Birds Nest

LESSON PLAN

Thematic Unit: The Birds

Name of the Lesson: Weaving a Nest for 5 years old

Objective:	Ø  At the end of the lesson, the children will be able to understand how the nest is made by seeing an illustration of varied types of nest. Ø  Refine their physical skills through fine motor activity as they learn to weave their own nest using a yarn or a ribbon.
Pre-requisite Skills:	Recognition and understanding how and why the birds made their own nest and the importance of it. It will allow also the children to develop emotional and spiritual skills through empathizing with the Birds efforts of making it as they also making their own model nest.
Materials Needed:	Ø  Half a paper plate cut and punched hole across twice Ø  1 large strip of yarn or ribbon for each child (30 inches) Ø  1 brown or yellow crayon per child to shade the paper plate Ø  1 book about Birds Ø  1 real or fake birds nest
Classroom Dynamics:	Ø  During the discussion or presentation of the lesson and the display of the materials particularly the nest, the children must be seated in a semi-circle arrangement. Ø  During the activity or the nest weaving the children will be seated at their desk.
Presentation:	Ø  Children will be shown a bird’s nest. It will be passed around from child to child as the teacher will remind the students
Reinforcement Activity	Gather the students outside preferably in the park and let them look for a bird's nest. If they cannot find, bring them back inside the classroom or just gather them around you and show to them the man-made nest that you made. Let their imagination started to flow as you are discussing about the activity for the day. In the classroom: let them make their own bird's nest. Let them manipulate the materials and create according to their own will.
Developmental Focus:	Social, cognitive, emotional and fine motor skills

THE SENSE OF TOUCH

LESSON PLAN

THE SENSE OF TOUCH

Science Lesson for 4 to 5 years old

Objective:	After the lesson, the children will be able to feel things into their skin the sense of touch and understand the concepts of it as one of the 5 human senses.
Pre-requisite Skills:	Recognition and understanding of the objects in their world. It will allow the children to explore their curiosity how to feel things in different ways like when clothes are wet, dry, or soapy.
Materials Needed:	Ø  Warm water, liquid soap Ø  Doll clothes, cloths lines Ø  Basin and towels (basin will be on top of the towel, and there should be enough towels around to avoid mess and accident)
Classroom Dynamics:	Children will be positioned in one line or two depending on how big is the class. Prepare the materials needed but not the doll clothes.
Presentation:	Ø  Introduce the new lesson “The Sense of Touch”. Ø  Explain to the children how important it is as one of the five senses of human being. Ø  Show some colored pictures pertaining to the topic. Ø  Ask the children how they feel when touching wet or dry things to enhance their interest of the topic.
Reinforcement Activity:	Ø  Let children gather up the doll clothes in the housekeeping area and educator will gather the rest of the materials and positioned it to them. Ø  Encourage the children to wash all the clothes. Ø  First, wash in plain water. Ask them “How does it feel?” “Do the clothes feel different?” Ø  Next, let the children use liquid soap on them. Ø  Rinse the clothes. Ask “How do you feel?” Hang the clothes on a line. Ask “How do you feel as they begin to dry?” Ø  Discuss the different ways the clothes feel, why we wash clothes, why we use soap and why we hang clothes on a clothe line.
Developmental Focus:	Touching objects helps children become familiar with them. It is important to explain the sense of touch to the children because it works together with sight to help them identify and understand objects in their world. Ø  Intellectual, social, emotional and physical

Five Green Speckled Frogs

My baby's favorite felt story and rhyme. This felt story is one of my handmade creations "Arts & Crafts". Obviously the "Five Green Speckled Frogs felt story and his rhyme teaches basic mathematics from 1 to 5 and subtraction from 5 to 1. It enhances cognitive skills and rhyhtm and recognition of numbers.

Children will never get bored, when you introduce this simple but wonderful felt story. As an educator the most possible way of delivering this story is through animation, if you know how to make sounds and actions, this story is a winner.

This felt story also can be use for transition.

