social studies
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Using family photos in the classroom
The easiest way to start any family engagement effort is to begin collecting photos from each of your families. There are so many ways that these can be used in the classroom. Decorate a quiet space with the photos and children can sit there and look at their family’s photo when they are feeling sad or need a little reassurance. Use them to help the children get to know each other Talk about family structures and compare similarities and differences Look at each family member’s physical characteristics Practice naming each family member and write their names Of course the most difficult piece of this work is actually getting families to…
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Friday Freebie – Random Acts of Kindness Calendar
Happy Friday! Yesterday I shared some random acts of kindness for the holiday season. Today I’m sharing a freebie that makes it nearly impossible to NOT do some random acts of kindness this month! This Random Acts of Kindness Calendar is an amazing way to plan for, and keep track of the activities you want to complete. Go download your copy from Herding Kats in Kindergarten, and have a great weekend!
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Holiday-Themed Random Acts of Kindness
The holiday spirit is a powerful thing, and I love to take advantage of this time of year to encourage my students to do nice things for others. Here are some random acts of kindness that work perfect for the holiday season: Tape a sweet note to a candy cane and leave these throughout the building Go Caroling Write special Christmas cards to people who have been especially helpful Collect toys for children in need Share baked goods with local first responders Hang Christmas lights around the school for everyone to enjoy Make the janitor’s job easier by cleaning the classroom really well Put together a special gift for support…
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Activities for Thanksgiving Day
Whether you’ve got little ones to entertain at your own Thanksgiving celebration or your looking for fun ideas for your last day of school before the holiday, I’ve got you covered. Here are some fun ways to celebrate the holiday while enjoying each other’s company: Get everyone coloring – try these cute coloring pages If you want to hear everyone laugh, you can’t beat Thanksgiving Mad Libs! Remember cootie catchers?! Here’s a printable Thanksgiving version Family members of all ages will love taking photos with these Thanksgiving photo booth props There’s nothing better than a scavenger hunt to keep everyone busy This printable Bingo game will keep everyone awake after…
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Pie Filling Taste Test
I know that there are very strong opinions about using food for preschool activities, and I understand both sides of the argument. Personally, I believe that food is something that brings us together. It is a powerful way to open children’s minds to new experiences, and to introduce them to cultural experiences. I am especially partial to taste-tests as science and social studies activities because it gives me the opportunity to expose children to something that they may not ever encounter at home. I’ve been known to taste test fruits and vegetables, in order to introduce new foods and encourage children to be open to trying new things. This particular…
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Friday Freebie – Autumn Scavenger Hunt
Happy Friday, I hope that you had a wonderful Halloween! Some people are all about Christmas as soon as Halloween is over, but I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving, so let the fall fun continue! Today’s freebie is a fun little scavenger hunt that you can use to encourage your students to pay attention to the world around them. It would be a great activity to send home for families to do together. Download your copy and have a wonderful weekend!
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Halloween Safety
Ready or not, Halloween is almost here. While it’s fun to do math activities with candy corn and explore pumpkin guts in the sensory table, there’s one very important Halloween lesson that I don’t want to forget about. Halloween safety doesn’t always get the recognition that it deserves, but a few simple strategies could make a huge difference. Talk to your students. Remind them to watch for cars, stay on sidewalks, cross streets at cross walks, and check with their parents before eating any candy. These might not be the most fun conversations, but it never hurts to be that voice in the back of their heads. I’ve shared this…
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Using Question of the Day in the Classroom
One of my favorite parts of every single day in my preschool classroom is when it was time to ask the question of the day. This was my chance to see where my students’ heads were at that day, and to get to know them a little better. I promise that it was a process to get our question of the day to a point where it was successful and the children would respond with thoughtful answers. We had to model how to answer questions, and encourage them to think of their own unique answers instead of repeating the same answer as the person who answered before them. Once the…
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Discussing Opinions with Preschoolers
One of my favorite things about working with preschoolers is that they are just starting to form their own opinions about everything – from what they want to wear to school to how they feel about vegetables. While this makes for interesting conversations, it can also create some friction between classmates as they learn that others don’t necessarily share their opinions. I love to use a question of the day, and I strive for questions that require an extended response because I want my students to think about their answer as they practice the language required for this type of answer. Often, the children get very passionate about their answers.…
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Friday Freebie – Phone Number and Address Practice
Happy Friday! It’s really starting to feel like summer around here! Today’s freebie goes right along with this week’s theme of Kindergarten readiness prep! This phone number and address set was designed to help children practice their phone number and address in a way that is a ton of fun; with their own personalized ID card, mailbox, and play phone. Download your copy and enjoy your weekend!
