This will be my last lesson plan blog, so typing this is a bit bitter sweet. I have about 2 years and over 150 posts on my site with lessons for ages 1-5 and I feel like with my oldest entering Kindergarten next year I’m at a place where the website is complete…plus I wantContinue reading “Feliz Cinco de Mayo”
Author Archives: mrsariellefunk
Tootie Fruity
Summertime is upon us with its fresh berries, lemonade and strawberry shortcake so I thought a week of fruit themed learning would be fun to do! Originally, I was just going to do berries, but citrus and watermelon are fun and cute too so I figured let’s do it all! LoL –Literacy: -Scrabble tile fruitContinue reading “Tootie Fruity”
Hoppy Little Frogs
When I was growing up in Northern Maine, nothing was quite as neat as finding a big old clump of frog eggs floating around in a puddle- or better yet, tadpoles! We never were successful at raising tadpoles into frogs (I don’t remember ever trying except maybe once when we popped some in our oldContinue reading “Hoppy Little Frogs”
Raining Cats and Dogs
April showers bring May flowers- and my littles are both animal lovers so I thought it was a great time to do a dog and cat week! We celebrated the 101st day of school this week with lots of fun 101 Dalmation activities (all at the start of each category), and pulled in several regularContinue reading “Raining Cats and Dogs”
Vroom! Vroom!
Cars, trucks and things that go- my littles are into basically everything with a motor so I thought a cars/trucks/driving week would be something they’d enjoy! Buckle up guys, because this week of learning is going to be a wild ride! –Literacy: -Traffic light retelling: Read a book about cars (we read “Go, Dog, Go!”)Continue reading “Vroom! Vroom!”
Amazing Animals
We’ve studied animals before here and there, but never as a whole so I thought it was due time! Join us this week as we dive into animal groups and the characteristics that make them special. We’ll be covering mammals, birds, fish and reptiles- I know there are more but it’s Prek so I figuredContinue reading “Amazing Animals”
Wonderful Weather
I don’t know why, but springtime just seems like an appropriate time of the year to dive into weather! You have the occasional rogue blizzard, spring showers and rainbows, warmer temperatures…followed by freezing ones a day later- I mean you basically get everything all at once, at least in the South! hahaha So without furtherContinue reading “Wonderful Weather”
Learning Rocks!
Anyone else have a rock collection as a kid? I know I did, and now my littles are starting their own (mainly by stealing all of our landscaping rocks and hiding them in their rooms! LoL) For some reason kids love rocks, and honestly the variety and beauty of the types of rocks and mineralsContinue reading “Learning Rocks!”
Secret Agent Man
My oldest used to love the PBS kids show “Odd Squad”- he’s since moved on but I knew he and his brother would have fun with a detective themed week of learning, so here we are! We made ID badges first- and my littles insisted on using them to “gain entry” to our classroom eachContinue reading “Secret Agent Man”
Mo Willems: Author Study
I figured it was time for another author study, and who better to choose than the legendary Mo Willems! Author of the Knuffle Bunny trilogy and the Pigeon books as well as the Elephant and Piggy series, his adorable illustrations and easy text make his early reader books both accessible to beginning readers and alsoContinue reading “Mo Willems: Author Study”
Winter Olympics
The winter games are here! One of my best memories as a kid is being SO EXCITED to see Kristi Yamaguchi skate for the US and then finding out she was on way past my bedtime… then planning a sleepover with my figure skating obsessed bestie the night Kristi skated and sneaking out of bedContinue reading “Winter Olympics”
Bienvenue en France!
So confession- I meant to do the winter Olympics this week but I mistakenly thought they were in Paris (that’s the 2024 summer Olympics- woops!) but they’re in Bejing! Sooooo long story short I had a bunch of plans centering around France that I just fleshed out a bit (since we JUST did China lastContinue reading “Bienvenue en France!”
