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Baby Doll Dramatic Play
When we get to the middle of winter, the last thing that I want to do is pull out the same dramatic play materials that we’ve been using all year. That means I have to get a little more resourceful to make my dramatic play centers interesting. Now you can definitely buy some amazing printables and supplies at the Dollar Tree to add to your dramatic play area, and I’ve done that too, but I’m talking about using what you’ve already got. Baby dolls were always popular in my classroom, and I tried not to keep them out all of the time so that it was special when they were…
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Friday Freebie – Science Experiment
Happy Friday! That’s about all I have left in me this week, so thank goodness the weekend is here because I am so ready for it! I’ve shared all kinds of science experiments this week, and today’s freebie fits that theme too. This “What Dissolves” science experiment and recording sheet from Science for Kids is another very simple experiment that is perfect for helping children explore basic scientific principles. Go download your set and try it out with your students!
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Easy Science – Frozen Bubbles
I could’ve sworn that I’ve shared this activity before, but when I went back through the archives to look for the photos I couldn’t find the post anywhere – which means I need to share it with you! Have you ever attempted frozen bubbles?! This is an activity that I have put on my lesson plan every year since I started teaching, but the weather really has to cooperate, so I’ve only been able to try it once, but it worked like a charm! All it takes to make frozen bubbles are bubble solution and a very cold day. First, a note about the bubble solution. I’ve always loved Dawn…
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Easy Science – What will freeze?
This week is all about my love for simple science experiments. This time of year lends itself perfectly to all kinds of ice experiments because they are relevant – nature is certainly making ice, so why not explore it? One way to go beyond just exploring ice is to look at all kinds of everyday items – both liquid and solid – to see which ones will freeze and which ones will not. This experiment will give your students the opportunity to make hypotheses, you can ask them which items they think will freeze before attempting. Here are some items that you probably already have that you can experiment with:…
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Easy Science – Exploring Sugar Crystals
My Favorite science experiments are often the simplest, like the opportunity to get a close look at sugar crystals. These easy experiments are a first opportunity to ask questions and try new things with materials that are familiar and safe. Sugar offers a couple of opportunities. The first being the chance to explore crystals. If you place a small amount of sugar on top of a dark piece of construction paper or cardstock, it is easy to see each individual crystal with your bare eyes. This is also a great time to practice using a magnifying glass to get a better look. Some things that you can ask the children…
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Friday Freebie – What’s on the Inside
Happy Friday – I swear, sometimes the short weeks feel like long weeks! TGIF! Today’s freebie is “What’s on the Inside” a mini-lesson from Kindergarten Chaos that would be perfect for any discussion about diversity. Go download a copy and add it to your stash! Have a great weekend!
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Exploring Physical Characteristics
Yesterday I shared an article with some great tips for talking about our differences, you can read that post here. Today I wanted to share some of my favorite activities related to physical characteristics so you could add them to your plans! I’ve shared this one before, but I’m just going to keep sharing because I love it! The visual makes a great impact for all ages. This EASY activity helps children learn to pay attention to subtle differences, which is what makes all of use unique. Use these printable pieces to give children opportunities to explore what different hair and skin colors look like together. What a great idea!…
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Standards related to MLK day experiences
It’s been a while since I’ve talked standards here (but if you want to go back and read all of those posts, they’re right here). There are a number of holidays over the next few months, and sometimes it can be hard to justify celebrating them, or spending time exploring related concepts. I’ve become quite skilled at aligning just about any activity to related standards, so I wanted to share with you in order to help your lesson planning. Here are some preschool standards related to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Recognize and identify own emotions and emotions of others – when discussing how being treated differently makes us feel. …
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Talking about differences
I know that many of you will be talking to your students about physical characteristics and differences this week. Some of these conversations may be unplanned, between Martin Luther King Jr. day on Monday and the inauguration on Friday, children are certain to be hearing things that they don’t understand or need help processing. I wanted to tak a minute to pass along an article that I read a couple of weeks ago that offers great advice for handling these touch topics. Take a minute to head over to Edutopia and read Teaching Young Children about Bias, Diversity, and Social Justice.
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Books for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is one of those holidays that I always plan to introduce to my students, and then the closer the day get the more I struggle to find the right way to discuss it. In some ways, they understand, and in other ways, it is way over their heads. In my experience preschoolers have a hard time comprehending why people would be treated differently because of the way they look – which is one thing that I love about them. So, I’ve rounded up some books that have been really helpful for me, here are my favorites (all links are Amazon affiliates): My First Biography: Martin…
