Dinosaur Theme

We are going back in time, millions of years, in fact to the land dinosaurs!

I kicked off the weeks by building a Dinosaur Nest.

Materials
kiddie pool
Large brown blanket (you could use brown paper but I found using the blanket 1. easier 2. more comfy)
large dino figures
Dinosaur books
*optional
dinosaur eggs (see below)

Labeling the Dinosaurs
Materials
Any pictures of dinosaurs
Printed out names
magnets (optional)
Science Board (optional)

Instructions
I used pictures and name cards from a bulletin board set but you can easily do this by simply printing them from online.
I glued mine to a science board but this in not necessary, simply lay them out and have your child place the names next to their picture.

Compare/Contrast Dinosaur Heights
Materials
List of dinosaur heights (pick your child's favorites)
yarn, lots
yard stick to help with measuring the yarn

Instructions
Make a list of a few dinosaurs heights (we chose TRex and Brachiosaurus, as well as a giraffe to help with visualizing what they know)
Your child will
Measure out the length of yarn for each creature.
Lay out the yarn (YOU WILL NEED A LOT OF SPACE) side by side of each creature.
Tell you which is tallest, shortest, etc.
Now see how many of them it would take to be as tall as each one. Hint: Its a lot even for my tall drink of water!

Cookie Excavation

Materials
favorite chocolate chip recipe
toothpicks (two per kiddo)

Instructions
Your child will:
bake the recipe alongside you.
use the toothpicks to excavate the chocolate chips from their cookie
eat all findings and remnants.



PRESCHOOL INDEPENDANT TRAYS

Letter Excavation 

Materials
larger shallow tray
sand
letters
eye goggles
medium paint brush

Instruction
Place letters flat onto the tray.
Cover with sand.
Your child will:
place their excavation safety goggles on.
Using the paint brush, carefully brush off the sand of each letter like a paleontologist.
This is an independant tray, but I would have her call out the letter she found and then a word that started with it.
Carefully re cover the letters with the sand and do it again!


Dinosaur Math Sentences

Materials
sheet of sand paper
crayon
small dinosaur figures
number cards ( I did 1-10)

Instructions
Using the crayon, at the top of the paper dray a blank line, then a plus sign, another blank line, then an equal sign. (basically an empty addition sentence).
Your child will:
choose two number cards placing one each blank.
place the amount of dinosaurs under each number.
solve the equation.

Dinosaur Pin Poke

Materials
push pin
felt (optional - could be taken to the carpet)
pics of dinosaurs (I used these)

Instructions
The child will:
place the paper onto the felt
use the push pin to poke holes along the perimeter of the dinosaur.


Dinosaur Egg Polishing

Materials
wooden eggs
olive oil
empty nail polish jar (or small bowl and a watercolor brush)
polishing rag

Instructions
Your child will:
use the nail polish brush or watercolor brush to put olive oil onto the wooden eggs.
use the rag to buff and polish the oil on the eggs.

Dinosaur Body Labelling

Materials
Dinosaur Figures
blank stickers

Instructions
rewrite the names of the body onto the stickers. ( I chose head, tail, back and foot)
Set up the figures along with the stickers.
Your child will:
place the stickers of each body part on the figure on the correct part.

TODDLER INDEPENDANT TRAYS

Washing a Dinosaur

Materials
dinosaur figure
spray bottle
toothbrush
washcloth for drying

Instructions
Place pieces on the tray.
Your child will:
spray the dinosaur once and then use the toothbrush to clean him.
use the cloth to dry it off.

This seems so simple, but I am telling you, even my Preschooler wanted to do it allllllllllll the time.

Matching Dinosaur Eggs

Materials
different colored felt
scissors

Instructions
cut out egg shapes, two of each color.
Lay one of each on a tray.
Place the others in a smaller bowl/basket.
Your child will:
match up the colors.

Dino Drop

Lil e, likes this one too. There is something about the small circles dropping into the hole and taking them out and doing it again that she finds entertaining.
You can find it here.
I made my own pictures as I try to not pay for anything. You can too by simply finding Free Dinosaur Clip Art.


Silly Playdoh Dinosaur Creations

Materials
Playdoh
penne pasta
google eyes
rolling pins
popsicle sticks

Instructions
Your child will:
roll the playdoh into a dinosaur body shape.
use the "accessories" to create a silly dino.

Stegosuarus Clipping

Materials
cut out of a stegosaurus (mine was construction paper then laminated)
clothespins (I had tiny, green ones on hand)

Instructions
Your child will:
clip the clothespins onto the dinosaur to create its spikes

OTHER:
This week I have a "Bb" basket set out with items/toys that start with the letter B.

As well as a "green" basket to focus on our color. 

