Reading

  • Centers,  Literacy,  Reading,  Science,  Small Groups

    Spring Has Sprung: Learning All About Plants

    Plants Need: image of sun with label "light", image of rain cloud with rain and label "water" and image of soil with label "food."

    Spring is right around the corner, and we’ve banished all visions, mentions or even thoughts of winter from our classroom! We’re launching our “Nature All Around Us” unit and today’s free printable fits right in as it teaches all about plants.

    We LOVE Pocket of Preschool’s topic investigations, and this freebie is a mini version that explores plant needs, plant parts and plant lifecycles. It also includes a cut-and-paste sequencing activity.

  • Circle,  Colors,  Literacy,  Reading,  Small Groups

    Uh Oh! What Did Pete the Cat Step In?

    Pete the Cat matching activity features pictures of foods that are different colors, and sneakers in the same colors.

    Like most preschool teachers, we love us some Pete the Cat. Pete with his white shoes, Pete with a new friend, Pete losing his buttons … you name it. We love Pete. So, naturally, we also love this adorable printable color and matching activity from Prekinders. This printable is a fun way to extend learning after reading Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes.

    In the story, Pete’s white shoes turn different colors as he steps in assorted items. This free activity, great for large or small group learning with 3s and older 2s, works on color identification and matching. In addition to the printable, Prekinders offers directions on multiple ways to play the game.

    For preschool vocabulary and reading comprehension questions, visit our Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes book review.

  • Blog,  Book Lesson Plans,  Books About Animals,  Books About Construction,  Books About Counting,  Counting,  Literacy,  Reading

    Book Review & Lesson Plan: Frankie Works the Night Shift

    Frankie Works the Night Shift book cover
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    Oh the giggles we get when we read about Frankie, a mischievous cat who lives in hardware store, in Frankie Works the Night Shift, (find at your local library or purchase from Amazon) written by Lisa Westburg Peters and illustrated by Jennifer Taylor.

    As the title indicates, Frankie works the “the night shift,” meaning he’s up when his owners are sleeping. In this sweet 1-10 counting tale, Frankie wreaks havoc all night long, knocking over wastebaskets (in the name of emptying trash), and turning loose the garden hose in the backyard (he’s watering the geraniums, of course!).

    Halfway through the night, he discovers a tiny four-legged “intruder,” and the chaos that follows provides even more hilarity.

    We like this story as part of lesson plans in counting, animals and construction for 3s and Pre-K (4s and 5s)

    Watch Angel Gantnier read Frankie Works the Nightshift on Youtube.

    (Below please find a list of reading comprehension questions and vocabulary words. This list is not exhaustive, and it may spark additional questions from your kiddos. As always, we recommend that you scaffold based on your age group and the wigglies of your kiddos.)

    Reading comprehension questions:

    Before reading: Looking at the cover, what is Frankie wearing? What do you see the title letters are made out of? Where might you find these items? What do you think the tools that make up the letters have to do with the story?

    After reading title: What is the “night shift”? What do you think Frankie’s job is at night?

    As you read: After Frankie discovers the mouse, challenge children to find it on each page.

    After reading: Do you think Frankie was really working? What was he actually doing all night (creating more work and waking up his owners). Why do you think Frankie is so tired in the daytime? Do you think he ever caught the mouse?

    Vocabulary:

    • wastebasket
    • geraniums
    • inspects
    • intruder
    • ignores
    • duct tape