February Themes 1

February Themes

This packet includes ideas you can use for February themes. Please find out what the children enjoy and modify the activities accordingly. At the bottom of the packet, you will find web resources that you can use to find more ideas on your own. For Toddler teachers, the activities need to be modified to meet the needs of the age group. For instance, glitter and sequins cannot be used in the toddler rooms.

Nursery Rhymes – Week of February 2, 2009

Nursery rhymes are a wonderful way to explore language and literacy with preschoolers. Below are a few ideas you can use in your classroom. Nursery rhymes should be incorporated throughout the school year, but this is a special week to incorporate the theme in all areas of the classroom. There are many sites on the internet that have the words for nursery rhymes. Here is one example: http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Fountain/5540/. Here are some nursery rhymes to introduce. These were extracted from: http://www.teachervision.fen.com/poetry/resource/5489.html?detoured=1

Mary Had a Little Lamb Mary had a little lamb Its fleece as white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went That lamb was sure to go. It followed her to school one day, Which was against the rules, It made the children laugh and play, To see a lamb at school. Rock-a-Bye Baby Rock-a-bye baby, In the treetop, When the wind blows The cradle will rock. When the bough breaks, The cradle will fall, Down will come baby, bough, cradle and all. London Bridge London Bridge is broken down, Dance over my lady lee; London Bridge is broken down With a gay lady. Additional verses: "How shall we build it up again?"

February Themes 2

"Build it up with silver and gold." "Silver and gold will be stole away." "Build it up with iron and steel." "Iron and steel will bend and bow." "Build it up with wood and clay." "Wood and clay will wash away." "Build it up with stone so strong." Hey Diddle Diddle Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed, to see such a sport and the dish ran away with the spoon. Humpty Dumpty Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King's horses and all the King's men, Couldn't put Humpty together again. Peter Piper Picked a Peck Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick? There Was a Crooked Man There was a crooked man Who walked a crooked mile. He found a crooked sixpence Against a crooked stile. He bought a crooked cat Which caught a crooked mouse, And they all lived together In a crooked little house. Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockleshells, And pretty maids all in a row. Baa, Baa, Black Sheep Baa, baa, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, Three bags full;

February Themes 3

One for the master, And one for the dame, And one for the little boy Who lives down the lane. Hickory, Dickory, Dock Hickory, dickory, dock, The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one, The mouse did run, Hickory, dickory, dock. Sing a Song of Sixpence Sing a song of sixpence, A pocket full of rye; Four and twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie. When the pie was opened, They all began to sing. Now, wasn't that a dainty dish To set before the King? The King was in his countinghouse, Counting out his money; The Queen was in the parlor Eating bread and honey. The maid was in the garden, Hanging out the clothes. Along there came a big black bird And snipped off her nose! Thirty Days Hath September Thirty days hath September, April, June and November; All the rest of thirty-one, Excepting February alone, Which has but twenty-eight days clear And twenty-nine in each leap year.

Activities to use with the above nursery rhymes:

Circle Time Activity:

Super Sleuths Play the game of "Who Am I?" with your students by giving clues to nursery rhyme characters. For example:

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I am round.

I sit upon a wall.

I fell down.

Dramatic Play –

Add items to your dramatic play area that would help the students to have a character parade or to reenact their favorite nursery rhymes.

Small Group Activity – Create Sequels Many nursery rhymes lend themselves to further development. What happened to Mary and her lamb? Does the hickory dickory dock mouse have other adventures? Is the crooked man ever straightened out?

Writing Center or Journal Work - Illustrated Nursery Rhymes Have your students make a collection of illustrations for nursery rhymes. You can post them in your classroom or library as an art gallery or bind them into a book.

Choral Readings As your students get more and more familiar with favorite nursery rhymes, they will be able to perform them. Select a few, practice reading them together, and host a performance for other classes and parents.

Nursery Rhyme Videos Watch out MTV – here comes the latest dance craze – Nursery Rhyme Videos! Select your favorite nursery rhyme, choreograph some moves, rehearse a few times, and capture the results on video. A simplified version of this would be to develop hand movements to the music. The more complicated version would incorporate dance steps along with music.

