Weekly Theme  (Start Monday, continue with the theme all week)

This week's theme is BUTTERFLIES.  ~Butterfly Pictures/Printouts~

The vocabulary word is antennae - the feelers on the head of the butterfly.

Books to read aloud that support the theme:

The Lamb and the Butterfly by Arnold Sundgaard
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
Where Butterflies Grow by Joanne Ryder
Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons
The Butterfly Alphabet by Kjell B. Sandved
Butterfly by Susan Canizares
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Poems that support the theme:

Butterfly
by Katrina Lybbert

Butterfly, butterfly,
Flitting in the air,
It is fun to chase you
Here and there.

Butterfly, butterfly,
Flitting in the air,
Your wings are so pretty,
Come closer if you dare.

(Can also be sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")

Songs that support the theme:

Birds, Bees, and Pretty Butterflies

More Poems and Songs for the Butterfly Theme

Gross Motor Skills Activity:  (Monday)

Use scarves, one for each hand, to wave as you fly like a butterfly to music.

Fine Motor Skills Activity:  (Friday)
Choose one:
~Practice drawing antennae on a picture of a butterfly.

~Paint a butterfly... put small drops of paint on one side of a creased piece of paper.  Fold along the crease to smear the paint onto both sides of the sheet of paper.  When the paint is dry cut it out in a butterfly shape.

~Make a butterfly out of playdough.  Use pipe cleaners to stick in as antennae.  Use small shape cookie cutters to press similar impressions on each wing.
 

Shape/Color  (Tuesday)

This week you will teach the color purple.

• Introduce the color by coloring in the oval (previous week's shape) on your learning poster with a purple crayon.
• Put on a purple article of clothing.
• Point out objects around your home of the color purple.
• Add the color to a meal by choosing a purple food, or using a plate, cup, or utensil of the color purple.
• Let your child color in a coloring book or on a printout using a purplecrayon.

The letter this week is the letter P.

• Give your child a printout of the (capital) letter P to color.  ~Letter Printouts~
• Teach your child to trace the shape of the letter P using her finger.  You can trace in pudding, finger paint, a shallow tray (cookie sheet) filled with rice or beans, etc.
• Point out the letter P in signs, cereal boxes, etc.
• Post the letter P on your learning poster.

The number this week is the number 16.

• Show your child 16 objects to count, or eat 16 raisins, 16 cheerios, etc.
• Show your child the written symbol (numeral) for 16 and put on your learning poster.
• Add 16 stickers to your counting book.
• Show your matching index cards for the number 16 to your child.
• Draw 16 ovals on a piece of paper and count them with your child.
• Walk around your home counting 16 of many different objects.

The nursery rhyme this week is Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary.  Recite often!

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.