Monday, August 6, 2012

Lesson Plan Week of August 13: The Letter A


This is the first full week of our preschool, and the first week of our Letter-of-the-Week curriculum. This week will be focused on the letter A.

On Monday we will start by introducing the letter A, the way it looks and the sound that it makes (focusing just on the short vowel sound for now.)

It is natural in a lesson about a letter to point out what animal begins with that letter.  So, as a building block to that, and because the word ANIMAL starts with the letter A, our first day's lesson will introduce animals in general and the concept that God made the animals.  Then, we will focus the next two days on two animals that begin with the letter A, the ant and the alligator.  Thursday we will read the story of The Little Red House...and discover the surprise inside the apple.  We will end our week with a kid-pleasing and important lesson about ambulances.

As always, don't worry if time doesn't allow for all activities.  Pick and choose according to your interests and available time.


MONDAY, AUGUST 13

MATERIALS
  • American Flag and/or Pledge of Allegiance poster
  • Bible and Pledge to the Bible poster
  • Alphabet Line or Wall Chart
  • Paper or Poster Board
  • Crayons, Markers
  • Paper
  • Scissors
  • Stapler and Staples
  • Elastic-about 1 foot per mask
  • Books for Storytime, plus any you will be using during the lesson
  • Words to any songs you will be singing during the lesson

PREPARATION
  • Gather flag, Bible and display boards as needed.
  • Gather animal stickers, paper or poster board, and crayons or markers.
  • Gather a stapler and staples and elastic.
  • Gather books that will be used.
  • Print out the words to any songs you will be singing.

LESSON PLAN

ACADEMICS 
  • Pledges
  • Sing the Alphabet Song
  • Introduce the Letter A
    • Point to the letter A on the Alphabet Line or Wall Chart.  Explain that this is the first letter of the alphabet, and it is called the letter A.  Make the sound and have them copy you several times.
      • This song has all of the letter sounds on it if you need help with specific sounds.  We will be teaching it to our children later in the year.
    • Ask your child is they know any words that have the A sound.
  • Focus on A is for ANIMAL 
    • Show your child the "A is for Animals" sign.
      • If desired, you can print each of the signs in black and white and have your child color them.
Free printable English 26 letters flashcards,free preschool alphabetical worksheet
Source:  prek-8.com

    • Script:  One word that begins with the letter A is ANIMALS.  Do you know what an animal is?  What are some of the animals that you know?
  

 

  • Go on an Animal Scavenger Hunt
    • Go on a scavenger hunt around your house, or outside if the weather is nice, and see what animals that you can find.  Look at stuffed animals, toys, books, where ever animals might be.  Help your child to identify what the animal is, what sound it makes, what color it is, what size it is, and any identifying features.
  • Sing fun songs
    • "If the Animals Are In Heaven" is a hilarious song featuring animals and the sounds that they make (scroll down to the correct song and hit play).  See who can make the correct animal sounds.
    • "God Made the Animals" is another fun song.  Sing it to the tune of "The Bear Went Over the Mountain". 
CRAFTS
  • Make an Animal Collage
    • Provide your child with animal stickers.  Allow them to make a collage on a piece of paper or poster board using the stickers.  Encourage them to embellish their collage with drawings to make a picture. 
    • If the pack includes more than one of the same animal, ask your child to group like stickers together.
Source:  Enchanted-learning.com
  • Animal Walks
  • Practice Animal Sounds
STORYTIME

 


TUESDAY, AUGUST 14

MATERIALS
  • American Flag and/or Pledge of Allegiance Poster
  • Bible and Pledge to the Bible Poster
  • Alphabet Line or Wall Chart
  • Newspapers
  • Green and Brown Construction Paper
  • Black Finger Paint or Black Inkpad
  • Black Marker
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Three Sections of a Cardboard Egg Carton (save the top for Friday's project)
  • Black or Red Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Black Pipe Cleaners
  • Stapler and Staples, Brads, or Tape
  • Googly Eyes, or Black Marker
  • Ziplock Sandwich Bag, if making snack
  • Graham Cracker, if making snack
  • Raisins or Chocolate Chips, if making snack
  • Rolling Pin, if making snack
  • Books that you will be using for the lesson and during Storytime
  • Music and Words for any Songs that you will be using

