Day, Later, Night, Now
Observing the sky to learn target words
Instructions
- Go outside during the day and ask what color is the sky and what is shining in the day sky
- Go outside during the night and ask what color is the sky and what is shining in the night sky
- Chat about the sun and how it helps us - it keeps us warm, it provides light, it helps to grow our food; it is the largest star in the sky
- Chat about the moon and the different shapes - use a round cookie (optional) to share the shapes - full, crescent, quarter, new
- Here is a video to watch about day and night
Simplify
Each week this month, take a look at the sky during the day and night - and encourage a child to ask questions and make observations
Extend
Introduce how the earth rotates - it rotates once every 24 hours. Using a globe, place a sticker on the globe where you live. Shine a flashlight a few inches to the left of the sticker. Keep the flashlight in the same position. Now turn or rotate the globe counterclockwise, and when the flashlight hits the sticker that is morning when the sun appears to be rising. Continue to rotate the globe slowly until the flashlight is not able to light up the area around the sticker. Explain that now it is nighttime where the sticker is and daytime where the flashlight is shining. Continue to rotate the globe until the sticker is reached by the flashlight. Explain that we rotated the globe very slowly but that the Earth actually rotates at 1000 miles an hour. (that is faster than a commercial airplane) There are 8 phases of the moon - share those phases with the child; New Moon, Waxing Crescent Moon, First Quarter Moon, Waxing Gibbous Moon, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous Moon, Third Quarter Moon, Waning Crescent
QUESTIONS FOR CHILD
Tell me your favorite time of a day; night or day and why?
What would you like to be in the sky - the sun or the moon and why?
Can you name something yellow like the sun and something white like the moon?
Materials
- none
Share This Activity
Curriculum Plan Resources
Skills Focus
- Shape - Triangle
- Color - Red, Yellow, Blue
- Number - Four, 4
- Alphabet Letters - D, M
- Senses - Taste
- Character Trait - Love
- Target Words - Day, Later, Night, Now
Monthly Proverb
Arabic-Every day of your life is a page of your history
Did You Know?
"Investing in high quality pre-kindergarten can make every family in America safer from crime and violence. Law enforcement leaders know that to win the war on crime, we need to be as willing to guarantee our kids space in a pre-kindergarten program as we are to guarantee a criminal a prison cell," said Sanford Newman, president of Fight Crime
Books to Read
"The Greedy Triangle"
by Marilyn Burns (Activity 2)
"Mouse Paint"
by Ellen Stoll Walsh (Activity 9)
"The Very Busy Spider"
by Eric Carle (Activity 17) (audiobook available)
"The Greedy Triangle" VIDEO
by Marilyn Burns (Activity 2)
"Mouse Paint". VIDEO
by Ellen Still Walsh (Activity 9)
"The Very Busy Spider" VIDEO
by Eric Carle (Activity 17)
Music Playlist
"An Die Schonen, Blauen Donau - Walzer Op. 314 Johann Strauss"
by Berliner Philharmoniker Album 100 Best Karajan 100 Best Classics (Classical) (Activity 20)
"The Alphabet Song"
by Cedarmont Kids Album 100 Singalong Songs for Kids (Children) (Activity 4)
"Love Grows One By One"
by Priscilla Herdman Album Daydreamer (Children) (Activity 13 & 20)
"The Alphabet Song" VIDEO
by Cedarmont Kids (Activity 4)
"Love Grows One by One" VIDEO
by Priscilla Herdman (Activity 13 & 20)
"An Die Schonen, Blauen Donau-Walzer Op.314" VIDEO
by Johann Strauss (Activity 20)
Monthly Materials List
Click Here to view the list!
Fingerplay / Poems / Songs
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
(Activity 21 Month 4)
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.
Do You Love Me? to “Brother John” tune
(Activity 26 Month 4)
Do you love me? Do you love me?
Yes, I do. Yes, I do.
Give me hugs and kisses. Give me hugs and kisses.
I love you. (two kiss sounds) I love you. (two kiss sounds)