T week: update

Tuesday Connor learned how to tell time. Well, he didn't really learn how. But I taught him about the face and the different hands and he watched the second hand move around the clock for a whole minute. He was really interested in it and is now more interested in the clock.

Wednesday we talked about telling the truth. We read the book about the Berenstain Bears and the truth and then discussed what it means to be honest. Then we made a paper cup and string telephone. Connor had seen his friends try it the day before, only they used paper towels taped together for the string and it didn't quite work. He wanted to try it. And telephone starts with T so we added that to our preschool plans for the day. I had never really played with one of those and it actually worked. I was pretty surprised. I can't get Connor to hold it tight enough without touching the string and stopping the voice from traveling. But it's still fun.

It doesn't look like our Thursday train is going to happen. I keep inviting Connor to come do preschool, but he just wants to play. And I'm going to the doctor in a little while, so we probably won't get a chance today. It's okay because painting with tire tracks tomorrow is going to be lots of fun!

T week: plans

Here are the plans for T week:

word cards: toy, train, telephone, tiger, triangle
poem:

Teddy Bear

Teddy bear, Teddy bear,
Touch the ground.
Teddy bear, Teddy bear,
Turn around.
Teddy bear, Teddy bear,
Show your shoe.
Teddy bear, Teddy bear,
That will do.
Teddy bear, Teddy bear,
Run upstairs.
Teddy bear, Teddy bear,
Say your prayers.
Teddy bear, Teddy bear,
Blow out the light.
Teddy bear, Teddy bear,
Say good night.

Monday: Shape Train. We cut out two circles, a big square, a triangle and two rectangles. Connor did the cutting with some help. He loves using scissors, but still wants help because he doesn't want to mess up. I need to give him more practice with scissors so he can develop his fine motor skills. We glued the shapes to make a train and Connor drew a T on the train.

Tuesday (math): Telling Time. I want to teach Connor the basics of the clock. Which hands are which and what they mean. I don't intend for this to stick or for him to start telling time from an analog clock right away, but I'd like to give him and introduction so that when I use the clock to tell him how much longer he can play or watch TV or whatever he'll sort of understand. I'll also show him the digital clocks and how to tell what time they say.

Wednesday (scriptures/Gospel): Telling the Truth. We've talked about being Honest before, but I want to review with him the importance of telling the truth.

Thursday (movement/music): Train Play. Connor loves to line up the chairs and make a train. We put his stuffed animals on the chairs. We make little tickets and punch holes in them like the train conductors do. We haven't done this for a long time. I think he'll be thrilled to do it again.

Friday (art project): Tire Track Art. Just what it sounds like. It's going to be messy and fun. We'll run cars in paint and then print the tire tracks on fresh paper. It'll be fun to see how different tires make different tracks.

Other T words that might come up or spark ideas for activities: tank, tree, teddy bear, tadpole, television, turkey, toyland, twinkle. (Check the Letter of the Week and Everyday Preschool links at right for more ideas.)