PREPARATION
  • Gather flag, Bible and display boards as needed.
  • Cut an "A" out of brown construction paper.
  • Gather green construction paper, black finger paint or inkpad, glue, black markers, and something to clean the finger off with.
  • Save a cardboard egg carton and cut out three sections, linked together.  Save the top of the carton for Friday's project.
  • Gather newspapers, black or red paint, paintbrushes, pipe cleaners, stapler and staples, googly eyes, and glue.
  • Gather any books and music that you will be using for the lesson.

LESSON PLAN

ACADEMICS
  • Pledges
  • Sing the Alphabet Song.
  • Review the letter A.
    • Point to the letter A.  Review with your child the name of the letter and the sound that it makes.
  • Review "A is for Animals".
    • Remind your child that yesterday you learned about the animals that God made.  The word ANIMALS starts with the letter A.  Help your child to remember some of the animals that you found/drew/acted yesterday.
    • Then ask your child if he can think of any animals that start with the A sound.
  • Introduce A is for ANT.
    • Script:  One little bitty animal that starts with the letter A is the ANT.
      • If you have a board that you can write on, like a dry erase board, write the word "Ant" and draw a picture. 
      • If you don't have a writing board, or if you prefer, print out a picture of an ant here.
  • Ask your child if they have ever seen an ant.  Talk a little bit about ants:  they are tiny, they are usually black or red, they have three main parts to their bodies and six legs.  You can incorporate size, colors, and numbers into your conversation.
    • This is a great book if your child likes to look at books for more details.


    • You can also read a book, such as this one, to go with it.  Kids will enjoy marching around the room singing "boom, boom, boom, boom."


CRAFTS
    • Follow the directions here to finger paints ants onto the letter A.
    • Follow the directions here, found under the "Arts and Crafts" Section
  • Bonus:  For a fun snack, make the Ants in Sand, found on the same page under the "In the Kitchen" section
STORYTIME




WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15

MATERIALS
  • American Flag and/or Pledge of Allegiance poster
  • Bible and Pledge to the Bible poster
  • Alphabet Line or Wall Chart
  • Newspaper
  • Green Paint
  • White Paper
  • Black Marker
  • Scissors
  • Googly Eyes
  • Glue
  • Lunch Size Paper Bag, or Two Craft Sticks
  • Crayons or Markers
  • Hole-puncher
  • Books that you will be using
  • Music that you will be using

PREPARATION
  • Gather flag, Bible and display boards as needed.
  • Gather newspaper, green paint, white paper, black marker, scissors, glue and googly eyes.
  • Gather crayons or markers, a lunch sized paper bag or two crafts sticks, and glue.
  • Print out the Alligator Lacing Card.  Cut it out.  Laminate.  Hole-punch around the perimeter of the alligator, as close together or far apart as you think your child needs.
  • Prepare a shoelace or yarn for lacing, according to instructions.
  • Gather books and music that you will be using.

LESSON PLAN

ACADEMICS
  • Pledges
  • Sing the Alphabet Song
  • Review the letter A.
  • Introduce "A is for Alligator".
    • Script:  Yesterday we learned about the ant, and that the word ANT starts with the letter A.  Today we are going to learn about another A animal:  the ALLIGATOR.
  • Talk About the Alligator.
    • Maybe they've seen one in the zoo, or read books about, or maybe you live in Florida and alligators are an everyday thing!
    • Compare the size of the alligator to the ant.  Talk about its color, how many legs it has, and its other features.
  • Sing songs.

