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Roll, Add & Build a Skyscraper City Math Game
We love to use dice games in math small groups with our Pre-K kiddos, and our Roll, Add & Build A Skyscraper City game is one of our favorites. We created it after a student noted how the side-by-side stacked cubes resembled New York City skyscrapers! Indeed they do.
You’ll need two dice per child, and a whole slew of linking cubes or small blocks that can be stacked. Then turn those kiddos loose to add, subitize, identify numerals, connect numerals to quantity and strengthen their one-to-one correspondence skills.
Ugh, isn’t it just like us teachers (and parents) to make everything fun a learning experience?
Get the free download below and let us know how your kiddos enjoy it!
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Cookie Jar Syllable Game
This Cookie Jar Syllable Sort game from Fairy Poppins for Playdough to Plato was a HUGE hit in our class! Our pre-k kiddos not only loved it, but many seemed to grasp the concept of syllables after one time playing.
The set features labeled “cookie jars” in which preschool kiddos sort the adorable cookies, which feature one-, two- or three-syllable images. This is a set you’ll want to laminate before you cut it out, because it will get some use!
We used this in small groups with about 3-4 kiddos at a time. We handed out one one-syllable cookie first to each child to get a feel for the game. For subsequent rounds we got a little harder with two- and three-syllable words, then we mixed them up randomly.
The kiddos turned it into a guessing game on their own, and that created anticipation as the rounds went by and kept their attention on what their peers were doing, The “oooh, what are you gonna get — one, two or three?” increased the appeal of this game beyond our expectations.
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Rain Cloud Science Experiment
How much do your kiddos love science experiments? When the learning can be hands on in preschool, it just kicks it up a notch, doesn’t it? We are into the first week of our Nature unit and we will be talking about weather next week. This cool science experiment, free directions courtesy of Toby & Roo, shows how rain clouds hold onto, then disperse rain.
The experiment requires minimal prep, but packs maximum fun and fascination. You’ll need water, shaving cream, liquid food coloring or liquid water color and (optional) pipettes, plus tall, clear containers. We didn’t use the pipettes because we used liquid water color that we could pour directly onto our shaving cream clouds. We found our inexpensive clear plastic containers at the dollar store.
And, as we did above, if you use primary colors to drop onto your shaving cream “cloud,” you can work in a color mixing lesson to go along with your rain cloud demonstration. Two for one? We love it!
- Blog, Book Lesson Plans, Books About Animals, Books About Colors, Books About Emotions, Circle, Colors, Literacy, Reading
Book Review & Lesson Plan: Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes
(This post contains affiliate links. A purchase through these links supports Preschooligans at no additional cost to you and helps us continue to provide free educational resources. Thank you!) Oh Pete the Cat, don’t we all just love him to bits? In this first installment of the Pete saga, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, (find at your local library or purchase from Amazon) written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean, our favorite cool cat is walking along in his fancy white shoes, singing a groovy song, and feeling all good.
But then, oh no, Pete steps in a pile of strawberries! Now what color are those white shoes? Does Pete cry? Goodness, no! Pete doesn’t cry over the fact his once-white shoes are now red, he embraces the change — and alters his song to match. “I love my red shoes, I love my red shoes.”
Pete’s adventure leads him to step in a number of colorful items, until he washes clean his shoes at the end.
We love this story for 3s and older 2s
Watch Litwin and Dean read the story and sing Pete’s groovy song in this Youtube video.
*Downloadable/printable copy of lesson plan below
(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: Show the cover. What do you think this story is about? Pete the Cat is the main character of our story. What is a “character” in a story? How about a “main character”? What is Pete the Cat wearing? Do cats usually wear shoes? What color are his shoes?
After reading title: Have you ever had white shoes? Do white shoes usually stay nice and white? What usually happens to white shoes? How do you think Pete feels about his white shoes?
As you read: Allow time for the children to answer the questions that are posed as part of the story. Soon they will be answering and singing along with Pete.
After reading: Why don’t you think Pete cried about his shoes changing colors? What do you think Pete is trying to tell us with this story?
Vocabulary:
- character
- main character
- brand new
- cool
- puddle
- moral
Enrichment Activities:
Small Group/Large Group: Prekinders offers this free Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes color and matching activity.
Art: Books And Giggles features a tutorial of how to make Pete the Cat button slime.
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Knocking Stuff Down While Learning? Subtraction Bowling Makes Preschool Math Fun
The sanctioned hurling of objects to knock things down AND learning math at the same time make for an irresistible combination when teaching the preschool crowd. This is indisputable fact.
So, let’s face it, the Subtraction Bowling freebie from Recipe for Teaching was destined to be a hit before it ever made an appearance in our classroom. And guess what? It was — with the active and reserved kiddos alike.
For each bowling alley you set up, you’ll need 10 cups and a softball-sized ball. A yarn ball, oversized pompom or … dare we suggest … a wiffle ball, if you’re adventurous, will do the trick. The kiddos throw (or roll) the ball at the cups, count how many they knocked down and record it. After subtracting the knocked down pins, they then can record the number that remain standing.
Laminate the free printouts for use with dry erase markers. Your kiddos can hurl, count, subtract and repeat to their hearts’ content!
Free Preschool Math, Science, Literacy, Reading, Writing and Art Resources for Teachers and Parents