Gung Hay Fat Choy
Lunar New Year is the most important celebration in Chinese culture, so I thought it would be fun to learn about it in our home too! From the time we did Christmas Around the World when I was in 4th grade I’ve been fascinated with other cultures and their traditions (hence the Cultural Anthropology degree!)Continue reading “Gung Hay Fat Choy”
The Roof of the World
Mount Everest has always fascinated me (and probably most of the population). The fact that people can climb through such a slippery, crevasse filled, oxygen poor environment and live to tell the tale is a feat of humanity that boggles the mind. My 5 year old has shared my interest in Everest since I readContinue reading “The Roof of the World”
I Have a Dream
With Martin Luther King Jr. Day coming up, I knew we had to take a week to focus in on the message and life of this amazing American Civil Rights leader. We’ve discussed him on a few other occasions (check out last year’s Black History Month preschool post Black History is American History for moreContinue reading “I Have a Dream”
Pretty Little Penguins
What’s black and white, looks like it’s wearing a tuxedo (ie. perfect for the New Year!) and lives in some of the chilliest places on Earth (also perfect for the time of year!)? Penguins of course! Toboggan with us through a week of perfectly picked penguin pursuits (did you like my alliteration there?) as weContinue reading “Pretty Little Penguins”
Little Chefs
Christmas is over, but it’s still that cozy, chilly time of year where baking things warms up your house and fills it with delightful smells! My littles and I love to cook, so I thought a week filled with baking things was the perfect way to ease out of Christmas break! Real talk- we didContinue reading “Little Chefs”
Christmas Around the World
If you know me, you know I LOVE world cultures and majored in cultural anthropology in college so it’s only natural that we had to do a Christmas Around the World theme! Join us as we hop from country to country exploring the various Christmas traditions people have for this very special holiday! Note: IContinue reading “Christmas Around the World”
The Nutcracker Ballet
I have adored the Nutcracker ballet since I was about 5. The story is just dreamy, Christmas perfection with candy that comes to life, a giant Christmas tree, magical gifts that dance, and a heroine that saves her prince from the bad guy, which is pretty cool- especially given that it was written in 1892!Continue reading “The Nutcracker Ballet”
A Peppermint Stick for Old St. Nick
Christmas season is here and I’m SO EXCITED to dive into all of the fun holiday activities with my littles! We’re kicking the month off strong with candy cane week- sweet, minty or fruity, conveniently shaped like a “J” for letter recognition practice- they’re the yummy Christmas treat that can’t be beat! –Literacy: -J isContinue reading “A Peppermint Stick for Old St. Nick”
A Salute to Service
Veterans are truly heroic and selfless people, risking their lives, limbs and well being to serve our country and protect peace here and around the world. I am humbled by their bravery and so incredibly grateful for their work. With Veterans Day coming up, we are taking this week to honor our veterans, learn aboutContinue reading “A Salute to Service”
It’s Turkey Time!
The holiday season is upon us, and for many families that means the tradition of enjoying a nice roasted (or fried!) turkey for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas, along with all the sides and fixin’s! Although the spotlight is on the turkey, I like to zoom in on all that we’ve been blessed with and are gratefulContinue reading “It’s Turkey Time!”
I Want Candy!
Halloween is around the corner and if you’re like our family your kids are going to end up with so much candy it’ll last until this time next year (I literally just threw away a bunch of mini Snickers I found in the pantry from last Halloween… I know.) If you have no idea whatContinue reading “I Want Candy!”
Back to Hogwarts
I think my all time favorite lessons thus far were Welcome to Hogwarts and Accio Toddler Activities– the activities are so much fun you don’t even feel like you’re doing school!!! They’re also my most popular- I’m guessing it’s because there aren’t many learning activities out there for Potter fans with very young children, soContinue reading “Back to Hogwarts”
Learning with the Wolves
Hooooowwww would you like some lesson plans with a wild wolfy theme? Look no further, because here they are! Wolves are often misunderstood, but fascinating creatures- and of course their chilling howls (which are really used to reunite a pack or find a lost wolf rather than just to creep you out) are one ofContinue reading “Learning with the Wolves”
Who-Whooo is Ready to Learn?
