Letter d, day 5 and Wrap-up

Theme: dinosaurs

Sound:
d says /d/

Sample words
doctor, dentist, doughnut, deer, dragon, dinosaur, dress, door, dominoes, drink, do

Books
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, by Jane Yolen
1-2 non-fiction books about dinosaurs

Sound/Movement
Dinosaur Songs and Fingerplays

Craft
Dinosaur fingerpuppets 1
Dinosaur fingerpuppets 2

These fingerpuppets are absolutely adorable. Cut them out and use them in dramatic play, finger plays, in a diorama, etc.


Sensory Bin
Make dinosaur track in play dough.




Other Activity
Check out this Tot Pack from 1+1+1=1, is has several fun activities.

Snack
Edible dominoes-spread some peanut butter on a graham cracker then put raisins on like the number dots.

Letter d, day 4

Theme: dinosaurs

Sound:
d says /d/

Sample words
doctor, dentist, doughnut, deer, dragon, dinosaur, dress, door, dominoes, drink, do

Books
10 Terrible Dinosaurs, by Paul Strickland
1-2 non-fiction books about dinosaurs

Sound/Movement
Dinosaur Songs and Fingerplays

Craft
Make paper plate dinosaurs-I really wanted to get to this because I thought they were adorable, but we didn't have time. (If we get to it this weekend, I'll post pics Monday.)


Instead, we made these cute dinosaur dominoes. Check out the other dominoes listed, they have a lot of different ones.




Sensory bin
Have your child do an archaeological dig. Talk to your child before hand about what an archaeologist is and what they do. A book would be a good introduction.

You'll need:
sand
bones (I happened to have some chicken bones so I boiled them and cleaned them off really well, then let them dry for a few days before we were going to use them. You can also make them out of plaster of paris or even cardstock that's been laminated.)
paint brush
plastic containers
small spoon or shovel
tongs







Dramatic Play
Put dinosaurs in dramatic play area and encourage your child to build a habitat for the dinosaurs and have them interact.

Handwriting
Practice writing the letter d.

Snack
dirt cups-make or buy pudding; crush oreos (you can have your child do this part) and put them on top to look like dirt

Letter d, day 3

Theme: dinosaurs

Sound:
d says /d/

Sample words
doctor, dentist, doughnut, deer, dragon, dinosaur, dress, door, dominoes, drink, do

Books
Dinosaur Roar, by Paul Strickland
1-2 non-fiction books about dinosaurs

Sound/Movement
Play pin the tail on the dinosaur.
Dinosaur Songs and Fingerplays

Craft
Make a dinosaur out of a D. (From Homeschool Creations)

You'll need:
green paper (or foam), I used 2 different shades
white paper
scissors
glue
marker

Trace the parts that you'll need and let your child cut out as much as he/she can. Then have your child glue everything on a white sheet of paper and add facial features with a marker.


Sensory Bin
Make a dinosaur out of play dough

Handwriting
Practice writing the letter d.

Snack
doughnut

Letter d, day 2

Theme: Doctors and Dentists

Sound:
d says /d/

Sample words
doctor, dentist, doughnut, deer, dragon, dinosaur, dress, door, domino, drink

Books
Just Go to the Dentist, by Mercer Mayer
The Tooth Book, by Dr. Seuss
I Know Why I Brush My Teeth, by Kate Rowan

Sound/Movement
Dance to the music using dancing scarves or ribbons
Doctor songs

Craft
syringe painting

You'll need:
thinned out paint
syringe (without needle)
paper

Go outside for this activity, it's kind of messy. Suck up the paint in the syringe and squirt it onto the paper. You can either hang up the paper or lay it on the ground. We did it on the ground and some paint splattered on Shelby's shoes, but it's washable so I wasn't worried. My little girl loved doing this. She kept jumping up and down saying how cool it was. We'll have to do this again.








Sensory Bin
Cleaning Coins

You'll need:
dirty coins
water
old toothbrush
towel
toothpaste
plate or tray

Have your child use the toothbrush and toothpaste to clean the old coins and make them look new.



Dramatic Play
Have your child practice being a dentist on a doll or stuffed animal. Provide a toothbrush, mask, mirror and a small chair or place to put the doll on.

Snack
apples (nature's toothbrush)
or
apple mouth-take two slices of apple, put some peanut butter in between to keep them separated then stick mini marshmallows on the peanut butter to look like teeth.
or
make this apple mouth from Totally Tots

Letter d, day 1

Theme: Doctors and Dentists

Sound
d says /d/

Sample words
doctor, dentist, doughnut, deer, dragon, dinosaur, dress, door, domino, drink

Books
The Berenstain Bears Go To The Doctor, by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Sound/Movement
duck, duck, goose
Doctor songs

Craft
*Make a doctor bag and stethoscope (From Home School Creations)

You will need:
black cardstock, 2 sheets
white paper
bandaids, cotton balls, tongue depressors, q-tips, etc.
red marker
scissors
tape
glue

Fold one of the pieces of black cardstock in half, this will be the bag. With the other piece, cut out handles and either tape or glue them on. I taped them on because of time and to keep my little one's attention. Have your child help you tape/glue the medical supplies on the inside of the bag. On the white paper, draw a medical cross and a d for doctor. Let your child color them, then cut them out and glue them on the outside of the bag. Shelby thought this was really fun, she carried it around with her throughout the day and even took it with us on errands.




