B is for Bugs

• Read “Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!” by Bob Barner

• Preschool Journal B Page
  1. Practice writing letter B and ‘Bugs’
  2. Put bug stickers on page.
  3. NOTE: I had cute bug stickers to stick on, but my 4-year-old wanted to put these on instead. I loved his ladybug drawing

• Bug Match Game
  1. I cut apart an extra piece of bug bulletin border to make this game.
  2. You could also use bug clipart, make 2 copies and cut one apart to match.
  3. I played with the kids and it ended up being an even better game than I had planned. They talked a lot about the attributes they noticed … the color of the wings, the direction the antennae were pointing, the type of bugs.

• Bug Letter Tiles
  1. Write “bug” on a sticky word strip & stick it to a magnetic surface.
  2. Let the kids use magnetic letter tilesto make the same word.
  3. Ask the kids to name a bug and write it on a word strip.
  4. Let them find the tiles to make the word.  
  5. Repeat.
  6. NOTE: I purposely wrote in lowercase for my 4-year-old when we only have uppercase letter tiles. I like that he can practice recognizing both forms. If it’s a little tricky for my 3-year-old, I write them uppercase for her so she can match them easier. Obviously she had more fun stacking the tiles

• Paint bug rocks
  1. Go on a nice walk outside.
  2. Pick up a few small rocks or small sticks (and look for bugs!)
  3. Let the kids paint their rocks and sticks. I set up our bug book to show them all of the fun colors and designs to give them some ideas. 
  4. Let dry and add googly eyes.

• Bug Jar Sorting
  1. Print these great bug jars from PreKinders here.
  2. I use these Backyard Bug Counters available here.
  3. Let the kids sort the bugs by color, type and number.

• Bagel bugs … our all-time favorite bug snack
  1. Spread cream cheese on a bagel.
  2. Add pretzel stick legs or antennae
  3. Use mini marshmallows and raisins for spots or eyes.

B is for Buttons

• Read “Corduroy” by Don Freeman … this fuzzy little bear in green overalls goes looking for his missing button.

• Preschool Journal B page
  1. Practice writing letter B and ‘Buttons’
  2. Use glue dots to stick buttons to the page.

• Button Sorting with Corduroy … loved the idea of pairing this activity with this book … from the Princess and the Tot

 

• Button Bracelet … the pipe cleaners make it easier to string the buttons, but the ends are a little scratchy. A piece of yarn taped at the end would work too!
1. Use a pipe cleaner and several colorful buttons
2. String the pipe cleaner through two button holes. I love how my 4-year-old strung tons of buttons on his bracelet too (on his left hand in the picture.)
3. Twist the ends together to make your bracelet!

• Button Lacing Card
  1. Use a clean yogurt or cottage cheese lid.
  2. Punch holes all around the outside edge.
  3. Let the kids “sew” the button (just like Lisa in ‘Corduroy’) by lacing in and out of the holes. I used a couple of my husband’s extra shoe laces and that worked great!

• Button Matching Game … both of my kids loved doing this over and over. Really a fun game! 
  1. Make a color copy of several buttons. I just placed them on my printer’s copy screen.
  2. Place all of the buttons in a ziploc baggie.
  3. Number the button paper and bag of buttons so you know which goes with which.
  4. Repeat with several different button pages.
  5. To Play:
     • Have the kids carefully pour the buttons out on the table.
     • Match the buttons to the printed buttons on the page!

• Button Snake … a fun way to practice buttoning with just a little parent prep!
  1. Cut a length of ribbon and several circles of felt in a variety of colors.
  2. Use hot glue to sandwich one end of the ribbon between two buttons (the snake’s head).
  3. Sew a felt circle to the other end of your ribbon snake.
  4. Cut a small slit in the middle of each felt circle (just fold in half and make a small cut on the fold) … just big enough for the buttons to fit through.
  5. Have the kids kids string the felt circles onto the ribbon snake. Unstring (unbutton) and try it again!

B is for Baa Baa Black Sheep

My little 3-year-old has been singing this song around the house for the past month, so I decided we needed a Baa Baa Black Sheep day during B week.

• Opening Song & Prayer … we sing a Primary song, then say a prayer to start preschool

• Build letter B … we tried out our new letter construction set to build uppercase and lowercase Bs this week! What I love:
  1. There are enough pieces for 4 kids to build the same letter at one time. Love that we can build upper or lowercase letters with simple direction cards.
  2. The pieces are sturdy and colorful.
  3. The kids can easily snap the pieces together.
  4. I love the large size.

• Read “Baa Baa Black Sheep” … there are several different versions. Check your library!

• Alphabet Tiles … we used the ones found here. 
  1. Display a large copy of Baa Baa Black Sheep. I simply enlarged the nursery rhyme pages I love here.
  2. Tape it to a magnetic surface. I used a cookie sheet. The fridge would work too.
  3. Give the kids the B tiles and have them cover the letter Bs … upper and lowercase. You could also use regular letter magnets!
  4. And then, of course, they want to match every other letter they can. Yay!

• Preschool Journals
  1. Practice writing letter B and ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’.
  2. Stick black sheep stickers to page.
     • NOTE: I couldn’t find any black sheep stickers, so I printed out this clipart on sticker paper.