Now that October is here, I thought it would be the perfect time to study some typical fall/Halloween animals- and of course being a Harry Potter fan, owls were at the top of my list! They’re such gorgeous birds and are really quite interesting to learn about…did you know they can hear a tiny mouseContinue reading “Who-Whooo is Ready to Learn?”
Tall Tales
I remember doing a unit on tall tales when I was in 4th grade and I thought they were so much fun to read, so I thought my littles would enjoy them too! (My favorite was always Paul Bunyan- mainly because he had an adorable giant blue ox named Babe!) Each day we focused onContinue reading “Tall Tales”
Sunflowers!
I know sunflowers are planted and grown all summer, but with their warm yellow and orange petals and hearty harvest of seeds to feed all manner of critters during the winter months, I always think of them as a fall bloom. I thought we’d explore these incredibly diverse plants this week for school…and maybe tryContinue reading “Sunflowers!”
Home on the Range
Hey there all y’all cowpokes! It’s high time we do some learnin’ out here on the wide prairie lands! We’re gonna wrangle up some letters, heard some numbers back to their corral where they belong, and have an in general rootin’ tootin’ good time! Saddle up your horse, grab your lasso, and let’s head onContinue reading “Home on the Range”
Kate DiCamillo Book Study
One of my all time favorite children’s authors is Kate DiCamillo of “Because of Winn Dixie” and “The Tale of Despereaux” fame. When I found out she also has several early chapter books as well as a few picture books, I knew we had to do a week exploring her stories! I chose a storyContinue reading “Kate DiCamillo Book Study”
Community Helpers
One of the Kindergarten (and 1st grade in some places) standards is learning about communities and community helpers. My boys are both super interested in this topic right now (I mean what’s cooler to a 2-4 year old than a giant fire or garbage truck!?) so I knew this theme would be a hit withContinue reading “Community Helpers”
All About Me
Since I did a back to school theme last year I was a bit stymied about what to do for the start of this school year- then it hit me! Many of the back to school activities are based around getting to know your students (as well as classroom set up and rules!) so anContinue reading “All About Me”
Lights, Camera, Action!
Who doesn’t love a good movie? I thought a special week of sweet movies with good lessons would be a fun way to end the summer before we dive back into our full on school schedule (for more info on what we do daily in addition to my themed plans, check out my posts PreschoolContinue reading “Lights, Camera, Action!”
Popcorn and PJs
Lights, camera, ACTION! Get ready for some fun movie and popcorn themed activities with your little this week! Also, this will be my very last toddler post- my youngest is turning 3 and has moved away from toddler exploration and more towards working on preschool skills like letter recognition and counting. If you have aContinue reading “Popcorn and PJs”
Rainbow Fish Book Study
If you haven’t heard of it, “The Rainbow Fish” is a best selling book with an adorable message- sharing and friendship are worth more than possessions and outward appearance. I always read this story to my students the first day of school, discussed how important sharing and kindness are in our classroom and the world,Continue reading “Rainbow Fish Book Study”
Rainbow Fish
Sharing, kindness, inclusion, friendship, honesty. These are the ideals taught in Marcus Pfister’s “The Rainbow Fish” books- and who doesn’t want their toddler to be a kind, inclusive friend who is honest and shares well? Dive into these books with us this week as we explore and learn through rainbow and fish themed activities thatContinue reading “Rainbow Fish”
Go for the Gold
The summer Olympics are finally here! I love watching the games on TV- gymnastics, diving, swimming, running- it’s all super exciting and MAN are those men and women talented! I was so sad last year when they got canceled because of Covid I actually organized a Funk Family Olympics at our house with bucket filling,Continue reading “Go for the Gold”
Little Champions
The Olympics are finally here! I’m so excited to watch them on TV and teach my littles all about the world coming together for some fun and friendly competition! To get your littles excited about the games, here are some fun crafts and learning ideas that are centered around the Summer Olympics! Go for theContinue reading “Little Champions”
Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy
My littles both love to fish (which makes sense seeing as my husband loves the sport so much he has a whole cupboard full of lures and too many poles to count!) so I thought it would be fun to do a fishing themed week of learning! Come dive in with us as we learnContinue reading “Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy”
Gone Fishin’
My husband has been an avid fisherman since he was a kid- as is his dad- so it’s only logical that both our littles love fishing too! It definitely is a great hands on lesson in patience paying off (unless your me and you never catch anything! LoL) and the boys get so excited whenContinue reading “Gone Fishin’”
Little Builders
My youngest has been into building with any and every type of block for about a year now! His all time favorite are Magnetiles, but he loves traditional blocks and of course Lego Duplos too! This week I thought it would be fun for us to do all the activities surrounding these versatile giant LegoContinue reading “Little Builders”
Let’s Build
Does your little love Legos? Then this week they’re going to be super pumped because all of our activities are built (haha see what I did there?) around these versatile little blocks of creativity! There are so many fun things you can do with these little guys other than just building (although we’ll be doingContinue reading “Let’s Build”
Heroes Unite!
Pretty much every kid is into super heroes of some sort at one time or another- I loved the Ninja Turtles as a kid (even though the first time I heard of them I thought they were a real group of teenaged ninjas who dressed up as turtles and I was SO confused! LOL) MyContinue reading “Heroes Unite!”
Super Kids
If your little loves super heroes you’ve landed in the right spot! I feel like there are so many heroes out there nowadays, littles of all ages usually end up into one or another at some point! For these plans I mostly stuck to generic super heroes with a few specific ones like PJ MasksContinue reading “Super Kids”
Summertime- and the Livin’s Easy
That song is just the perfect summer jam isn’t it? Brings me straight back to my flag twirling days in the JMU Marching Royal Dukes! Now that the hottest season is upon us, I figured it was time to break out all the quintessential summertime activities- lemonade, watermelon, and of course the 4th of July.Continue reading “Summertime- and the Livin’s Easy”
Sunshine and Lollipops
Popsicles, watermelon, ice cream, and the 4th of July- summer is upon us and this week we’re diving in to all the summer themed activities! If you’d like to focus in more on the 4th of July this week, you can check out my blog from last year “4th of July Boredom Busters” for lotsContinue reading “Sunshine and Lollipops”
Rockets, Disney and Fun in the Sun
Florida is the number 1 state for vacationing and it’s so easy to see why! From beautiful sandy beaches to the awe inspiring Kennedy Space Center to the natural beauty of the everglades and the man made magic of Disney World there is just SO much to see and do! Even if Florida isn’t onContinue reading “Rockets, Disney and Fun in the Sun”
Vacay in the Sunshine State
Beautiful beaches, Disney World, Kennedy Space Center, Everglade airboat rides, and even real live mermaids- Florida is definitely the place to be for summer vacation so I thought it would be fun to take a virtual trip around the sunshine state with a week of Florida themed activities! Buckle up as we travel from CapeContinue reading “Vacay in the Sunshine State”
Treasure Chests and Mermaid Tails
Ever since Disney released “The Little Mermaid” when I was 8 I’ve been hooked…and my littles love to play pirates so I knew with summer coming up a “pirates and mermaids” theme was a must-do in our house! Dive in with us this week as we hunt for treasure and find mermaid magic under theContinue reading “Treasure Chests and Mermaid Tails”
Arrrrgh You Ready to Learn?
My preschooler has loved pirates ever since we took him on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World when he was two! We originally got a fast pass for the Winnie the Pooh ride, but I guess it was destiny that we went on Pirates instead because Pooh broke down! After his DisneyContinue reading “Arrrrgh You Ready to Learn?”
Heihei- It’s Summer!