CRAFTS
  • Make Hand-print Alligators (adapted from Snails and Puppy Dog Tails; lots of other good ideas, too, if you need bonus material.)
    • Have child dip his left hand into green paint and carefully press his whole hand down on the white paper, fingers together and slightly pointing up at an angle.
    • Dip the right hand into the green paint, then have him place his heel on the edge of the left hand print, followed by the rest of his right hand, slightly pointing down at an angle.  You should have a space between the hands that looks like an open mouth.
    • Draw pointy teeth in the open mouth, or cut out white triangles and paste them in the open mouth to make alligator teeth.
    • Add a googly eye.
    • Lacing is an activity that helps improve fine motor skills, which are essential to good penmanship.
    • The alligator lacing card is here, the complete instructions, including how to prep yard, are here.

STORYTIME




THURSDAY, AUGUST 16

MATERIALS
  • Flag, Bible and Pledge Posters
  • Alphabet Line or Wall Chart
  • Apples
  • Knife and Cutting Board
  • Newspaper
  • Paint
  • Paper
  • Drawing or cut-out of a tree trunk, if desired
  • Scissors
  • Stapler and Staples
  • Books and Music that you will be using

PREPARATION
  • Gather flag, Bible, and display boards as needed.
  • Buy apples, various colors, if possible.
  • Cut out a tree trunk, if desired.
  • Gather the apples, knife and cutting board, newspaper, paint and paper.
  • Cut out the pages and staple them together.
  • Gather the book along with apple stickers, or red paper scissors and glue.
  • Gather any books or music.

LESSON PLAN

ACADEMICS
  • Pledges
  • Sing the Alphabet Song.
  • Review the Letter A.
  • Introduce "A is for Apple"
    • Script:  Today we are going to talk about other things that start with the letter A, specifically the APPLE.  What can you tell me about apples?  What color are they?  What shape are they?
    • Write the letter A and draw an apple on your board, or print out a sign.
  • Talk about how apples grow
    • Go as in-depth as you desire
    • This website has a cute picture that can be laminated to show the child the cycle of an apple.
    • You can also go here and print out cards depicting the stage of the apples growth.  You can use them for teaching, then ask your child to put the cards into sequence.  Or use the cards to do this craft.
  • Sing Songs.
    • Here is a long list of apple songs.
  • Find the star in the middle of the apple.
    • Script:  Did you know that there is a surprise in the middle of the apple?  What do you think that it is?
    • When prompted in the story, cut an apple in half to show the star in the middle.

CRAFTS
  • Apple Painting
    • Prep, if desired:  Make a tree trunk by drawing one on a piece of white paper, or cut one out of brown paper or felt and paste it to the paper.
    • Use the apple halves that you cut during the story for this craft.
    • Dip the apple halves into paint and then press the apple onto paper.
    • Print out the book here.
    • Paste the appropriate number of apple stickers in the boxes.  You can also have your child cut out red circles and paste them into the book.
    • Following the directional lines, have your child color the apple, then cut along the lines.
STORYTIME




FRIDAY, AUGUST 17

MATERIALS
  • Flag, Bible and Display Boards, as needed.
  • A phone, fake or disconnected
  • A cardboard box big enough for your child (or your child's stuffed animals) to sit in
  • White paint; spray paint would probably work best
  • Four paper plates
  • Black paint
  • Red paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Top of an egg carton
  • Yellow construction paper
  • Red construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Light Blue construction paper
  • Glue; a hot glue gun might work well for this project
  • Brads, if desired
  • Stuffed Animals, doctor kits, bandages, cars, anything that sparks the imagination to act out emergency situations
  • Books that you will be using

PREPARATION
  • Gather flag, Bible and display boards
  • Find a phone to use
  • Paint a large cardboard box white; allow to dry before craft
  • Paint four paper plates black, or use a black marker to draw wheels
  • Paint the top of an egg carton red
  • Cut out two yellow headlights
  • Cut out red stripes for fenders, and the line around the body of the ambulance.  Cut two red crosses for each side of the body.
  • Cut out a windshield and windows for the sides and the back using light blue construction paper.
  • Gather items that you will use to act out emergency situations.
  • Gather books that you will be using

