I love creating fun things for students to do in the classroom. So I have created lesson plans that are themed based. You can work on the themes, but I suggest that you also include the student’s interests as well. They are approx. 13 pages long and consist of information for all the centers in your classroom, with a letter, a number, a shape, and a color to introduce and review. Below I have provided information from one of my lesson plans as a way to say thank you for being a blog follower.
The lesson plans provide domains and a supply list. The domains are based on Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP). I have provided the Domain Name for each section, however, you might find more. You will need to figure out the Sub-Domains to use. The lesson plans require planning, so you will need time for that. Utilize naptime if you can, and create a list of things you need to do daily, this will help you stay on track. The lesson plans are academic and designed for pre-k. Some older 3’s and 4’s might be able to complete the work. It really depends on your instruction.
I think that students should be introduced to certain concepts, even if they don’t master them. I don’t expect that the students will master everything you introduce and review, and you shouldn’t either.
When they enter kindergarten they have something to pull from. David. A Kolb calls this Experimental Learning. “Experiential learning focuses on the idea that the best way to learn things is by actually having experiences. Those experiences then stick out in your mind and help you retain information and remember facts.” The best way for the students to experience the information is to have fun with it. Let them discover the items in the center, and use them in their own way. If a lesson is designed one way, but the students go another way, follow their lead. Remember, they are still learning and the process and learning must make sense to them.
| Introducing the Theme | Let your students know that you will be working on the theme- Thanksgiving. Ask them what they know about Thanksgiving. Jot down what they say, and put it on a big post-it for the parents to see. | DOMAINS Language SUPPLIES Post-it |
Circle time | Have parents send in pictures of their families celebrating Thanksgiving.Introduce the Theme letting your students know that you will be discussing Thanksgiving, use the pictures that the parents provided, show each picture, and say this is how “Lee’s Family celebrates Thanksgiving.” Ask open-ended questions to get the students involved in the conversation. Such as, what are they doing. Do they look happy? Why? Read the Book Caillou Happy Thanksgiving by Sarah Margaret Johanson, for the small group activity that you will be doing later. | DOMAINS Social/Emotional Development Language and Literacy Approaches to Learning History-Social Science Cognition SUPPLIES A letter to parents Family pictures celebrating Thanksgiving |
| Introducethe letter T | Bring to circle time, sticker letters, and a piece of 11X 14 sheet of construction paper. Bring only the uppercase T. Put one sticker on the paper to introduce the letter. See if they recognize the letter, if they don’t assist them. Introduce its letter sound that it is an uppercase letter and how it is written. | DOMAINS Language and Literacy Approaches to Learning SUPPLIES Letter Stickers Construction Paper |
| Introduce the Lowercase ‘t’ | Use the back of the paper that you used to introduce the uppercase T, this time; bring to circle time one lowercase ‘t’ sticker. Stick it on the paper and see if the students can recognize it. Introduce the letter, its letter sound that it is a lowercase letter and how it is written. | DOMAINS Language and Literacy Approaches to Learning SUPPLIES Letter Stickers Construction Paper |
| Introducing the Color Brown | In this section we want the teacher to introduce the color Brown by wearing something Brown, it can be something like a Brown top, or pants. Introduce the color by asking the students which color is your “shirt” for example. When they tell you the color, let them know that it will be the color you are working on for the month. | DOMAINS Social/Emotional Development Math SUPPLIES Shirt Hat Shoes Hair Bow |
| Introducing The number 3 | Bring a cut-out 3 to circle time to introduce the letter to your students. Pass the number around and have each student trace over the 3 using their pointer finger. Let them know that it is the number you will be working on. | DOMAINS Math Language Approaches to Learning SUPPLIES The #3 |
| Introducing The Shape Square | Take a poster board, and draw a large square on it. Color the square with bright colors. Use a thick black marker to make the square into a large puzzle, make enough pieces so each student in your group will have a piece, and give each student a piece. Have them work together to put the puzzle back together. Let them know that the puzzle is a shape that they will be working on for this month. Once the puzzle is completed discuss how many sides it has, the colors they see, and whether it is big or little. This puzzle would be a great addition to your manipulative center. | DOMAINS Cognition History-Social Science Physical Development Social/Emotional SUPPLIES Poster board Black Marker Scissors Lamination Paper |
Small Group Activity | I’m Thankful for…Since Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks, this is a great opportunity to ask your students what they are thankful for. I suggest that you do not give the students your thoughts first, since you want them to have their own original ideas. Ask them what things they are Thankful for and if they don’t understand what Thankful means, ask them what things make them happy when someone does something for them. Or what is important to them as described in the book. | DOMAINS Language Approaches to Learning-Self Regulation History-Social Science SUPPLIES Paper or an Index card |
| Large Group Activity | Large Group ActivityMaking chocolate Chip CookiesThe Color Brown and Square Bring in the refrigerated square chocolate chip cookies, and baking pans. (Be sure to check the labels for peanut substances and your allergy chart.) Make sure you bring in enough packs so that each student has one or two cookies. Review the color, ask the students what color the cookies are, and then review the shape. Ask the student what shape will the cookies be when they are done baking. Provide milk and eat for Snack, or use them as a review session the next day. Take a picture of the cookies before and after they are cooked, so that you can use them to review the shape or for a science project; discuss how the square cookies turn round. *You can also substitute cookies with a healthier choice, such as square graham crackers that turn into rectangle ones.* | DOMAINS Physical Development Language Cognition Including Math and Science SUPPLIES Frozen Chocolate Chip Cookies Baking Sheet Small plates or napkins Spatula Milk Cups |
There is a review section with another Small and Large Group activity, an activity for each center in your classroom, and a parent awareness section. You can find the complete lesson plan at https://www.fiverr.com/share/LPQyz0
Tell me what you think?