Being a huge Disney fan, I continue to keep up with all the animated hits (even as an adult) and I have to say, Moana is definitely a modern classic! You’ve got a strong female lead, lots of action and oh my gosh the water! Am I right? They did such an amazing job animatingContinue reading “Heihei- It’s Summer!”
Aloha Summer!
My preschooler was totally in to Moana as a two year old- I mean, to the point where he would correct me if I called him by his name by saying, “No Mama, I Maui!” He even had the Maui scowl down…and Maui’s giant hook…which he slept with! hahaha My current toddler hasn’t seen MoanaContinue reading “Aloha Summer!”
Kiddie Construction Site
My youngest little is VERY much in to all things construction! Books, toy tools, construction vehicles, blocks- if it’s related to building, he’s all about it! I knew that he would love a construction site based week of learning (I mean, I’ve read him the book “Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site” so many times I practicallyContinue reading “Kiddie Construction Site”
We Dig Learning
My boys are both crazy about all things construction! Give them all the tools, trucks and hard hats and they’ll play for days! LoL My youngest is really into building with blocks too- Magnatiles are his favorite, but I’ll peek in the playroom to find him making roads and towers with regular blocks too…or evenContinue reading “We Dig Learning”
Around the World in 8 Days: Part 2
This week we finish up our trip around the world with Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica! If you missed the first half of these plans, go back to Around the World in 8 Days: Part 1 for the introduction and first 3 continents…and of course, don’t forget to zoom over to my toddler post “LittleContinue reading “Around the World in 8 Days: Part 2”
Little World Traveler: Part 2
Here’s the second set of my little world traveler plans- including activities from the continents of Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica! If you missed the first half, go back to my original post Little World Traveler: Part 1 for activities from North America, South America, and Europe. Happy “traveling”! –Asia: Thailand: I read the bookContinue reading “Little World Traveler: Part 2”
Little World Traveler: Part 1
Not only are diverse cultures a beautiful and fascinating thing, I think it’s very important to teach them to your little, and now is as good a time as any! After all, perceptions regarding cultural differences are typically solidified by age 12, and most of your child’s brain is fully developed after 3 years, soContinue reading “Little World Traveler: Part 1”
Around the World in 8 Days: Part 1
Having a Bachelors Degree in Cultural Anthropology along with my Masters in Teaching I knew at some point I was going to combine my two passions and do a world cultures week with my littles. It may seem like those two topics (teaching and culture) don’t vibe, but honestly my anthropology degree came in handyContinue reading “Around the World in 8 Days: Part 1”
Ewoks and Wookiees and Banthas- Oh My!
Star Wars day is just so much fun! It’s a great franchise (I can’t WAIT to take the boys to the Star Wars part of Hollywood Studios after they get vaccinated against Covid!) and there are so many fun food and craft ideas out there, I figured why not take a week to do someContinue reading “Ewoks and Wookiees and Banthas- Oh My!”
May The 4th Be With You
Ever since my preschooler was 2 and saw Darth Vader Band-Aids at the store he’s been a total Star Wars fan. He was a bit young for the movies back then, but we got aalll the books and have read them a million times and now that he’s older we let him watch the originalContinue reading “May The 4th Be With You”
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
It’s so important to teach littles how to care for their bodies, even at a young age, so this week I decided to do several activities that are healthy body focused. My older little is learning about the body systems, but even young toddlers can start learning how to do things like brush their teeth,Continue reading “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
EveryBODY Get Up!
The human body is such an intricate and fascinating thing- my little is totally enthralled with the immune system and blood and guts so I figured it was time we dove into some cool body science this week for our learning theme! I really wanted to do a system per day, but there are tooContinue reading “EveryBODY Get Up!”
