Pre-K Spring UnitImportant Dates

Book Fair- Good Friday (No School)-April 18th

Pre-K Easter Egg Hunt- Earth Day-April 22nd

Topics to Cover Plants Insects Oviparous animals Earth Day (April 21st-April 25th)

Guiding Questions1. How does spring differ from winter?2. How does spring affect plants?3. What happens to insects in the spring?4. What are some animals that hatch from eggs?5. How can we affect our earth?

Family Literacy Project Ideas Decorate an Easter Egg

http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/april.html Nature Alphabet Book Page (Angie sent)

Questions Trike-a-thon: Yes, No, Maybe? Earth Day would be the third week. Any ideas on order for

the other weeks?

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Plants

Opening CircleMonday-Plants: Have, Need, Give Chart

http://eberhartsexplorers.blogspot.com/2011/04/plant-week.html

Tuesday-Flowers Word Splash (Adjectives)

Wednesday-Pick a [color word] flower and place it in the basket[Tune: Paw Paw Patch]Pick a ________(color) flower,Put it in the basket.

Pick a ________(color) flower,Put it in the basket.

Pick a ________(color) flower,Put it in the basket.

Way down yonder in the flower patch.

Thursday-Plant a little Seed Action RhymeWords Actions

I plant a little seed in the dark, dark ground. Bend down, dig hole, push seed into ground and cover with dirt.Out comes the yellow sun big and round. Hold arms up over head in a circle.

Down comes the rain, soft and slow Hold arms out over head, with fingers moving. Move arms slowly down to the floor.

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Up comes the little seed. Squat down. Touch fingers to floor and come up slightly.

grow, grow, GROW! Move body up as though you are the flower, until you are standing with  arms up.

http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/rain.html

Friday- Pick a [color word] flower and place it in the basket

Large GroupMonday-Label the parts of a plant

Tuesday-2 Column Chart: Things that Grow/What They Need

Wednesday-Dramatize “The Gardener Plants the Seeds” [Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell] with props (a gardener’s hat, a hoe, a watering can, artificial flowers, and plants)The gardener plants the seeds,The gardener plants the seeds.Hi, Ho, the Derry-o,The gardener plants the seeds.

The gardener waters the seeds,The gardener waters the seeds.Hi, Ho, the Derry-o,The gardener waters the seeds.

The gardener hoes the weeds,The gardener hoes the weeds.Hi, Ho, the Derry-O,The gardener hoes the weeds.

The gardener watches the weather,The gardener watches the weather.Hi, Ho, the Derry-o,The gardener watches the weather.

The gardener picks the flowers,The gardener picks the flowers.Hi, Ho, the Derry-o,The gardener picks the flowers.

Thursday-What if plants Q&A

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Friday-Shared Reading Big Book: Up, Down, & Around (classroom)

Phonological AwarenessMonday-Tulip Words (change beginning sounds)

Tuesday- Tulip Words

Wednesday-Introduce rhyme: “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary”. Circle the rhyming words.

Thursday-“Mary, Mary Quite Contrary” Name GameExample: Starling Starling Quite Darling

Friday-What words rhyme with grow?

Other Instructional Activities

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Monday-Plant seeds (Have students choose from bean, corn, tomato, or watermelon)

Tuesday-Pollen transfer exploration with Cheetoshttp://littlekinderwarriors.blogspot.com/2011/04/pollination-science-lesson.html

Wednesday-Planting a Rainbow collage. (Look in magazines for different colored flowers).

Thursday-Spring Nature Walk

Friday-Growing Vegetable Soup Pictures http://www.pre-kpages.com/plantseed/

Small GroupsTeacher-Roll, Say, Keep with Alphabet, Numbers, or Sight Wordshttp://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Cute-Bugs-Roll-Say-Keep-ABCs-and-123s-232462

Teacher-Read “Flower Garden” by Eve Bunting. Create flower patterns.

Independent-How does rain come from clouds exploration? (Shaving Cream on top on water, blue food coloring in medicine droppers)http://play-explore-learn.blogspot.com/2011/11/weather-watchers.html

Independent-Floral pictures with flower stickers. (Students stick flower stickers on paper and draw stems, petals, roots, etc.)

Independent-Assemble and label the parts of a plant.

Books5

The Tiny Seed Ferdinand the Bull Rain by Robert Kalan What’s alive? By

Kathleen Zoehfeld Tops and Bottoms Flower Garden Growing Vegetable Soup Planting a Rainbow Allison’s Zinnia Muncha! Muncha!

Muncha! We can eat plants

Plants Need [tune: Three Blind Mice]Plants need sun,Plants need air,Plants need water,Plants need soil,They need all these things to help them grow.They need all these things to help them grow.They need all these things to help them grow.And now you know.Now you know.

