addition and subtraction

Science

  • Shows interest and asks questions about objects and events observed in their environment (create a scavenger hunt list)
  • Notices common properties and differences among objects and materials
  • Knows some facts about common plants and animals, such as what they eat and baby names (Baby animal names online game)
  • Recognizes some objects in the sky such as the sun, moon, clouds and lightning(Check out this adorable solar system lapbook)

Creative Arts & Music

  • Recognizes and names basic colors (Colors and Shapes matching cards)
  • Draws recognizable shapes and simple objects (see link above or Shapes and Colors worksheet)
  • Tells a story with pictures
  • Moves to a beat
  • Explores with common musical instruments
  • Enjoys improvising or copying musical patterns

Kindergarten Readiness: Reading and Writing Skills Part II

Jan14
Ashley's Get Well Wish

Ashley’s Get Well Wish

Last week I looked at Motor, Reasoning and Language Skills for preschoolers taking the “Big Step” toward kindergarten. This week these are the skills for Reading and Writing. The above picture is from my niece, isn’t it sweet? 🙂

Reading Skills

  • Looks at books or pictures on their own
  • Pretends to read books by reading the pictures
  • Tries to read in everyday situations (signs, labels, etc.)
  • Recognizes rhyming words (worksheet 1, worksheet 2, more rhyming worksheets! A list of ending sounds to rhyme with your scholar)
  • Blends sounds into words
  • Recognizes some common words in print (flashcards Use flashcards for a matching game, online sight words game)
  • Recognizes many uppercase and lowercase letters (worksheets, online alphabet games)
  • Recognizes some letter sounds (A lot of sound activities pinned for you! Click on the website under the picture you are interested in seeing.)
  • Relates stories to personal experiences
  • Puts events of a story in order (beginning, middle, end) Idea: Pick a favorite book and read aloud to your child. Ask them to tell you what happened at the beginning, in the middle of the story and the end. If this is overwhelming to your child, start with identifying the beginning and increasing it to the telling about the end. Do what happened in the middle after both of the others have been mastered.

Writing Skills

  • Tries to write words (practice sheets, more practice sheets)
  • Asks you to write words or notes to others
  • Attempts to write own name and recognizes their own name in print Idea: Provide paper and stickers for an extra incentive and fun way to display their name. Create a place to display their work such as the refrigerator or a cork board.

Kindergarten Readiness: Working on Skills in Preschool Part I

Jan7

abcs“How do I know if my child is ready for kindergarten?” moms ask me when trying to determine when they should start educating their child. While I am no expert, I do have a checklist of skills this week regarding motor, reasoning, language, reading,  and writing skills to help you. (www.leapfrog.com) I have also listed resources, both worksheets and online games if you are working with your preschooler to prepare them for the “Big Step”. There are so many terrific links to check out and worksheets to download here for your student to enjoy and have fun with learning.

Motor Skills

  • Can put puzzles together (for purchase, online puzzles)
  • Cuts with scissors (printable worksheets)
  • Holds pencils and crayons correctly “Why does it matter?” It can help with comfort, legibility, fluidity, brain development, and less stress on your joints. (Here’s a video you can watch to help with correctly holding a pencil. Do you have a left-handed student? This picture will help.  left hand grip)
  • Builds with blocks (wooden, duplos)
  • Tries to tie own shoes (video)
  • Enjoys outdoor activities, like running, jumping and climbing In other words, your child is physically active.

Reasoning Skills

  • Matches or groups objects according to size, shape or color (Check out these worksheets: tangrams, comparing shapes, coloring shapes )
  • Groups objects that are the same and can describe how they are the same or different (online game)
  • Understands concepts of in/out, under/over, on/off, front/back, etc. (Directional worksheets)
  • Shows an understanding of the passing of time, including concepts of before and after, and today, yesterday and tomorrow

Language Skills

  • Talks in sentences
  • Follows one- and two-step oral directions (A fun activity that incorporates following directions, shapes, and movement, free worksheets)
  • Uses sentences that include two or more ideas
  • Uses descriptive language
  • Knows by heart and recites some common nursery rhymes and songs (A website of  common and not-so-common nursery rhymes!)
  • Pretends, creates and makes up songs or stories
  • Tells or retells stories and/or everyday experiences (Write down stories your little one dictates to you. Make into a book and have them illustrate it.)
  • Asks questions and expresses curiosity
  • Expresses ideas so that others can understand

Next week I will have Reading and Writing Skills and resources for you. Have a great week!

~Lisa

Art Curriculum

Dec20

There are some subjects that I can’t teach and one of them is art. I don’t see the perspective of an object, I can’t pick out variations of color, and I can barely draw stick figures. (It’s true! My junior high students will confirm this claim.)

