PreschoolSpot: Education | Teaching | Pre-K | Preschool | Early Childhood http://preschoolspot.com Resources for busy preschool teachers Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:26:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 preschoolspothttp://feedburner.google.com Listening to Sounds Activity http://preschoolspot.com/listening-to-sounds-activity/ http://preschoolspot.com/listening-to-sounds-activity/#comments Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:26:49 +0000 Vanessa Levin http://preschoolspot.com/?p=508


Listening to Sounds Activity


I had these musical instruments in my science center when we were learning about sound and the children loved them. I was looking for a way to engage the children with the instruments and encourage them to listen to the sound each one made so I created this recording sheet. Keep reading to get your copy.

Instruments
The triangle, castanets, xylophone (not pictured), and maracas above were purchased in the Target Dollar Spot. The jingle bells and Chinese drum are from US Toy.

Directions
Start by introducing all the instruments to the children and allowing them to play each one so they can become familiar with the sounds they make. You can use the recording sheet two ways, in a group setting or the children can use it in pairs for independent practice.

To use in a group setting give each child in the group a recording sheet. You can laminate the sheets and the children can use Vis-a-Vis markers (wipe off) to record their responses or you can just print them on paper and the children can use pencils, crayons, or markers. Next, have the children close their eyes and listen while you play an instrument. When they open their eyes, have them mark the instrument they heard on their sheet. They can circle the instrument or cross it off with an “x.” Ask them to tell you what instrument they thought they heard and why. Play the instrument again to help those who guessed incorrectly.

To allow for independent practice place some recording sheets and clipboards next to the instruments in your science center along with some writing tools. To play, two children sit back to back. One child plays an instrument while the other child listens and records what he or she hears. They can stop after each instrument is played to check for accuracy.

I included both a black and white copy as well as a color copy for you so you can use the one that best meets your needs.

Click on the picture below to download your free Listening to Sounds printable.

]]> http://preschoolspot.com/listening-to-sounds-activity/feed/ 1 5 Little Pumpkins Play Dough Mats http://preschoolspot.com/5-little-pumpkins-play-dough-mats/ http://preschoolspot.com/5-little-pumpkins-play-dough-mats/#comments Sun, 07 Oct 2012 22:33:04 +0000 Vanessa Levin http://preschoolspot.com/?p=488

Free Printable 5 Little Pumpkin Play Dough Mats via www.preschoolspot.com

Free 5 Little Pumpkins Play Dough Counting Mats


you can use this free set of 5 Little Pumpkins counting mats in your play dough center.

Directions for using the 5 Little Pumpkins play dough counting mats


Just print one mat for each child and laminate. Provide the children with orange play dough to use as pumpkins. They will select a card and place it on their mat in the space provided. Next, they will roll the correct number of dough balls to represent pumpkins and place them on the fence. When they are finished they can clear their mat and select a new card.

You might also want to add a small adhesive Velcro dot to the back of each card and place one on the mat in the space where the cards go. When little hands get busy rolling and squishing dough the cards will not stay in place for long unless they are secured.

Since not everybody celebrates this holiday I also included a mat that does not include a witch or a bat. Instead, change the phrase that mentions witches to the following; “The second one said, “There are birdies in the air.”

Fine Motor Skills


This is also a fine motor activity because rolling balls of dough strengthens the muscles in the arch of the hand (the palmar arch) that are necessary for writing and holding a pencil. For additional fine motor practice children can roll some balls of dough in advance and place them in a bowl or basket. Then they can use plastic tweezers to transfer the balls to the fence. This would provide additional practice strengthening the pincher grasp which is also important for developing muscles in the hand necessary for writing.

Click on the picture below to download
Free Printable 5 Little Pumpkin Counting Mats via www.preschoolspot.com

Visit Pre-K Pages for more fall and Halloween ideas.

]]> http://preschoolspot.com/5-little-pumpkins-play-dough-mats/feed/ 2 Bathroom Hygiene Posters http://preschoolspot.com/bathroom-hygiene-posters/ http://preschoolspot.com/bathroom-hygiene-posters/#comments Sat, 08 Sep 2012 05:52:46 +0000 Karen Cox http://preschoolspot.com/?p=482

This is a set of bathroom hygiene posters that will help your students learn and remember to practice good hygiene. This set has cute kid graphics from Scrappin Doodles and black and white polka dot borders.

Posters include:
Flush the toilet
Wash your hands
Get 1 squirt of soap
Get 1 paper towel
Throw the paper towel in the trash
Wait in line for water
Push the button for water
Boys’ Bathroom
Girls’ Bathroom

Bathroom Hygiene Posters {12 pages} $3
Add to Cart View Cart

]]> http://preschoolspot.com/bathroom-hygiene-posters/feed/ 5 Color Posters http://preschoolspot.com/color-posters/ http://preschoolspot.com/color-posters/#comments Sat, 08 Sep 2012 05:37:54 +0000 Karen Cox http://preschoolspot.com/?p=477

This set of Color Posters for your classroom uses real photographs and cute colored polka dot borders. One set in English and a second set in English/Spanish.

Each poster will print on 8.5×11 inch paper.

11 Color Posters Included:
Red
Pink
Yellow
Orange
Green
Blue
Purple
Brown
White
Gray
Black

Color Posters {12 pages} $3
Add to Cart View Cart

]]> http://preschoolspot.com/color-posters/feed/ 0 Environmental Print Pocket Chart Activity http://preschoolspot.com/environmental-print-pocket-chart-activity/ http://preschoolspot.com/environmental-print-pocket-chart-activity/#comments Mon, 27 Aug 2012 06:14:05 +0000 Vanessa Levin http://preschoolspot.com/?p=462

Free Environmental Print Pocket Chart Activity via www.preschoolspot.com

This is a free printable pocket chart activity featuring environmental print. Just print the pdf file below, laminate, cut and place the sentences in a pocket chart. Place some cute pointers next to your pocket chart for extra fun!