Insects

Opening CircleMonday-Insects: Are, Can, Have Chart

Dance to “Dance of the Flowers” while holding flower props. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF6nOpdl-k8

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http://thegoodlife-lindsay.blogspot.com/2012/04/bugs-life.html

Tuesday-“Is it an insect?” Pocket chart

http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/i_like_bugs_.html

Wednesday-Sing “Head Thorax Abdomen” [tune: Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes]Head, thorax, abdomen, it’s an insect(Touch head, waist, and touch and wiggle hips.)Head, thorax, abdomen, it’s an insect(Touch head, waist, and touch and wiggle hips.)Two eyes, two antennae(Point to eyes and use the pointer fingers to make antennae on top of the head.)Four wings, six legs(Hold out two fingers on each hand at shoulder height and pretend to fly. Then make six legs by holding three fingers from each hand at the waist.)Head, thorax, abdomen, it’s an insect(Touch head, waist, and touch and wiggle hips.)

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Thursday-Our Insect Alphabet

Friday-Splat! (Letter Recognition game with fly swatter)

Large GroupMonday-Dramatize “the Ants Go Marching”The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching one by one,The little one stops to suck her thumbAnd they all go marching down to the groundTo get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching two by two,The little one stops to tie her shoeAnd they all go marching down to the groundTo get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching three by three,The little one stops to climb a treeAnd they all go marching down to the groundTo get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching four by four,The little one stops to shut the doorAnd they all go marching down to the groundTo get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching five by five,The little one stops to take a diveAnd they all go marching down to the ground

The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching six by six,The little one stops to pick up sticksAnd they all go marching down to the groundTo get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching seven by seven,The little one stops to pray to heavenAnd they all go marching down to the groundTo get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching eight by eight,The little one stops to shut the gateAnd they all go marching down to the groundTo get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching nine by nine,The little one stops to check the timeAnd they all go marching down to the groundTo get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching ten by ten,The little one stops to say "The End",And they all go marching down to the groundTo get out of the rain

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Tuesday-Interactive Writing: Bug PoemHave students fill in the blanks below with descriptive words (color, size, number, etc.) in order to make a new 'buggy' poem. Then let each student illustrate to make their own booklet to share at home!

I like bugs.______ bugs.______ bugs.______ bugs.______ bugs.I like bugs!

Wednesday-Label an Insect

Thursday-Hungry Caterpillar Sequencing

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Friday-Graph: Which was your favorite Eric Carle book about insects?

Phonological AwarenessMonday-Introduce “Bug Poem”Big bugs, little bugsWhat do they do?Black bugs and brown bugs, Red bugs, too.Fat bugs and skinny bugsCreeping on your shoe.Flying bugs and crawling bugsComing after you!

Tuesday-Buggy for rhymeshttp://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Buggy-For-Rhyming-A-Fine-Motor-Phonemic-Awareness-Activity-225247

Wednesday-Insect ParadeStudent can sing 'Insect Parade', substituting the name of the bug and the beginning sound. (This idea is found in Spring Phonemic Awareness Songs and Rhymes by Jordano and Callella-Jones, Creative Teaching Press, 1998.)

Insect Parade(tune: 'This Old Man')This little butterfly sings /b/ songs.He sings /b/ songs all day long,with a bick-back-baddy-back. Sing his insect song.He wants you to sing along!

Thursday-Syllable Hoops (Place three or four hula-hoops on the floor. Students jump for as many syllables as they hear in insect words.)

Friday-Crazy Critter (Insect Syllable Mix-Up) [Phonological Awareness book pgs. 44-48]

Other Instructional ActivitiesMonday-3D ants with egg cartons and pipe cleaners

Tuesday-Decorate cocoon (toilet tissue tube) and caterpillar (clothespins with pompoms)

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Wednesday-Paint butterfly wings (watercolors on coffee filters)

Thursday-Is the Hungry Caterpillar Healthy?

Friday-Cooking Activity-Dirt Dessert

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Teacher-Ladybug Math (Addition) http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ladybug-Shake-and-Spill-Math-Mat-273849

Teacher-Color and Read “Color Bugs” Emergent Readerhttp://www.prekinders.com/color-bugs-emergent-reader-printable-book/

Independent- Spring Pattern Blocks (found on Pre-Kinders)

Independent-Butterfly lacing cardshttp://www.prekinders.com/bugs-theme/

Independent-On/Off game with bug counters and leaves

Books- Bug Safari A Leaf Can Be The Very Hungry Caterpillar The Very Grouchy Ladybug The Important Book Charlie the Caterpillar The Very Busy Spider The Very Clumsy Click Beetle (make beetles with

clothespin glued to the back and have them click on the carpet)

The Very Lonely Firefly The Very Quiet Cricket I like bugs by Margaret Wise Brown Are you a butterfly? From caterpillar to butterfly Bugs, Bugs, Bugs (Tumblebooks) Hey Little Ant In the Tall, Tall Grass

Songs-

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Oviparous Animals

Opening CircleMonday-Did it hatch from an egg? Pocket chart

Tuesday-“It’s time for bed”Movement: Let children pretend to be the different baby animals.

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Rhyme and Play "Come my chicks, it's time for bed." That's what Mother Hen said."But first I'll count you just to see,If you have all come back to me.