I saw this deal today and thought that you might like some help with this topic of study like I do. The great thing about this curriculum is that it is on a DVD and it has demonstrations and final projects for you and your student(s) to see. I think it is awful when I am not feeling confident in my own abilities and then I have to try and read and interpret the directions in order to teach the lesson.  Notice that if you purchase it now you save 60%. I like that!

inspiration-station-250x250Mikes Inspiration Station Art DVD’s 12 Volume Set

$79.90  $31.96
Save: 60% off

Let your child’s inner artist shine with this exciting new series of instructional DVDs created just for kids! Featuring 13 projects spread across six volumes, Mike’s Inspiration Station: Six DVD Boxed Set will draw out the budding artist in every child with fun and nicely-paced lessons in traditional mediums like drawing, painting, and sculpting, plus unique activities like making clothespin puppets and fridge art. Set #1 DVDs 1-6 Description:

Geared toward ages 8-12, the series encourages kids to craft right along with host Michael Cariglio and his biblical buddy, Booker T Bible, a talking, animated Bible who offers creative inspiration with Scripture references. Let Mike’s Inspiration Station inspire your child’s creativity and get some fun art project ideas and fridge art in the process!

Set #1 DVDs 1-6 Includes:

Volume 1 features “Drawing Cartoons,” “Making Watercolor Paintings,” and “Let’s Draw a Dinosaur.” Volume 2 offers “Creating Pastel Art” and “Let’s Draw a Cute Turtle.” In volume 3, kids participate in “Light and Shading” and “Let’s Draw a Funny Moon.” Volume 4 suggests “Let’s Draw a Joyful Heart” and “Let’s Draw Goliath.” Children learn “Making Clothespin Puppets” and “Fun Fridge Art” in volume 5, and the final episode’s lessons include “Flower Pot Pals” and “Sculpt a Cute Dog.”

Set #2 DVDs 7-12 Description:

Spark your child’s God-given gift of creativity with this second set of episodes from Mike’s Inspiration Station. Geared toward ages 8-12, this series features 13 art projects on six instructional DVDs that encourage kids to follow along with host Michael Cariglio and his biblical buddy, Booker T Bible, an animated Bible who provides project inspiration through Scripture.

Set #2 DVDs 7-12 Includes:

Volume 7 features “Fun Fish Projects” and “Creating Fun Clouds.” Volume 8 offers “Drawing Noah’s Ark” and “Drawing a Shepherd and His Sheep.” In volume 9, kids participate in “Making a Clay Easter Bunny” and “Drawing Jonah and the Whale.” Volume 10 teaches “Drawing Laughter” and “Drawing Love.” Children learn “Drawing Animal Cartoons Using Numbers” and “Drawing a Bluebird” in volume 11, and the final episode’s lessons include “Drawing a Bluebird,” “Fun Christmas Projects,” and “All about Colors.”

Gingerbread Baby: A Writing Project

Dec10

I saw an article in our local newspaper about a classroom that read the Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett and used this as a springboard for a writing activity. One particular gingerbread baby had an amazing adventure in Iraq with an uncle who was serving over there.

I love the idea of incorporating several subjects. I think children make better connections with the material that is being studied. Not only are reading and language arts incorporated in this activity, but art, geography, and math too. This idea can be done with any number of books and is not limited to only “people” so I have created a list of some books that I think will help you with this project if you decide to use a different character.  Many of the books listed below are in a series, which is always a plus when encouraging reading 🙂

Ideas for Gingerbread Baby Writing Project:

Read the book either as a read aloud or assign it to the student.

Have your student(s) create their own gingerbread  baby from the book that can be sent in the mail. You can either create a construction paper baby or a felt gingerbread man.

Write directions about what you would like the recipient to do. For instance, take pictures of places the Gingerbread Baby went, what did he see/do, send pictures of his adventures to us, etc. Here is a decorative Gingerbread Baby Writing Border for you to use.

Mail your character and letter to the person. If you want, you can send several Gingerbread Babies out on adventures.

Upon the arrival of your return letter (You can have pictures sent via internet to save money and time if you like.)

Look at the pictures of Gingerbread Baby and read about his adventures.

Write a follow-up story about the adventures Gingerbread Baby had while visiting. You can use the same Gingerbread Baby Writing Border as before.

Look at a map to see where Gingerbread Baby went. Calculate the distance from your house to the location (and back if you like).

Take a picture of Gingerbread Baby and his return to the daily routine along with a thank you to the original recipient.

Send Gingerbread Baby on another adventure!

Ideas for Additional Characters

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett

The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown

Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy E. Shaw

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds by Joanna Cole (Your characters can be one of the students or a seed.)

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (great fall book!)

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner (for older students)

I was going to write a separate blog post about doing a Gingerbread Man unit, but I found this amazing blog that has so many activities that you it will take you a month to go through all them and every idea (and more) that I thought of were here for you!  I think you will love this website. It is great for preschool through primary aged students. click here