On Monday and Tuesday our Mother Goose lesson was all about roads! The craft that was included for this day was pretty extensive, so I needed to space out the lesson to give the kids the time they needed to be creative. I have been feeling like it is becoming more and more difficult to fit in all the wonderful activities, crafts, and games that Mother Goose provides (they have really grown over the last few years). I don't want to feel like I have to rush the kids through an exercise just to get to the next one. Because of this, you may see me take two days to complete one lesson from now on. I think it will benefit all of us!
With each new theme Mother Goose provides us with parent newsletters, a gathering list (for minimal monthly needed supplies), a recommended book list, and many more valuable planing materials.
Here is the monthly family newsletter...
Here is the monthly family newsletter...
Here is the breakdown of the unit...
I feel it is important to do our book work daily. The kids were given new literacy and math workbooks for the month of November. The kids worked on these two pages in their literacy workbook...
...and these two pages in their math workbook.
ALL of these supplies were included for a "Build a Road" art project!
This project had many parts. The kids had to cut and paste their black paper to create a road on their green paper. They could also use the provided cardboard tube to pretend to smooth out their roads like real graders and road roller machines do! Then they added paint lines to their road with a white chalk. Next, they squeezed glue on their project and sprinkled black sand on top to add texture! Lastly, they cut out their road signs and assembled them with the foam circle and straws. We let the projects dry overnight and then I gave the kids a chance to play with their art on Tuesday!
It was such a big project the kids needed to spread out. Some of the kids worked on the floor...
This was our book for Monday...
On Tuesday we started our day with these name tags. We discussed that ALL roads have names! I encouraged the kids to practice writing their name on the name tag...
...then I gave the kids plenty of time to build roads with the block center supplies! The kids have so much fun doing things like this, and I love watching them work! There is so much value in working with friends and blocks! The kids placed their name tags on their roads. I informed the kids that some roads are streets, avenues, courts, roads, etc... They giggled when they pretended their name was a real road name!
I thought this was genius that J stacked the buildings to make an "apartment."
Next, the kids worked on making roads with play-dough! The kids smoothed out their play-dough with the provided supplies and then make tire tracks with the cars and trucks! This was so much fun for them! (We used our homemade pumpkin spiced play-dough!)
Next, Mother Goose provided us with these cards for a fun gross motor outdoor math activity!
We set out cones to make a large oval shaped road. I had one child at a time choose a card. We acted each card out as follows...
sun = run around the path
traffic = walk slowly
accident = stop and wait 20 seconds to 1 minute
roadwork = wait 10-20 seconds
animal crossing = stop and wait 20-30 seconds
The kids were moving with their whole body as they practiced their number recognition and counting! What fun! Here they are moving slowly because they are stuck in traffic...
A sunny day means they could run full speed!
Counting for an animal crossing (they are showing great patience)...
A few of the kids continued to still play this even when the group activity was complete. They loved it!
The kids ended their morning working in their workbooks again...
A "How Many?" activity and an "Adding Clouds" activity form their math workbook...
A "Letter Road" activity, and a "Letter C" activity from their literacy workbook...
This was our book on Tuesday...
In the afternoon the kids had so much fun playing with their art project they made on Monday!!!
