Author: Addie

Food Preschool Theme

Food Preschool Theme

I like to do this theme right before Thanksgiving because of all the food we are about to have. It’s fun to see them put into action some of the things they learned from this unit while eating their Thanksgiving meal. Here is what we will be doing for our food & nutrition theme this year.

 M T W Th F 
Religion Read Firey Furnace Story  Comprehension questions* Color or paint worksheet Play mother may I game Play red light green light and extension 
Language (2) Sandpaper letters R Read, Build, Write* R binder Stone soup story & retelling R miniatures 
Language (4) Food Rhyming* Read, Build, Write* At the grocery store mini reader Stone soup story & retelling Alphabet soup* 
Math (2) Intro 9 with math beads Sandwich shop game Practice counting with goldfish Count 9 items to check out when playing grocery store Trail mix patterns 
Math (4) Use math beads to show the concept of 1000 Easy as pie fractions*Measure food items with unifix – estimate before measurings, count how tall and then compare Be the cashier when playing grocery store with the banker game Trail mix patterns 
Art/Sensory I like to eat craft* Kitchen Play Sensory bin – dried beans & plastic food with baskets Grocery Store Play Build over, under, around & next to a car or doll with pantry items 
Science
Geography
History 
Food group sorting  Parts of a banana Parts of an orange Where does my body get energy sheet Find where your favorite foods come from on a map 

Comprehension Questions: 
When were the people supposed to bow down to the golden statue? 
What would happen if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not obey? 
Who did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego choose to obey? 
How did God protect the three men in the fiery furnace? 
Because of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s obedience, what did the King realize? 

I Like To Eat – Cut out foods the child likes from ads and glue them on a brown paper bag. Label it “Isa” Likes to Eat 

Read, Build, Write – Draw a shopping cart on upperhalf of white board. Pick a letter flashcard, have child find corresponding letter magnet and put it in the ‘cart’. Then have child write the letter on the lower half of the board. I’ll pick R and a couple other letters to review for my 2 year old & Am and a couple other sight words for my 4 year old 

Alphabet soup – put magnetic letters in a bit pot and give your child a ladle. Have them scoop out the soup and tell you the letters. You can then have them make small sight words or CVC words with the letters. 

Food Rhyming – Pick a piece of play food and try to rhyme with it. Do it until child is bored – ex. Rice – mice, tomato – potato, apple – chapel. This could be a good way to introduce new vocabulary. Child may say some silly words as well, but if they are getting the rhyming concept then that is ok. Just have fun with it! 

Easy as Pie – I have this game, but you could introduce fractions by using a paper plate pies and cutting them up into different sections. This lesson is not supposed to really get them doing fraction math, but more introduce the concept of fractions to them and better understand some of the terms that we use in our everyday lives and in baking. 

Some ideas from Pocket of Preschool   

Farm Preschool Theme

Farm Preschool Theme

(updated 10/2023)

My kids and I love doing the farm theme! Our farm animals come out more than just this week, but it is really fun to get everything out all at once. It’s perfect for fall time. This is what we are doing this week.

Farm Theme Book ideas: This Is the Farmer – Nancy Tafuri; Farming – Gail Gibbons; The Red Hen – Rebecca Emberley; Big Red Barn – Margaret Wise Brown; Giggle, Giggle, Quack – Doreen Cronin 

 M T W Th F 
Religion Read David & Goliath Comprehension questions* Sling shot paper rocks Paint D&G worksheet with marbles Paint small stones 
Language (2) Sandpaper letter E Farm matching E binder When doing egg shapes, talk about egg starting with letter e E miniatures 
Language (4) Counting syllables Color or clip the beginning sound As video Read & match How many syllables 
Math (2) Counting farm animals 1-8 Place farm stickers on 8 worksheet Farm count & clip Sorting egg shapes Follow the path 
Math (4) Use sensory bin kernels or beans to count 10 piles of 10 Making 100 w coins – sorting mat  Collecting coins game  Practice writing numbers in a black salt tray or dirt tray using small farm figurines  Build the number  
Art/Sensory Sensory bin* Clean the animals Milking a cow* Farm stamps*  Round the sheep* 
Science
Geography
History 
Life cycle of a chicken Explore different vegetable seeds and maybe even plant some – Farm to table sequencing Products obtained from cow milk*  Talking about matter with a balancing activity Learn about parts of animals 

Comprehension Questions: 

What did David use to fight Goliath? 

