Mailbox Thursday

Well it's officially 2013 and your heading back to school. Here are some fantastic activities to work with the little ones during the long winter nights. 

Have each child transform a black oval into a penguin using a slightly smaller white oval (stomach), a small black circle (head), and construction paper scraps (eyes, beak, feet, and wings). Then encourage him to attach to his penguin a desired accessory, similar to the ones shown. Mount the penguins on a board decorated and titled as shown.

Type: center/center mat

Skill: counting, concept of addition

Build counting or addition skills with a frosty friend! Make a paper snowman with a face and a top hat. Program several sticky notes for an option described below. Place the sticky notes, the snowman, and a supply of small craft foam or tagboard circles (buttons) at a center. Have students complete the activity as described.

Counting: Write a different number on each sticky note. A student attaches a sticky note to the snowman's hat and then places the matching number of buttons on the snowman.

Concept of addition: Write a different addition problem on each sticky note. A student attaches a sticky note to the snowman's hat and places the corresponding number of buttons on the snowman to solve the problem.

Falling Snow Type: song/poem/rhyme When it's too cold and wet for outdoor play, help youngsters get rid of the wiggles with this cute song! (sung to the tune of "When the Saints Go Marching In") Oh, when the snow       Move fingers to resemble falling snow. Begins to fall,       Continue moving fingers. I'll build a snowman round and tall.       Move hands upward from floor. Oh, how I love the cold, cold weather       Hug self. When the snow begins to fall.       Move fingers to resemble falling snow. And then I'll lie       Sit on the floor. Down in the snow       Lie on the floor. And move my arms and legs just so.      Move arms and legs to make a snow angel. Oh, how I love to make snow angels       Continue moving arms and legs. When the snow begins to fall.       Continue moving arms and legs.