Math Activity - How Many? Pass out copies of a nursery rhyme to your students. Ask them to tally:

Words with double letters

Words that have an "O" in them

Rhyming words

Words that repeat in the rhyme

Nouns or verbs or adjectives (for older students)

Any other category that you can think of

Art Ideas:

Baa Baa Black sheep added 8-29-99 Original Author Unknown Need: paper, pencil, sheep outline

Directions: Curl white paper strips around pencils and glue onto sheep outline

February Themes 5

Hickory Dickory Dock added 9-3-00 Original Author Unknown Need: Gray paper, hole punch, stuffing, string, wiggle eyes, pink pompom Directions: Made laced mice. First you cut out a gray colored construction paper heart shape with the paper folded in half. Use a hole punch to make holes all along the outer edge (not the folded edge), and use a string to start at the pointed end of the heart to lace. Continue lacing until about 3/4 done and stuff with fluff. Finish lacing until you get to the incurve on the heart and tie off, leaving a tail when cutting the string off. Add wiggle eyes and a pink pompom to the pointed end of the heart and you have the mouse that ran up the clock!!

Humpty Dumpty Book added 9-3-00 Original Author Unknown Need: Poster board, crayons or markers

Directions: After saying the rhyme several times we make a big book. Before hand I write one line of the poem on the top of half a piece of poster board. I ask the children what needs to be in the picture. I use simple drawings. After putting the pages together with rings the book is then left out for them to read. They can also make a smaller version at center time if they care to. This can be done with different rhymes.

Humpty Dumpty added 9-3-00 Original Author Unknown Need: Red paper, white paper, scissors, glue, and crayons or markers

Directions: Trace an oval and get the kids to cut it out. On a bottom of a piece of construction paper, get the children to tear some red construction paper to look like bricks and glue it on the bottom. Get the kids to draw facial features on the oval. Glue the oval on top of the brick wall. For legs, I used strips of construction paper folded accordion style.

Mary's Lamb added 9-3-00 Original Author Unknown Need: Paper, cotton, glue, lamb shape, Directions: Glue cotton balls onto a lamb shape.

There Was A Crooked Man added 9-4-00 Original Author Unknown Need: paper, scissors, glue Directions: Crooked Cutting Practice scissors skills by providing lots of scrap paper and scissors (the decorative zigzags are great!) . Consider making crooked collages out of the crooked cuttings.

February Themes 6

http://www.preschooleducation.com/anursery.shtml

Block Area: Have children recreate nursery rhymes like London Bridge by building a bridge; children can build the three pigs’ homes and also jack’s beanstalk.

Cooking Ideas: Important: Ensure that children do not have food allergies before using any of the following materials Humpty Dumpty Egg Taste Test

Provide your children with different types of eggs and let them taste the difference (hard boiled, scrambled, over easy, etc)

Famous Americans – Week of February 9, 2009

February is Black History Month. We also celebrate President’s Day in February. This is a good

opportunity to introduce the children to famous Americans. Suggestion: Have each teacher in the

center choose a famous American to research and teach the children about. The children will be an

expert on their person. They will then get together with the other classes and teach each other about

their famous American. This is a nice way to concentrate on one famous American but still learn about

others. Some ideas to help you along the way are listed below:

Songs to Sing: It's A Small World It's a world of laughter, a world of tears

It's a world of hope and a world of fears.

There's so much that we share that it's time we're aware

it's a small world after all.

It's a small world after all; it's a small world after all,

It's a small world after all; it's a small, small world.

Art Ideas:

February Themes 7

Joining Hands Cindy G. developed this kindergarten and first grade activity to allow children the opportunity to recognize that various ethnic groups have different colored skin and to promote tolerance and peace.

Materials: Construction paper, pencil, children's hands, glue and scissors.

