Weather : In like a Lion out with a Lamb

This month, one of our themes is Weather. Funshine Express suggested introducing the old saying, "March comes in like a Lion and out like a lamb".  We have been having wacky weather here! Yesterday it snowed in the morning- then the sun came out, melted all the snow and felt like a great spring day!

What a perfect theme! We made this cute craft Funshine Express provided. (One side is a lion... and the other... you get the idea.) It was a cute craft.


And then- a game that I modified from Funshine Express... we played again. Except not with partners this time.

I love how simple the ideas and suggestions Funshine Express offers in their monthly curriculum guide. They are so clever and fun. I love that often - they suggest ideas with common things I have around the house! It is easy to add and introduce new elements into our preschool day.

Raindrop Game

 

We had so much fun with that heart- puzzle- matching game Funshine Express suggested last month,

I made a similar game- with the shapes being raindrops.

 

Also- we made Weather Gauges (everything provided by Funshine Express Monthly Curriculum). The kids were excited- because we have something like in our weather station center.

Weather Theme: Clouds

We have been talking about weather - and specifically the water cycle.

(*It might be a bit complex for the gang- but we did some large movement activities to understand it.)

Here is a great diagram from the U.S Gov 

I simplified it a-lot.

 

It's one thing to "talk" about it. Another- to actually see-it-happen!

 

I know I usually share a craft that Funshine Express supplied in their monthly curriculum kit- but today, I was so impressed with their simple-fun Science suggestion!

Create a cloud in a jar.
How cool is that? It is hard to see... but this really works! (Hot water in the jar-- trapping the steam by having ice on top.)

 

 

We painted also- with cotton balls... clouds.

But by far... the science experiment stole the show today!

 

 

 

Here is a good image- from Enchanted learning website-

 

*I just focused on the idea of : Evaporation- Condensation- precipitation (rain/snow) Accumulation.
We started sitting- with our arms out... pretending we were water in the ocean.
Then we evaporated... (standing up)
then we  "condensed" (got close together)
then we rained or represented Precipiation... by wiggling our fingers as we "rained" and we sat down.

I am always amazed at how brilliant and smart these little ones are!
Will they remember the words? maybe not... but do they understand the concept- YOU BET!

Forgot to POST!

I forgot to post about this really cute, fun activity Funshine Express suggested playing last month. This literally was a crowd pleaser! They wanted to play this again , and again, and again... etc..

I cut big heart shapes out- and then cut them in half... using unique design. (zig-zag, wavy, etc.)
I then separated the sides on either side of our preschool room.
I had one person pick one 1/2 heart.... their partner had to look and then find the match!

You can bet- I am going to use this idea/game again!
Since we are talking about weather this month.. maybe I will cut out "cloud" shapes, or "raindrops". Such a fun, creative, easy idea!

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.

Fizzle Paint Project

Is it a Science Project... or is it an Art Project?
A little bit of both- my kids really enjoyed this project suggested by Funshine Express today!

Funshine Express- suggested adding baking soda to our normal preschool paint. (This makes the paint a tad bit thicker- but kids didn't notice.)
Once they were done painting- I brought over cups with vinegar in them. Funshine Express supplied the droppers. The kids were thrilled- dropping vinegar on their pictures and seeing them bubble up!

One boy had painted a dragon- he was over the moon to see the fire from his dragons mouth- really boil up!

Who thinks this stuff up at Funshine Express? What a great idea, and so simple!

I love the many exploration projects, activities and crafts Funshine Express offers and suggests.
I mean, I love Pinterest- but I waste a lot of time getting lost on searches.

I love my Funshine Express Monthly Curriculum kit. It comes with all these simple- fail proof ideas!
I can't count how many times I have tried something seen on Pinterest- only to have it fail. So disappointing. I know I can count on the activities suggested in my monthly kit!

No plan B needed!

Olympics Added Theme

How could we NOT sneak in a

Winter Olympic Unit at Preschool?

 

This past week was so much fun!

(except for the day- I got hit with the 24 hr stomach flu.)

Here are some helpful handouts I used during our Winter Olympic Unit this pass week.

Cute handout on this site: For Olympic Flag/ Olympic Rings

 

Like I've said- I love how my Funshine Express Monthly Curriculum is so easy to modify!

For our writing activity- I just cut the letter R off the top of my Funshine worksheet. (They had "R- for Radio".) I replaced the color portion with an Olympic Flag worksheet. (R- for Olympic RINGS!) Simple! And soooo helpful!

I don't have to create everything... I just have to tweak what Funshine Express sends me in my monthly kit!

