Bunny Headband

With Easter right around the corner- I am excited to share the cute crafts and activities that Funshine Express has included in their monthly curriculum kit.

I love the varied crafts- they are adorable. I also love as I read the monthly curriculum guide they suggest simple prompts to get these little ones talking and connecting to the theme and topic for the day. When we were making these headbands, I remember Funshine Express suggesting to have them touch the fluffy tail we were adding to our headband. (it was really soft and furry). Having a real bunny would have been the best activity- but second best was touching this fluffy tail and talk about bunnies and their fur.

 

These headbands were a big hit!

 

Last week was Spring Break in our area- and as luck would have it- I sprained my back!

The full week I was out of commission!

I texted my parents last Friday- warning that we might not have preschool THIS week while I recovered. If I had to do a lot of prep and leg work- we would not have had preschool today.

But I woke up.

Felt like I could handle the few hours.

 

Just another day- I was so grateful to have Funshine Express monthly curriculum.

Letter Activities

Another element of my Funshine Express monthly curriculum kit- are the monthly letters cards.
There are lots of creative ways to use these cards.
I've shared this game with the alligator before... we sit around in a circle and chant...

Alligator, alligator
down my the lake....
(name a child) is going to reach in and
see what you ate!

Then the child named, reaches in and pulls out one of the little picture cards. They then place the card next to the letter it matches.

Last month we started a new activity with these letter cards. I bought some magnetic letters from the dollar store.

At this station, little ones can pick a picture and match the letters to spell the object.

I love how versatile the supplies are in Funshine Express' curriculum kit! There is no limit to the activities you can create around these sturdy and durable supplies! I can use them over and over again for countless activities.

Finishing up :Opposite Theme

 

I know I share a lot of craft projects.

One of my little guys at preschool today said-

"Ya know- I only come for the crafts!"

 

He was a little out -of-sorts today. Lol

But you better believe- I was thankful that Funshine Express has such great art & craft projects!

 

Each craft is so thoughtful.

Today we were weaving black and white paper together.

I pulled out my punches- and let them punch out shapes to place on their woven mats.

(all the paper provided by Funshine- naturally and the shape idea suggested by them too.)

 

 

THEN

For the opposite theme: Funshine also provided a matching game. I love how they always include a station/game idea in each monthly curriculum box. It helps keep my stations fresh and in line with the monthly theme.

Happy New Year!

Our first day back to preschool! How fun! Today we talked about the New Year. The kids were excited to make their headbands. (Funshine Express provided curling ribbon to attach to these.)

They turned out so cute- I missed the opportunity to take a picture of all of them- things got a little wild, and it slipped my mind. They thought the curling ribbon looked like fire works.

It feels good to be back.
Today we had to review some of the preschool rules again.
Did I mention-- it got a little wild?

They were just excited, which makes me happy.
I am looking forward to this month- The Funshine themes this month are Penguins and How things work. I am postponing the "how things work" until next month. This month I am using the Penguin ideas and going to create my own activities relating to the theme snow/snowmen.

I love how helpful the monthly curriculum kits are from Funshine Express. Instead of having to come up with amazing ideas all the time- I can just pop in my ideas as I go. Or if I am feeling uninspired- just use their curriculum as is.

Life skills Center: Sorting Socks

Before moving to Utah- we lived in Hawaii for 8 years. We were infused in the tropical life style. It was a big shock last year, our first Utah winter! My boys, who NEVER would wear jeans and socks in Hawaii, have learned to appreciate long pants and socks.

My third son- really likes CRAZY socks. I'll admit- I like them too. So when I saw these cute Holiday socks I bought a dozen. I put them in a small basket and taught the kids how to match and fold socks.

(There are  a few Halloween socks in there too. )
The kids really liked matching these crazy socks.

I just thought I would share a simple - Life skills Center.

Music Theme: Jingle Bells, Letter J this week.

Funshine Express provided the jingle bells- for our craft today.

So simple- but so fun!

 I read Santa's Book of Names.

 
 
 This is a really cute book. There are parts in the story that refer to the sound of Santa's jiggle bells.

The kids had so much fun - supplying the sound effects to our story time today!

 

 

Now, I thought I would show you one of my display boards I set up each preschool day.

 

Here I display the numbers, letters, colors and shapes that Funshine Express provides each month in their monthly curriculum kit. It is a simple project tri-fold board with Velcro dots.
I LOVE using these project boards! Many home-base preschool moms feel the strain of losing "family space" in their house for their "preschool room".  By using these project boards- I can use our family room with the family- during NON preschool times. Yet when it is time for preschool- I pull these boards out and wha-la! A preschool room with educational displays.

 

 

Weather Frog/ Froggy Series by Jonathan London

 

This is another item I requested from FUNSHINE EXPRESS.

When I was in preschool- the weather bear at my school was my FAVORITE job!

I loved dressing him in his many cute different outfits.

I am debating on what to do with this little guy. Do I simply mount him on a poster board?  I am tempted to mount him on wood (and cut around him) to make him more easily manipulated. (less 2 dimentional.)

I like to hold things. (I am a tactile learner.) So... touching, holding, manipulating things really stimulate my own brain-  I really try to think about all the different types of learning styles when I plan my preschool activities.

It's using all the senses to teach- the children's sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell. And for this activity- if everything is flimsy paper- velcroed onto poster board... that could become mundane... but if this frog has some weight to it... instead of this being a "paper-to-paper" activity- it is more stimulating... something they are really interacting with.

Have you wondered why some kids- touch something once and then are done with the activity, while other activities last longer? I think if I simply mount this guy to poster board (the velcro is cool) but I think it is something they will just slap-together, instead of perking their interest and holding their attention and creativity... (We've really got to dress this frog for the weather- he's naked!) lol.

There is a cute book series by Jonathan London that I plan to co-ordinate with this activity. He has written lots of books with this little frog character- he goes to school, he bakes a cake, he learns to swim, he goes to bed, etc... my sons always enjoyed the silly sound effects- the reader is prompted to say as he hops around- flop-flop-flop... etc. It is a really cute series.

Calendar

   

 My Calendar is a big feature of my "Circle Time"

Here is the calendar that I bought and have been kicking myself over. (Read here to read the full story why.) If you order Funshine Express curriculum- like I have planned to use this fall- YOU DON'T NEED to buy a calendar! They send one to you with toppers each month! (And if you click HERE- you can see their Summer SALE items!!!)

But live and learn- right?

 

It's a cute calendar. I taped the calendar on a (science fair) project board. Since my preschool is located in our family room- I wanted to be able to set up preschool and take it down.

 

I like to have everything attached by Velcro. That way I use it month after month and year after year.

I use it as a visual for singing songs like,

"These are the Months of the Year" "Days of the Week" "Number Rock" (counting up to 20)

I liked the frogs at the top that help you point "Today is..." "Tomorrow will be..." and "Yesterday was.."

My preschool room isn't fully ready yet, but I am plugging along. Doing a little here and a little there.