Once a month, I host preschool at my home for four little boys. It’s crazy fun. I plan to share my lesson plans here from now on (mostly so the next time I teach preschool (for my other kiddos) I will still have the lesson plans). Hopefully they help or inspire one of you too!
Theme: air transportation
Letter: O, o
Number: 15
Color: rainbow
Discuss Theme
- What flies in the sky? (birds, airplanes, helicopters, hot air ballons, etc). See how many the children can brainstorm.
I drew pictures of everything they brainstormed on a big pad of paper as they named it.
- Have you been on an airplane? Where did you go?
- Where did you go to get on the airplane? (airport) What was it like there?
- Who drives the airplane? (pilot)
The boys had a lot to say about airport! It was fun to hear all about where they have been and what it was like.
Game: Fly/Not Fly
Name an object and if it is something that flies (bird, airplane, etc) then the kids fly around the room. When you say something that doesn’t fly (couch, tree, etc) then the kids freeze.
The boys LOVED this game.
Math: Color Matching/Sequencing
I cut out four sets of little airplane silhouettes and laminated them (green, blue, yellow, orange). I gave some to each boy. I put out a sequence of airplanes on the floor and the boys took turns matching the sequence and telling me what would come next.
I had also planned to practice spatial commands too, but we didn’t get to it. For example: put the blue airplane on top of the orange airplane. Put the blue airplane next to…. etc.
Prewriting: Rainbow Rice
I made rainbow rice (super easy and super awesome!) to use for this. At the kitchen table, I gave each boy a cookie sheet (with edges) and a heaping cup of rice. First we practiced drawing the letter “O” in the rice. Then, the number 15. Then they practiced their names. After that, I had them close their eyes and do it (they thought that was hilarious!).
They were enjoying the rice so much, that I got out a bunch of our plastic animals and let them play… for 35 minutes! They couldn’t get enough of it.
Music: Airplane songs
Tune: Frere Jacques
We are flying, we are flying
Up so high, Up so high
See the fluffy white clouds,
See the sparkly sunshine
In the sky, in the sky.
We are flying, we are flying
Round and round, round and round.
See the tiny houses,
See the tiny people
On the ground, on the ground.
Tune: I’m a Little Teapot
I’m a little airplane, I can fly,
Here is my throttle, give me a try.
When I get all revved up, then I fly,
Off the runway and up to the sky.
Fingerplay
Five little airplanes in a row, (hold up 5 fingers)
Some go fast; some go slow. (move hand fast, then slow)
They fly up high and then zoom down. (fly hand up,m then down)
And slowly, slowly touch the ground. (slowly bring hand down to the ground)
Free Play
Before I let the boys loose to play in the play room, I made each one a paper airplane and wrote his name on it. If the interest had been there, they could have colored them, but they were ready to play. I learned how to make a paper airplane in elementary school and it is the most awesome airplane ever (maybe I need to do a tutorial?). The boys had fun launching them over the banister into the entryway.