Softly touch five children on the head while reciting:

Chick 1, Chick 2, Chick 3, oh dear, Chick 4, Chick 5, yes, you're all here. (The chosen children (chicks) make the sound of chicks and walk in the middle of the circle to go to sleep.)

You're the sweetest things alive. My chicks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5." (touch each child on their backs again) Repeat and replace "chicks" and "hen" with other oviparous animals.

Wednesday-Kind/Unkind Behaviors Chart

Thursday-Fill in the blank Ugly Duckling story [Scholastic]

Friday-Who stole the eggs from the Easter basket?Large GroupMonday-Guess that Egg with Photos [from April Larremore’s unit]

Tuesday-“A ____ hatches from an egg” Pocket Chart

Wednesday-Rewrite “It started as an egg” specifically as a chick or a duck

Thursday-Venn Diagram for swan and duck

Friday-Show picture of elephant bird egg without identifying it. Write a class story about what hatched from the egg.

Phonological AwarenessMonday-Beginning sounds hot potato with Easter Eggs (Pictures inside the eggs. The students have to identify the beginning sound when the music stops).

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Tuesday-Who’s hatching? rhyme riddles

Wednesday-Introduce “Peck, Peck, Peck”. Circle rhyming words.Peck, peck, peckon the warm brown egg.Out comes a neck.Out comes a leg.How does a chickthat's not been aboutdiscover the trickof how to get out?

Thursday-Change the word “chick” in the “Peck, Peck, Peck” to other oviparous animals.

Friday-Humpty Dumpty Erase-a-rhymehttp://www.jmeacham.com/docs/erase.rhymes/humpty.dumpty.jessica.pdf

Other Instructional ActivitiesMonday-Egg Float/Sink Experiment

Tuesday-Easter Egg float/sink Experimenthttp://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2010/03/preschool-science-sink-or-float.html

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Wednesday-Egg craft and writing (“It started as an egg. It hatched and it grew. It became a ____.)

Thursday-After reading Rechenka’s Eggs. Decorate Easter Eggs.

Friday-Egg Hunt

Small GroupTeacher-Introduce rhyme “Humpty Dumpty”. Can you prevent humpty from cracking using these materials?http://easiee-as-pi.blogspot.com/2011/11/saving-humpty-dumpty.html

Teacher-My Egg Measurement Activities

Independent-Lays eggs/Does not lay eggs sort

Independent-paint bird feet with a fork

Independent-Egg patterns

Books- It started as an egg by Kimberlee Graves The Chick and the Duckling Chickens aren’t the only ones Ducks don’t get wet My Goose Betty

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Make way for Ducklings Daisy and the Monster Daisy and the egg Come along Daisy The Chicken or the egg? Quack and count A Duck so small All my little ducklings Five Little Ducks Have you seen my duckling Wow, It’s great being a duck Little White Duck One Duck, Another duck Swim, Number 9 Duckling Giggle Giggle Quack The Ugly Duckling Guess what is growing inside the egg An extraordinary egg

Other Activities-Egg-cellent Animal Relays (It started as an egg pack pg. 47)I found a nest full of eggs (It started as an egg pg. 48)Egg Toss and Egg Relay (It started as an egg pg. 49)

Earth Day

Opening CircleMonday-Fill in the Alphabet

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Tuesday-Sort Newspapers in the Correct Bin (addition)Wednesday-Sort Milk Gallons in the Correct Bin (subtraction)Thursday-Earth Day word problems (draw pictures to find the answers)Friday-Earth Day Patterns

Large GroupMonday-After reading Michael Recycle, make a list of ways we can be “Green Superheroes.”

Tuesday-Story Map: “Stone Soup”

Wednesday-True or False facts about the Earth

Thursday- Sentence/Not a sentence sort

Friday-Ways we can reduce, reuse, recycle

Phonological AwarenessMonday-Introduce song “what a wonderful world”Tuesday-Highlight rhyming words for “what a wonderful world”Wednesday-Thursday-Friday-

Other Instructional ActivitiesMonday-Decorate boxes for our recyclables.

Tuesday-Paper Towel Bird Feedershttp://moffattgirls.blogspot.com/2011/02/toiletpaper-roll-bird-feeders.html

Wednesday-Recycled Materials Art Creations

Thursday-Musical Instruments from Recycled Materials

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Friday-Make milk jug piggy banks

Small GroupTeacher-Can you undo water pollution? Experimenthttp://gironlife.blogspot.com/2010/04/experiment-can-you-undo-water-pollution.html

Teacher-Read “Rhyming Dust Bunnies.” Recycle old Socks to make sock puppet dusters.

Independent-Happy Earth Day Headbands

Independent-I love the earth flipbook.

Independent-Recycled tin foil art

Books-Oil SpillWhere does garbage go?Michael Recycle seriesOur class is going greenEarth Day HoorayFancy Nancy Every Day is Earth DayThe Earth and IStuff! Reduce, Reuse, RecycleThe Three R’sEarth Day, An alphabet book

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