Sample Page from the Reader

Sample Page from the Big Book Color Version

2.  Special Me Bonus Emergent Reader 6

Sample Page from the Emergent Reader 

Picture Mnemonic Activities

Letter "Qq" Recognition 

This craft activity involves children being actively involved in associating the picture to the letter sound. The purpose is to have them associate the letter "q" to the initial sound heard in "queen".  The children would decorate the "q" picture frame with the queen in the middle as displayed in the photo above.

Follow-up Picture Mnemonic/Craft Activity.

The children would paint the letter "n" and give it human characteristics including a nose.

Picture Mnemonic Craft -   Letter "Hh"

Children can paint the letter "Hh" and add arms and hands.  The templates for this project is found in the member's area or theme unit.

Craft and Writing Suggestions

Craft and Shared Writing Project - What My Feet Can Do

After reading "The Foot Book" by Dr. Seuss the children would complete the writing and craft project displayed on the left.  They could either trace and cut their own foot or use the template found in the "About Me" theme book.  The teacher would model the writing process by having the children dictate what they use their for feet for and printing this on chart paper.  An adult assistant or the children would write this on the writing template provided and this would be glued to the foot.

Craft and Writing Project - What Special Gifts I Have

After reading the book "I Like Myself" by Karen Beaumont, there would be a discussion on special gifts they all possess.  Again, the children would dictate what their special gifts are. This would be written on chart paper as the children are talking and the writing process would be modeled.  The writing/craft displayed above (gift) would be completed after.  What they dictate would be written by an adult assistant or the children would print it themselves using the chart as a guide.  The children can paint or color the gift template.  It could also be copied on colored paper for the children to cut and assemble.

"Me" Poses

In the theme unit there are head and body templates for the children to assemble.  They would choose one that closely resembles them.  A few of the poses are displayed in the photographs.  A blank head pose is also provided for the children to complete as they wish.  A photograph of each child could also be taken and cropped on the chosen body poses.

Design a T-Shirt - Craft and Writing Project

In the theme unit you will find a t-shirt template.  The children can complete it using the head poses and the t-shirt template provided.  Again, the writing process would be modeled as the children are dictating what is special about them.  This would be printed on chart paper.  The children would complete the writing portion by having an adult print it for them or writing it themselves using the chart as a guide.  This would be glued to the t-shirt template.

Birthday Cupcake Craft

After reading the book "On the Day You Were Born" by Debra Frasier and graphing birthdays, a discussion about their birthdays would take place.  The children could paint or color and decorate the cupcake template as displayed in the photograph.  The date of their birthday would be added.

Craft Activity About Physical Difference - Who Lives Here?

After reading the "Eye Book" by Dr. Seuss there would be a discussion on physical differences such as eye and hair color.  As a follow-up, the children would complete the craft activity "Who Lives Here" as displayed in the photograph.  The house would be painted or colored.  The children would color in their eye and hair color.  A photograph or drawing of the child would be glued on.  The doors to the house would be assembled.  The children would guess who is behind the doors using the hair and eye color as a clue.

My Hands - My Portrait

After the children have read My Hands emergent reader printable book as a shared reading experience, the craft displayed to the left would be a good follow-up activity .

Instructions for the Craft

• Children glue on the paper shred (their hair) onto the paper plate.  There are different colors of paper shred.
• Add facial features to the paper plate making their portrait.
• Glue on arms using construction paper (these must be wide enough to add the hands).
• Children paint a hand and make two prints on white paper
• When their hand print is dry, they cut and glue them onto their arms.  They now have a portrait showing their helping hands.  Ways in which they can help would have been discussed during and after reading the story in the theme unit.

Taking Care of My Teeth

In the "My Hands" emergent reader it talks about looking after their teeth.  It would be great if a dental hygienist could visit the classroom and demonstrate proper teeth brushing. The writing and craft activity displayed on the right would be a good follow-up.  The children would print what they learned about looking after their teeth.

