Preschool and Kindergarten Activities

Connection to Literature - Sense of Sight

"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"

The well known predictable story "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" offers a great opportunity to introduce the sense of sight.  After reading the story, a predictable chart could be made about what was seen within the context of the story. The reproducible reader found in the theme unit or member's area reads as follows"

There was a brown bear. There was a red bird. There was a yellow duck. There was a blue horse. There was a green frog. There was a purple cat. There was a white dog.  There was a black sheep. There was a goldfish. There was a teacher. There were children.

Sample Page from the Emergent Reader

Picture Mnemonic Craft Activity

Research has shown that children have better recollection of letter-sound associations when it is taught in conjunction with picture mnemonics.  This craft activity allows the children to be actively involved in associating the picture to the letter and more effectively making this more meaningful to them.  The purpose is to have them associate the letter "b" to the initial sound heard in "brown bear."  The children would cut out the letter "b" with the brown bear displayed in the middle. The children would paint or color and assemble the letter as displayed to the left,

Connection to Literature - Sense of Hearing

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

The story "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?" by Bill Martin Jr./Eric Carle offers a wonderful opportunity to extend literature into introducing the sense of hearing.  After reading the story,  a predictable chart could be used to model the reading process:

Harder Version Would Read:

The reproducible emergent reader story line is a follows: A lion was roaring,  A hippopotamus was snorting,  A flamingo was fluting.  A zebra was braying.  A boa constrictor was hissing.  An elephant was trumpeting.  A leopard was snarling.  A peacock was yelping.  A walrus was bellowing.  A zookeeper was whistling.  Children were . . .

Easier Version

What could you hear at the zoo?  You could hear a lion.  You could hear a hippopotamus.  You could hear a flamingo.  You could hear a zebra.  You could hear a boa constrictor.  You could hear an elephant.  You could hear a leopard.  You could hear a peacock.  You could hear a walrus. You could hear a zookeeper.  You could hear children.

Harder Version Sample Page from the Corresponding Emergent Reader

Easier Version Sample Page from the Corresponding Emergent Reader

Letter "Pp" for Polar Bear Recognition - Picture Mnemonics

The letter "p" would be cut and the polar bear would be added to the center.

Bonus Readers

In the member's area or in the theme book you will find bonus readers called "Guess That Sense of Touch" and "Use Your Sense of Sound and Sight."  The children must use their senses to find, cut and paste the complete pictures on the accompanying pages. The complete pictures are found at the end of each reader.

Five Senses Craft Activities

After the children have tasted salty popcorn, sour lemon, bitter apple and sweet gingerbread they can have fun giving these foods human characteristic features, including the five senses body parts (eyes, hands, tongue, nose and ears).  All the templates to complete this craft are found in the theme unit or member's area.

bitter                      salty                                                                                                                                           
Variation of the Project

Five Senses Craft Activities - Sense of Smell

Sound Shaker Design

Five Senses Center Suggestions

Texture or Feeling Center - Games

Have different objects placed in a sock (toy car, a block, small ball, scissors, toothbrush, fork, comb and eraser).  All the socks would be numbered. The children would feel the sock and after place the picture of what they think it is on the "Guessing Board Chart" on the correct corresponding number. After the chart has been completed, they would see how close their guess is by checking the master copy that the teacher has placed in a file folder.  This allows the children to play this guessing game independently.  Instructions on how to play this game and the templates are found in the theme unit or member's area.

Sense of Smell Center

Place the different scents in a film container with holes punctured on the lid.  Each film container would be numbered.  The children would sniff the container and place a picture of what smell this represents on the correct number on the "Guessing Board Chart".  After, they would check the master sheet that has been placed in the file folder to see how close their guesses were. 

Sense of Hearing Center

Objects would be placed in different numbered soup cans.  The cans would be covered (tin foil or a cloth secured with an elastic).  The children would shake the can to determine what they think is making the sound.  They would place the picture they believe to be making the sound in the correct box on the "Guessing Board Chart" with the corresponding number on the can.  After they have completed shaking and  making guesses, the master copy would be used to confirm if their guesses were correct.  How to play this game and another hearing game can be found in the theme unit or member's area.

Five Senses - Writing Center

Bear Writing

This activity would vary depending on the ability of your students.  This activity is flexible and makes a great bulletin board display!  This project is displayed on the left.

Five Senses - Literacy Center - Using Sense of Touch

Literacy Center 1

Focus letters would be made out of modeling clay (preferably one that hardens).  The children would feel the letters and find the pictures that begin with the letter sounds.  After, the letters would be placed in a container.  One child is blindfolded and the other child chooses a letter to give to that child.  They must guess what letter it is by feeling it.  After, the roles are reversed. 

Literacy Center 2 - Sight Word or Visual Discrimination Card Game

Focus sight words are printed on blank cards along with some of the pictures from the games above.  The cards are placed face down.  The child draws a card.  If they get a sight word card they must say the word and mark it off on the "Game Board".  The first person to complete the game board is the winner.

Younger Children - They would not have to say the word but just visually match it.

Literacy Center 3

Children would be matching the  correct color word bear with its corresponding color.  Again, younger students can match the words that are the same (visual discrimination activity).

Literacy Center 4

The focus word family is printed on the bear.  The children shake a die with different consonants.  They must blend the word family with the consonant that is shown on the die.  

Bears are found on page 58 in the "Suggested Center Ideas" link.

Alphabet Matching

In the link below you will find bear cards with upper-case and lower-case letters.  These can be used for matching for alphabet matching.

Alphabet Bear Matching Cards

Printing Ideas and Printing Book - found in the links below:

Printing Ideas

Printing Book

Math Centers and Concepts

In this theme unit the children will be introduced to 3D shapes, one-to-one number correspondence, concept of area and volume.  Detailed plans are outlined in the theme unit.

Edible Cream Cheese Playdough -  Sense of Taste and Touch Activity

• 8 ounce cream cheese
• 1/2 c. of non-fat dry milk
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• crackers

Combine cream cheese, milk and honey together to form a dough.  Children can make shapes on wax paper with this edible playdough.  They can place their shapes on crackers and enjoy a healthy snack.

 Information on How to Gain Access to This Theme Plus