Every Day is Earth Day
I love Earth day! Caring for the planet is something that I think is so important- and seriously so easy to do. All of us can shut off the lights when we leave a room, turn off the TV if nobody is watching, not run the water while brushing our teeth, and sort recycling fromContinue reading “Every Day is Earth Day”
Be Green
No matter what side of the global warming fence you sit on, the fact remains that we have been given one planet and we need to take care of it. My own personal concern is with the amount of plastic we’re dumping into the landfills and oceans, even despite “recycling” efforts. Last time we wentContinue reading “Be Green”
Little Ladybugs
What’s cute, red, has black spots and can fly? Ladybugs of course! Ladybugs are just so cute- and their fun black spots make it SO easy to come up with learning activities centered around them- especially art and counting! Since spring is in the air, I thought it would be a great time to doContinue reading “Little Ladybugs”
Ladybug, Ladybug Fly Away Home
As far as creepy crawlies go, I’m not a big fan- but ladybugs are so cute they’re one of the few that don’t give me the heebie jeebies! LoL Since spring is in the air, I thought it would be a great time to dive into the lives of these cute little creatures with someContinue reading “Ladybug, Ladybug Fly Away Home”
Mommy I Can READ: Teaching Your Emergent Reader
Confession. In my 9 years of teaching in the classroom I never taught a child to read…at least not from scratch. By the time my 2nd and 3rd grade students reached my class, the foundations of reading had already been instilled in them by their wonderful preschool, kindergarten and first grade teachers. They arrived atContinue reading “Mommy I Can READ: Teaching Your Emergent Reader”
Fun with Flowers
Down here in the south it’s definitely springtime! The weather is (mostly) warmer, our crepe myrtles are starting to sprout leafy branches, the magnolia trees are budding and flowers that were dormant for our short winter are blooming in our yard…plus it’s raining pollen instead of water and making us all wonder if it’s allergiesContinue reading “Fun with Flowers”
Spring has Sprung!
Springtime is here! The days are getting warmer, trees are budding, flowers are starting to bloom, and we’ve all suffered through daylight savings time (can they please just get rid of that? Either my kids wake up an hour early or have a hard time going to bed…every time…it’s brutal! LoL) This week I mostlyContinue reading “Spring has Sprung!”
Hopping Down the Bunny Trail
Can you believe Easter is almost here again? It’s so strange to think last year we were all a little sad to celebrate Easter at home because everything was still closed due to Covid- but here we are again a year later and we’ve all sort of settled into that “stay at home” routine (well,Continue reading “Hopping Down the Bunny Trail”
He Is Risen!
Easter is right around the corner and despite Covid still being rampant (can you believe it’s been over a year!?) it’s certainly not canceled (you can’t cancel Jesus, am I right?!) Here are some fun learning activities that celebrate Christ’s resurrection- and of course Mr. Easter Bunny too- that you can do with your littleContinue reading “He Is Risen!”
Top O’ The Mornin’ To Ya!
Welp- I accidentally got my dates mixed up and should have done these St. Patrick’s Day activities LAST week so you guys could do them on the week of St. Patty’s Day (usually I do holiday activities with my littles a week earlier than the actual holiday so the plans are available to you allContinue reading “Top O’ The Mornin’ To Ya!”
Wee Leprechauns
Top o’ the mornin’ to ya and your wee lads and lasses too! Even though St. Patrick’s Day was on Wednesday and I usually do holiday plans with my littles a week early so they’re in your hands for the actual holiday, I got my dates confused (I THOUGHT St. Patty’s was on the 17th!)Continue reading “Wee Leprechauns”
Radiant Rainbows
Somewheeeere over the rainbow blue biiiiiirds flyyyyyyyyy! Oh hey there! Welcome to my toddler rainbow activities post! Both of my boys (and most of the adults I know) marvel at rainbows whenever they appear. They’re just so beautiful and wonderous, aren’t they? Not only a promise from God to never flood the whole Earth again,Continue reading “Radiant Rainbows”
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Spring and St. Patrick’s Day are coming up quickly, so I thought this would be the perfect time of year to do some rainbow activities! Rainbows are so cool, aren’t they? I still get excited when I see one- as do most of my friends and of course my littles! It blows my mind thatContinue reading “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
E-I-E-I-O!