Five Green and Speckled Frogs

Five Green and speckled frogs

Sat on the mossy logs

Eating the most delicious bugs

Yum!!! Yum!!!

One jumped into the pool

Where it was nice and cool

Now there are four green 

Speckled frogs.

(Continue the rhyme until no more frog)

Classroom Decorations 2016 - 2017

Classroom Decorations 2016 - 2017

This year, I decided to change a little bit my classroom decoration and the listing of names in our classroom. The classroom theme is still about nature and so I reuse the tree and bee hives.

The happy monkey represents our classroom who occupied the children ages 2 to 3 years old.

The group of happy lady bugs represents the group of children in our care.

The group of happy butterflies also represent the children in our care.

The bees on the beehive are the names of the children with their birthdays.

Daycare Classroom Decoand the Meaning

This was my classroom decorations last year 2015 - 2016. 

I got this ideas from online while searching for a daycare classroom decorations. I just forgot the site, sorry but I give credit to the owner of that picture who posted on that blog. Though the arts and crafts I made is different but the main idea is the same.

This is the meaning of my classroom decoration last year

I will enumerate what I did here:

• The plant - represents our classroom
• The two branches - represents two groups
• Two flowers - the stigma (yellow part of the flower located in the middle) represent the teachers or the educators who taking care of the children in each group
• The 8 petals on each flower - they are the children in their respective groups
• 5 drops of water - the way we treats children in our classroom (Care, Respect, Patience, Love and Kindness)

If you’re happy and you know it

Transition time:

If you’re happy and you know it, 

Clap your hands

If you’re happy and you know it, 

Clap your hands

If you're happy and you know it

Then your face will surely show it

If you're happy and you know it

Clap your hands

If you’re happy and you know it, 

stomp your feet (2x)

If you're happy and you know it

Then your face will surely show it

If you're happy and you know it

Stomp your feet

Repeat: the song but change to "shout hurray!"

http://images.clipartpanda.com/excited-kid-clipart-kid_clipart_girl_smiling.gif 

Transition Time in Child Care

When we are talking about transition, it is the changes of events. In daycare or child care, it is the time when we have to follow the daily routine or schedule, changes from one place to the other and or moving things or toys from the container to the floor and back and forth, to stop the activity and moving on to the other activity.

What is transition time in daycare? 

Transition is the most difficult time for the children particularly if they are engaged to the activity. It is also a challenging part of the educator perhaps the stressful parts of the day in the daycare or childcare. There is too much movement that it possibly gives confusion, other children may feel excitement and others may feel disoriented and lost.

Transition activity should be planned in advance and educator must be focused on. This is the time to impose discipline in order to minimize behavioral problems and chaos and to let the children know that they are still safe and secure whatever the changes of activity they may have.

Some suggested transition activity that can help in the daycare settings:

1. Songs/Rhyme 
2. Finger plays
3. Head Counting
4. Hand Clapping
5. Simon says and many more...

Example: Acka Backa

Best Marks Ever, just Want to Share

I am so proud to show one of my best comments received from my midterm Oral Presentation.

I never think that I would received such an astounding comments ever with a perfect points from my teacher in Observation & Experimentation course during my mid-term oral presentation. The last semester in my Early Childhood Education program is seems a lot of ups and downs. There's so much to consider like projects, on the job training plus family obligations. All of these things drives me crazy, so much pressure in my head that I thought I couldn't do it. 

One of my biggest stress is the Observation & Experimentation course. I feel that the teacher  is very strict and she's pushing the students to be more expressive and creative which is for me it gives a great benefits for everyone of us but the stress is also big however, I also found it very helpful just in my own opinion. When, I start researching and doing my crafts I find it more easy and it became comfortable of doing it. The theories which I studied first became clear. I understand more particularly in implementing the educational concepts to the children.

