5 Year old Preschool, Week one – Letter A

I’m an educated teacher. I taught third grade for three years, and then chose to stay home to raise my babies on the farm with my husband. I obtained my Master’s Degree in Curriculum shortly after I gave up my teaching career. I loved teaching third grade. I had no desire to teach preschool, until I had my own babies.

For one of my projects during my Master’s program, I chose to write a preschool curriculum. When our oldest was four, I taught him preschool and loved it. I decided to write a curriculum for five year preschool, since our first year went so well. My point is, my preschool teaching is a little over the top! HA! So, don’t feel intimidated. Find what works for you, and you don’t necessarily have to home school preschool. You can use any of these ideas to enrich a program your child is already attending. 🙂

When I taught four year old preschool, I did not teach the letters in alphabetical order. I taught the letters according to how easily they are to “write”. For five year old preschool, the letters are a review, so I teach them in order of the alphabet. I will spend approximately two weeks on each letter.

Today we kicked off our school year. Each day we start with the Lord’s Prayer, we fill in the calendar, and then I give Sam the choice of a puzzle, a learning toy, or a puzzle game.

This is a puzzle game that I made.

I love books. I try to incorporate books into everything!

Time for school, Mouse- https://amzn.to/2wJ3XAs

This is a good book to lead into a conversation about getting ready for school with little kids. The book discusses the items mouse needs before he can get on the bus.

We created a tin foil river. This was a huge hit. Sam played with this for an hour after we were done with school. So fun!!

A is for Alligator. We will make a lot of these letter friends throughout the year.

I drew an A on green construction paper. Then I let Sam color it with a green marker. I cut it out, and he glued it to orange paper. Then he glued on some white triangle teeth that I had cut out.

Alligator Alphabet- https://amzn.to/2NO5602

This book goes through the alphabet with an animal for each animal. Sam helped read this simple book.

Apple seed Math- I wrote a letter, Sam counted out chocolate chips.

Alligator Baby- https://amzn.to/2oEAHGm

This is a funny little book. The parents get confused somehow, end up at the zoo and keep bringing home the wrong baby.

Snip Snap What’s That? – https://amzn.to/2PAW0UM

This is a SUPER fun book!! Both of my older boys love the repetition of the book, and it is funny.

I made Green Apple Play dough.

Recipe

1 part green Apple conditioner

2 parts cornstarch

We had an outdoor music center with our music toys to end day one.

Day 2

While I was finishing up some last minute school preparations, Sam chose a learning toy.

I love anything Melissa and Doug!! This particular toy helps children recognize letters and make a connection between sounds and pictures.

See and spell- https://amzn.to/2Qa3S0S

Llama llama misses momma is the perfect book to help discuss what school will be like when mom or dad leave their little one at school. Great preparing for school book!

Llama llama misses mama- https://amzn.to/2oJTMXO

We made an Alien for A. I drew an A on construction paper, Sam colored and cut it out. He is doing soooo much better than a year ago with his cutting! Alleluia!! Then Sam glued some black circles that I had cut, and we finished it with a pipe cleaner.

Apple eruptions were next. Cut some apples, pour baking soda in and then add vinegar. I added food coloring to our vinegar for more fun.

We read 10 Apples up on Top! This is a great counting book.

Ten Apple Up On Top! – https://amzn.to/2NRG00f

I found this fun activity on Pinterest. We used our paint dobbers to put the correct numbers of apples on top of each animal.

Then we hopped over and used an activity I made last year for our felt board. Sam counted out 10 apples to put on top of his head.

Felt board- https://amzn.to/2wKwS76

This next book is a non fiction book. It is very informative, but I will warn you, the reading level is quite high. I love exposing my kids to a variety of books, so I don’t mind. But even I’ve learned a few things from this book!

Apples- https://amzn.to/2NRVcdG

This game is called ice cream cone letter match.

Sam had to find the match, and then walk the ice cream cone to the door and back.

Plastic balls- https://amzn.to/2wKvGQw

Fine seed sorting. I mixed a bunch of seeds and let Sam sort them with different tools.

Tweezers- https://amzn.to/2PoZrOs

Zoo sticks- https://amzn.to/2C0Ew28

Scoopers- https://amzn.to/2LOrx3y

Measuring tools- https://amzn.to/2N37q6e

Mini tongs- https://amzn.to/2wsem3q

To end the day, we played Candy Land. Games are a GREAT learning opportunity, and they are fun!!!

Candy Land- https://amzn.to/2wMW4ty

Day 3

This is the learning game Sam chose today while I prepared school. These “before” school activities are kept in a cupboard in my basement. My kids can play these games whenever they want, but they often forget about them. So, when I bring them out for school, they are New!!

Magnetic Match Rings- https://amzn.to/2Nmd5nZ

Today for a great lesson, we baked cookies!!

If you want to bake with kids, save yourself some hair pulling and take 5 minuets to prepare all of the ingredients before your little one helps.

We made Cran Apple Cookies.

Recipe – https://pin.it/cm4os5l24sklxg

A is for Apple. We made a lower case “a” today. Sam colored the “a” and cut it out. My preschool crafts do not look perfect. If I wanted them perfect, I’d make the craft myself.

We then read A is for America. This book goes through the alphabet and discusses America. The pictures are phenomenal.

A is for America- https://amzn.to/2NqgBh2

We made an apple tree next. Sam colored, I cut the tree out. Then we glued Pom poms on to look like apples.

One Green Apple is one of my favorite books. This book is about an immigrant girl, and it is absolutely heart warming!

One Green Apple- https://amzn.to/2wOpuXy

Next we played a gross motor bingo game. I set out a bunch of cones. Then I yelled out a color and Sam ran to it. He had to run because Max was picking them up. Ha!

Cones- https://amzn.to/2oTSmu9

The last game we played was swat the letter. I said a letter, Sam found it and swatted it.

Day 4

Sam chose to work on Geo Boards while I gathered school.

Geo Boards- https://amzn.to/2wUDGym

After prayer and calendar, we read The Sleepy Little Alphabet. This book is very cute and funny too! My kids always get a kick out of it.

The Sleepy Little Alphabet- https://amzn.to/2wSdEN2

I drew an acorn on a piece of paper. Then I tore a bunch of brown construction paper. Sam glued on the construction paper.

After making our acorn, it was the perfect time to read Dot and Jabber. This is a cute book with a GREAT message about how seeds scatter.

Dot and Jabber-https://amzn.to/2CFaZeG

We made a scarecrow next. I painted Sam’s hand blue, red and light brown. Then I stamped his hand onto paper. We added construction paper and crayon to fill in the rest of the picture.

I DO not re-event every preschool moment. For instance, this next game has been used for four years.

This is Candy Apple Math.

First Sam sorted out the M&Ms. Then I had him count each color. I asked him which had the most, but this question was a little much for him. No worries, we moved right on. 😉

I try to play a game a least every other day. Today was Crazy Eights. We played this about 10 times. Part of playing a game is learning how to win or lose with grace. My children know I will never let them win, and I will not tolerate sore losers. If you instill this at a young age, you will have years of fun playing with your kids!!

Crazy Eights- https://amzn.to/2oRBpQS

To end our day, we played water balloon math. I wrote numbers on balloons and numbers on our driveway. I would hand Sam a balloon and he would throw it at the correct number in the driveway. Simple and entertaining.