My toddler has been obsessed with chickens since he turned 1, and both my boys are huge tractor fans so I knew we had to do a farm week sooner or later! Since spring is on the way, I figured now would be a great time! So get ready to get muddy and learn aboutContinue reading “E-I-E-I-O!”
Old McDonald Had A Farm
It’s farm week here at the Funk residence, so get ready to dive into learning about cute animals and all things dirt! Don’t forget to take a hay ride on over to my toddler post “E-I-E-I-O!” for some fun art and sensory play activities like making scribble chicks, edible dirt and muddy tractors bath play!Continue reading “Old McDonald Had A Farm”
Seussville
With Dr. Seuss books I’m like “I can read them here or there, I can read them anywhere!” They are truly gems in the world of kids’ books! Not only are they whimsical and fun, but Dr. Seuss was a revolutionary in the area of early childhood literacy in that many of his books areContinue reading “Seussville”
Seuss on the Loose!
One of my all time favorite early literacy authors is Dr. Seuss! I loved him as a kid, and I love him as a mom and educator. His whimsical characters, catchy rhymes, and cleverly woven lessons make his books fun to read and fun to listen to for kids and grown ups alike! His birthdayContinue reading “Seuss on the Loose!”
God Made a Rainbow
Our God is creative. When making people, He didn’t decide to create just one skin tone, but thousands, and He loves every. single. one. of us the same. It’s so important to teach this to even our youngest children on a day to day basis- not just during the month of February. The best wayContinue reading “God Made a Rainbow”
Black History is American History
First thing’s first- Black history is American history. It’s not a topic that should only be touched on in February then ignored the rest of the year, but should be taught year round and incorporated into daily history lessons in the classroom and at home. For example if you’re teaching about moon travel, you couldContinue reading “Black History is American History”
Won’t You Be My Neighbor
My toddler LOVES the show “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”- and let’s be honest- with all of its sweet little lessons on kindness, dealing with big emotions, and pretty much every other issue toddlers and preschoolers face- so do I! I seriously have several of the jingles memorized to use with my boys when issues arise (“Stop!Continue reading “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”
It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Who doesn’t love Daniel Tiger? It’s just the sweetest, most encouraging kids’ show out there in my opinion- plus they have a jingle for like EVERY issue toddlers and preschoolers face, from getting angry and wanting to hit to trying new things. It’s genius. (and let me tell you, I have like 10 of thoseContinue reading “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
Love is in the Air!
I just LOVE Valentine’s Day! I think it’s wonderful that we’ve set aside a special day each year to celebrate the gift of love that God has given us! It’s a wonderful opportunity to show family and friends how much they mean to you- and to teach your littles to love themselves, God, their friendsContinue reading “Love is in the Air!”
The Greatest of These is Love
Valentine’s Day is seriously one of my favorite holidays- mostly because I’m obsessed with all things pink and glittery and heart shaped (which is just dandy living in a house full of BOYS! LoL) but also because I think all types of love can and should be celebrated on February 14th! I know traditionally Valentine’sContinue reading “The Greatest of These is Love”
We Dig Dinos!
I think at some point almost every little is fascinated with dinosaurs- I know when I was 5 my parents took me to Dinosaur National Monument out in Utah and for a good while after that I wanted to be a paleontologist when I grew up- so I thought dino week was a must-do forContinue reading “We Dig Dinos!”
Rawr!
Dinosaurs are such crazy fascinating creatures, aren’t they? Both of my boys love them, so I knew we had to do a dino themed week of learning at some point- and it seemed like now was as good a time as any! We hope you’ll stomp along with us through these prehistoric activities and haveContinue reading “Rawr!”
Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!
My toddler loves trains! The whistle, the clatter, the cars filled with fun treasures- he is totally into all of it, so of course I knew we had to do a week of train themed learning! So climb aboard and let’s learn about locomotives! –Train car name spelling: This activity from Toddler Approved was soContinue reading “Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!”