LESSON PLAN

ACADEMICS
  • Pledges
  • Sing the Alphabet Song
  • Review the letter A
    • Remind your child that we've been learning about the letter A this week.  Ask them to identify some of the words that begin with the letter A.
  • Introduce "A is for Ambulance"
    • Script:  Today we are going to talk about another thing that begins with the letter A.  Can you tell me what that vehicle is that we see on the road sometimes, that has its lights flashing and sirens blaring?  It helps people who are hurt and takes them to the hospital?  An AMBULANCE!
  • What is an ambulance?
    • Talk with your child about what an ambulance is and what it does.  Explain that an ambulance is a vehicle that transports sick or injured people to the hospital so that they can get treatment.
    • If your child has experience with an ambulance, talk with them about that experience.  For example, Jason remembers when the fire truck and ambulance came to our house and transported Justin to the hospital when he ripped his thumb almost completely off and Mom was a basket case.
    • Explain that ambulances come when there is an emergency and someone gets hurt.
      • Discuss with your child different types of emergencies
  • How does the ambulance know when to come?
    • Explain that, in order for the ambulance to know they need to come, someone has to call 9-1-1.  What is 9-1-1?  It is a special number that we dial on the telephone when there is an emergency and we need help.
      • Emphasize that 9-1-1 is called ONLY when there is an emergency.
    • Show your child that "It's Time to Call" sign.  Point out that this is what a telephone keypad looks like.  Show them where the numbers 9 and 1 are.
    • Demonstrate several times for them how to dial 9-1-1, and have them do it themselves.
      • You can also get a fake phone and have them practice on the fake phone.
  • What to say when calling 9-1-1
    • Talk about what to say when calling 9-1-1.
      • Identify yourself:  This is Jason
      • Tell why you are calling:  We need help.  (Practice being specific:  mommy is sick, daddy has a bad owie on his leg)
      • My address is 1234 North Street
      • My phone number is (123) 456-7890
***Note:  This is a lot of information for first-timers, so we are going to make sure that we review this often throughout the year.  This is extremely important, though, as children have been know to save lives by knowing how to call 9-1-1, and then doing it in an emergency.  This is an amazing story about a 3-year-old who's terminally ill mother trained her to call 9-1-1, and the girl saved her mother's life.

I've included some excellent books in the Storytime section below that can be used during this lesson.  The book It's Time to Call 911: What to Do in an Emergency has a telephone keypad on it that makes noise.  It would be perfect for practicing.

Finally, drill it into your child's brain that it is not okay to prank call 9-1-1.  Take it from me.  When I was about twelve, my friend and I called 9-1-1 and hung up.  A police officer showed up at my house and issued us tickets.


CRAFTS
    • This craft has a lot of prep work.  You can do this with your child, or have it ready for them.  The prep work needs to be done the day before.
      • Get a cardboard box big enough for your child to sit in.  Paint it white.  Let it dry before doing the project with your child.
      • Paint four paper plates black, or use a black permanent to draw wheels.
      • Paint the top of the egg carton red.
      • Cut two yellow headlights.
      • Cut red stripes for the fender and the line around the body.  Cut two red crosses for each side of the body.  Cut a red rectangle for the lights.
      • Cut a windshield and windows for the sides and the back using light blue construction paper.
    • On craft day,
      • Glue the paper plates to the box, or attach with brads.
      • Glue the red egg carton to the box for the lights (a hot glue gun might work best)
      • Glue on all the other pieces
      • Embellish as desired
  • Act out emergency situations and practice calling 9-1-1
    • Gather stuffed animals, doctor kids, bandages, cars, anything that sparks imagination (ketchup, anyone?).  Act out different emergency situations.  Have your child practice calling 9-1-1 for each emergency.
    • Use your ambulance to transport hurt victims to the hospital.

STORYTIME




Click here for a printable PDF of the Materials List

Click here for a printable PDF of the Preparation Guide

Click here for a printable PDF of the Lesson Plans

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links.  I earn a small percentage of any purchases.  Thanks!

 
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