Easter / Spring Animals – 3.E – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 3 Year Old Curriculum – Unit E

Easter / Spring Animals

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more...

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Movement Moment

Move Like Spring Animals

Supplies:

  • Plastic Easter Eggs (alternatively use other small containers or put all the papers in one larger opaque container or bag, etc.)
  • A basket to hold all the eggs
  • Paper
  • Pen
  • Scissors

Prep:

  • Write the following on a piece of paper:
    1. Jump like a frog
    2. Skip like a lamb
    3. Run like a foal
    4. Tip toe like a mouse
    5. Fly like a robin
    6. Pounce like a kitten
    7. Buzz like a bee
    8. Flutter like a butterfly
    9. Hop like a bunny
    10. Roll like a piglet in mud
    11. Waddle like a duckling
    12. Peck like a chick
    13. Prance like a calf
    14. Dig like a mole
  • Cut the sheet of paper so that each action is on its own small paper.
  • Put one action in each egg.
  • Clear an area for active play.

Time to Play:

  • Invite your children to gather round. Show them the basket of eggs.
  • Explain that each egg has something inside it. You will take turns opening the eggs. When an egg is opened, you will read the action and then do it together.
  • Have fun and be energetic!

Art Activity

Sponge Sheep Painting

Supplies:

  • A sponge, or other painting tool
  • White paint
  • Black paint (or black marker)
  • Small container for black paint
  • Plate or other container for white paint that fits the sponge
  • Green paper (or other medium coloured paper) Alternatively, use white paper and a different colour of paint.
  • Optional: googly eyes

Prep:

  • Consider using half a sheet of paper per child.
  • Pour a small amount of paint into each container.
  • If possible, create an example picture.

Time to Create:

  • Invite your children to the table. Explain that you will be painting lambs today. Show them the example picture you made.
  • Encourage your child to dip the sponge into the white paint and paint a fluffy body for their sheep on their paper.
  • If using black paint for the head and legs, let the children paint them now.
  • If using black marker for the head and legs, wait until the painting has dried, then allow your child to draw the head and legs.

Five-Minute Focus

Let’s Learn the ABCs

Letters of the Unit

  • WXYZ

Letter Activity:

  • Supplies: 4 Popsicle sticks per person

Time to Learn:

  • Give each child 4 popsicle sticks, and take 4 for yourself.
  • Model how to lay the popsicle sticks on the floor or table in the shape of a “W”.
  • Encourage your child to copy with their own popsicle sticks.
  • Repeat with letters “X”, “Y”, and “Z”.

  • For other letter teaching techniques, visit: https://sjlittle.ca/preschool/teaching-the-abcs-at-circle-time/

Let’s Sing

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Let’s Read

Curious George Colors Eggs

Author: H. A. Rey

An engaging tale of dyeing eggs with no Easter Bunny or religious content.

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Jesus Chose At Easter Time
Words by S. J. Little

View the lyrics here: https://sjlittle.ca/preschool/jesus-chose-at-easter-time/

Let’s Read

CHRISTIAN BOOK

The First Easter Day

Author: Jill Roman Lord
Illustrator: Kimberley Barnes

 

Jesus Chose at Easter Time – Preschool Easter Song

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

To help you instill the reason we, as Christians, celebrate Easter, I came up with this simple song.

(If you’ve been following along, you may notice this is the same tune I used for my song “Jesus Came at Christmas Time” a few years back. My kids enjoyed it so much, I decided to create this Easter song in a similar manner.)

 

Jesus Chose at Easter Time

Tune: Praise Him, Praise Him (Composer Unknown – Pre 1974)
Song by: S. J. Little

 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus chose at Easter
To show us that He loves us.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus chose at Easter time.

 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus died at Easter
To save us from our sins.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus died at Easter time.

 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus rose at Easter
So we can live with Him.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus rose at Easter time.

 

 

For another super simple Christian Easter song, check out my song: He Rose Again and Lives Today

We’re Going On a Puddle Hunt

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

We’re Going On a Puddle Hunt

By: S. J. Little

Word Count: 48 (Max Word Count: 50)

Entered in: 50 Precious Words International Writing Contest
https://viviankirkfield.com/50preciouswords/

 

Going on a puddle hunt.
Gonna find a big one!
What a miserable day.
We’re not glum.

Tug boots,
Zip coats,
Out the door.

Pitter patter.
Tiny puddle,
Mini splash.

Little stream.
Sail leaves.
Hurry follow!

Large pond,
Too deep.
Go around.

Look there!
Perfect puddle.
Splash together.

