Interactive Calendar Wheel

This week I introduced an interactive component to our Daily Calendar. I wanted to make my preschooler more involved in the Calendar activity. Hence the Interactive Calendar Wheel was introduced!

Interactive Calendar Wheel © Everything Family Guide

We used two (8 1/2 by 11 inches sized) thick cardboard papers to make the Interactive Calendar. For the top layer, we drew pictures that are specific to each box/topic. In the Interactive Calendar, we added titles and pictures to help our child find the items easily. There are two ways to make this calendar:

• For individual use, make a calendar that is easy to hold and sized right (around 8 1/2 by 11 OR 8 1/2 by 14 inches).
• For group use (in a classroom), make a calendar on a large chart paper (27 by 34 inches) and laminate it for future use/reuse.

© Everything Family Guide

 

We use the interactive calendar wheel to practise what we are learning in calendar time. For example, when we place the date cards on our wall calendar, then I have my preschooler spin the wheel on the interactive calendar's date section so that he can demonstrate the date as well. This way he is learning by doing in more than one way. And that is the best way to learn; learn by doing. 

We are finding the interactive learning wheel to be very beneficial for Calendar Math. We suggest that you try it with your little one...

Annie

Preschool: Learning Time-Telling

Since we are learning numbers in preschool, I thought it would be a great idea to introduce the concept of time.  I bought a really cool clock puzzle which allows the child to link the numbers on the clock. 

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Here are some great introductory activities for learning about time: 

1. Advanced Prep: I took a small notebook and wrote a number on each page to make a number reference book. Why did I write only a number on each page? Little kids learn through simplicity and struggle with confusing and new concepts. So I wrote the numbers on a separate page each to show how each number progresses one after another. It's a great visual aid. I plan on adding small corresponding pictures (i.e. dots, stars, etc.) with the number to enhance the visual aid.

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2. We discussed the concept of time by talking about things like day/night, evening/afternoon, tomorrow/today, before/after, now/later, etc.

3. We read a really cool book about time called "The Clock Struck One: A Time-Telling Tale" by Trudy Harris.

4. We sang the poem "Hickory Dickory Dock" together.

5. We went over the numbers by reading them out loud on the clock and on the number reference book. Then we identified the numbers by matching them to corresponding pictures on the clock puzzle. 

6. We practiced some more by placing the numbers in a number line. 

7. Finally, we matched the numbers on the number reference book to the numbers on the clock puzzle and solved the time puzzle.

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Learning to read time is a handy skill to have and the only way to learn is through loads of practice.

Good luck! 

Annie

Making 3D Shapes (PreK Math)

Shapes are an integral component of the early learning math curriculum. There are two types of shapes 2D (two dimensional; height and width) & 3D (three dimensional; height, width and depth). It is important to be first aquainted with 2D shapes before moving onto 3D ones. We are now building shapes and looking for shape patterns in things around our part of the world. We will move onto learning about how many sides does each shape have and making more 3d shape structures. Here is what we did today:

• Since, my preschooler only learns well with repetition or repeated practice. We started off by reviewing 2D shapes using flashcards. We are practicing the square, triangle, rectangle, circle, oval, diamond, star and heart.
• We then went on a "I Spy Shape Hunt", where I pulled out a shape card and then we went looking/spotting for that particular shape around the house. I did that for all shapes.
• Then we returned to our learning center where I had previously set up the following materials: toothpicks, shape cards and playdough. I did a demontration by placing toothpicks around the shape and then making play dough balls to link the toothpicks together. 

© Everything Family Guide

© Everything Family Guide

© Everything Family Guide

© Everything Family Guide

© Everything Family Guide

Overall, it was a fun project and it can be done with other straight line shapes as well (no curvy lines like circles or ovals). I have also seen many variations of this game where they make a 3D standing triangle or use marshmallows/popsicle sticks. It all depends on what materials you have available and the learning needs of your child.

Have an awesome weekend! 

Annie

Math Number Representation Practice

Math is all about practice. You can never get enough practice, so it is important to keep trying. Building a strong mathematical foundation in the early years is the key to success. Well, that's what I'm hoping to do with my preschooler.  

My preschooler can read numbers from 0-13, but he cannot identify/represent what each number means. So I have been working hard to help him recognize and understand what each number represents. For example, the number "3" means three of something (i.e. dots or stars, etc.) He can identify 0-3 with his fingers, but not with confidence. So, we have been working with little counters (like beads, buttons, etc.) to help him with number representation.

For the activity below, we used buttons to show what each number looks like. I placed the corresponding number of sticker dots on each number card.

© Everything Family Guide

Then I had my preschooler, roll the dice to pick a number for representation. For example, if the number dice landed on three, he would pick the number three card out of the pile and place it in the front to practice number representation. He then placed the buttons in the exact way that was shown on the number card. I also guided him to count each button as he placed them in order. We did that a few more times for practice. You can also use a regular dice which only counts to six but you can roll twice to go bigger. Overall, it is a fun way to practice number representation.

