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All About Me 
This is a great theme for
building self esteem, getting to now each other, and a super way to
start off a school year. Make sure to take pictures of all the children
in your program. They can be used for a variety of activities for this
theme!
Language & Literacy
Books
I Like Me! (Picture Puffins)
Wemberly Worried
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
Chrysanthemum
Activities
*I have parent's interview
their children at Open
House and fill out these simple forms. It not only gives me a
chance to get a little extra info on each student they look nice
hanging on a bulletin board in our classroom.
Songs, Poems, &
Fingerplays
I
am Special
I
am special,
I
am special.
So
are you,
So
are you.
We
are very special,
We
are very special.
Yes
it's true,
Yes
it's true!
Math & Number Concepts
My Favorites Graph- Choose a topic top create a
class graph for. Ask the children to think of their favorite food,
candy, color, or something. On chart paper show children how to graph
how many children like each thing. Make it more interactive by having
the children write their names on a post it note and place their name
next to their favorite thing.
Classmates Number Match- Do a counting activity
with your class by having the children get into groups. Count how many
children are in each group. Take a picture of each group. Use the
pictures to create a class number matching game. (You may not need to
use them all at once, save some and switch them up) Create a game board
by attaching the pictures to a piece of tag board using Velcro. Also
make corresponding number cards that can be attached with Velcro below
the pictures. Let the children count how many of their classmates are in
the picture and place the correct number card underneath it. Change up
the game by switching the pictures around.
Art
Free Painting-
Any kind of free painting is a great way for children to express their
individuality.
Self
Portrait- Discuss with the children what a self portrait is. Show
them pictures of self portraits different artists have pointed. Have a
couple of child safe mirrors available for the children to look at when
painting at the easel. Encourage them to paint a self portrait.
Literacy : Ask them
to tell you about their painting and record their responses on the back
or on a separate sheet of paper.
My Favorite Things Collage-
Kids love
telling about their favorite things. Give then pieces of
construction paper to glue pictures of their favorite things to.
Provide them with a variety of magazines to tear or cut pictures from.
(This
is a great beginners project for learning how to glue! Explain to
the children where the glue goes and show them how to turn over the
piece of paper and put the glue side down on the paper.)
For younger preschoolers
who are not proficient at cutting yet. Precut a bunch of pictures
for them to use. Begin by explaining what you will be doing and
then take a look at some of the pictures together. Ask the
children questions about what the pictures are of, what is happening in
the pictures, etc. What do they like in the pictures, what don't
they like. Ask them to choose some of the picture of the things
they like to glue to their collage. Be sure to have pictures of
foods, toys, movies, other children playing, adults, etc.
Life Sized Me- Trace
children's bodies on large pieces of paper from a paper roll. Provide
them with supplies to decorate their bodies and add clothing details.
Me Puppets- Give each
child a "body" shape cut from construction paper (provide Box of 8 Multicultural Crayons - Standard
or Multicultural World Construction Paper 9" x 12" (50 sheets) ) Let the children add fabric
scraps, yarn, and wiggle eye as well as other details to make themselves
into a puppet. Attach them to large craft sticks.
Handprint Collage-
Make a class handprint collage. Talk about how each of the children is
unique and have them paint their hand and press it onto a large sheet of
paper. Label the collage with your program or class name and display it
in your room.
Dramatic Play
Music & Movement
Oh Do You Know the Kids in
School (or daycare)-
(sung to the tune of "Oh do you know the muffin man")
Have the children stand in a circle holding hands. One person is
chosen to be "it". They will wear a blindfold. The
other children circle around them holding hands while singing "Oh
do you know the kids in school" When the verse stops the
child in the middle walks forward and finds a classmate. They then
have to try to identify how the classmate is just by touching them.
teachers may need to help them out by having them touch the persons hair
or clothing. After they guess then that child would get a turn.
If you-
(a listening game) Start out by telling the children you will be
playing a game about following directions. Have them spread out
and ask them to listen carefully. Ask questions and give them
actions to do for the answers. For example "If you like the
color blue jump up and down." "If you have a B in your
name touch your nose." "If you have hair that touches
your ears wiggle your fingers." Continue to play until they
loose interest or you are out of time. Maybe ask the children if
they would like to lead the game. Praise them for their good
listening skills and efforts. Be sure that you are getting
everyone involved with your questions.
Science &
Discovery
Fingerprints-
Have some washable stamp pads and white paper available for the children
to make fingerprints on. Take a look at them using
magnifying glasses. Ask the children what they notice about the
fingerprints. Are they different? the same? What else do
they notice? Explain to the children that no two people have the exact
same fingerprints.
Who's Part
Discovery- Enlarge pictures of the children. Cut out just certain body
parts like eyes, arms, hair, mouths, etc. Show the parts to the children
and see if they can name the body part and the person it belongs to! This
is a great activity to reinforce the names of body parts and it promote
careful observation skill. Be sure to include elbow, hip, shoulder, chin,
and ankle, these are often ones children do not know.
Blocks & Building
Class Blocks- Print
copies of pictures of the children in your program that can be taped
onto small blocks from your block area. Let the children use the picture
blocks in their play with the blocks.
Class Building Book- Have
a camera ready (A Polaroid would be idea) to take a picture of something
the children build in the block area that they are especially proud of.
Literacy: Ask the child to tell you about his or her building and record their
response. Print a copy of the picture and their response on paper to
create a class book of everyone's projects. Keep the book in the block
and building area.
Puzzles, Games &
Manipulatives
Classmates Puzzles- Print
copies of the pictures of your children. Cut them into large pieces to
make each one kind of a puzzle. Place the pieces into individual plastic
baggies and set several out at a time in the puzzle area.
Classmates Matching-
Make double copies of pictures of all your students to create a class
matching game. Glue them to construction paper or card stock and
laminate to make them extra durable.
Computers
Visit the www.crayola.com
website and click on Digi Color. They have an awesome online coloring
program that lets children create unique pictures using all kind of
different art tools.
Or purchase the Kid Pix
software for your home computer! This program lets children create all
kinds of one-of-a kind masterpieces! There are endless creative options!
Display their creations around the classroom!
Cooking
Trail Mix-
Let each child create their very own trail mix. have a variety of
trail mix ingredients available to them and let them add a few spoonfuls
of their favorites to a plastic snack baggie with their name on it.
Label each one with "(child's name) Special Trail Mix."
Me Crackers-
Give each child
a large round cracker. Let them create a face using squeeze
cheese. Have some M&M's for them to create eyes, string
liquorish for a mouth, etc.
Bulletin Boards
Hands Down We are
Unique!- Hand children's art work or other creations on a bulletin
board with this title. Put a handprint (purchased or made) next to each
persons work with their name printed on it.
Trim it with
Carson Dellosa CD1456 Handprints Border, Straight Border, 36" x 3" Strips, 12 Per Pack, Multicolor
Other Resources
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