Sequins and Letters and Glue! Oh My!!

Another easy and fun way to work on letter recognition is to print off a large block version of the letter you are wanting to work on and give them a bottle of glue and some sequins, or buttons, or pom poms, or whatever you would like.  They glue the objects on the letter!  Easy peasy.  Don't forget to talk to them about things that start with the letter while they glue. 

Here is a website with printable letters you can use:

http://printable-icio.ru/image.php?id=28416

Airplane!!

We like to include at least one coloring page per week.  Coloring is such a great way to get the kiddos used to holding pencils, markers, and crayons properly.  Those little muscles in their fingers and hands need to lots of help to get developed so that they are eventually able to have beautiful handwriting!  :)  

This week, our coloring page is an airplane...because "a" is for airplane!  

A fun activity to go along with this coloring page is teaching them how to make paper airplanes, complete with a few minutes to throw them around the room!  

A is for apple

We always start out the year teaching the vowels...beginning with "A!"  This week we are staring off with "A" is for Apple.  Gluing small objects on art projects is an important way for the kiddos to use those fingers and improve their fine-motor skills.  And Janette and I are always amazed at how different the kiddos projects turn out, even when dealing with the same items.  They are each so individual!

You will need:

• basic outline print of an apple (you can google images of apples, or try this one:  http://www.wpclipart.com/food/fruit/apple/apple_outline.png.html
• red, brown and green construction paper cut or torn into small peices   (you can let the kids tear their paper, if they have developed enough patience to tear and also make it through the gluing!)
• glue

While they glue, we like to talk about the different colors that apples come in, not just red.  It's fun to hear the kids come up with different things you can make with your apples...applesauce, apple pie, and caramel apples.  We also like to talk about the seeds inside the apple...and what would happen if you planted the seed?  

For snack, cut up apples and dip them in warm caramel.  Yum!