The Overall Experience
When approaching preschool from an educational perspective, it's important to remember that at that tender age children learn holistically, that is from the whole experience, as opposed to from the individual parts of the experience. This is why educators integrate a variety of experiences including song, crafts, and activities into a typical preschooler's day, which helps to reinforce both social lessons and educational development.
Among the most common topics for preschool educators to cover is the alphabet, since it helps to provide children with, literally, the building blocks for reading and writing. Try integrating some of these preschool activities into lesson plans about the alphabet in general or when focusing on this letter in particular.
The Letter A: Apples
A is often the place where educators begin their alphabet exploration, seeing It 's the first letter of the alphabet:. Preschool activities and crafts as it focuses on two children, the letters A favorite places things apples and alligators.
This craft called Shaker Apple, requires red paper plates, or posters and red, brown and green card and a small amount of noise producers, such as dried beans, rice, button or small stones. To begin, cut a series of red apple-shaped pieces of paper or poster paint the paper plate.Also, cut out some small stems from the brown construction paper and green leaves from the green construction paper.
Glue or staple the stem and leaves to the top of one of the apples. Next, glue or staple two apples together, leaving a small hole for the insertion of the noise makers. After the noise makers have been slipped in, glue or staple the rest of the shaker. For added fun, have children compose a short song about how much like apples.
Not all preschool activities should involve cutting, pasting or stapling, such as this version of Bobbing for Apples. This activity requires a large bucket and a number of small apples. Fill the bucket up with water and place the apples in the bucket. If the children are having difficult grasping the apples, try cutting the apples into smaller slices.
One at a time, children are to try and retrieve an apple from the bucket without using their hands. This activity is popular around Halloween, and provides an excellent opportunity to begin educating the children about a healthy diet and lifestyle.
The Letter A: Alligators
Finally, here's a game that children really enjoy called "Feed the Alligator". To begin, draw a large alligator head on a piece of green poster board. Make sure the alligator has a mouth that's approximately double the size of a beanbag. Cut out the mouth, and add paper teeth if desired.
Tape the alligator head to a chair or small table. Now it is time to remove the alligator standing a few feet and tried to throw a beanbag feed through the mouth. If the pre-work is too easy, increase the difficulty by children are further away from the crocodile.