Taking Care of Me Collage - Another Follow-up Activity to Reading My Hands emergent reader.

This learning activity helps children understand how they can be responsible for taking care of themselves.  It is meant to generate a discussion on the importance of the activities listed below and how they can improve their own well being.   In the theme unit you will find pictures that can be used to make a collage or the pictures can made into a little booklet .  The words on the pictures tell what the children can do to take care of themselves.  Larger pictures can also be found for discussion purposes.  The print reads:

Visiting the Doctor, eating healthy foods,  washing my hands., taking a bath, brushing my teeth, getting my sleep and getting my exercise.

Another Special Me Craft

The template would be colored and cut.  The clothes would be added.

Child Body

Boy Clothes

Girl Clothes

Literacy Games

Literacy Game One - Alphabet Fun - Is it "a", "u" or "e"?
In this game the vowels "u", "a" and "e" would be printed on bingo chips. If you are using the alphabet program, these would be review vowel letters. The children pick up a bingo chip from a container and they must determine where to place the chip to represent the picture on the game board.  The first person to have their game board completed would be the winner.  This game is different, in that it requires children to discriminate the vowel sound found in the middle of the word.

Literacy Game Two - Easier Version - Alphabet Review Game
The review letters "c, u, a, t, e and m, q, r, f, h and n" would be printed on bingo chips and placed in a container with blank bingo chips.  The children would pick up a bingo chip and match it to the picture that begins with that sound using the word displayed by the picture to assist them (visual discrimination).  The first person to have their game board completed is the winner.
More Difficult Version
The game board without the words displayed would be used.  The children would need to use their knowledge of beginning sound-letter correlation to play this game.

Alphabet Review - What's Missing - A Memory Game

Each day alphabet pictures beginning with the review sounds (found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures") would be displayed. These can be displayed on a flannel board or white board.  Discuss what pictures begin with the focus sound and those that do not.  After discussing, have the children close their eyes while you remove one of the pictures.  The children guess what picture is missing.  The person that guesses the correct picture will have an opportunity to remove the picture for the next round.  This game could continue in the Literacy Center.

Match the Color Words Review
Easier Version - Match the Words (visual discrimination)
 The color words are placed in a container.  The children pick out a word.  They must match this to the one on the game board and say the color word.  If they pick up a happy face card, it is returned back into the container and it becomes the other partner's turn.  The first person to have their game board completed is the winner.
More Difficult Version
The game board without the words  would be used.  The children would be required to identify the color words independently.

This game was also played in the "Apples" theme unit so the children would be familiar with it..

 Printing Center

In the link below you will find ideas for the children to practice printing new letters and numbers.  You will also find a printing book in the link.

 Printing Center

Preschool and Kindergarten Math Games and Centers

Numbers Teaching Practice Kindergarten and Preschool

This theme focuses on number recognition, counting and printing.  Each day a number and its correct printing formation is introduced. This game helps children reinforce this concept. The focus numbers are printed on dice or a die.  If the child rolls the focus number or numbers, they mark this off on their chart (they could also print the number).  The first person to have the focus number filled-in would be the winner.

Note:  Older children will be working on identifying numbers to 20.  Younger children will focus on numbers to 10.

Counting Board Game - One-to-One Number Correspondence and Number Recognition

The children pick up a card.  They would place this many bingo chips on the board.  If they are using larger numbers the game would get finished quite quickly.  They would be required to complete 3 rounds.  The first person to have their board covered or rounds completed would be the winner.

What's the Missing Number?
The missing numbers are printed on bingo chips (2X).  These are placed in a container with blank chips.  The children take turns picking the number chips out of the container.  They must place it on the correct missing number square.  If they pick up a blank chip or one they no longer need, this is placed back into the container and it becomes the other partner's turn.  The first person to complete their number game board in the correct order, is the winner.

Graphing - Pictographs