Cute winter FREE- Olympic print-ables (for preschoolers) on this site here

 

This was a really cute workbook to introduce the different Olympic sports.

Here is our Olympic torch.
We used it for a fun relay race: Passing the Olympic Torch!
(They were all on the same team. I timed them, and then we ran it again to see if they could beat their own team time.) Everyone felt like a winner!

 

We painted rings- using small cups.

 

And naturally-  today we made gold metals!
They cut out yellow circles. We stapled yarn for the necklace and then taped gold coins in the center.

 

It was such a fun week!

GO TEAM USA!

Number Station

Today I thought I would share a simple station for preschool.

 

I love how versatile the supplies I get from Funshine Express are! Every month I get a few numbers in my monthly curriculum kit. (the numbers we are working on for the month.) I found this pocket chart at our local dollar store. Today I let the kids play with our number/shape/color board for one of our stations. This little guy wanted to put the numbers in order.

There are so many ways to use the supplies.
Thank-you Funshine Express- for making my life, just a little easier!

I am sneaking in another theme this month- Olympics! So fun!! That is what I appreciate the most about my Funshine Express Monthly Curriculum kit. Is the ease of day-to day planning... but when I want... I can take extra time to customize the curriculum and add and adjust to what fits the needs and interest of my preschool group.

Go USA!

Preschool Valentines party!

This was a cute idea- suggested by Funshine Express. (Supplies included by them also!)
It was a really cute pocket for valentine cards and treats.

We painted paper plates in the morning, and put them aside to dry. Then I punched holes around the edge and the kids laced the edges. (The top plate is cut like a heart.)

(Funshine had these cute "needles" so the kids really felt like they were sewing.)

 

 

Here is another great project suggested and provided by Funshine Express!

Who doesn't love these delicate heart dollies?
So clever to paint them! We used water colors. The kids also liked the design left behind. (The paint that seeped through the holes.)

 

These were turned into hanging hearts.

So fun!

We had a great day today. Hope everyone has a great Valentines Day!
xoxox

Oppostie Theme

This month's themes for preschool are Hearts & Hugs

and Opposites.

 

I added "magnets" to the unit.

(I thought this was clever of me- because the opposite poles of a magnet "attract".)

I bought this kit. It is so great- it has 22 experiments to do with magnets!

 

 

 

This was a simple station to set up.

I had a magnet - and different items for the kids to experiment with ...

what is attracted by the magnet. (hint: things with iron, not metals)

 

We've been talking about opposites.

Funshine Express has different activities/crafts, etc..

Here is one we did today.

The kids (and I ) thought these were so clever! I like that Funshine Express offers a variety of crafts. Most the crafts offered by Funshine Express are pretty open ended. About 1/4 of the projects are like this one, exact in how the end result should look like. I still like the variety. And as you can see, there is room for creativity, with how they decorated their light bulb.

Heart Games

Funshine Express included some really cute activities for this month's  hugs & heart theme!

 

 

The monthly tracing heart shape

A number page- where you connect the dots to create a heart

A matching game

 

(the kids really enjoyed this simple matching game)

I was surprised! I played this game during our stations/rotations. With some children I was able to play the game 3-4 times and with others, we struggled to find matches and finish one game

in the allotted time! A simple game- but so important to help build memory skills!

 

Also included was this "Heart Breaker" game.

You cut them out to make puzzles that they put together.

 

Love my Funshine Express monthly kit!

I love that they have such thoughtful supplies in their kits.

 

 



Shape Manipulatives

Stations- I love using stations in my preschool. I think the kids enjoy it just as much. The challenge is rotating the items in stations so that preschool is refreshing and doesn't become stale.

I so appreciate the little activities that Funshine Express includes in their monthly curriculum kit. Some of them are predictable- we get a shape to trace every month- but it is a new/different shape! The kids look forward to this.

And no-- it's not complicated or fancy- these stencils are just on stiff cardboard type paper... and I punch the shapes out. It's a simple station to set up- but the kids are always excited to trace and draw using the new shape for the month!

It is so nice to have a few  (new) stations provided every month. It takes a little pressure off my mind knowing I don't have to think of a dozen new things to introduce each month... just a handful, because Funshine Express has got my back. lol

Disclaimer: I receive free monthly kits from Funshine Express in exchange for blogging about their curriculum. BUT- I contacted them for this opportunity, they did not contact me. I used Funshine Express for years, buying the monthly kits to use in my home base preschool while my sons were growing up and I truly love their product! The reviews are my true feelings for this product and not bought or paid for by the company.

Ice Science Experiment

I know I usually post the cute crafts and hand-outs from Funshine Express- but today I want to share a simple- yet educational experiment.

