S is for St. Patrick's Day: Printable Activities for Preschoolers

To help you plan a fun St. Patrick's Day, I have created some printables for you. 

Five Little Shamrocks
Felt Board Activity ~ Print out this poem and clipart.  Attach felt or velcro pieces to the back of the clipart pieces.  As you recite the poem, invite the children to put up the corresponding pieces. 

Have the children match the rhyming words.

Name Plates
Use these name plates as labels ~ or ~ laminate and have the children use dry erase markers to practice printing their names on them.  
 Shamrock - Capitals

Shamrocks - Lowercase
These alphabet shamrocks could be used to play matching games:  match capital to lowercase or print two copies of each set and match capitals to capitals and lowercase to lowercase.

You could also fill your sensory table/tub with scraps of green construction or tissue paper and hide the shamrocks in it.  When the children find one they try to identify the letter on it. 

Hide the shamrocks in your classroom or home and go on a shamrock hunt.

Colored Coins


Children color the coins the correct color.  For children who do not recoginize color words - use a corresponding crayon to color the color word on each page.  The children will then know what color they should use to color the coins on that page.

Have Fun!

Wikispaces: Bo the Bookworm Resources

For those unfamiliar with "wikis", they are simple web pages to which groups, friends, and families can contribute.  The Itty-Bitty Bookworm now has a wiki.  You can find it here.  I would like to invite all of you to use our wiki to find great, theme-related activities and printables.  I would also like to invite you to contribute by adding ideas, links, and pictures to it.  Feel free to add links to your blog posts or blog posts that you find inspiring.  

Our wiki is organized by the months of the year.  On each month's page you will find themes that are currently taught during that month.  There is also a page of Alphabet Ideas and a page of Free Printables.  If you have an idea for an additional page(s), feel free to add that, as well.

I look forward to seeing our Wiki grow and grow!

Thank Yous and a Giveaway

The Harris Family is the lucky winner of this giveaway!

As many of you know, my passion is writing curriculum and creating fun printables for preschoolers. Therefore, I consider it a true blessing to have gotten to know so many creative, inspiring women who share this passion. I would like to acknowledge a few of the MANY women who have inspired me to continue pursuing my passion. Thank you, ladies! It is a pleasure to know you.

Amy from Teach Mama
Jolanthe from Homeschool Creations
Carissa from 1+1+1=1 and Totally Tots
Jodi from This Handmade Life
Susana from My Family, My Forever
Shannon from Mommies Wise Little Bookworms
Felicia from My Family Life
Karen from Prekinders

I recently met another inspiring woman. Her name is Ashley and she owns an Etsy shop named Me and Marie ~ Learning Aids for Little Ones. Ashley is a former early childhood teacher who, after having her own child, has decided to work from home creating early childhood learning packs, pretend play packs, file folder games, and more. Ashley sent me her latest learning pack, 12 Days of Christmas, to review. I have to say that I am completely impressed. Her ideas are new and creative. The graphics are clear and crisp and completely adorable. Perfect for little ones!


The 12 Days of Christmas is the perfect way to get your kiddos in the holiday spirit. Each of the twelve days includes a lesson plan (short and simple), a song, a hands-on activity or craft, and a clue hunt. The clue hunt has your little detective on the look out for clues that Santa and his helpers have already visited your house (to see if your little ones have been naughty or nice). I love this idea and can't wait to try it out with Wes. This is the first year that he has been interested in Santa, so I know he will love it!

For this giveaway, Ashley is offering one lucky winner the 12 Days of Christmas learning pack. It will be sent to you as a download link in an email, so be sure to include a working email in your entries.



First Entry Requirement ~ Check out Me and Marie ~ Learning Aids for Little Ones. Then come back and leave me a comment about your favorite items.

1. Subscribe to or follow the Me and Marie blog. (1 entry)

2. Follow Me and Marie on Twitter. (1 entry)

3. Subscribe to Raising Itty-Bitty Bookworms. (1 entry)

*Make sure and leave a comment after this post for each entry so I can give you all the credit you deserve (and don't forget your email address too)! Winner will be announced Saturday, December 12, and contacted by email.

