Thursday 9/18/08

Theme: Apples Everywhere
Weather: Isaiah
Helper: Andrew
Snacks: Kaylie

9:00-9:20 Circle Time
Quietly Read/Check homework
“I’m A Little Apple” Song
Pledge of Allegiance
Show & Tell: Isaiah
Calendar
Weather
Daily Basics
Review A, B, 1, 2, 3, RED (Spanish & sign language)
Review sign for “safe”
Introduce: Letter C
Rules

9:20-9:25 Movers & Shakers
Be Apple Trees
Invite the children to try these apple-related movements. Pretend to:
o Let your branches (arms) sway back and forth in the wind.
o Be an apple and fall from a tree (jump high and quickly crouch down low on the ground)
o Pick apples from the tree and from the ground. Toss them in the back of the truck.
o Climb up to the top of an apple tree.
o Move like a worm wiggling through an apple.
o Grow from a tiny seed in the ground to a giant apple tree. (Crouch down and then slowly stretch to the sky)

9:25-9:35 Mini Lesson
Parts of An Apple
Share a little apple vocabulary with the children. List as many apple parts as you and the children can think of – stem, core, peel, seeds, blossom. Bring out the Parts of an Apple Topic Card. Are the children able to name all of the apple parts that are listed on the topic card? Show them a real apple and point to the parts they have named. Cut the apple open and point out how the seeds are held inside the “meat” of the apple. What is the purpose of each part? Which parts do we eat? What other apple-related words can children think of (tree, leaf, etc.)?

9:35-9:45 Language
Letter C worksheet

9:45-10:05 Math
Apple Tree
Bring out the “Apple Tree” Learning Center Material
Play a counting math game. Offer dice or 1-10 number cards. Invite the children to roll the dice or choose a card and place that many apples on the tree. They may also find the apple that matches the number rolled and place it on the tree.
Organize a counting center using the apple coutouts and raisin “seeds.” You may want to place each apple on a piece of paper to allow for more counting space. Place a small bowl of raisins next to the apples. Ask the children to look at the number on each apple and place that many raisins on it. Provide time for each child to work on this by himself.

10:05-10:20 Wash Hands/Cooking/Snack Time
Apple Tasting Party
Peel and slice several different types of apples for a tasting party! Does each type taste different? Is one sweeter or more sour than the others? Are some crisper or softer than others? Which is their favorite? Set out a variety of dips to try: caramel, melted chocolate chips, cinnamon sugar, peanut butter, marshmallow cream, or butterscotch.

10:20-10:35 Play Time
Go outside for chalk drawing.
see Sugar Water for Brighter Chalk Drawings

10:35-10:45 Story Time
TBD

10:45-10:55 Music
Tracks 5-10
Choose An Apple (use instruments)
Beanie Bag Dance (action song with bean bags)
We’re Going To Be Friends (use scarves)
First You Take A Seed (finger play)
London Bridge Is Falling Down (action song)
1,2 Buckle My Shoe

10:55-11:20 Art
Apple Tree Collage
Divide the blue paper, green tissue paper, clothespins, and poms among the children. Make a tree trunk pattern by tracing each child’s hand and wrist onto the blue paper. Offer scissors and glue. Invite the children to cut or tear the green tissue paper into smaller pieces and adhere them to the tree as leaves.

Offer red paint in shallow containers. Show the children how to pinch the pom into the clothespin and then dip it into the paint. Invite them to press the pom onto the paper to form little apples in their tree. Set aside to dry.

Give each child a piece of white paper. Take the paper and brown crayons (with paper removed) outside to a tree with bumpy bark. Show the children how to make bark rubbings of the tree trunk by holding their paper up to the trunk and rubbing a brown crayon across it.

Tear or cut the paper into smaller pieces. Glue it to a tree as bark. Let dry and display.

11:20-11:30 Closing
Review the discussion about apples. Do all apples look/taste the same? Which flavor was the most popular during your apple tasting party? Which was the least? Share your plans for the next time we meet. Give h/w assignment. Play “Slap Jack” if there is time.

Homework
ABC Pictures
Color the pictures and cut them along the dotted lines. We will be using these cards in a Language activity next time we meet. Thanks!

Show & Tell: Andrew