Course 1
Dear Parent/caregiver
Today you will be introducing the theme to your child. To do this effectively you need to provide him/her with some concrete objects to assist with grasping of the concepts. For this the following is recommended:
- It is important to show your child pictures of a classroom and items associated with a classroom
- You would need to gather some classroom supplies namely: books; table; chairs; crayons: schoolbags etc.
- It is important to have your child see, touch and explore actual items as you start a discussion with them about the theme
Use the following open ended questions to introduce the theme:
- Who looks after me in my classroom? (Teacher, Facilitator.)
- What do I find in a classroom? (Books; tables: chairs: puzzles.)
- What areas do I have in my classroom (Block play, fantasy play, Reading corner and working area.)
- What do we do in a classroom? (work, play, develop, learn, listen)
Activity 1:
Fine motor creative art activity: Constructing a Flower
Duration of activity: 20-30 minutes
What do we need?
- A paper plate
- One ice-cream stick
- Scissors
- Glue
- Variety of paint colours
- Paint brush or (sponge to paint with)
- Colored paper (with pre-drawn circle and leave shapes to be cut out) * Caregiver to trace beforehand. ( Leaves preferably on green colour paper )
- Seeds or beads
What to do:
1. Your child will cut out the pre drawn circle and leaves.
2. Child then cuts slits around the paper plate.
3. Allow them to paint the paper plate any color of their choice and the ice-cream stick green.
4. Once it is dry they attach the ice- cream stick, circle and leaves to the flower.
5. They can then add seeds and beads to the flower for some decoration.
Activity 2
Language activity/ Guessing game – I spy game
Duration: 10-15 minutes
What do I need?
- Picture of a classroom (use the picture provided to introduce the theme)
What to do?
- Caregiver to show the above picture or any other picture of a classroom to your child.
- The child then chooses an object within the picture and announces it to the parent caregiver by saying as follow-
- I spy with my little eye, something beginning with… naming the first letter of the object that they see on the picture of the classroom. .example I spy with my little eyes something beginning with the letter “W” – Window,” D” – Desk, “T” – Table, “P” – Pencil, etc. but remember it has to be something that is seen on the classroom picture. Remember to refer to the phonic sound of the first letters and not the alphabet song names. (Example: ‘c’ for classroom and not ‘see’. It is important that the correct visual and auditory connections are made with letters and that we remain consistent.
Activity 3
Physical gross motor activity: Bear walks
Duration: 5-10 minutes
What to do:
- The child places their hands and feet on the floor.
- Their hips and bottoms should be in the air, (higher than their head)
- While on all fours, take two steps forward and two step back then repeat
- This movement activity can form part of any obstacle courses at any other time as part of routines during transitions.
Click on the youtube video below for more information about its benefits for your child’s development.
Activity 4
Milk Experiment
Duration: 10-15 minutes
What do I need?
- A plastic bowl
- ½ cup of milk (full cream)
- Cup
- Food coloring ( Different colors)
- Dish soap
- Cotton Soap
What to do:
1. Parent/ Caregiver throws a ½ cup of milk in a bowl
2. Allow your child to then dip food coloring into the milk
3. Add tiny bit of dish soap to the Q- tip (cotton bud)
4. Instruct your child to press the cotton bud down into the center (middle) of each colour and see what happens!
*The colours will explode all over as the detergent reacts to the molecules of the milk
5. Discuss concepts of: chemical reactions; mixing chemicals; scientific work; being a scientist; (maybe mention words such as particles and molecules so as to expand vocabulary and begin to spark this scientific language/interest)