Early Childhood Education
Preschool Take Home Packets
March
Welcome to the Month of March!
Need to get out and stretch? Here are some ideas for fun!
•
Plan a trip to your local library and check out some new books. Many of the Vancouver
Library branches offer a free story hour once a week (Story hours for all branches are
listed on the web at http://66.96.75.5/events/storytime.cfm or call 695-1561). Once you
have a Fort Vancouver Regional Library card, you can check out and return books at any of
the branches.
•
Visit the mall. Make it a treasure hunt. Tell your child that you’re going to look for as many
green things as you can find, and then celebrate with green ice cream in a cone at Baskin
Robbins! Or, go to the bookstore and browse with your child. Make a list of books he or she
would like to put on a wish list for a birthday or other special occasion. If you have a
toddler, stop in for story hour at Vancouver Mall Community Library on Tuesdays at 11:00
am. Preschool story hour is on Wednesdays at 11:00 am.
•
Explore OMSI – Oregon Museum of Science and Industry: OMSI is open from 9:30 – 5:30
Tuesday through Sunday. The cost is $8.00 for adults (ages 14 - 62) and $6.00 for youth
(ages 3 – 13). Children under three are admitted free. On Thursday afternoons after 2:00
pm, OMSI offers 2-for-the-price-of-1 admission. OMSI’s Discovery Space is designed for
children ages 6 and under, and includes water play, sand play, art activities and more. Visit
the web site at http://www.omsi.edu or call 797-6674.
•
Oregon Zoo: For those breaks in rainy weather, plan a zoo date! The zoo’s winter hours,
through March 31st, are 9:00 — 4:00 daily. Admission for adults (ages 12 – 64) is $8.00.
Admission for children ages 3 – 11 is $5.00. Children under 3 are free. Zoo admission is
free from 1:00 pm until closing on the second Tuesday of every month. This month, on
Saturday, March 22nd, join in the Zoo’s Bear Fair, from 10:00 am through 3:00 pm.
Participation is free with admission. Learn why bears don’t really hibernate, and join the
Teddy Bear Picnic (your child can bring his or her teddy bear or other stuffed animal).
•
CM2 – The Children’s Museum: Located in Portland’s Washington Park (right next to the
Oregon Zoo), the Children’s Museum has lots of fun activities for children aged 6 months
through 10 years. Exhibits include Me and My Shadow, Water Works, Zounds (Sounds), Kids
Clinic, Kid City Market and more. Studios provide a place for your child to paint, sculpt, and
design. Current hours are 9:00 – 5:00 Tuesday through Thursday; 9:00 — 8:00 Friday; 9:00
– 5:00 Saturday; and 11:00 — 5:00 Sunday. Admission is $5.50 for ages 1 through 54.
Visit the web site at http://www.portlandcm2.org/index.htm or call 503-223-6500.
•
Barnes and Noble — The Barnes and Noble store on Fourth Plain has children’s story times
on Wednesdays at 11:30 am and Saturdays at 11:00 am. The Wednesday story time includes
sign language interpretation for deaf or hearing impaired children. All children (hearing and
hearing impaired) learn new signs each week. On the first Saturday of each month, story
time includes a visit by a character from children’s books. On March 1st, the first Saturday
in March, Clifford the Big Red Dog will visit during story time.
•
If you’ve got Internet access, visit the Play and Learn site with your preschooler (the URL is
http://www.literacy center.net/play_learn/index.htm). This site has activities to help
children learn and practice the alphabet, numbers, colors and more. Activities are provided
in English, Spanish, French and German.
Reading
March Rhyme Time: Rain, Rain, Go Away!
•
•
•
•
Before you read the rhyme, open the Rain, Rain, Go Away booklet to page 2. In the space
provided, write your child’s first name. (For example, if your child’s name is Jennifer, the
page would now read “Little Jennifer wants to play.”)
Read the rhyme to your child. Then ask your child to color the pictures. Read it again
and again. As you read, point to the words. After your child knows the rhyme, when you
read, stop once in awhile for your child to say the next word. For example, say “Rain,
rain, go …” and then ask your child for the word that comes next.
Say, “Now we’re going to read the story together. I’ll point to the words as we say them.”
Point to each word as you read the story together. Don’t worry if your child forgets a
word, or says a different word. When you’re done, say “That was good reading!” or some
similar statement that lets your child know that he or she is “reading.”
Talk with your child about what happens in the rhyme. Here are some questions you
might ask:
Point to the picture on page 1 and ask, “What kind of weather day does this
picture show?”