No Hand

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

It was time for my kids to head towards bed. Pajamas were on, night-time snack had been eaten, and the Bible story had been read.

While my husband went ahead with our daughter, I directed our 1.5 year old son towards the stairs.

As we reached the foot of the staircase, he suddenly turned to me.

“No ‘and. No ‘and. No ‘and.”

He shook his hand at me to emphasize his point.

“Okay,” I took a step back. “You don’t have to hold my hand. That’s fine.”

He reached for the handrail, grasping the part that secures the railing to the wall. The railing itself was too high for him to use comfortably.

Using this support, he stepped onto the bottom step.

That was as far as he could go while holding that support.

He moved his hand, bracing it against the wall, and began taking the next step.

He paused. His other hand reached towards me. “Mama ‘and.”

“Okay.”

Grinning, I took his hand in mine and helped him climb the rest of the staircase. So much for “no hand.”

This wasn’t the first time he had done this. In fact, in the days leading up to my writing this account, he adamantly declared “no hand” in his one-year-old accent nearly every time we approached a flight of stairs together. Then, after taking the first step, he would reach out his little hand for me to hold as I helped him navigate the stairs.

You see, he has reached the age of wanting to be independent while not being very capable yet. He is delighted anytime I can teach him to do something on his own, such as doing the coat flip trick to put on his coat.

His “no hand, no hand,” got me thinking.

Have I ever said “No hand,” to God?

Undoubtedly I have many times.

Coming from my 1.5 year old, it is a sweet, though sometimes difficult, gesture of growing up. He should be gaining independence. It is good and right for him to want to gain more independence.

For me, in my walk with God, seeking independence by rejecting God’s help is a stubborn prideful thing. It is not good.

God wants me to depend on Him. The more I grow and mature in my relationship with Him, the more I will depend on Him.

Yet He gives me the choice.

We are told:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
in all your ways know Him,
and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CSB

I am to lean into God and let Him help me. I am not to live this life in my own understanding, or my own strength.

Today, may I reach out my hand towards my Heavenly Father and say, “Abba’s hand” as I lean into the help He offers.

Dinosaurs – 3.6 – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 3 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 6

Dinosaurs

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more...

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Movement Moment

Move Like a Dinosaur

Supplies:

Prep:

  • Clear an area for running. A hallway, or other long area, would suit this activity well.
  • Tip: The recommended book (see below) is a great precursor to this activity.

Time to Play:

  • Stand with all your children at one end of the playing area.
  • Explain that you are going to move like dinosaurs all the way to the other side of the playing area.
    • Triceratops – Swing your horns
    • Tyrannosaurus rex (T-rex) – Roar
    • Stegosaurus – Swing your tail
    • Brontosaurus – Take long steps
    • Pterodactyl – Fly
    • Velociraptor – Run fast
    • Ankylosaurus – Stomp
  • Be excited and have fun with your children.

Art Activity

Sand Painting on a FossilFree Triceratops Colouring Page

Supplies:

Prep:

  • If using Cheerios or other cereal, crush it into a sand-like consistently.
  • If possible, print the free dinosaur fossil colouring sheet I have provided. Otherwise plain paper can be used.

Time to Create:

  • Explain to your children that dinosaur bones are found in the ground. Tell them you will be putting sand on your dinosaur fossils.
  • Give each child a dinosaur fossil colouring sheet.
  • Pour a small glob of glue in the center of the dinosaur. Give your child a popsicle stick and encourage them to spread the glue around the picture.
  • Once your child is satisfied with how well they have spread the glue, take the popsicle stick away.
  • Give them a small container or bowl with sand in it. Show them how to take a pinch of sand in their fingers and sprinkle it on the areas of the picture with glue.
  • After your child is done sprinkling the sand on, tip the picture to pour off any loose sand. (For easier clean up, tip the picture over a spare paper to contain the loose sand.)
  • Set the picture aside to dry.
  • Tip for cleanup: Water dissolves school glue. If glue dries on the table, leave a wet cloth on top of the glue for a few minutes then wipe the softened glue off.

Five-Minute Focus

Let’s Learn the ABCs

Letters of the Unit

TUV

Letter Activity

Let’s Sing

5 Little Dinosaurs – Fingerplay

Let’s Read

Blippi: If I Were a Dinosaur

Author: Meredith Rusu
Illustrator: Adam Devaney

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Our God is an Awesome God

Let’s Read

BIBLE

Read the next story in the picture Bible you are working your way through. Need recommendations for a good Children’s picture Bible? Click Here