Since I had already a background of implementing educational concepts and in delivering it, as a previous high school teacher in my country, it became easy to apply moreover, I cannot say that the concepts is the same because now I am dealing with small children. Perhaps, due to the fact that our teacher is great, so I made to the top, I mean I got the best comments I ever had. When, I did my oral presentation, I was really nervous, based on what I heard that our teacher is so critic of giving her opinion and mostly they said, she always give a negative feedback and low marks.

Notwithstanding, after she gave the evaluation paper, my eyes went straight to the marks and was ecstatic when I saw 20/20. I closed my eyes then open it and looked again because maybe it was just an illusion but the marks is the same. Then, I read the comments and I am like "WOW". I feel like a kid having a candy bar in my hand where I couldn't hid my smiles. I am so proud for the comments and happy for the suggestions I received. 

Weather Wheel Chart

During my observation and experimentation midterm class oral presentation, it was optional if we make our own weather wheel chart or ready made weather wheel chart. Most of the students chose to make our own and showed our creativity in making this chart besides it costs us less.

Part of our program as an early childhood educator is to be creative, so why not practicing and enhancing our little talents in arts and making crafts as early as possible.

Weather chart is very useful in everyday lives particularly in teaching our young children about the weather. It gives the children a concrete ideas of what the weather looks like and feels like. It will also give them the basic information on what to wear in every season appropriately.  

Giving lessons or mentioning to the children everyday about the weather during circle time will enhance their cognitive skills on the weather whereabouts.

Winter Bloom Scarf

The scarf I made was my daughter's idea. She was complaining that her scarf was boring. she wanted to have a flower scarf. She made a request when she was 4 years old. It was really funny at the same time I was amazed how she had been motivated to wear something flowery even if it is winter.

She told me, she will looked more beautiful when she will have flower around her neck. Her imagination of having a garland of flower even winter, motivates me in making this "winter bloom scarf."

The materials I used to create the roses is pink felt sheets and green felt for the leaves . I did not use the one from Dollar store instead I bought the materials from Fabricville because the materials are softer than the felt sheet in Dollar store.

The scarf is handmade and sewed it manually. It took me several days to finish because of too much details on it.

My daughter really loves it. Several winters she was wearing it but at this time she used this scarf to decorate her bed. I will take a picture one day & post it here soon.

My eldest son was also requesting to have one but it was not granted since the scarf is so girliesh. I promised to make one for him unfortunately until now, I cannot think a better one for my boys.

Fill Me Up Lesson Plan Activity for Toddler

Activity Title and Description: Fill Me Up
          This activity is intended for 9 to 12 months however it can be expanded to a higher age group.

           This activity will enhance the children's curiosity as to what happen if they fill up the empty box/bucket with something or another toy and then empty it out. Children loves to 

http://publicdomainvectors.org/en/free-clipart/
Vector-graphics-of-childrens-spade-and-bucket/18659.html

discover new things around them. 

This is the age where the child has intense desire to know things around them. They might not talk however child knows how to investigate things through observing and touching everything they see.

Materials/or preparation needed before the activity: We can use any materials that are readily available however, we are dealing with small children and so as an educator we are trying to find a materials that are safety to use for them like;

• empty shoe box
• small safe and soft objects to put in the shoe box or cereals

Setting/or space needed for the activity: Classroom settings or this can be done also in outside setting if it is summer or weather permitted.

Support from colleagues (if necessary): If using small but soft materials for filling, an educator might need helper for more supervision.

Rules for this activity: Gather the children around and let them sit on the floor. Give each child an empty box after introducing the materials or small bucket. Give them enough small soft objects or (cereals to make it safe for the children). Let them fill up the empty box and dump out again.

Safety and health rules (if necessary): Preference materials for safety are the following; cereals, small soft materials but not too small to choke on however in this case support from another educator might needed to avoid accident.

Which developmental areas this activity promotes: 

• Physical development
• cognitive skills

Objective and key experiences: At the end of the activity, the infants will be able to feel strong and supports his understanding of the concepts of empty and full.

Activity introduction (starter): Let the children sit on the floor and introduce the materials.