Description: Decorate your room with children's hand prints side by side. Children can trace their hands onto construction paper using black, white, red, yellow and brown paper to represent various skin tones found across our nation. Cut them out. Now, glue them together in a chain as long as you like. They can outline a door, bulletin board or make a cute swag for your window.

Explain to your children that each hand reminds us that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. joined hands with people of all colors when he marched for freedom.

Comments: Another idea is to make chain links in the same colors as above using the same idea to discuss people of all colors.

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/black-history.htm Even though many of the activities listed below are geared towards Martin Luther King Jr. day they can be used for this theme and throughout the school year:

Martin Luther King Celebration Quilt Diane promotes self esteem as youngsters participate in this preschool craft activity.

Materials: Construction paper and pens, markers, or crayons and yarn.

Description: For a quilt, cut squares out of paper. Ask each child to draw a picture of themselves and ask them what they want to be when they grow up. Write what they say below the picture. Then put all the squares together and tie them with yarn. Use blank colors to make a border and fillers. Title the quilt, "What I want To Be When I Grow Up". I hung this up during Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's. birthday and the parents loved it!

Martin Luther King Day During this pre reading activity by Diane S. preschoolers use listening, creative and fine motor skills.

Materials: A story about Martin Luther King for preschoolers, writing papers that have a place for drawing and crayons.

Description: Teachers read a story about the civil rights leader's life and his dream to the class. Discuss the "dream" that Dr. King had and ask the children, "What dream would you like to see happen?" Have the children draw pictures depicting their dream and then children dictate their dream story which the teacher writes on the bottom of the paper. Teachers can do this as a whole class activity on large writing

February Themes 8

paper.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Teach young children about discrimination with this activity by Stacey.

Materials: Signs with rules that will be enforced in each classroom area.

Description: This is an activity that I read about in a magazine a few years ago. It works great! Hang signs or post signs in each center with a picture of, for example, sneakers with a circle around it and a slash through it. This means that for the next hour, no one with sneakers on may play in that center. Use your imagination, you can do girls, boys, long hair, short hair etc.

Extracted from http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/black-history.htm

Center Time Ideas:

Center Activity Ideas Teachers can use these center activities from Katherine L. to celebrate some famous inventions by African Americans.

Description: In our class study of famous African-Americans we set our center activities up to highlight some important inventions by African-Americans.

Garrett Morgan invented the traffic light, in art we paint a stoplight. Sarah Boone invented the iron board. George Sampson invented the clothes dryer.

In dramatic play we set up a laundry center with clothes, baskets, iron board, and an iron. We use our kitchen set sink to wash the clothes in and we pretend our stove is the dryer.

W. H. Sammon invented the hair comb, so we added several different combs in the sandbox and the children use them to make designs in the sand.

George Grant invented the golf tee, so in our manipulative center we added a variety of colored golf tees and some pattern cards we made for sequencing colored patterns.

These are just a few ideas. We used information from Mailbox Magazine Kindergarten Feb. / March 1999 to help with the center ideas.

Comments: We set up center time with a book from the magazine spotlighting some of the inventions and then explain each center and the African-American connection. The children love the centers and

February Themes 9

my director thinks they are great!

George Washington Carver (1864-1943) An agricultural scientist, George Washington Carver devoted his life to research projects connected primarily with southern United States agriculture. He derived many products from the peanut and soybean, but never patented any of his discoveries saying, "God gave them to me, how can I sell them to someone else?"

Cooking Ideas: Important: Ensure that children do not have food allergies before using any of the following materials

Cooking Activity Ideas

A Peanut Butter Snack For this early childhood activity young children will use counting, classification and sensory skills as they help prepare peanut butter.

You will need: Measuring spoons, measuring cup, blender, plastic knives, crackers, small bowls, small plates and napkins. Ingredients: Unsalted peanuts 1 1/2 to 3 tablespoons corn oil to 1 cup peanuts 1/2 teaspoon salt for each cup of peanuts

Preschool children can shell the peanuts and help measure the ingredients. Place all of the ingredients in the blender and turn on at a low speed until the peanut butter is smooth. Place the peanut butter in small bowls so children can use plastic knives to spread it on crackers for snack.