Click here to download your free Environmental Print Pocket Chart Activity

]]> http://preschoolspot.com/environmental-print-pocket-chart-activity/feed/ 10 Ask the Author of Teaching in the Digital Age http://preschoolspot.com/ask-the-author-of-teaching-in-the-digital-age/ http://preschoolspot.com/ask-the-author-of-teaching-in-the-digital-age/#comments Tue, 21 Aug 2012 06:14:03 +0000 Vanessa Levin http://preschoolspot.com/?p=453

Brian Puerling, the author of our summer book study selection Teaching in the Digital Age, will be answering reader questions over at Prekinders. Make sure to visit Prekinders and post your technology questions in the comments.

Missed the Book Study? No problem, you can catch up by visiting the links below.
Discussions for Chapters 1-9:

]]> http://preschoolspot.com/ask-the-author-of-teaching-in-the-digital-age/feed/ 0 Bottle Cap Alphabet http://preschoolspot.com/bottle-cap-alphabet/ http://preschoolspot.com/bottle-cap-alphabet/#comments Mon, 20 Aug 2012 19:11:00 +0000 Vanessa Levin http://preschoolspot.com/?p=436

Bottle Cap ABC Order Free Printable via www.preschoolspot.com

There are many benefits of using recycled items in the classroom. This bottle cap activity will help young children develop visual discrimination skills as they match bottle caps to the correct letter. To prepare, collect 26 water bottle caps and write one letter on each cap with a permanent marker. Next, print out the alphabet sheet below.

Children can match the bottle caps to the sheet in ABC order and place the correct caps in the blanks. For children who are ready for more of a challenge, write the lowercase letters on the caps and they can practice matching uppercase to lowercase.

This activity also promotes fine motor development. Grasping each bottle cap requires children to use their thumb, index, and middle fingers together which exercises the muscles in their hands necessary for holding a pencil.

Click here to download your free Bottle Cap ABC printable.

]]> http://preschoolspot.com/bottle-cap-alphabet/feed/ 5 Teaching in the Digital Age: Infusing Technology in the Classroom http://preschoolspot.com/teaching-in-the-digital-age-infusing-technology/ http://preschoolspot.com/teaching-in-the-digital-age-infusing-technology/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:31:38 +0000 Vanessa Levin http://preschoolspot.com/?p=424

Teaching in the Digital Age Chapter 9 Infusing Technology in the Classroom

This brings us to the final chapter of our Teaching in the Digital Age book study. Chapter 9, Infusing Technology in the Classroom is being hosted this week at Pre-K Pages. Please stop by and share your thoughts by commenting or linking up.

Discussions for Chapters 1-8:

Don’t have the book yet?
No problem, the book is available on Amazon.

Thanks!
We would like to thank all of you who participated and followed along in the book study this summer. We hope you’ll join us again next year for the 3rd annual Book Study Blog Party!

Teaching in the Digital Age Book Study Blog Party!

]]> http://preschoolspot.com/teaching-in-the-digital-age-infusing-technology/feed/ 0 Teaching in the Digital Age: Using iPads in Preschool http://preschoolspot.com/teaching-in-the-digital-age-using-ipads-in-preschool/ http://preschoolspot.com/teaching-in-the-digital-age-using-ipads-in-preschool/#comments Wed, 01 Aug 2012 22:57:56 +0000 Vanessa Levin http://preschoolspot.com/?p=411

Teaching in the Digital Age Chapter 8 Using iPads in Preschool via www.preschoolspot.com

Chapter 8 of our Teaching in the Digital Age book study is being hosted this week by Karen of Prekinders. Our topic this week is Multi-Touch Mobile Devices Bring the World to Our Fingertips. Please stop by and share your thoughts by commenting or linking up.

Discussions for Chapters 1-7:

New to the book study?
All the information and directions for joining the book study can be found HERE.

Don’t have the book yet?
No problem, just order from Redleaf Press and use the code STUDY to receive a 35% discount code! The book is now also available on Amazon.

Up Next
Next week will bring us to the final chapter of our book study, Infusing Technology into the Classroom.

Join the Teaching in the Digital Age Book Study Blog Party!

]]> http://preschoolspot.com/teaching-in-the-digital-age-using-ipads-in-preschool/feed/ 0 Teaching in the Digital Age: Using Video Snapshots http://preschoolspot.com/teaching-in-the-digital-age-using-video-snapshots/ http://preschoolspot.com/teaching-in-the-digital-age-using-video-snapshots/#comments Thu, 26 Jul 2012 23:53:06 +0000 Vanessa Levin http://preschoolspot.com/?p=404

Join us this week for Chapter 7 of the Teaching in the Digital Age book study, Using Video Snapshots to Support Inquiry and Expand Classroom Walls. Please stop by and share your thoughts by commenting or linking up.

Discussions for Chapters 1-6:

New to the book study?
All the information and directions for joining the book study can be found HERE.

Don’t have the book yet?
No problem, just order from Redleaf Press and use the code STUDY to receive a 35% discount code! The book is now also available on Amazon.

Up Next
Stay tuned next week for Chapter 8, Multi-Touch Mobile Devices Bring the World to our Fingertips by Prekinders

Join the Teaching in the Digital Age Book Study Blog Party!

]]> http://preschoolspot.com/teaching-in-the-digital-age-using-video-snapshots/feed/ 0