I love that many of the supplies and activities suggested by Funshine Express are things I already have on hand!

Today they suggested putting ice in containers. (They suggested for this experiment three containers- all three with ice, one with salt added, one with sand added and one with only ice.)

We explored the idea of : Why do snow plows lay down sand on the roads or salt, and why people put salt on icy sidewalks.? Then kept an eye on the jars to see what would happen!

Very clever experiment!
I love all the thoughtful activities that Funshine Express includes in their monthly curriculum guide.

Okay- okay... I have to share a cute craft Funshine Express provided. It  was such a thoughtful ice burg craft.

 

I Googled and found pictures of Ice burgs.

The kids were able to see that often we only see the tip of the ice burg!

Painting with a mixture of karo syrup and glue- makes a cool texture on paper.

 

(The blue tissue paper represents the ocean water.)

Worksheets

As you know, I cut the tops off my Funshine Express worksheets as a habit- so that the kids will focus on the writing portion of the worksheet and then be rewarded with the color portion.

Today we were focusing on the letter M. The picture that was on the bottom of the M page- was a mechanic with gears. (This follows the Funshine Express theme this month of : How Things Work.) Since I added a Snow/Snowman theme this month,  Mechanics and gears don't really follow our new theme, but... this was not a problem.

I cut the M practice sheet off the top...
This mitten color page was attached to writing the number 12 writing practice, that I had already cut off... so I just paired the M writing practice with the mitten color activity!

See how amazingly simple it is to modify the supplies that are provided by Funshine Express monthly curriculum kit? Simple!

Penguin Pun

 

(Sorry for the pun on fun/pun- couldn't help myself.)

 

This is a fun game/station provided in Funshine Express monthly curriculum kit.
It's a counting- math manipulative game.
I love that Funshine Express includes a few of these each month that fit our themes.

Little ones need so much practice counting, adding, subtracting, etc.. yet get bored if it is the same every day... day-to-day, month-to month. They are excited to see what the new math station holds as it relates to our new themes.

Here are some of the crafts/projects that we made during the week of our Penguin theme.

 

Penguin puppets

(I love how unique each turned out!)

 

 

These are Rock Hopper penguins.

One of our books had pictures of different kinds of penguins around the world.

Matching Game

Every month Funshine Express  includes a shape and color picture to add to our bulliten board.
We've got a collection now. We took a few minutes today naming/reviewing shapes and colors and then matching them... to shape to the same color.

 

(We had a bunch of kiddo's sick today- so we flew through my normal lesson plans.)

I love how versatile and sturdy Funshine Express supplies are!

Preschool theme: Snowmen

This is my neighbors mailbox. I love walking out each morning and seeing this fun snowman.
Last week, at preschool, we painted with bubble wrap- to make some snow pictures. I had the children paint two pictures- one on blue paper to take home that day... and another on black paper.
(I knew I wanted to use this technique for a craft today.)

 

There are so many cute books about snowmen! (I found a bunch this summer at goodwill- when I was gathering my preschool supplies for the year.) For story time- I read these books.

 

For our craft time: I used our black paper from last week and added a worksheet from Funshineexpress monthly curriculum kit.

 

Funshine provided a little snowman worksheet. (cutting around the circles and pasting.)

 

This craft went hand-in-hand with the fun book: Snowmen at Night.

(I love it when I find crafts/games/activities that match up with books!)

 

 

 

and I used Funshine Express' great play dough recipe.

I left the dough white (our color for this month) and

kids pretended to roll snowballs, make snowmen, etc.. etc..

 

 

It was a great "snowy" day at preschool. We had a few kids out sick- so it was an especially slow-quiet day at preschool as well.

Snow activities

I added a Snow theme to preschool. I have some cute books about snowflakes- and the kids were curious if snowflakes really had 6 sides, and if each is a different designs.

So we caught some snowflakes! This was really fun. Most were clumped together- but a few we were able to see individually.

They melted slower on the paper- and then even a few minutes after- you could see a wet mark, in the snowflake shape.

Another activity- I used for a sensory station, was this (mock) snow.
I had seen this a few times on Pinterest, take 1/4 of an ivory bar of soap and microwave it for less than a minute. It puffs up and feels really strange. (hard explain the consistency.)

The kids enjoyed playing with it- and then we packaged it so they could take it home. They can sprinkle it in their bath- for a "snow flurry bubble bath".

Happily Funshine Express had some snow/snowflake crafts planned this month.

I love that Funshine often has painting projects- using unconventional items. Here we used bubble wrap. So fun!