Pre-k children may enjoy singing the following traditional song while making their peanut butter.

Peanut Butter

Peanut , peanut butter, (Whisper "Jelly")

Peanut, peanut butter, (Whisper "Jelly")

First you take the peanut and you smash 'em,

you smash 'em.

You smash 'em, smash 'em, smash 'em

(imitate smashing peanuts)

Then you take the peanut butter and you

spread it, you spread it.

You spread it, spread it, spread it.

(imitate spreading peanut butter)

February Themes 10

Peanut, peanut butter, (Whisper "Jelly") Peanut, peanut butter, (Whisper "Jelly") Then you take the grapes and you squish 'em, You squish 'em, you squish 'em, squish 'em squish 'em. (imitate squishing) And then you take the jelly and you spread it. You spread it, you spread it, spread it, spread it. (imitate spreading)

Peanut, peanut butter. (Whisper "Jelly") Peanut, peanut butter, (Whisper "Jelly") Then you put the bread together and you cut it, You cut it, you cut it, cut it, cut it. (imitate cutting).

Go here for more information: http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/black-history.htm

Making A Traffic Light Materials: Graham crackers, peanut butter, and red, yellow, and green M&Ms.

Description: After we discuss the invention of the traffic light, we make a traffic light out of one half of a Graham cracker. Spread on peanut butter and place the M&M's in the correct color pattern. LOTS more activities about Traffic Lights and other inventions can be found as you continue viewing this page!

Research information about who invented the traffic light and teach the children what you come up with. This activity can be a hands-on and fun way to reinforce the information learned. http://transportationhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/who_invented_the_traffic_light

Jackie Robinson – teach the children about the obstacles he experienced. Children are beginning to learn how to be empathetic and you can teach them young how silly it is when people judge others just because of the color of their skin.

Go to the library and get books out on the subject and read to the children.

Dramatic Play – have the children reenact Jackie at bat, etc. You can add baseball uniforms, a baseball glove, a soft ball, etc.

Song Ideas –

Take Me Out To The Ballgame Submitted by Lori

February Themes 11

Take me out to the ballgame

Take me out with the crowd

Buy me some Peanuts and Crackerjack

I don't care if I never get back

Oh it's root, root, root for the home team

If they don't win its a shame

For it's 1, 2, 3 strikes you're out

At the old ball game

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was his name,

Playing baseball was his game.

First black man in the major leagues,

In 1947 he fulfilled his dreams.

Jackie Robinson was his name,

He made it to the hall of fame

Writing Area: Letters to Famous Americans thanking them for what they did. Children can draw pictures of children in their journals and tell stories about what they did for America.

Book Area: Henry's Freedom Box, by Ellen Levine Martin's Big Words: the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by Doreen Rappaport Harlem, by Walter Dean Myers 1001 Things Everyone Should Know about African American History, Jeffrey C. Stewart Role of Thunder Hear My Cry, by Mildred E. David

Dinosaur and Reptiles – Week of February 16th and February 23rd

Art Ideas: Glitter Scene Materials:

Glue

Glitter

Black Paper Directions:

Have your children paint a winter scene on black paper using glue. Before the glue dries sprinkle glitter all over it. This makes a lovely winter scene.

Idea: Use ivory flakes mixed with water to create a wonderful winter scene.

February Themes 12

Jell-O/Kool-Aid Art Materials:

Kool-Aid or Jell-O (in powder form)

Ice

Paper

Directions:

Make ice in a Popsicle mold. Sprinkle Kool-Aid or Jell-O on the child's paper. Let them use the ice Popsicle to push the powder around and create a really neat design.

Note: This idea also works with powdered Tempera Paint Idea: For a snowflake print cut a bell pepper in half and dip it in white paint Glittering Snowballs

Balloon

Glue

Yarn

Glitter

Directions:

Blow up a small balloon for each child. Have them dip yarn pieces into a mixture of glue and water. Then have them put the yarn over the balloon. Have them do this until the balloon is mostly covered. Finally, pour glitter over the balloon and let dry. When it is dry you can pop the balloon and remove it. These are fabulous snowballs for a winter theme.

