Tuesday 9/30/08

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

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

9:20-9:25 Movers & Shakers
Shapely Movements
Make a large circle of masking tape shapes on the floor, one per child in your group. Play music and have the children dance in a circle, stepping on the shapes. When

9:25-9:35 Mini Lesson
Talk about how apples grow.
Do they grow on vines, underground, or on a plant? Explain that apples grow on apple trees. Say tree in Spanish, arbol. There are many different kinds of apples and each kind has a unique taste. Some are sweet while others are tart. Apples can be a variety of colors such as red, green, and yellow.

Apple Sequencing
Search images of apple seeds, apple blossoms, apple trees, and apples. Print a copy of each. Cut them out and adhere each one to a heavier piece of paper. Go over the stages of an apple: seed, tree, blossom, and fruit. Mix the cards up and challenge the children to sequence the growth of an apple individually or as a group.

9:35-9:45 Language
A is for Apple
Apple begins with A! Place several tablespoons of applesauce in small plastic zippered bags, let out the air, and seal the upper edge of each with a strip of tape. Make one for each child. Ask the children to squish the applesauce. How does it feel? Have them trace big and small A’s in the applesauce with their fingers. Encourage them to try other letters, also. Once finished, cut a corner off the bag, squeeze into a bowl, and serve with a spoon.

9:45-9:55 Math
September Math Game
Give each child a game piece and have her place it in the “Start” area. Decide who rolls first. The child will roll the cube and move his dino to the next corresponding color. Continue these steps with the other children. Continue until each child reaches the mother dinosaur at the end of the game board.

9:55-10:10 Wash Hands/Snack
Applesauce or Granola Bars with water or milk.

10:10-10:25 Play Time
Hide the Seed
Have the children wear their “Johnny Appleseed Hats” from the art activity last time. Sit in a circle and have one child turn their back or leave the room. Give a child remaining in the circle a brown pom (or similar item) to represent an apple seed. All the children in the group hold their hands as if they are hiding the pom. The first child returns and tries to guess who is holding the pom. As he guesses, he taps the hands of the child he thinks has the seed. If that child has the seed they stand and stretch tall as if they are growing into an apple tree. Take turns being Johnny Appleseed.

10:25-10:35 Story Time

10:35-10:45 Music
Tracks 22-25
Choose An Apple (use instruments)
Goin’ On A Bear Hunt (action song)
Can You Leap Like A Frog? (action song)
Autumn Day (use scarves)

10:45-10:55 Science
Scooping Apples
Fill a sensory table or other container with water. Ask the children if they think the apples will float. Record the children’s predictions and then try it and see. Do the apples float in the water? Test several different kinds of apples. Compare how different sizes/kinds of apples, or other fruit, float or sink.

10:55-11:15 Art
Bushel Basket
Cut apart the apple patterns and offer one pattern to each child. Offer crayons and scissors. Invite the children to color the apples. Have them cut out the apples and set them aside.

Give each child one Styrofoam cup and one brown bag. Have the children tear the brown bag into small pieces. Provide glue and invite the children to glue the paper pieces around the Styrofoam cup as desired. Punch two holes on opposite sides of the cup. Thread the pipe cleaners through the holes and twist to secure. Have the children place the apples into their basket.

11:15-11:30 Closing
Review the children’s favorite apple treats. Tell them they will have a new teacher next time they meet and that they will have a new theme and a new teacher!