All Aboard!
My boys- especially my youngest- love trains and were so excited when they saw me prepping the lessons for this week! (Am I the only one who can’t keep my little’s paws off the new books and activities until Monday? LoL) Anyway, here are some fun lessons celebrating the mode of transportation that helped goodsContinue reading “All Aboard!”
Winter Wonderland
It’s been winter for a few weeks, but with all of the Christmassy fun we’ve been having, we haven’t had time to stop and properly enjoy this season- until now! This week’s lessons are full of snowy, cozy wintery fun perfect for toddlers and preschoolers alike! So bundle up and let’s go! –Winter cotton ballContinue reading “Winter Wonderland”
It’s C-C-C-C-Cold Outside
It’s been winter for a few weeks, but it’s finally COLD outside here in the south! We don’t get any snow here, but we’re definitely feeling the season in January and February. I thought it would be fun to celebrate winter with a week full of cozy activities featuring snowflakes, hot cocoa and mittens- soContinue reading “It’s C-C-C-C-Cold Outside”
Space…The Final Frontier
I don’t know anyone (especially kids) who isn’t fascinated by space. I mean is there anything more humbling than to look up at the vast spread of the heavens God created- all whirling stars and planets- and to ponder just how small we are? I can’t think of anything, especially when you get into theContinue reading “Space…The Final Frontier”
3 2 1 BLAST OFF!
Even from an early age, kids are interested in space. Both of my boys were obsessed with finding the moon as babies, and as they grew, they became interested in rocket ships, planets and stars too. Even as an adult, I find space fascinating and never cease to be humbled by the new things IContinue reading “3 2 1 BLAST OFF!”
Frosty Fun
Frooooosty the snowman was a jolly, happy soul! Hi everyone! Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas break! Now that the most wonderful time of the year is behind us (TIME of the year…not the most wonderful year because we all know 2020 was rough! LoL), we’re going to jump into someContinue reading “Frosty Fun”
Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?
Nothing says winter like a lovely snowfall complete with sledding, ice skating and of course building snowmen! We don’t ever get snow where we live (unless it’s fake), but we’ll be creating our own wintery fun this week by doing all the cute snowman themed things! Don’t forget to roll on over to my toddlerContinue reading “Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?”
Preschool Art (Im)Perfection
I know I’m not the only parent out there who watches their little write letters and color and create art and is inwardly kind of having a panic attack and has to bite their tongue because “they’re not doing it right” (ever built a gingerbread house with your preschooler? Then you know exactly what I’mContinue reading “Preschool Art (Im)Perfection”
Joy to the World!
Welcome to the most wonderful blog post of the year- toddler Christmas activities! I just love this time of year, especially with littles! It’s the sweetest thing ever to experience Christmas magic through their eyes and there’s no better way to kick off the Christmas season than with some fun crafts and sensory play activities!Continue reading “Joy to the World!”
Merry Merry Christmas!
It’s the most wonderful tiiiiime of the year! Gosh I love Christmas! The gorgeous tree all decorated with tiny baubles, the shining light displays glowing merrily throughout the neighborhood, the wonder in my little’s eyes as they take in the magic- and most of all the birth of the sweet baby boy who would growContinue reading “Merry Merry Christmas!”
Assessments for Targeted Instruction
Hello all! When I was in the classroom, in the middle of the school year we’d do assessments on all of our students to determine what they had learned so far and what they still needed to work on. As a homeschooling mom I feel this is also best practice because you’re not wasting timeContinue reading “Assessments for Targeted Instruction”
So Long As We Have Hands To Clasp
Wah whoooo doray, da who doray! Welcome Christmas bring your cheer! Oh, sorry about that! (were you singing in your head like me as you read the words? LoL) Welcome to Grinch week- toddler style! The Grinch is one of my favorite Christmas stories, so naturally we had to do a week of fun learningContinue reading “So Long As We Have Hands To Clasp”
littlelovesandlearning.com 