Cleaning Up...

This week we will be continuing our Mother Goose "Alphabet House" theme.  All week we will be learning about helping around the home! 

Monday - Cleaning Up

Tuesday - Laundry

Wednesday - Caring for Pets

Thursday - Outdoor Chores

Friday - Welcoming Guests

*We will also be sneaking in a few Father's Day activities!

 Before I get started on our lesson I want you to meet our new friend!  He and anther boy were supposed to start today, but a strep bug crept up unexpectedly.  That was a bummer, but our other friend will likely join us tomorrow.  This cutie will be 5 in December!  He has the same name as another child, the same birthday as another child, and his parents have the same names as another set of parents!  Crazy, huh? Lol!  Look at that handsome smile!  He had a great day and fit right in!  I can already tell he loves preschool!

 The kids chose to start with their workbooks rather than circle time.  I tried to offer a lot of choices on this day being that we had a new friend who still has a lot to take in and digest.  They worked on the letter K in their literacy workbook...

 ...and they completed patterns in their math workbook.

 During circle time we added the letter K to our alphabet house.

 Then the kids crumpled up a piece of paper and tossed it in the bucket as we listened to the song, "Little Helper" on our Mother Goose Alphabet House CD.  We talked about our friendship word for the month: "Helpful."  We discussed why it is important to keep a house clean.

  Before beginning a math activity, I asked the kids what they have that is special and why it is special.  Then I asked them what they would do if they lost it.  A few volunteers completed the following math problems using the plastic keys Mother Goose Time provided for us this month.  The other kids counted along and helped their friends.  Numbers 1and 2 are usually pretty easy, and I am always so appreciative for the numbers 3 and 4 challenge cards.  The kids are always so eager to learn with these!

  Next we discussed what our favorite and least favorite chores are to do around the house.  Mother Goose provided us with a graph and the following "Would you rather..." questions...

 We used our monthly manipulatives to complete the questions.  The kids were asked to read the graph after all the votes were in and identify which choices were the most and least popular.  This has always been a favorite activity of the kids!

Mother Goose provided the following supplies for our craft today.  The cardboard tube, fringed foam, and rubber band made a mini broom!  The kids LOVED these! 

 I placed a couple of the "wooden alphabet floors" in the sensory table with moon sand.  I explained that some floors can get dirty with sand and other things.  The kids had the opportunity to play in the sensory table during their free play time.  They could cover up the letters with the sand and then sweep it off with the mini broom!

 We used the rest of the mini brooms for painting!  The kids always enjoy painting with different objects other than paintbrushes!  They liked mixing all the colors to make brown...they said the brown paint looked like dirt, so they felt like they were cleaning as they were painting!

Next I set out a ton of play cleaning supplies!  I bought a lot of these from the dollar store.  I bought a large broom and mop and had my husband cut it down to fit the height of a child.  I taught the kids how to use the items, and then they were off!  They LOVED this!  They really had fun cleaning!!!  I was so impressed, that I think I might have to take these toys out more often!

 Apparently even my ceiling looked a little dirty!  Ha!

 Don't worry, I didn't let them clean the toilet!

It was so beautiful outside, the kids requested a picnic!

 We also had story time outside!

 BIG NEWS!!!!  Paul worked so hard all of Saturday laying new wood chips in the playground area!  He built a gate on the fence and moved a tree to plan for a dump truck to deliver them.  Unfortunately, we found out that the place we purchased them from does not drive their dump trucks on soil.  This did not change Paul's plans.  He delivered two loads on Friday night, and another 6 loads on Saturday IN THE RAIN!  My heart is so grateful and happy I have such a supportive and hard-working husband!

 Working in the pouring rain...

 Three cheers for Paul!!!!