Jungle to Desert (Week 4) Feb.25-March1

Unit Book: Two Cool Coyotes

Weekly Question and Unit Words
What is a desert?
(sand, desert, coyote, howl, absorb, cactus)
Small Groups

Two Cool Coyote Initial Sounds Sunglasses- We will be listening to the initial sound we hear in words.  When two pictures have the same beginning sound we will pair them together to create a “pair” of sunglasses for our Two Cool Coyotes. 

Journals-We will write in our journals about animals that live in the desert.  We will add lots of detail to our illustrations and carefully sound out our words to write what we hear.

Desert Vocabulary Books- We will be reviewing our unit vocabulary from our unit book Two Cool Coyotes. We will write or trace the beginning letter for each of our words. We will also review the definition of each word and we will recall the word from our story.

Handwriting Without Tears Books- We will be working on the formation of diagonal line letters M and N

Desert Animal Patterns- Using desert animals we have learned about from our story, we will extend and then create our own patterns.  

Playdough Numbers- We will use number mats and playdough to mold numbers 1-10.  We will also count out the corresponding number of playdough dots to practice matching quantities to written numerals. We will roll out snakes and then form them to the numbers.

Desert Numbers- using q-tips dipped in glue, we will trace numbers on our papers and then using our alligator fingers, we will sprinkle sand on the glue.  This will create a chart we can feel numbers as we trace them.  

Centers

Art Table-Animal art to add to our mural (catcus hand prints, camel hand prints)

Block Area- Animals and blocks

Sensory Table-Sand and  desert animals (Animals, rocks, caves....)
Book Area- Exploring Books about jungle and desert
Dramatic Play-Camping
Science - Sponges and water to explore  how water absorbs
Rug- Safari jeeps, animals, and people

Science/Social Studies/Math Circle Concepts
-What is a desert?
-How do animals live in a desert
-Aborbing Sponges/Sponges cut into catcus to show how water absorbs
-Compare and contrast jungle and desert animals

Songs, Word Plays, and Language

-Our Good Morning Chant

-Animals in the Desert Song
-Pattern songs

Jungle Unit (Feb. 11-15) week 3

Unit Book: 
Giraffes Can't Dance
Weekly Question and Vocabulary Related to book:

What makes each animal special? What makes you special?

(clumsy, slim, baboon, warthog, amazing)
Small Groups

Elephants Ears- We will be making elephant ears to help us be better listeners to the first sound in words. We will put on our ears then listen to a word a teacher says. We will say the sound and then find the elephant with the letter on it that makes the same sound.

Search and Sort Letters- We will be working on letters M and N as we continue on our diagonal line letters. We will sort uppercase letters and lowercase letters in our small groups. Next, we will search our papers for uppercase and lowercase letters.

Save the Animals- Fine motor activity- The animals need our help. Our jungle animals will have rubber bands tied on them and they will be taped to the table. It is our job to use our "alligator fingers" to pull the bands and tape off to free all of them.

Jungle Animal Roll & Write- We will use dot dice to roll and find numbers on our sheet. We will name and trace each number we find and try to trace them all!

Patterns- We will use legos to create a variety of pattterns. We will then record our patterns by coloring on a recording sheet. We will compare our patterns with our friends to see how they are the same or different.

Reptile Patterns- We will extend reptile patterns after cutting and sorting a variety of reptiles. Then we will create a reptile pattern of our own.

Valentine Exchange- We will give our friends their valentines in a whole group activity. We will reinforce conversational words such as "Lisa, Happy Valentine's Day" and"Thank you" as we give our friends their cards. We will also remind them to look at their friends in the eyes as they are talking to them.

Centers

Art Table-Valentine's Day Bag decorating

Block Area- Zoo animals 

Sensory Table- Cornstarch and Water
Book Area- Exploring Books about jungle and desert
Writing Table-Jungle Stamping
Dramatic Play-Post Office
Rug- Safari jeeps, animals, and people

Science/Social Studies/Math Circle Concepts
-What is a pattern?
-What special skills/traits does each animal have?
-What can we do to help the

Songs, Word Plays, and Language

-Our Good Morning Chant

-Down in the Jungle
-Five Little Monkeys
-Rhyming Time Song
-Jungle Movement

Jungle Unit (Week 2) Feb. 4-8

Unit Book: 
Chameleon's Colors
Weekly Question and Vocabulary Related to book:

What are jungle animals like?

(parrot, complain, splash, chase, collect, pattern )

Literacy Small Groups

Handwriting without Tears- We will be working on in our diagonal line books on the letters A and V.

Journal- We will continue our journal writing and work to add spaces between our words.  We will use our senses to write about what we see, hear, touch, taste or smell in the jungle. We will have to use our imaginations and what we have learned about the jungle.

Patterns- We will use the story Chameleon’s colors to create our own patterned chameleons.  Using colored cubes we will make our own colorful chameleon by repeating an ABC pattern.  We will then use colored tissue squares to craft our chameleons.

Jungle Animal Roll & Write- We will use dot dice to roll and find numbers on our sheet. We will name and trace each number we find and try to trace them all!

Patterns- We will use legos to create a variety of pattterns. We will then record our patterns by coloring on a recording sheet. We will compare our patterns with our friends to see how they are the same or different.

Roll and Paint Chameleons- We will roll a large number cube by taking turns. We will label the number on the cube then each child will show that many by counting objects. Then we will use water colors to paint the matching chameleon with the same number.

Nature's Patterns- Patterns can be seen in our natural world.  We will explore patterns on familiar jungle animals by looking at & discussing photos of a zebra, tiger, tropical bird and snake.  We will then recreate their patterns using cut paper and glue.


Syllables in the Jungle- We will be working on the number of syllables we hear in hear in animal names. Then we will sort the animals onto our papers.

Letter Sounds- We will practice letter-sound correspondence with another fun qr code activity.  Using a qr code on our iPads, we will scan codes around our room to reveal a mystery picture and word.  We will match the beginning sound the letter that makes that sound and color the letter on our recording sheets.


Centers

Art Table-Animal prints to add to our mural

Block Area- Zoo animals with labels for children to create zoo cages (Welcome to the Zoo)

Sensory Table- Cornstarch and Water
Book Area- Exploring Books about jungle and desert
Easel-Markers and paper
Writing Table-Zookeeper Lists
Dramatic Play-Cub Cadet Zoo- Buying Tickets and visiting animals
Rug- Safari jeeps, animals, and people

Science/Social Studies/Math Circle Concepts
-What is a pattern?
-How jungle animals camouflage in different environments
-What living things need
-Canopy, understory, and forest floor review.

Songs, Word Plays, and Language

-Our Good Morning Chant

-Down in the Jungle
-Five Little Monkeys
-Rhyming Time Song
-Jungle Movement