• Play ‘3 Bags Full’ Game … inspired by a great activity from Princess & the Tot
  1. Label three paper bags 1, 2, 3
  2. Place 1, 2, or 3 stickers on several cards. I had my preschooler help me with this the day before.
  3. Have the kids choose a card, count the stickers, and place it in the matching bag … until you have ‘3 Bags Full’!
  4. OPTIONAL: my kids were ready to wiggle by now, so we set this up as a running game. They picked a card at one end of the room, then ran to the other end to put it in the right bag.

 

• Black Sheep Rubbings
  1. Print the sheep page above. Just click the image.
  2. Tell the kids you have a problem. You have a sheet full of white sheep, but you need help turning them into black sheep!
  3. Unwrap a black crayon (breaking it in half may be easier to handle)
  4. Show the kids how to find different textures around the house and how to rub their crayon (on it’s side) to make the sheep turn into black textured sheep!
  5. See how many different textures you can find!
  6. NOTE: my 3-year-old enjoyed this for a little while. My 4-year-old ended up doing four pages he loved it so much!

• Musical Baa Baa Black Sheep
  1. Teach the kids how to play Baa Baa Black Sheep on the Music Maker or piano.
  2. Print simple piano sheet music here! I labeled our piano keys and wrote the letters above the notes on the sheet music. It’s a little slow-going, but the kids love matching the letters and making a song they know!
  3. NOTE: the Music Maker we have is pretty fun. The kids can play songs if they follow the little notes. Even if they don’t, they love making music on it. I love that they can just be creative and enjoy music. Baa Baa Black Sheep is one of the songs that came with ours.

• Baa Baa Black Sheep Cookies … every Monday night is Family Home Evening. These no-bake baa baa black sheep cookies were a hit and the kids had fun helping to make them! I love the crazy legs the best

Baa Baa Black Sheep Cookies      1 cube butter     2 cups sugar     3 Tbls. cocoa     1/2 cup milk Combine ingredients in a saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2-3 minutes, then add:      3 cups oatmeal      1 cup coconut     1 tsp. vanilla Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper. I used the spoon to flatten mine slightly. Add pretzel legs and a mini marshmallow head.

X is in BOX

• Read “Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis

• Cereal Box Bag … create a lunch bag to carry your picnic lunch! Watch the video above or click here for more detailed instructions from Family Fun!
  1. Cut the top flaps off of an empty cereal box.
  2. OPTIONAL: Use white shelf contact paper to cover the front, back and sides of the box.
  3. Cut two handles 1-2 inches from the top.
  4. Let the kids use stickers or cut pictures from an old magazine to glue to their new lunch box.
  5. Pack a lunch in your new lunchbox and take it to the park!

• Read “A Box Can Be Many Things” by Dana Meachen Rau

• Cardboard Box Car or Fort … my kids favorite activity!
  1. Save a large box or ask an appliance store for one.
  2. Set it out in the living room and let your kids take the lead. I’m always amazed and surprised at their ideas. Go with it!
  3. Try to do as many of their ideas as you can.
     • Paint it, cut out windows and doors, add buttons, add a mailbox, color with crayons and markers, draw framed pictures inside, let them bring in their blankets and stuffed animals, use another box to add a second room. Play and enjoy!

• Read “My Book Box” by Will Hillenbrand … a cute and simple book about the many ways to use a box.
• Box Book … your kids can help make these, or have them ready to use!
1. Cut the front off a cereal box
2. Score and fold in half.
3. Cut paper just smaller than the cardboard.
4. Sew down the middle, fold and flatten.
5. Use your new box book to draw pictures and write letters.

Easter Bunnies!

• Read “Home For a Bunny” by Margaret Wise Brown … this little bunny searches the springtime forest for a home of his very own.

• Sort the bunny tails … inspired by The Princess and the Tot!
  1. Paint half of an egg carton with rainbow colors. I love this idea for sorting! Or make it super simple and use a muffin tin like we did
  2. Place several colorful pom poms in a bowl. The Princess and the Tot used adorable bunny counters I searched and couldn’t find any. Pom-poms, like these will make great “bunny tails”!
  1. Use kid's chopsticks to sort the “bunny tails” into the correct “home” color!
• Bunny Fingerplay … hold up fingers as you say this poem!

  Five Little Bunnies One little bunny, Wondering what to do, another bunny came along, Then there were two. Two little bunnies, Hopping like me, Another bunny came along, Then there were three. Three little bunnies, Jumping by my door, Another bunny joined them, Then there were four. Four little bunnies, So fluffy and alive, Another bunny joined them, Then there were five. Five little bunnies, Ready for some fun, Hopped away in the Warm, spring sun.

• Read “Bunny's Noisy Book” by Margaret Wise Brown … a little bunny listens to noises all around him and makes some of his own!

• Match the Noisy Eggs … my kids loved this activity from The Princess and the Tot. We played it over and over.
• Cut an egg carton into sections of six.
• Gather 6 plastic eggs in a different color for each person. I made a set for me too. 
• Fill the eggs with different items that make a variety of noises. When I put a jingle bell in my egg, my kids put a jingle bell in one of their eggs. Use anything around the house:

  popcorn kernels rice dry pasta noodles paper clips

  a jingle bell nuts or bolts a dice jelly beans

• We had fun filling them and listening to the different sounds.
• When we finished, I chose an egg, shook it and then my kids each shook their own eggs to try to find the matching noise.
• It was a hit!

• Make Bunny Buns … download the recipe from the Friend magazine here. And here is a recipe for a yummy orange roll glaze:

  1/2 C butter 3/4 C sugar 1/2 C sour cream 2 T orange rind Place all ingredients in a sauce pan. Boil over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour over rolls right after you take them out of the oven.