Idea: For neat icicles, put a thick line of glue across black paper. Let the glue run down and then sprinkle glitter on it. Suddenly Snowy Materials:

Paint

Markers/Crayons

Papers Directions:

Have your children create a summer scene. Then once they are done give them white paint and let them make it a winter one.

Idea: For realistic looking snowflakes paint precut snowflakes with a thick mixture of Epsom Salt and Water Paper Plate Snowmen

February Themes 13

Materials:

Paper Plates

Pom-pom's or buttons

Orange craft foam or rolled up orange paper

Cotton Glue Directions:

Give each of your children three paper plates. Have them make a snowman smile and eyes with black Pom-pom's. Then have use the orange craft foam to make a carrot nose. Next fill in the spaces between the facial features with white cotton. Finally, glue the other plates to the bottom and add pom-pom buttons and small stick arms. For a smaller snowman use Cupcake liners, or small plates.

Idea: For quick and easy snowflakes paint over dollies

Science Ideas: Cold Paleontologist Freeze small toy dinosaurs (or other toys) into Ice cubes and then let your children use a small mallet to break them out. Melts in Your Hand Ask your children to predict if snow/ice will melt faster in your bare hand or in a mitten. Graph the results. Sticky Ice Put a piece of ice in a bowl of water (should float on the top) give your children a string and have them try to pick up the ice. They will not be able to do this. Then have them lay the string gently across the ice and put salt over the ice cube. Slowly count to 10 and presto the ice will stick to the string. Quick Melt Fill several containers with water and freeze them. Take them outside and put winter salt on some and not on the others. Ask your children which one they think will melt first. For added fun add food coloring on the top of each. The one with winter salt will melt away into a neat pattern. Crystals Mix 1 cup Epsom Salt and 1 cup boiling water. Let cool and then pour into a dish. Let the dish sit overnight. The dish will grow crystals. Your children can look at these with a magnifying glass or microscope. Examining Snow Put a black piece of paper in the freezer. When it snows get your children bundled up and take them out. Have them catch the snow on the paper and then examine the snowflakes with a magnifying glass. Melting Chart

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Have your children predict what will make ice melt the fastest (salt, cold water, hot water, salt water, nothing) Use each method on similar size chunks of ice and graph the result Snow Water Table For added fun during winter put snow in your water table. Add eyedroppers full of colored water. The water runs off and through the snow to form really neat patterns. Snow Measurement If it snows in your area collect a bucket of snow. Heap it up so that your children are convinced that it is full. Let them watch it through the day as it slowly shrinks away. They will be amazed at how little water a bucket of snow is. Making Snow Use a snow cone maker or blender to make snow. Your children will love it (especially if you live in an area that does not get a lot of snow).

Dress Up Ideas: Add scarves, hats, mittens, boots, earmuffs, sweaters, mugs for pretend hot chocolate, cookie cutters

Cooking Ideas: Materials:

Popcorn

Marshmallows

Butter Raisins (for the eyes and buttons)

Gumdrops (for the hat)

Directions:

Pop the popcorn, melt the butter and marshmallows. Once the butter and marshmallows are melted

pour the mixture over the popcorn and mix well.

After the mixture has cooled, have the children take two handfuls of the mixture, one smaller than the

other, then shape them into circles and place the smaller circle on top of the larger one, then they can

decorate their snowmen with the raisins and gumdrops. Use wax paper to put the snowmen on.

Additional Resources:

Online resources to find more information on preschool lesson plans: http://www.first-school.ws/activities/crafts/nrhymes/hdumptyfpuppet.htm

February Themes 15

http://www.preschooleducation.com/anursery.shtml

http://www.nurseryrhymesonline.com/top_five_nursery_rhyme_crafts-5887.php

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~pfa/dreamhouse/nursery/rhymes.html