What is on our Bookshelf
Story of Dinosaurs by: David Eastman
The Dinosaur Who Lived In My Backyard by: B.G. Hennessy
Prehistoric Pinkerton by: Steven Kellogg
Patrick's Dinosaurs by: Carol Carrick
The Dinosaur's New Clothes by: Diane Goode
Dinosaur Garden by: Liza Donnelly
Home for a Dinosaur by: Eileen Curran
Dinosaurs by: Gail Gibbons
In the Time of Dinosaurs by: Christine Economos
Dinosaur Toes by: Lindsay Nesheim

Bugs & Insects

"Be kind to one another"

And this includes even the smallest of critters.  

The next two weeks are our Bugs and Insects Theme. 

Letters: Bb, Ii

Color: green/ lime

Number: 6 

Verse: "Be kind to one another" Ephesians 4:32

I put together a "Ll is for Ladybug" Sensory Box.
Materials:
popcorn kernals
green foam
small bowl
toilet paper roll
Lady Bug Life Cycle (include egg, pupa, larva and adult)

Instructions:
Dump all the popcorn kernels into the tray/box.
Cut leaf shapes out of the green foam.
Place other times in the tray and allow the child to play and explore.
Watch for younger kids that they don't put the kernels in their mouths. 

Lady Bug Number Line
Materials:
10 rocks (or however many numbers you are putting on the number line)
red paint
black sharpie
strip of paper
masking tape (I used red)

Instructions
Paint the rocks red and allow to dry.
Using a black sharpie, draw lady bug faces onto the rocks.
Choose if you want to use numerals or dots for your child to practice. I chose both, every other one had a number and dots.
Draw your number line onto the strip of paper. I lined up the rocks in order first so I knew where to draw the lines because the rocks are different sizes.
Have your child place the lady bugs onto the number line in the correct order.

Felt Butterfly Symmetry
Materials
different colored felt
scissors

Instructions
Cut out at least three butterfly wing sets in varied colors
Cut out 4-5 butterfly bodies. I cut them in different shapes.
Cut our small shapes from varied colors (two of each).
Next, allow your child to assemble the butterflies how they choose. They can choose a set of wings, body and shapes. The idea is so each side of the butterfly wings look the same.

Lady Bug Math Game
Materials
red and black construction paper
scissors

Instructions
Cut out a lady bug using the red paper.
Cut out black spots that will fit onto the lady bug.
Sit with your child and play addition or subtraction by singing this song:

(sung to Frere Jacques)
See the lady bug, see the lady bug.
Please don't fly away, please don't fly away.
I can count your spots, I can count your spots.
Will you please stay, will you please stay?

Replace the last lines with this for subtraction:
I took (number) spots, I took (number) spots
And only (?) remain, and only (?) remain.

As you are singing, you will place a number of black spots onto the lady bug and by the time you finish the song, your child will have placed the same number onto their own.

For subtraction, set up the lady bug with the original number and tell them how many to take away.

Matching Wings

Materials
Butterflies ( I got these at the Dollar Tree store, they come in packs of three.)
Tape

Instructions
Cut one of the wings off.
Tape this set together because it separates.
Have your child match the wings to the other ones.

If you wanted you could print pictures of butterflies out instead.



Literature Connection:
Book: Inch by Inch written by: Leo Lionni
Felt Inchworm Ring
Materials
small piece of green felt
hot glue
sharpie

Instructions
Cut out a worm shape one inch long.
Draw an eye using the sharpie.
Cut a strip of felt the length of your child's finger.
Put a dot of hot glue in the center of the inchworm and glue it to the strip of felt.
Use another dot of glue to make a ring.
Then have your child go around the house or outdoors and measure objects using their interim, just like in the story.

Bug Hunt
The last "Hurrah" of these weeks was our trip to the local Sanctuary. We hiked the trails on a bug hunt to explore. We lifted fallen stumps, rustled piles of leaves. It was fun to see the girls' excitement of these critters. I have to admit, that in my attempt to catch and release a dragonfly for observations, it sadly passed. Ok, fine... I squished it. But it was a TOTAL ACCIDENT! Ahh... but, the girls saw nothing. geesh.


ON OUR BOOKSHELF

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs by: Bob Barner
A Picture Book of Insects by: Joanne Mattern
Bud's Bug Hunt by Majorie Curtis
A Very Hungry Caterpillar by: Eric Carle
I Like Bugs by Margaret Wise Brown (We used this one for our reader the first week)
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

Bumblebee, Bumblebee Do You Know Me? By: Anne Rockwell

Inch By Inch by: Leo Lionni

Briar Handmade

I just have to share this with you all. I have found THE. CUTEST. COMPANY. The company is called Briar Handmade and some serious handmade skills have gone into their products. Their bonnets are stunningly adorable. Please take a look see below at their mad skills that only comes with home made products constructed with love.  My little niecey loves to wear hers for dress up and they make a pretty spectacular accessory for pictures. 

I got my littlest one to wear for our family portraits and I have to say she looks so stinkin cute! 

How do I get one you may ask? Below are the variety of ways to get into contact with this company and get your hands on one for you own sweet pea.

Store Site

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