 Themes & Activities
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CIRCLE TIME
Throughout the week, use the letters of the alphabet to accompany your activities. (Open letters of the alphabet) Print and laminate. Sit with the children and have each of them pick a letter. One at a time, have them name a word which begins with the letter they picked (ex. A for apple, airplane, astronaut, etc,)
AREA SETUP
Attach paper clips to the ends of fishing lines. Hang them from the ceiling with letters of the alphabet.
ACTIVITY SHEETS
(Open activity sheet-I can trace the alphabet) Trace each letter of the alphabet on the dotted lines. (Open activity sheet-I can color all the letters) Color only the letters of the alphabet.
PICTURE GAMES
The picture game may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group. The pictures may also be used simply to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open-picture game-alphabet) Print and laminate. Store the game in a "ziploc" bag or in your thematic bin.
VARIOUS WORKSHOPS
Special school day
(Open perpetual calendar-school day) The daycare worker plays the role of the teacher. Have children bring their lunch boxes to the daycare. All day long, follow a typical school schedule such as schoolwork, drawing, a craft, a song, recess, lunch, the bus ride, etc. Set up two rows of chairs, one behind the other. Place a table in front of the chairs for the teacher's desk. Designate a child to be the teacher. The other children are students in the classroom. Be sure to give each child a turn to be the teacher. You may use accessories such as the activity sheets or the letters of the alphabet, notebooks, and a bell to make it all realistic. At the end of the day, distribute diplomas to the children. You may wish to wait until the end of the week to hand them out.
(Open Diploma-I know my ABC's)
Library
Organize a library corner. It should include a table stacked with books, a chair for the librarian, pens, a ruler, index cards, stamp pads for the return dates, bags, etc. One at a time, children select a book to borrow from the library. They retreat to a quiet corner to read and then return it.
I know my ABC's
Record yourself saying words. Be sure to emphasize the beginning sounds. Play the words for the children and have them identify the first letter with the picture game.
Pick a letter
Place several letters in a bag. When the music plays, the children must pass the bag clockwise around the circle. When the music stops, the child holding the bag picks a letter. The daycare worker names the letter and invites the group to call out words beginning with this letter.
My story
Provide the children with magazines and newspapers. Have them cut out letters and words and glue them on a piece of construction paper.
Rice bin
Hide fun foam letters in a rice bin.
Searching for letters
Children search the daycare for games or toys which contain letters or have letters on them. They must bring them to the daycare worker and attempt to identify the letters or words. Offer assistance if necessary.
Writing practice
Provide the children with a variety of pens, pencils, writing books, stationery, alphabet stencils, and envelopes. Have them prepare letters which can be mailed to the daycare. Surprise the parents by mailing their children's letters to them.
Bingo
Play bingo with the letters of the alphabet. (Open bingo game) Print and laminate. Store the game in a small box or in a "Ziploc" bag.
CULINARY ACTIVITIES
Cook small alphabet pasta and allow the children to manipulate them.
Offer alphabet cereal as a snack and prepare alphabet pasta for lunch.
ARTS & CRAFTS
I am pasting letters
Use black construction paper. Children glue small alphabet pasta (for soup) onto the paper.
Note : Create your own colored pasta for crafts or to fill an exploration bin. You need one pint of pasta, 2 tablespoons of food coloring, and 3 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol. Combine the food coloring and the rubbing alcohol in a container. Add the pasta and close the container. Gently shake it. Be sure to cover all the pasta with color. Spread the pasta in a single layer on a baking sheet and let dry for several hours.
COLORING PAGES
(Open coloring pages for theme-letters)
SONGS & RHYMES
I'M A LITTLE ALPHABET
(Sung to: I'm a little teapot) by : Patricia Morrison
I'm a little alphabet
A to Z
You learn my letters
And then you're set
Put them all together
It's easy
Sing the letters
And dance with me
SING WITH ME
A,B,C,D,E,F,G
H,I,J,K
L,M,N,O,P
Q,R,S
T,U,V
W,X,Y, and Z
Now I know my ABC's
Next time won't you
Sing with me.
Marie-Josée, Karine, Caroline, Nancy, Sonia, Magalie, Patricia, and all our collaborators
