Almost every center was based on a Nursery Rhyme, and had a poster there for them to see it. I made it a point to let them know which nursery rhyme it was and read it to them. I also had them asking me, and loved that. So much literacy!
Dramatic Play: Bakery
This was based on Pat-a-Cake and The Muffin Man
I was shocked myself that I hadn't done a bakery before, and had so much fun putting it all together. I started with the foods I had, then got ideas from pinterest for the cookies and cinnamon rolls. I had planned on just using play dough like I have for the pizza restaurant, but loved the felt ideas for less mess! Then off to Wal-Mart (cheaper than the dollar store) for mixing bowls, spatulas and whisks. I already have dollar store cooking sheets for magnet play. I added a few labels, including some on recycled strawberry containers, and we have a bakery!
This center was popular and busy all week. I love that they use the stove as their oven and it's so cute watching them take orders and giving the customers whatever they grab instead of what they ordered. We had to learn to share and take turns, by waiting for the oven and timer and mixer. Those were really fought over the first day, but then it calmed down a lot after that. I was constantly reminding them that part of sharing is waiting. And also to ask for turns, and be polite and let kids waiting hav a turn if you've had it for a long time. Some kids take things with them to the next center (like the mixer) instead of giving it to the next child :) But most of the time, they are ok with waiting and taking turns. They love telling me when they're done and that they'd given it to the waiting friend!
Blocks
Farm Animals, based on Mary Had a Little Lamb, Baa Baa Black Sheep, This Little Piggy, To Market To Market, Little Bo Peep, and Little Boy Blue.
Castle play set and felt board, based on Old King Cole.
Puppet Theater
This was up for 2 days, so they could use their homemade puppets the second day.
I was very impressed by their puppeteering skills. They told great stories with their puppets and put on fun shows, plus took turns being the audience and listening and clapping for each other. I love that cooperation! It was great having a bakery next door that delivered too, so many yummy treats for the audience!
Flannel boards
We used this to tell the Nursery Rhymes in small group, then it was in small manips, or here in the block area the rest of the days, so they could retell the Nursery Rhymes.
Art
Finger painting, based on Little Jack Horner and his thumb :)
Cotton balls and glue, based on Mary Had a Little Lamb and Little Bo Peep
Puppet making
These turned out fantastic! They were really interested in it. And while a specific end result isn't my goal, I was impressed these all had distinct faces and most had eyes and mouths. This showed me how much they're growing as their art expression has become more purposeful.
It was fun watching them give each other ideas, so many of them ended up with similar looking wings from the feathers. They were pretty equally interested in doing paper sack and paper plate puppets. When they came back the next day, they could use them in the puppet theater, that was up again.
Making muffins for snack, then I put out the rhyming games and sequencing games we had played before in small group. They were great at making the muffins, and added all the ingredients, including cracking the eggs. Some stayed the whole time, others came and went as it was their turn to help. It got a bit messy as they added the batter to the paper cups, but I love having them help and getting that experience. We cleaned up after :)
Small Manipulatives
Nursery Rhyme puzzles: Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo Peep, Jack and Jill
Felt Board with nursery rhymes
Spider lacing cards based on Itsy Bitsy Spider
Clothespins and mittens based on 3 Little Kittens
One child had worked so hard to get them all in numerical order (even the teen numbers I had debated using!), then another came by and took them all down to "wash" them then rehung them to dry. I liked the versatility of this center from learning numbers, to playing pretend, then adding in the pinching of the clothespins for the fine motor skills.
Also, number magnets on the magnet board, and rhyming cards in the pocket charts
Writing
Each day there were different Nursery Rhyme coloring pages available
Snack
Boiled eggs for Humpty Dumpty. They loved reciting it and dropping their eggs to crack them!
Cottage Cheese, for Little Miss Muffet's curds and whey. Only about half of them liked it, so they also had crackers.
Pudding from Georgie Porgie
Muffins from The Muffin Man
Outside
The sensory table had a flower garden based on Mary Mary Quite Contrary
The second week, it had water and spiders and was based on Itsy Bitsy Spider
They would sing the rhyme as they poured water to wash their spiders down the "spouts." They had to learn to work together because it was hard to hold the spout, place the spider, and pour water, so they helped each other hold and pour, then switched jobs. There was problem solving too as the spider legs would stick to the spout made from pool noodles. They figured out if the spider was on its back, it would go down the spout easier.Large Group
Each day, we used the flannel board to tell the nursery rhymes that were in the centers they did that day. Then those nursery rhymes were what was made available the next day for them to play with. That way, it'd be familiar.
We also learned Dr. Jean's Nursery Rhyme ABC rap. It goes fast, so we did it without her music the first 2 days. I know if we sing it enough, they'll get it. That video is awful quality, by the way, but it at least gives you the song.
Day 1, the flannel board and song took the whole time.
Day 2, we also learned 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, I caught a fish alive. I lined up cards 1-10, then they took turns fishing for my number fish and matching it to the card. They really enjoyed it!
Day 3, we played active Nursery Rhyme games and did London Bridge and Ring around the Rosies They really loved all the dancing! We even got out the parachute to do more Ring around the Rosies as part of singing time after small group. Plus, we bounced food from the bakery on the parachute as we sang Pat-a-cake.
Day 4, they illustrated their favorite Nursery Rhyme in their journals.
Small Group
Miss Kim has only been available on Thursdays, so I've made a few adjustments to how we've done small group. I still do it because it's easier for them to pay attention and do more difficult activities when there's fewer children.
Day 1, we sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. One group worked on their own with these Montessori-inspired trays. They had star pasta and had to sweep them with a paint brush into the shape. I thought it would take them 30 seconds and they'd be bored waiting for my group, but that was not the case! I was actually surprised, and relieved, with how much focus it took. A few even complained that it was too hard, but I don't feel that it was. It just took some focus and effort and it was good for them.
The other group worked with me on pin pricking stars. First they just pricked anywhere to make a night sky. They were so amazed holding it up to the light and seeing the dots! Sometimes the simple things are most amazing to them. Next, I had them trace the outline of a star to make a star-shaped constellation. As they finished, they switched with the other group, and did both groups that day.
Day 2, we had Miss Kim. We worked on rhyming words. Miss Kim did this game,
and I did this one,
both from The Measured Mom. They were great rhymers!!
She has this great article on why teaching rhyming (and Nursery Rhymes!) is an important literacy skill, although, I do remember reading research in college that says kids can learn to read fine without rhyming, but that it can make it easier. So, don't stress if your kid isn't rhyming yet! That's why we do rhyming things a lot!
Day 3, I worked with a small group doing Nursery Rhyme sequencing, while the other group did Nursery Rhyme coloring.
Day 4, Miss Kim and I did more rhyming. My group did rhyming puzzles, while hers played rhyme memory.