© Everything Family Guide

What are some number representation activities that you do with your preschooler(s)?

Annie

Math Patterns

Calendar time is the ultimate learning experience for my preschooler, as we grow and learn new concepts every week. I have recently added a new routine to Calendar time. Since we are learning about patterns (i.e. ab, abc, abcd, aab, etc.) through colored number/date tiles, I thought to add something more tactile for pattern practice. You know how that saying goes: "Learning by doing." So here are some ways that we practice and learn about patterns:

• Using body movements that represent the pattern such as clapping, slapping knees, tapping, snapping with fingers, jumping, twirling, etc. For example, for the ab pattern, we will clap and slap knees; Clap, Slap. I also say the actions words out loud so that they are easy to follow for a preschooler. 
• Place little objects (i.e. buttons, marbles, etc.) in a pattern using an egg carton or ice cube tray. This is not only visual but also very tactile. I also prep this a activity by drawing a follow-along chart that visually details what the child has to do. For example, if the pattern is abc, then I draw three different colored dots that represent the objects used for practice.

© Everything Family Guide

Overall, math is so much fun so don't forget to share that love of math with your child to help him/her cope with math anxiety in their later schooling years.

Annie

Math Color Sorting and Graphing Activity

Preschool Math is so much fun! We are still learning about "Colors" but we are growing and learning as we go on.  We started off with primary colors but now we have moved to secondary colors.  My son is having so much fun learning, by doing! For the following activity, you will need: buckets/bins/boxes, different colored Popsicle sticks, a timer, a pencil and paper.  

Here is what we did:

1. We got the buckets ready by placing a different colored Popsicle stick in each bin. We then discussed each color in the Popsicle bin to review the concept of "Colors".

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2. I set the timer before beginning the activity.  When the timer started my preschooler started placing the assigned Popsicle sticks in the assigned bins. My son loves the timer and he likes a little bit of competition once in a while.  So I use a timer for him but it is not necessary during the first few practice runs to set a timer.  Timers in the beginning of an activity can cause a distraction and deviate the learner from the learning process.  So, you may use it after your child has had ample amounts of practice learning a concept. I have used a timer for doing math drills with my little sister back in the old days to help her practice her math operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). It all depends on how comfortable the learner is with the timer and using it at the appropriate time.

© Everything Family Guide

3. When the timer went off to signal the end of the timed activity, I asked my son to drop the rest of the Popsicle sticks and come forward. Together, we counted how many Popsicle sticks he gathered from each bin. I would drop a Popsicle stick in the bin one at a time while he counted. This helped with number practice as well as color identification.
 
4. Finally, I did up a quick graph for the activity (This idea came while we were counting and discussing colors/numbers, so I'm apologize about the messy lines). I placed each colored Popsicle stick from the bin in different columns of the graph. We then counted again from the bins to record our numbers in the graph. After counting, I asked him which colored Popsicle sticks did we have the most and the least amount. I did this to test his number sense.

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Overall, it was a good learning experience. However, this was our first graphing activity and I will be incorporating more graphs in our learning. I will start off with the Calendar and report back my findings! 

If you have any questions/comments regarding this activity, please let me know,

Annie

"I Spy" Literacy and Math Activities

I love playing "I Spy" activities with my kids. They can be played with kids of any age and stage. When I was a little kid, I loved exploring and playing with little toys and things. So keeping that in mind, I made "I Spy" activities with an emphasis on little things. Here is how you may incorporate "I Spy" activities in your preschooler/toddler's schedule:

"I Spy" with Picture Books - Books that are great to use for "I Spy" are ones with lots of little pictures or little picture clues. This would be a great time to introduce new vocabulary words. You can also describe things that are found by using simple sentences (This is a ball). 

Shapes "I Spy" - looking for shapes around the house can be a fun activity. I tell my kids that sometimes shapes are hidden around the house (i.e. on the furniture or on any patterns). This will teach them the math concept of 3-d (objects) and 2-d (pictures) shapes.

© Everything Family Guide

Numbers "I Spy" - for this activity we look for a number of things around the house like 3 or 5 of something. This will teach the math concept of counting and sorting.  It can be played with anything around the house like macaroni noodles, books, stripes on the wallpaper, etc. 

© Everything Family Guide

Color "I Spy" - we look for things that are of a particular color like blue or yellow. This will teach the concept of color and you can also make it advanced by using terms like lighter than, darker than, etc.

© Everything Family Guide

Advanced "I Spy" - I do this activity with my preschooler but you can do it with a toddler who has extensive vocabulary. We look for things around the house that I usually name with an added adjective(s).  For example, I would say: "I Spy with my little eyes something that is red with yellow stripes." It is really fun and makes it interesting for your child.