Matching shapes and figures

Literacy Skills: MEMORY GAME

Activity Name: Matching shapes and figures

Age Group: 5 to  8years old

The goal of the Activity: The skill I am targeting for this activity is memory by matching the shapes and figures. Children will recall and manipulate their memory skills in revealing which picture matches the ones that they recently touch.

Objective: At the end of the lesson the students will know how to match the pictures the one that they previously touch.

Materials Required:

·       Pre-cut felt paper or cardboard of different shapes and figures paste on the card or on the paper (by two’s)

·       Blindfold (handkerchief or any material)

·       Board (optional, you can do this activity on the table or on the floor)

Setting: (How is the classroom set up for the lesson and the activity?)

1.     Prepare an open space of the classroom, preferably in the middle and gather all the materials needed for the activity.

2.     Let the children sit on the floor and explain the method of the game.

3.     To start, show to the children the steps of the game.

Procedure:

1.     After giving the instructions of the game.

2.     Lay all the pre-cut felt paper or cardboard on the floor in random.

3.     Let them look all the shapes and figures for about 2 minutes or more.

4.     Flip or cover 1 of each shape.

5.     Do the blindfold.

6.     Ask one child to touch the figure and let the child say what kind of figure or shape he's looking.

7.     Remove the blindfold and let the child find the pair of that shape or figure from the cards.

8.     If the child finds the match, then he will continue playing and if not he will stop and choose one of his playmates to play. Then, repeat the procedure until all the children in the group will and matches all the figures.

Implementing the Reinforcement Activity: (List the steps to explain the activity)

1.     With the same materials and probably the same setting position, ask the children to count and name the pairs of shapes and figures that lay on the floor.

2.     Counting can be done in group to make it more fun for the children.

3.     Let them describe in a simple word or words how much fun to touch, then memories and recalling the shapes and finding them.

4.     Ask the children, if they like the game and want to do it more in the future.

Developmental Focus: (What other areas of development does this lesson and activity cover?)

The lesson and activity, is designed for memory skills, however, it covered in most areas of development such as fine-motor, physical, social skills. In addition, mathematics skills will come into as well as cognitive skills by implementing the reinforcement activity.

Extensions: (How can you extend the focus of the activity to encourage development in another area).

1.     With the same set of materials and probably added some extra materials, let the children enjoy the freedom of playing on their own way. Like they can choose playing the game without the blindfold just simply flip all the cards randomly.

2.     From time to time, teacher will interrupt and join the play and simply asking the children if they make their own rules.

3.     Always praise the child when they accomplish something, this is to boost their self-esteem and continue practicing and or playing games to test the memory.

Matching Farm Animals Pictures

 Literacy Activity based on Blooms Taxonomy

Book: On the Farm

Activity Title: Matching Farm Animals Pictures

Age: 3 to 5 years old

Materials:  pictures by pair of farm animals like;

·       Pigs, horses, cows, , chickens, rabbits, ducks, sheep

Matching game is very fun for children. This type of activity will target all levels of Blooms Taxonomy because this activity tends to focus on the fact-transfer and recalling some information based on what the children read, see and applied to its personal lives.

Ø  Remembering: The key point here is to match the pictures of the farm animals.

> Children will participate one by one and try to find the same picture that is shown on the board or on the table and then match it and speak what kind of animal it is.

Ø  Understanding: The objective here is to identify and or describe the animals.

> As soon as the child find the match, she or he can identify what kind of farm animals he has found and maybe can give a simple description of it.

Ø  Applying: to carry out something or making something out from this activity.

> Children can make their own story about the farm animals or they even can relate their own experiences if they went to the farm and saw these kind of animals.

Ø  Analysing: Distinguishing or asking questions

> Children are very curious once this information is out it will lead to possible question from them regarding farm animals or vice versa. Ex. Child to teacher- Where do the cows live or stay during winter?

Ø  Evaluating: You can ask the children what they think and make them discuss and argue about it.

Ø  Creating: In this part, children may draw their favorite farm animals or color the animals ( crayons and stencils with farm animals will be given)