Point to the child’s face on page 2 and ask, “How is this child feeling in this
picture?” Wait for your child to say that the picture shows a sad child.
Then ask, “Why do you think that the child is sad?” Listen to your child’s
answer. Say, “It looks like the child is thinking of some things to do on a
nice day. What kinds of things does he want to do?” Point to each thought
bubble and talk about what the child wants to do.
Connect the story to your child’s life by asking questions like, “Do you like
the rain?” “What kinds of things can we do outside on a rainy day?” “What
kinds of things can we do inside on a rainy day?” Talk about a time when rain
got in the way of a planned activity, like a picnic.
Point to the picture on page 3 and ask, “How is this child feeling now?”
“Why do you think he’s happy?”
•
Look for matching words in the rhyme. Point to the word rain. Say, “Let’s look at
the letters in the word rain.” Point to each letter as you identify it. Then say,
“Let’s see if we can find this same word somewhere else in this rhyme.” Help your
child to find the word rain. Say the letters again. Then say, “Yes! This is the
word rain, too! Let’s see if we can find another one!” This will help your child to
make the connection between written letters and word meaning. It is not
important that he or she knows how to spell the word…simply that he or she is
able to pick out a matching word.
•
More Rhyme Time: Have fun playing with rhyming words. In Rain, Rain, Go Away
the words away, day, and play rhyme. It is important for your child to hear lots
and lots of rhyming words, so when you’re talking about this rhyme, you can say,
“The words away and day rhyme. They have a sound that’s the same. Say them
with me…” Then say, “Day and play also rhyme. Let’s say those words…” Make up
silly little rhymes throughout the day. Here are some examples: “I think today
we’ll find some time to play.” “What do you say…How are you today?”
•
One More Rhyme: Another rhyme that talks about rain is It’s Raining, It’s
Pouring. Read the rhyme to your child. Practice it again and again. Soon your
child will know it by heart! Make a booklet by folding a piece of paper in half, just
like the Rain, Rain, Go Away booklet. Write the rhyme in the booklet, and ask your
child to draw pictures to go with it.
It’s raining, it’s pouring,
the old man is snoring.
He went to bed and bumped his head
and couldn’t get up in the morning.
Letters and Sounds
•
Letters J, K, and L: Find the Alphabet Chant pages for J, K, and L. Say the chant with
your child. Cut the cards out and save them. Practice the chant often. Each month,
you’ll receive more Alphabet Chant cards.
•
Make sure your preschooler sees that you are a reader, too. Spend a few minutes
each day reading the newspaper, a magazine or a book to set an example for your
child.
•
Practice pre-reading skills on daily errands. Point out signs that your child may
recognize and have him or her “read” the sign. Places where you eat or shop quickly
become familiar to your child. Encourage your child to find the first letter of his
or her name as you travel around town.
•
Read Aloud: Make time to read aloud to your child for 20 minutes each day. This
month, as you read, point out words that begin with the first letter of your child’s
name.
If you’re looking for ideas, here are some books with a St. Patrick’s Day theme
(recommended for ages 4-8):
Daniel O’Rourke: An Irish Tale (Gerald McDermott)
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato (Tomie dePaola)
Jeremy Bean’s St. Patrick’s Day (Alice Shertle)
Leprechaun Gold (Teresa Bateman)
The Ring of Truth: An Original Irish Tale (Teresa Bateman)
St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning (Eve Bunting)
Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk: An Irish Tale (Gerald McDermott)
The following books, recommended for ages 4 – 8, focus on rain and weather:
Ben’s Dream (Chris Van Allsburg)
Drip, Drop (Donald Carrick)
Muffel and Plums (Lilo Fromm)
Mushroom in the Rain (Mira Ginsburg)
Peter Spier’s Rain (Peter Spier)
Up To Ten and Down Again (Lisa Campbell Ernst)
Water (Carme Sole Vendrell and Jose Maria Parramon)
The Rain Came Down (David Shannon)
A Drop of Rain (Wong Herbert Yee)
Come On, Rain (Karen Hesse)
One Rainy Day (Valeri Gorbachev)
Rain (Manya Stojic)
The Water Hole (Graeme Base)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Judi Barrett)
Writing
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Journal Writing: Let your child explore his or her imagination using crayons or
markers. March is a great month for children to make up stories. Discuss the
tradition of St. Patrick’s Day. Draw pictures of leprechauns, rainbows and pots of
gold.