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We always have fun playing "I Spy" games when we are free or as a time filler. And it is ALWAYS fun and exciting!

Annie

7 Math Preschool Activities

We had a great weekend! How about yourself? I hope all went well for you and family! :) We also got a chance to practice our math skills this weekend.

© Everything Family Guide

Here is a descriptive list of engaging preschool math activities that we did:

1. Number Practice - count numbers out loud by placing counters/manipulatives in a row or in a pile. I used an egg carton but you can use just about anything (i.e. ice cube tray, plate, empty jewellery container, etc.) I like using an egg carton as my son can hear the manipulative drop in the box and move to the next number. It adds a visual, auditory, and kinesthetic component to the learning experience. 

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2. Color Sorting - In this activity my son sorted the manipulatives (buttons) according to color. It is always a good idea to use a tray or container with sections to help your child sort easily. Sorting is an essential early math skill as it teaches your child to identify and categorize objects. You can also sort in other ways according to size, features, names, types, and other categories.

© Everything Family Guide

3. Number Writing Practice - if your child is ready then you can start number writing practice. This will help strengthen your child's hand muscle control. 

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4. Show in Different Ways - for this activity you can informally test their knowledge by asking them to show you other ways of representing something. In this instance, my son showed the number zero using his fingers. Your child can also show you through body movement, sing-a-song or poem, using their fingers, drawing, etc.

© Everything Family Guide

5. Mazes - doing mazes is a great fine motor activity for building strong hand muscle control. It is also a great handwriting practice starter activity for early learners. There are many different maze activities that are either educational or 'fun'. My son loves mazes and we do them all the time as a transition activity.

© Everything Family Guide

6. "Power of Ten" - this is the best research based program to teach number counting and other math skills like addition, subtraction, and multiplication. I made my own cards to practice basic skills. First, I had my son demonstrate the five colored squared card by placing manipulatives similarly in an egg carton. The rule is that you have to use an egg carton with ten boxes (snip off the two extras). You will start from the bottom left and go upwards as you place your manipulatives in the egg carton. It took some tries for my son to grasp the concept but he is doing well now. Slowly, I will add more learning games or skills to our routine for teaching math skills using the "Power of Ten" method.

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7. Number Match - we matched our "Power of Ten" cards to number flash cards for additional number recognition practice.

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I have been focusing a lot on preschool math skills. I want my son to always be on top of the game when he starts school next year. I am a bit anxious and nervous but I hope I can help my son do well in school. Any tips or suggestions from other moms out there? Let me know...

Annie

Our Learning Stations

Learning stations are an important component in your child's education. They fill the gaps in learning that reading, writing, speaking, and listening may not always accomplish if used by themselves in a lesson. The saying that: "learn by doing" is exactly what learning stations are all about. For example, if you are teaching beginner's literacy then you can have your child work with identifying and matching scrabble tiles on an alphabet sheet. This is more effective than just reading the alphabet in a song. It would be more effective if the child identified or matched letter tiles to a chart that had the matching alphabet with a corresponding picture of an object that begins with the same letter.

So today, I tidied up my teaching resources closet as it was very much needed...here it is:

© Everything Family Guide

What kinds of learning stations do we use to maximize our learning?

~ A Math Basket consists of math games and manipulatives such as dice, counters, coins, etc. I also love using the abacus! Goal of this basket is to practice math concepts using manipulatives.

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~ A Building Basket can contain blocks, and other building materials like paper, cardboard, wood, Styrofoam, etc. Ours contains an assortment of puzzles and blocks. Goal of this basket is to practice our motor skills.

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~ Dramatic Play Station is where you can have hand and finger puppets, dress-up costumes, plays/scripts, etc. We have a good collection of puppets that I love to use when narrating a story (the kids have so much fun and interest when a puppet tells them a story). The kids can also do a puppet show or be a character in your puppet show. Goal of this basket is to practice our social skills such as personal expression and confidence/self-esteem.

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~ Play dough station is the most fun of them all! It's for creating new things and molding new shapes.  It's also a great quiet time activity!  Sometimes we make our own play dough but mostly we buy a non-toxic version of the dough. Goal of this basket is to practice our tactile skills.

© Everything Family Guide

~ A Literacy Station can have anything that caters to the learning needs and age of your child. Goal of this basket is to practice our literacy and improve our communication skills.

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~ Arts/Craft Station is always changing as we go through our supplies pretty quickly. You can have anything from pom poms, googly eyes, feathers, glitters, construction paper, scissors, glue, etc. Goal of this station is to build creativity and imagination.

© Everything Family Guide

Overall, learning stations are integral to completing your child's lessons. They are hands-on (Kinaesthetic) and fun. They change and grow with your child. They cater to all children; serve as a great time filler activity for a kid of any size or add a hands-on component to any subject. 

Keep on learning,

Annie