Little Red Hen Activities and Lesson Plans for Kindergarten and Preschool

Week 1 plans focused on introducing the children to a variety of fairy tales and their story elements and the concept that fairy tales can teach valuable life lessons.

Character Virtue Lessons Within Fairy Tales

Fairy Tales offer a wonderful opportunity to incorporate the positive character virtues that are encouraged. Exposing children to these positive character virtues through literature (fairy tales) will be the focus in weeks 2, 3 and 4 in the theme book

"Everyone Helps Out" Emergent Reader

After reading the traditional version of "The Little Red Hen" the teacher will introduce the word "helpful" and initiate a discussion on what would have happened in the story if the Little Red Hen would have received help. The emergent reader and group reading "Everyone Helps Out" will be used to model the reading process and introduce children to the possible outcome if the Little Red Hen would have received help from her friends. The story could be made into a big book, written on sentence strips and displayed on a chart, overhead transparency or chart paper The illustrations are done in a cartoon format and will delight the children. The story line is predictable and follows as below:

"I am making bread," said Little Red Hen.

"We will, help" said her friends.

First, they planted the seeds.

Second, they cut the wheat.

Third, they ground it into flour.

Fourth, they made the dough.

Fifth, they put the dough into the oven.

Lastly, they shared warm and delicious bread.

Sample of the Emergent Reader

Large Sample Page Used for Making a Big Book

Note: other versions of the story would be read throughout the week.

The photograph displays how a big book could be made using the larger illustrations. The pictures were colored and glued on poster board. The pages could be laminated and bound and used year after year.

The Little Red Hen Craft Activities

You will find the templates to make the puppets below in the theme unit. The pig template was found in week 2 plans in conjunction with the fairy tale "The Three Little Pigs"

Note: hands were traced and used to make the wings. There is also templates of wings found in the members' area if you wish not to use hand drawings.

Hen, Duck and Cat Paper Bag Puppets

Fairy Tale Theme - Literacy Centers

Weeks 1,2 and 3 activities would continue in addition to the ones listed below. The only difference being the focus letter is now "Hh" and review of the color words.

Kindergarten and Preschool Activity One - Emergent Reader

A line could be drawn in the middle of each page of the emergent reader prior to copying. The children would cut on this line and sort the pages to make the book. The pictures could be colored.

Kindergarten and Preschool Activity Two - letter "Hh" for hen

The template is found in the theme unit. The children would paint or color the template, cut and assemble it as displayed in the photo.

Preschool and Kindergarten Activity Three - Letter "Hh" Sound Recognition - Phonemic Awareness

Note: Example of this activity is shown below only this would be done with letter "Hh"

Prior to doing this activity the letter "Hh" for hen sound has been introduced. The children have observed the formation of their lips when making the sound (the children used small mirrors to make this observation). In the member's area you will have access to 150 color and black and white pictures(under Alphabet Pictures). Letter "Hh" sound pictures would be placed with other beginning sound pictures. The children would sort these. A mirror would also be placed in the station for children to observe the formation of their lips while saying the word and focusing on the beginning sound.

Note: The picture names should be explained to the children in advance. Occasionally, it is not very clear what the picture is and some children with a poor vocabulary base may not be familiar with it. These pictures are also great for vocabulary building.

Kindergarten and Preschool Activity Four - Review colors and for older children review color words.

When reading the predictable chart focus on the color "red". This is a good opportunity to review or introduce colors and for older children their matching words. The children would color the crayon found in the theme unit according to the word on it. They can add funny human features to it (even arms and legs). After, the crayon is cut out.

Variation: Younger children would be introduced to a specific color each day and the crayon would be completed after.

Math Center Activities

Week 1, 2 and 3 activities would still be used in addition to the suggestions below.

Kindergarten and Preschool Math Activity One

Preschool and Kindergarten Ordinal Number Games

The emergent reader offers a great opportunity to introduce the concept of ordinal number ordering. Circle time and instructional time can focus on this. The giant templates shown in week 1 plans can be placed in the center for the children to practice ordinal number ordering. They can order the giants from smallest to largest and vice versa. They must verbally explain each order in terms of using ordinal number identification.

Kindergarten and Preschool Math Activity Two - Puzzle and Number Matching

In the theme unit you will find templates of bread like shown in the photograph. The bread is cut down the middle with various cuts. A number is printed on one side with a matching number of dots on the other side. The children must match the number and dots by using the puzzle pieces.

Kindergarten and Preschool Math Activity Three - Graphing

Together graph their favorite fairy tale that has been read in class. This could be done by using connecting cubes or construction paper squares.

Kindergarten and Preschool Math Activity Four - Weighing Using a Balance Scale

1. How many connecting cubes would it take to balance a fairy tale book?

Test different objects within the classroom.

More Center Suggestions

Dramatic Play Center

A large castle could be made (the castle template found in the theme book could be enlarged on the overhead). In the castle old clothes, magic wands and fairy tale puppets could be added to act out the fairy tales.

Listening Center

Block Center

Computer Center

Library

Playdough Center

Puzzle Center

Sand/Water/Rice Center

Science Center

Place informational information about chickens (hens) and pigs in this center.

LESSON PLAN CONTINUED.... this is a monthly plan and you can view full lesson by clicking the links under the heading Fairy Tales on the left hand sidebar.

Information on How to Gain Access to This Theme Plus