How would you feel if you were David? 

How did God help David? 

Products Obtained from Cow Milk– Talk about the different products that are made from cow milk and how they are made. Use the printable for a visual 

The below 5 ideas come from Mrs. P: 

Milking a cow – Mix water and white paint in a rubber glove and close it off with a rubberband. Then poke a tiny hole in the fingertips or udders with a safety pin (may want to do this over a cup), then milk the udders. 

Stamps – Make a scene on paper using farm stamps. You can start with a blank sheet of paper or draw a sky, grass and barn to start, then stamp away. 

Clean the Animals – Dirty up some animal figurines with mud and set up a bowl of soapy water and a scrubber. Have child wash the mud off the animals 

Round the Sheep – Pretend that some balloons are sheep (you could even draw faces on them) and scatter them all over a room. Then have the child try to gather them all into an enclosed space 

Sensory Bin Ideas – Oatmeal, corn kernels, or white beans with animal figurines or puzzle pieces and different scoops & cups 

2023 Farm Theme Plan

Religion focus – Memorize the Hail Mary

2Yr OptionsSorting egg shapes, Farm matching cards, animal figurine play, sensory bin – Oatmeal or corn kernels, animal figurines, tractor, scoops 

Language Introduce last name with chicken name activity Clothespin name activity (For added fun with the theme, you can turn clothespins into animalsWrite last name in sharpie on paper, then glue beans or corn kernels to it Fill bin with straw & animals and put magnets of last name letters in it to find and order on white board 
Math Re-intro #6 & do counting farm animals 1-6 Place farm stickers and/or stamps on #6 printable Build the number  1-6 using counters or play-do Try the follow the path activity & do farm count & clip 
Art/Sensory Draw faces on balloons to make sheep, scatter them around the room and herd them into a ‘pen’ Muddy up some animal figurines and have a washing station Add mix of white paint & water to rubber glove & seal with rubber-band. Use safety pin to poke hole in fingertips and milk the cow udders (over sink or bin) Help child draw a farm scene on butcher paper (sky, grass, barn, pond) then use animal stamps to finish 
S/G/H Go over life cycle of a chicken and play one of the suggested games Farm to table sequencing Talk about how products are made from cows’ milk (printable) Learn about the parts of an animal 

Best Gifts for 4 Year Old

2022 Holiday Gift Guide for 4 Year Olds

4 year olds are curious, opinionated, full of energy and are likely starting to become OBSESSED with something. It might be Lego, Barbie, Starwars, L.O.L or another IT brand out there. My guess is, that if they are obsessed with that something then you have a few good items you’re already thinking about for them. So, in this list, I am focusing on the gifts and toys that aren’t necessarily a brand specific item but toys and items that are great for helping them develop their imaginations, fine motor skills and gross motor skills.

I am a mom of 3, and I am sharing things that my current 5 year old gravitated towards when she was 4 – and of course items that she did not lose interest in after a couple of weeks. These are toys that keep getting used over and over again.

Best Toys for 4 Year Olds

(This list contains affiliate links for your convenience. This means at no cost to you, if you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission).

You can find my complete Amazon 4 Year Old Gift Guide here.

Digital Camera

Incline/Wedge Mat

Stacking Rocks

Hair Coloring Chalk (This is NOT just for girls!! My nephew loves using these!)

Geo Board

YOTO Story Player

Roller Skates

Calico Critters

Tangram Set

Marble Run

Walkie Talkies

Cash Register

Light Up Drawing Board

Metallic Markers

Mailbox Activity Set

Piggy Bank

Telescope

Sand Art Kit

How To Draw Book

Reading Light

Star Projector

Guitar & Lessons (or another instrument that they may be interested in)

Trampoline

Tablet

Best Gifts for 3 Year Old Preschooler

2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Preschoolers

At 3 years old, your child’s imagination is running wild, their language is rapidly developing and they are starting to become their own little person. Toys that are more open ended are great for this age. 3 is an amazing age, and as a mom of 3 (one of which is 3 right now) I have been able to watch my kids play and explore and see which toys they continue to gravitate towards day after day, and year after year.

