A Preschool Invitation to a Celebration of Imagination | Ms. CeCe Sets the Stage for Inspired Play
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A preschool invitation to a celebration of imagination. Ideas for— circle time, cooking, dramatic play, music, and movement.
Ms. CeCe has served as Vice President and President of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (Affiliate). She has experience in various early childhood settings, and is director qualified. Her lessons have been published and featured.
Begin by singing Ms. CeCe’s “Artists Just Like You” (tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” – to the children). Fun to sing, fun to dance, fun to draw and paint. Let’s look at artists just like you, as they all create!
Next, book selections for story time? My Name is Georgia: A Portrait, written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter. “I painted my sky BIG, so people would see the sky the way I did.” Frida Kahlo (Little People, BIG DREAMS), written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Eng Gee Fang. “Through her wonderful pictures, Frida spoke about how she was feeling. In some she looked sad but in others, she smiled.” In Henri’s Scissors, written and illustrated by Jeannette Winter. “A pair of scissors is a wonderful instrument!” Rudolf Nureyev (Little People BIG DREAMS), written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Eleonora Arosio. “Little Rudolf showed the world that there are not things ‘for girls’ nor things ‘for boys.’ Only things that you love doing with all your heart.” Other ideas for children’s books include Sunday with Seurat (Mini Masters Series), by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober, and the interactive I Can Dance by Betsy Snyder – showcasing many styles of dance – from ballet to disco, tap and more. Continue reading “Artists Just Like You: A Pre-K Celebration of Creation”
Begin the spring lesson with children wearing their hats and mittens—or with magical pretending! Sing Ms. CeCe’s “I’ll Be Taking Off My Hat and Mittens!” (Sing to “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”) I’m wearing my hat and mittens, yes I am! I’m wearing my hat and mittens, yes I am! I’m wearing my hat and mittens. I’m wearing my hat and mittens. I’m wearing my hat and mittens, yes I am! Spring will be here very soon. Yes, spring will be here very soon. Yes, spring will be here, spring will be here. Yes, spring will be here very soon. I’m taking off my hat, yes I am! (children remove hats) I’m taking off my hat, yes I am! I’m taking off my hat, yes I’m taking off my hat. I’m taking off my hat, yes I am! I’m taking off my mittens, yes I am! I’m taking off my mittens, yes I am! I’m taking off my mittens, I’m taking off my mittens, I’m taking off my mittens, yes I am! Spring will be here very soon. Yes, spring will be here very soon. Spring will be here, spring will be here. Yes, spring will be here very soon. (Repeat)
Next, preview spring by sharing When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek. “Spring Comes with sun and it comes with rain. And more rain and more rain. Do you like mud? Do you like puddles? I hope you like umbrellas.”
After that, How do you see spring? Let’s create spring with our friends! (Roll out paper on tables in the classroom.) Add crayons or markers.
Next, rotate the classroom—While one group of children creates a salad and dressing, the other children are in centers or free play. Finally, all the children gather for a snack to taste their spring salad!
http://www.theharvestkitchen.com/healthy-citrus-vinaigrette/
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Close the lesson with an invitation to gather together and move. Read Rachel’s Day in the Garden: A Kids Yoga Spring Colors Book by Giselle Shardlow. More inspiration? http://www.kidsyogastories.com
Begin the Preschool Trains Lesson Plan with I Drive A Freight Train, by Sarah Bridges and illustrated by Amy Bailey Muehlenhardt. “My name is Marcia and I’m an engineer. I drive a freight train. There are two seats inside. One seat is for me, and the other is for my conductor, Lou. The conductor is in charge of the whole train.” Train facts are also included throughout the book (technical train talk made fun)! Trains by Anne Rockwell or Terrific Trains by Tony Minton and Ant Parker are also good choices to introduce the circle time song and game. Then, children sing “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” Each child takes a turn around the circle, adding his or her touch to the track, train, or landscape (from a large container or pile of wooden blocks, legos, lego people, trees, or other loose parts). Another option? As each child takes a turn around the circle, insert his or her name in the song. (Child’s name) been working on the railroad all the live long day. (Child’s name) been working on the railroad just to pass the time away. Can’t you hear the whistle blowing? Rise up so early in the morn. Can’t you hear the whistle blowing? (Child’s name) blow your horn! (Child’s name) blow your horn, (Child’s name) blow your horn, (Child’s name) won’t your blow your horn? (Child’s name) blow your horn, (Child’s name) blow your horn, (Child’s name) won’t you blow your horn? (The next child takes a turn for the song’s length.)
Next, place rectangle and circle templates (made from posterboard) on paper-covered tables—add crayons, colored pencils, or markers to trace. Three to four children at each table work best.
Each child receives a banana half and a graham cracker. Next, children unpeel the banana, cut circle slices (wheels), and create a train treat.
In closing, share table-top train designs, and introduce “Down by the Station.” Form a train with movement and sound effects! Down by the station, early in the morning, see the little puffer trains all in a row. See the engine driver pull the little handle. Choo, choo, puff, puff, off we go! chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga, chugga, chugga choo choo. chugga -chugga chugga-chugga choo choo choo!
Realistic Trains by Matt Doeden with Gail Saunders-Smith, Ph.D., Consulting Editor, offers photographs and simple text for gathering time. A naptime selection? Sleep Train by Jonathan London and Lauren Eldridge.
Begin cooking day circle time by presenting three recipe choices (while showing illustrations, and discussing ingredients). Cookbook suggestions? The Tiny Chef: Recipes Preschoolers Love to Cook and Eat by Dr. Kendall Becherer, Forest Feast For Kids: Colorful Vegetarian Recipes That Are Simple to Make by Erin Gleeson, and The Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids: 60 Easy Plant-Based Recipes Kids Can Make to Stay Healthy and Save the Earth. Next, the pre-k chefs vote, selecting the recipe the classroom will prepare (use terms more and less when discussing classroom vote count). Another option? Graph the recipe choices using a poster board. The teacher draws simple illustrations of the three choices, and children vote by placing a sticker next to the chosen recipe creating a horizontal bar graph.
Next, let’s imagine our cooking day. What might our recipe look and taste like? Think about the colors, what will you include in your drawing? (Design materials include crayons, colored pencils, and markers.)
After that, play the Cooking Grab Bag Game. Children feel kitchen utensils with the bag closed (measuring cup, spoons, spatula, whisk, tong) and guess items.
Then, form a circle for CeCe’s song and game! In addition? Instruments for more circle time fun! Sing CeCe’s “We’ll be Measuring and Stirring” song (the tune of “She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”). We’ll be chefs preparing our recipe! We’ll be chefs preparing our recipe. We’ll be measuring and stirring, we’ll be measuring and stirring. We’ll be chefs preparing our recipe! Yes, we will! “Measuring and Stirring” and the “Mixing Bowl” are fun companions to any cooking day activity
Next, play CeCe’s “Mixing Bowl” Game! The teacher sings the “Measuring and Stirring” song while children pass the mixing spoon behind their backs. When the teacher stops singing and playing the instrument, the child with the mixing spoon lands in the middle of the circle or the “Mixing Bowl!” The last child outside the mixing bowl wins.
In conclusion, share cooking day designs around the circle.