*Make a stethoscope

You will need:
plastic tube (I used the tube from my camelback)
small funnel that fits snug inside of the tube

We were so excited to actually hear our heart beat-very cool!



Sensory Bin
Water transfer

You'll need:
medicine droppers
plastic containers
water

Use medicine droppers to transfer water from one container to another. I added drops of food coloring in the cups just to make it a little more interesting.



Dramatic Play
Provide supplies for a doctors office (i.e. mask, bandaids, syringe, tongue depressors, cotton balls, q-tips, etc.) and encourage your child to roleplay. Also use the doctor's bag and stethoscope crafts as props.

Snack
doughnut

Letter c, day 4

Theme: Circus

Sound
c says /s/

Sample Words
circus, circle, celery, cereal, city

Books
Walt Disney's story of Dumbo

Sound/Movement
Play marching music and have a circus parade.
Move to music using dancing ribbons or streamers.

Craft
make a lion or monkey mask

Sensory bin
pick up sticks-have your child practice balancing

Dramatic Play
*Build animal cages with blocks




*Make a circus tent by putting a blanket over some chairs and putting stuffed animmals inside.

Handwriting practice
Practice writing the letter c.

Snack
cereal

Letter c, day 3

Theme: Circus

Sound
c says /s/

Sample Words
circus, circle, celery, cereal, city

Books
Circus, by Lois Ehlert

Sound/Movement
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around
(get words here)

Craft
Circus train



You'll need:
empty food box
plastic zoo/circus animals OR
circus animal printables-color and cut them out and tape them to a toilet paper roll (I used some printables from Family Fun and printed them at 50% so they would fit on a tube)
yarn
marker
crayons

Sensory Bin/Tray
Counting bears-encourage your child to sort and count the bears.



Dramatic Play
Circus performance-have your child work on their special "act" for the circus.

*get out a toddler mattress for jumping and bouncing
*set out a leotard for a costume
*make a balance beam by putting masking tape across the floor and have them walk across like the tight rope

Handwriting practice
Practice writing the letter c.

Snack
ants on a log-celery with peanut butter and raisins

Letter c, Day 2

Overall theme: Circus
Theme of the day: Clowns

Sound
c says /c/

Sample Words
cake, cracker, clown, can, cookie, cone, cage, count

Books
Join the Circus, by Josh Selig (Wonder Pets)

Sound/movement
Play lion, lion, bear (like duck, duck, goose)

Craft
Make a paper plate clown face-decorate the face however you wish and stick a balloon on for the nose.


Activity
Bean bag toss into the clown's mouth



Dramatic Play
Place clothes and shoes items and/or clown costume and accessories in the dramatic play area and let your child dress up as a clown.

Handwriting practice
Practice writing the letter c.

Snack
animal crackers

Letter c, Day 1

Theme: Caterpillars

Sound
c says /c/

Sample words
caterpillar, cloud, crawl, candy, cake

Books
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
The Crunching Munching Caterpillar, by Sheridan Cain
1-2 non-fiction books about caterpillars

Sound/movement
Choose 2-3 songs and fingerplays

Craft
*Make a caterpillar from the letter "c"

You will need:
letter "c" outline
green, red and yellow paper
scissors
glue
marker

With the green paper cut out enough circles to go around the "c." Cut out a head and eyes from the red and yellow paper. Have your child glue on the circles for the body and head. Afterwards, they can add a nose, antennae and legs if they want.


*The Very Hungry Caterpillar coloring page

Sensory Bin/Dramatic Play
Put plastic food on a tray or in the sensory bin. Add or make a caterpillar and have your child act out the story.



Handwriting practice
Practice writing the letter c.

Snack/Lunch
Muffin Tin Monday-The Very Hungry Caterpillar


Extension Activity
Watch The Very Hungry Caterpillar 6 minute video from YouTube

Valentine's Sensory Tub

We got this Valentine's sensory tub idea from No Time For Flash Cards. Shelby has played with this several times and really enjoys it. We just used red and white beans, heart confetti and some foam hearts. I also stuck in some measuring cup and spoon sets that I got at Target in the dollar bins.

Letter a, Field Trip and Wrap-up

If you have a chance to, it's always good to "go" and "do" when it comes to children's learning. Children learn visually and tactically so actually seeing or doing something they are learning about puts it on a whole other level for them.

Almost annually we go to an apple orchard to pick apples and pumpkin and squash. The place we go also has a working cider press that we've got to see in action a couple of times. The experience is amazing and I look forward to it every year.










This year my toddler was old enough to help me make applesauce and home can it. She loved helping out.



(I have to reiterate that ideally this theme is done in the fall-you obviously can't visit a working apple orchard during the winter. But, I didn't get my act together soon enough so that's why we're doing it now.)