Cutting and Coloring
Teaching shapes with drawing skills and finger dexterity practice
Instructions
- Draw with an orange crayon a rectangle, triangle, circle, and square on white paper
- A child colors inside the lines of each shape with an orange crayon
- Cut out each shape with scissors, helping if needed. Cutting with scissors helps with finger dexterity
- Place all 4 shapes on a table
- Ask a child to remove circle, then triangle, next the square and finally the rectangle
- Ask a child to place on the table first a square, then a triangle, next a rectangle, and finally circle
Simplify
If cutting is difficult, help the child tear the shapes out. Here is a video to watch that reviews the shapes: circle, square, triangle and rectangle.
Extend
Let the child tell the adult which shape to remove - circle, rectangle, triangle or square. Have some fun and perhaps remove the wrong shape and see if child can "catch" you. Make a pattern with the shapes on a table - circle, square, triangle, rectangle and ask the child to take a mental "picture" before you pick up the pieces. Ask the child to make the pattern from memory. Enjoy making different patterns for each of you to copy from memory.
QUESTIONS FOR CHILD
Why is it important to remember things?
What are some important things you need to remember? (name, address, phone number, parent's names, age, etc.)
Materials
- orange crayon
- white paper
- scissors
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Curriculum Plan Resources
Skills Focus
- Shape - Rectangle
- Color - Orange
- Number - 1-4 Review
- Alphabet - O, U
- Senses - Sight
- Character Trait - Responsibility
- Target Words - Under, Up, Down, Tall
Monthly Proverb
Yiddish- If each person sweeps in front of his own door the whole street is clean
Did You Know?
"The brain builds itself in response to the child’s experiences. Brain circuits that the child uses in daily life are strengthened. Those that the child doesn’t use fade away. "
National Research Council From Neurons to Neighborhoods, 2000
Books to Read
"AlphaBugs: A Pop Up Alphabet Book"
by David Carter (Activity 1)
"Deep In The Swamp"
by Donna Bateman (Activity 22)
"Head to Toe"
by E. Carle (Activity 10)
"AlphaBugs: A Pop Up Alphabet Book". VIDEO
by David Carter (Activity 1)
"Head to Toe". VIDEO
by Eric Carle (Activity 10)
"Deep in The Swamp". VIDEO
by Donna Bateman (Activity 22)
Music Playlist
"When The Saints Go Marching In"
by Pete Fountain, Album: Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? (Jazz) (Activity 2)
"Go, Flush, Wash, Dry"
by Martin Kerr, Album: Favorite Songs from the Family Learning House (Children) (Activity 24)
"The Noble Duke of York"
by Susan McRae, Album: Barney’s Song Book - 16 Favourites for Kids (Children) (Activity 15)
"When The Saints Go Marching In" VIDEO
by Pete Fountain (Activity 2)
"The Noble Duke of York" VIDEO
by Barney's Magical Musical Adventure (Activity 15)
"Go, Flush, Wash, Dry" VIDEO
by Martin Kerr, Album: Favorite Songs from the Family Learning House (Children) (Activity 24)
Monthly Materials List
Click Here to view the list!
Fingerplay / Poems / Songs
Sing/Say The Alphabet
(Activity 26 Month 5)
ABCDEFG HIJKLMNOP QRSTUV WXYZ
Now I’ve said my ABC’s, Next time won't you sing with me.