What We are Reading

Family Reading

In Anticipation of the Movie ~ Where the Wild Things Are- One of my all time favorites and my children love it, too! A perfect Halloween read because it isn't too scary.

Activities
Cute Art Activity Using Textures and Patterns
Watercolor Drawing and Paintings






















Kindergarten Lesson Plans
Monster Songs
Laptime and Story Circle Activities
Preschool Unit from The Itty-Bitty Bookworm
Monsters ~ Little Reader Booklet

Wes's Picks

Wes is going to the Fire Station with his nursery school class, so this week we have been reading these books about fire trucks.















Big Frank's Fire Truck (Pictureback(R))











Flashing Fire Engines - When I taught preschool this was one of my student's favorite books.

Activities
Sparky the Fire Dog Games and Activities
Smokey Bear
Dog With Spots

Gracen's Picks

Fancy Nancy: Halloween...or Bust! - This book comes with stickers so that you can design a Halloween costume for Fancy Nancy.

Activities

Printable Fancy Nancy Paper Dolls
Fancy Nancy Stickers
Printable Activities for Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
Printable Activities for Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly
Reading Together Activities
Website

Samantha's Picks

Ivy & Bean (Book 1) (Bk. 1) - Ivy has just moved in across the street from Bean, who wants no part of her. She thinks Ivy looks dull, always with her nose in a book. Bean, on the other hand, is a spark plug; she's full of tricks, especially ones that can be played on her older sister, Nancy. But the day Bean pulls a trick that goes wrong and Ivy comes to her rescue, a friendship is born. The deliciousness here is in the details, with both girls drawn distinctly and with flair. Ivy, who at first seems to be a dud, has aspirations to being a witch, which is dangerously intriguing; Bean's spunky way of talking and acting (there's a classic moment when she wiggles her butt at Nancy) will make readers giggle. Even with all the text's strong points, what takes the book to a higher level is Blackall's artwork, which captures the girls' spirit. A chapter from the second book in the series, to be published in this fall, will whet readers' appetites for more Ivy and Bean. Ilene Cooper, American Library Association

Samantha started reading this book at school and is completely "hooked"! She loves the author's website, as well. Check it out!

To see what other children are reading, visit Mouse Grows Mouse Learns.

Jesse Bear ~ Hard at Work

Tub filled with elbow macaroni and dried lentils.

He tries to use a measuring spoon to pour macaroni and lentils down a straw.
"This won't work, " he announces.

"I can use my fingers!"

Ah ~ sweet success!

Dollar Store Finds: Sensory Tubs

One of the craziest times of my day is right before dinner when I am trying to cook, set the table, etc. Now that my children are a little older, I try to get them involved in the process, but when they were younger it was much more difficult. One solution I found was using sensory tubs.

Sensory Tubs are large container bins and tubs that can be filled with different types of materials. Not only do children love exploring these materials, but the exploration provides them with the opportunity to practice observation and fine motor skills (scooping, pouring, etc.). You can purchase sensory tables, but it is simple to create your own with items from dollar stores. Here's how:

• At the dollar store, choose a large plastic bin to use as the actual tub. You will want one that is large enough for the child to play in.
• Then, choose the materials with which you will fill the tub. Here are some examples that are commonly found in dollar stores: rice, small dried pasta, craft pom-poms, flour, oats, dried beans, corn meal, cereal, bird seed, and tear-less baby shampoo.
  
• Next, you will need a plastic shower curtain liner.
  
• Back at home, cover the play area with the shower curtain liner. This will make clean-up much easier.
  
• Fill the plastic bin with one of the materials you purchased. Then add measuring cups, large spoons, plastic bowls and cups, a funnel, etc. Invite your child to play with the sensory tub by showing him/her how to scoop, pour, fill, dump, etc.
  
• After a few play sessions with this material, your child may lose interest. No problem ~ simply dump the material out and add a new one.
  

*If your child puts things in his/her mouth, use only edible items.
**Always supervise sensory tub play.
***To use the tear-less baby shampoo - Fill the tub with water. Add enough shampoo to create some bubbles and a wash cloth. Invite your child to give his/her dolls or toys a bath or wash play dishes.

For additional sensory tub ideas go here!

Do you have any creative ideas for using sensory tubs? Please share!