Bees are insects too!

Whilst learning about the letter "Ii" and the numeral "6",

we thought making a bee would be fun and educational.

I apologise for not having the website in which this little guy was found, but it was not my original idea. I just adjusted it.

 

 

We were given a pack of raffia so we used this for legs but you could use pipe cleaners, also. Cut to leg size!!

Cut a paper plate to look something like this. First, in half, then the top corners, then a triangle at the chin.

 Use the other half of the plate and place bee lines across the body. These can be drawn in either direction.

Glue the head to the body ... or staple for better security! ;)

Draw eyes on the head plate. We did a quick little lesson about how to draw these. Start with a circle. Place and arc inside. Next, place a tiny circle at the top.

Then, colour the arc black, but not the little circle.

 

Staple the antennae on at the back.

Finish the face with something special.

 

 

Curl the tops of the antennae.

Add some wings using tissue paper.

 

Bees .... en mass .... BUZZZZZZZZ!

Have a busy, buzy time!

Play Dough Fun!

I recently found a box of old bits and pieces from toys,

similar to Mr Potato Head. 

 

Since there were no body parts, I was wondering how we could use them. One of the children suggested we use playdough. Brilliant!

 

 My kids had so much fun creating creatures.

We are going to create with them again next Term,

and then write about them!!

 



Help the little guys to write!

This is not a new idea, but you may not have seen it before.

We have been reading

The Very Blue Thingamajig 

by Narelle Oliver.

Our goal was to write a sentence about something that

happened in the story.

 

So, for those little ones still struggling with writing and text, they told me their story and I wrote it using a highlighter.

(Yes, difficult to see in the picture ... just squint and search!)

They, then, wrote over my writing to form their story. This technique is great for encouraging those not so fond of writing. It can give them the boost they need.

 

Just be careful they don't start to expect it all the time, though!

Also, a good technique for beginner name writing.

Fine Motor Skills

Here is a great activity I use in my classroom for developing fine motor skills.

I am lucky enough to have had these great little plastic tweezers donated to me, so I am putting them to good use. If you know a nice nurse, you might be able to score yourself a set, too!

wink! wink!

I start with some little trinkets ... anything will do. These little plastic guys came in a mixed set of collage trinkets.

I toss them into a tub of rice.

You can use coloured rice if you like...

... then using our little tweezers in our little fingers, we count how many items we can remove from the rice.

One!

Two!

etc.

Loads of fun!

Group work in Prep.

 

I wanted to share with you, the way I organise group activities

with my Preps.

I start with 4 groups -  RED, GREEN, BLUE & YELLOW.

Each group has a list of names written on a card to help our mums with names and to help with organization. When you're 5, you like to go anywhere and everywhere, so this helps keep every-one in the right place. ...  well, most of the time, anyway!

There are four different activities each session and I have 4 adults to help. This is usually 2 parent helpers, my aide and myself. Each group lines up with a different leader, chosen by the adult at the table, and walks to the next activity once I have rung the bell. I make it very structured so every-one knows where they are going and what their next activity will be.

 

This week, we worked with 10 sight words. I had 3 copies of the words written on cards for 3 tables, the play dough table used mats.

 

The activities were:

 

Stamping the words.

 

 

Writing the words.

 

 

 

Spelling the words using magnetic letters.

 

 

 

 

Play dough fun - make the words using word mats.

 

Sessions last 15 mins which makes groups last an hour.

I organize a Roster of parents who can help and I write their days on the roster. We all get a copy and they let me know if they can't make it on their day and we see if we can swap with some-one.

Groups really focus the learning for the children. They are fun and effective and the children don't realize they are actually learning.

Just the way I like it!

 

 

Great Birthday Cakes

I always love when clever mums share birthday cakes

with the class.

Mr "O" shared these this week.

Smarties fun! Yum! Yum!

Thank you, Jeanie, for sharing.