Choose from these additional journal ideas for this month, or make up your own:
• Draw pictures or write words for a list of “Things That Are Green.”
• Ask your child to think of 3 wishes or wants. Let your child draw a picture of
each wish. Then, tell your child that you’ll record his or her ideas. Point to the
first picture and ask, “What would you like me to write about this wish?” Write
your child’s words exactly as they are spoken (do not worry about grammatical
errors, which are common for preschoolers). After you write your child’s words,
read the words aloud. Then, do the same for the second and third wishes.
• Write, or help your child write, the first letter of his or her first name. Look
through a magazine to find pictures of objects that begin with the same letter.
Ask your child to cut out each picture and glue it on the page. Write a label for
each picture. Say, “This is another word that begins with __(say the first letter
of your child’s name). It’s the word _______ (say the word).”
• Write a story about a rainy day. Add pictures to the story.
• Color and cut out the shamrocks on the Shamrocks page included with this
packet. Ask your child to glue some of the shamrocks onto a page of the journal.
Together, count the number of shamrocks. Then ask your child to write (or help
your child write) the number.
• Name Writing: On the “My Name Practice” page, write your child’s name four
times using the dot-to-dot method. Ask your child to connect the dots with
crayons or markers to write his or her name. Practice saying the letters as you
write. When your child can write his or her first name, begin practicing last name.
• Letter Practice Jj, Kk, and Ll: Color and cut the big letters J, K, and L. Talk
with your child about the letters and refer to them often. Each month you will
receive 3 or 4 more letters. Please save them and review each month.
Jj Kk Ll
Math and Science
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2
3
4
5
M & M Math:
Sort the M & M’s. First, find the activity sheet titled “M & M Math.” Help your child
find crayons that match each color labeled on the circles. Color each circle with the
labeled color. Then, ask your child to put the M & M’s into the matching color circle.
Once all the M & M’s are sorted, count how many M & M’s are in each circle. Write the
number.
Ask, “Which color has the most?” Help your child count again to find which has most.
Then ask, “Which color has the least?” and count again.
Make simple color patterns with the M & M’s. For example, put M & M’s in the following
order: Red, Red, Blue, Red, Red, Blue. Say to your child, “Look at this pattern.” (Point to
each M & M as you say the color.) “Red, Red, Blue, Red, Red, Blue. What color comes
next?” Help your child to see that the next M & M should be red to continue the pattern.
Try a few more simple patterns.
• Colored Popsicle Sticks:
Use the sticks to count to ten.
Use the sticks as counters. Say, “Show me 4 sticks.” Then say, “Now show me 8 sticks.”
Sort the sticks by color.
Make triangles using the sticks. Remember that triangles have just three sides, so use
three sticks to make each triangle.
Use the sticks to measure other items in the house. Ask, “Can you find something in your
toy box that is the same height as one popsicle stick?”
Place a large piece of paper on the floor (you can even use sheets of newspaper taped
together). Ask your child to lay on the paper. Trace around his or her body with a pencil
or crayon. After your child gets up, tell him or her that you’re going to find out how many
popsicle sticks tall he or she is. Place the first popsicle stick on the paper, beginning at
your child’s foot. Ask your child to help you line up popsicle sticks until you’ve reached
your child’s head. Then, count the number of popsicle sticks you used. Say, “You are
___(insert number of popsicle sticks) sticks tall!”
•
Shape of the Month — Triangle: Find the activity sheets labeled “Triangle,” “Triangle
Practice,” and “Triangles of All Sizes.” Directions are included on each sheet. As you
work with the triangles, ask your child to count the number of sides each triangle has.
Point out that triangles have three sides.
•
Number Practice:
Find the number sheets (1, 2, and 3) included with this packet. Practice the number 1.
First, say the number. Trace it with your finger. Help your child trace it with his or her
finger. Color the number. Point to the dot below the number. Say, “There is one dot.”
Then, glue one bean or one piece of cereal (Cheerios or Fruit loops work best) to the dot.
Save it and hang on the refrigerator for later practice.
Repeat the process with the numbers 2 and 3. (For the number 2, glue two beans or
pieces of cereal—one on each dot; for 3, use three beans or pieces of cereal.)