Feel free to send this 3 year old gift guide on to your family members, friends and whoever else might need some good ideas for gift giving.

Best Toys for 3 Year Old Preschooler

(This list contains affiliate links for your convenience. This means at no cost to you, if you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission).

You can find my complete Amazon Preschool Gift Guide here.

Stepping Stones

Yoto Story Player

Stamp Set

Playdo Set

Garden Building

Cash Register

Wallet & Play Money

Gym Mat

Nursery Play Set

Baby Doll Carrier

Baby Doll Accessories

Floor Puzzle

Hammock Pod

Wobble Board

Doorbell Dollhouse

Rainbow Stackers

Fine Motor Tool Box

Scissor Skills Activity Book

Magnetic Dress Up Dolls

Duplo Town

Scooter

Spirograph Jr

Dress up Outfit – Whatever you think they’d enjoy best!

Mini Home Cleaning Set

Bean Bags

Stacking Rocks

Wagon

Kids Umbrella

Play Kitchen

Play Food

Kitchen Helper Set

Picasso Tiles

Skoolys

Tablet

Best Gifts for 2 Year Old Toddler

2021 Holiday Gift Guide for Toddlers

At 2, your child will start the year as a toddler and end the year as a preschooler. It’s an age where the imagination expands, their fine motor, hand-eye and sorting skills explode.

I am a mom of 3 that has been able to test A LOT of toys over the years. This list contains toys that I have tested with my own children, and toys that they have grown with and still love. It’s a great list to send to your friends and family to give them gift ideas too.

Best Gifts for 2 Year Old Toddler

(This list contains affiliate links for your convenience. This means at no cost to you, if you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission).

You can find my complete Amazon 2 Year Old Gift Guide here.

Doll Stroller

Play Sink

Watering Can

Ice Cream Set

Nesting Dolls

Mini Trampoline

Shape & Color Sorting Toy

Kids Kitchen Helper Set

Animal Figurines

Balance Bike

Tea Set

Stepping Stones

Transferring Practice Pitchers

Train Set

Jumbo Tweezers

Wobble Board

Spray Bottle & Squeegee

Tool Kit

Hoola Hoops

Play Kitchen

Play Cutting Food

Shopping Cart

Toddler Utensils

Scooter

Buckle Toy

Duplo

Skoolys

Picasso Tiles

Doll Accessories

Best Gifts for Baby 6-12 Months

2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Babies

I love gifts that babies want to use over and over and that help them master developmental skills. This list are the toys that have done just that over and over again with my girls. These are toys that we have and still do LOVE!

This is also a perfect list of to be able to send to family and friends who are asking what they should get for your little one.

Best Toys for Babies 6-12 Months

(This list contains affiliate links for your convenience. This means at no cost to you, if you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission).

You can find my complete Amazon Baby 6-12 Month Gift Guide here.

Scarf Pull

Rolling Drum

Spinning Drum

Foam Playset

Baby Doll

Coin Box

Stacking Cups

Toddler Utensils

Egg & Cup

Toddler Drinking Cups

Large Knob Puzzle

Pop Up Toy

Ball Drop Object Permanence Drop

20 in 1 Block Set

Shape Sorter

Ring Stacker

Poke A Dot Book

Best Gifts for Baby 0-6 Months

2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Babies

When it comes to babies, a lot of times wrapping paper and boxes are what they end up playing with the most. So if you’re looking to save some money, you might want to go with things that they NEED like diapers or teethers.

But, if you’re like me and still want to get them a little something, these are the perfect gifts that babies 0-6 months will actually use. And even if you don’t want to get something, it’s the perfect list to be able to send to friends and family members who are asking what they should get.

I’m a mom of 3 with a 5 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old so I have been able to test a lot of toys and see which ones babies REALLY gravitate toward. This list is filled with things my kids have loved and used over and over again.

Wooden Play Gym

Black & White Cards

Wooden Rattle

Rolling Bell Cylinder

Spinning Drum

Interlocking Disks

Teething Spoons

Textured Balls

Teething Toy

Tag Lovie

Wooden Clutching Toy

Floor Mirror

Maracas

Baby Brush Set – This one is great for cradle cap!