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Pot of Gold Game: This is a game for lucky leprechauns who find the “pot of gold” at the
end of the rainbow. In this game, you and your child will move your game pieces 1, 2, or 3
spaces as directed by a game card. The game cards give a direction that will help your
child develop motor coordination and auditory memory. Before you begin, find the Pot of
Gold game board and game cards. Cut the cards apart and put them in a pile, face down,
next to the game board. Then, find two game pieces — one for you and one for your
child. You might use different coins — a penny for you, a nickel for your child — or two
different colored circle chips included in February’s packet, or two different kinds of
beans. Put the game pieces in the “Start” box on the game board.
The pot of gold is the finish area. Put a small reward for you and your child on the pot of
gold. For example, you might put two pieces of candy, or two beads, or two pennies.
Say, “In this game, we’ll each take turns. First, we’ll pick a card and do what the card
says. Then, we’ll move our game pieces 1, 2, or 3 spaces. We want to get from Start to
the pot of gold at Finish. When each of us reaches the pot of gold, we’ll find a prize!”
Tell your child to take the top card and turn it over. Read the instruction on the card and
help your child complete the action. Then, tell your child to move the number of spaces
shown on the card. (For example, if the card says to move one space, your child should
move his or her marker from Start to the first circle space.) Return the card to the
bottom of the pile.
Now, take your turn. Turn over a card, follow the direction, and move your game piece.
Keep taking turns until both you and your child reach Finish and collect your prizes.
Play again and again!
•
Charting the Weather: Find the sheet titled “March Weather Graph.” Tell your child
that each day you will color one box to show the weather that day. Ask your child to look
outside. Then, point to each picture, asking, “Is it sunny, cloudy, or rainy today?” Color in
one box to record the weather that day.
After you’ve completed the graph for 5 or more days, begin to talk about the
information. Ask questions like:
“How many sunny days have we had this month?” “How many cloudy days?” “How
many rainy days?”
“Have we had more sunny, rainy, or cloudy days this month?” “How do you know?”
“What kind of day do you think tomorrow will be?” “Why do you think so?”
Color: Green
•
Green: Find the activity sheet titled “Green.” Color the shamrock green. Cut around the
shamrock and save the shape.
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I Spy!: Play the color game called, “I Spy.” Look around the room for an object. Say, “I spy
something that is (name the color of the object).” Ask your child to guess what the object
in the room might be. Start the game with large objects that will be easy for your child to
guess. As your child gets better at the game, begin to use objects that are more challenging
to find. When your child guesses correctly, give him or her a chance to find an object for
you to guess.
•
Green Picnic: Find a variety of green foods for your child to taste this month. Go to the
grocery store together and see how many green foods you can find. Choose a few your child
likes, and one or two new foods. Some ideas for green foods are: Jello Brand instant
pistachio pudding, lime jello, split pea soup, kiwi fruit, green peppers, peas, green grapes,
avocado, broccoli, lettuce, and more. Wear green to your picnic (which will probably be
indoors this month!). For drinks, choose a green-colored juice, or put a few drops of green
food coloring into a glass of milk.
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Foamy Finger Paint: Put some shaving cream in a bowl. Mix in a few drops of green food
coloring. When the foamy paint is mixed, place some on a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan.
Make sure your child is wearing an apron or old shirt, as the green food coloring may stain.
Ask your child to smooth out the shaving cream. Then, play! Draw pictures, write names, or
practice letters and numbers.
Recipe Corner
St. Patrick’s Day Cookie Pops: This is a fun, no-bake idea adapted from a recipe by
Penny Warner (author of Kids’ Party Games and Activities and The Kid’s Pick a Party Book)
and submitted by Amanda Formaro at the kinderart web site (http://www.kinderart.com).
Read the recipe with your child. Gather ingredients, and have fun creating!
What You Need:
20 Vanilla wafer cookies
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 or 3 tubes of cake decorator frosting with tip (white, green, and yellow are good colors
this month)
popsicle sticks
candies for decorating (for example, green Dots, green and yellow sugar sprinkles, green
and yellow gumdrops, green and yellow Nerd candies, and whatever else looks good!)
wax paper or paper plates
Instructions:
Spread peanut butter onto the flat side of the cookies. Place a popsicle stick into the
peanut butter on half the cookies. Top with another cookie so the stick is sandwiched
between the two cookies.
Invite your child to help with the decorating fun! Put a cookie pop on wax paper or a paper
plate. Use frosting in a tube to “glue” candies onto the cookie pops. Make the face of a
leprechaun, a gold coin, or a three leaf clover (use 3 dots or 3 gumdrops in a cloverleaf). Let
set, and then they’re ready to eat!
Variation: If your child is allergic to nuts, substitute white frosting for the peanut butter.
You can also use white or green frosting to frost the cookie pops before decorating.
Rain, Rain,
Go Away!
Rain, rain, go away.
3
Rain, rain, go away.
Come again some other day.
1
Little __________wants to
play.
2
Alphabet Chant:
Letter Jj
QuickTime™ and a
Pla nar RGB de com press or
are nee ded to s ee this picture.
Chant Directions: Say the letter name one time. Then say “as in” and add
the name of the picture. Finally, say the sound that the letter makes three
times. Invite your child to join in, and repeat a number of times.
“J as in Jaguar
J — J — J”
Cut out the alphabet card and save it. You’ll receive more alphabet cards
each month.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Alphabet Chant:
Letter Kk
QuickTime™ and a
Pla nar RGB de com press or
are nee ded to s ee this picture.
Chant Directions: Say the letter name one time. Then say “as in” and add
the name of the picture. Finally, say the sound that the letter makes three
times. Invite your child to join in, and repeat a number of times.
“K as in Kangaroo
K — K — K”
Cut out the alphabet card and save it. You’ll receive more alphabet cards
each month.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Alphabet Chant:
Letter Ll
QuickTime™ and a
Pla nar RGB de com press or
are nee ded to s ee this picture.
Chant Directions: Say the letter name one time. Then say “as in” and add
the name of the picture. Finally, say the sound that the letter makes three
times. Invite your child to join in, and repeat a number of times.
“L as in Lion
L — L — L”
Cut out the alphabet card and save it. You’ll receive more alphabet cards
each month.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
My March Journal
My name is
My March Journal
Page 1
My March Journal
Page 2
My March Journal
Page 3
My March Journal
Page 4
Letter J
Color it. Cut it.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Letter K
Color it. Cut it.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Letter L
Color it. Cut it.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Letter Practice
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Jj
Practice Big “J”
Practice Little “j”
Letter Practice
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Kk
Practice Big “K”
Practice Little “k”
Letter Practice
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Ll
Practice Big “L”
Practice Little “l”
My Name Practice
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
M & M Math
Color the circles with the labeled color. Sort the M & M’s by color and
place in the color circles. Count the number of M & M’s of each color.
Write the number in the circle. Which color circle has the most?
Which color circle has the least? When you’re done, eat and enjoy!
red
blue
orange
brown
green
yellow
purple
Number 1
Color the number. Cut out the card.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number 2
Color the number. Cut out the card.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number 3
Color the number. Cut out the card.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Triangle
Trace word and shape.
Color, cut and save shape.
Triangle Practice
Trace the triangles. Then, draw more of your own!
Draw a Triangle Person!
My name is
Triangles of All Sizes!
Color and cut out the triangles. Cut out the labels for “Large” and
“Small.” Put all the small triangles into one pile with the label “Small.”
Put all the large triangles into another pile with the label “Large.”
small
large
Pot of Gold Game
Start
Finish
Pot of Gold Game Cards
(page 1)
Hop on one foot.
Then move one
(1) space.
Clap-Clap-Clap
your hands.
Then move two
(2) spaces.
Touch your nose
and then your
ears. Then move
two (2) spaces.
Make a silly face.
Then move one
(1) space.
Turn around one
time. Then move
one (1) space.
Stand up and
stretch your
arms as high as
you can. Then
move one (1)
space.
Touch your toes Rub your tummy Jump-jump-jump.
then touch your
then pat your
Then move one
head. Then move head. Then move
(1) space.
two (2) spaces.
one (1) space.
Pot of Gold Game Cards
(page 2)
Stand on one
foot while you
count to 5. Then
move two (2)
spaces.
Touch the floor,
touch your nose,
and turn around
one time. Then
move three (3)
spaces.
Turn around two
times. Then
move two (2)
spaces.
Stand on your
Make a happy
Stomp-stomp- tippy toes and
face. Then move stomp your feet. touch your nose.
one (1) space.
Then move two Then move one
(2) spaces.
(1) space.
Stretch your
arms to the side
and flap like a
bird. Then move
two (2) spaces.
Make a sad face.
Then move one
(1) space.
Wiggle your
whole body.
Then move two
(2) spaces.
March Weather Graph
Color a box to record the weather each day.
Jump up and down if the sun will stay!
Sun
Clouds
Rain
Green
Color the shamrock green. Cut it out.
Shamrocks
Color, cut, and glue to construction paper.