New this year I am adding a bear preschool theme, because it is something my daughter is really into right now. I’ve picked some of our favorite books (below) and we are ready to learn! This plan is for my 3 turning 4 year old who is working on mastering her letter sounds. I have also added some options for my 2 year old in case she joins us for learning instead of nap.
Books: Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear & Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See – Bill Martin Jr; Bear Says Thank You – Michael Dahl; Bear Snores On – Karma Wilson; Goldilocks and the Three Bears – Robert Southly; Teddy Bears Picnic – Jimmy Kennedy; Blueberries for Sal – Robert McCloskey; Where’s My Teddy? – Jez Alborough; We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – Michael Rosen
Religion focus: Pick a saint to read about each day
2 Yr Options: sort counting bears by color
| Language | Color the B worksheet | Introduce Q; sandpaper letter; Goldilocks questions* & Qu worksheet | Introduce K; sandpaper letter; K is for Koala worksheet | Where is the bear? * |
| Math | Place 10 counting bears on each B from above, then do patterning | 10 number sense worksheet – match the counting bears to the picture | Use 2 piles of counting bears to practice greater, less, more, fewer, and equal | Brown bear number practice |
| Art/Sensory | Bear cookie cutters – use them with play-do or paint stamping | Go on a picnic with 3 bears and teach your child how to set a table | Put a counting bear on a spoon and balance it across the room pouring it into a cup – repeat | Bear bounce* |
| S/G/H | Learn about the different types of bears and find the countries they come from on a map | Label the parts of a bear and research what they like to eat | Koalas aren’t bears, they’re marsupials. Learn about what makes them different. | Gummy bear science experiment |
| 2 Yr Ideas | Sort counting bears by color |
Goldilocks questions – Use the story of Goldilocks to talk about different Q words. What questions were the bears asking? What was on the bears’ bed to keep them warm? Quilt. When Goldilocks fell asleep what sounds were in the house? It was quiet. How did Goldilocks leave the house? Quickly.
Where is the bear? – Get 4 dixie cups and write a letter on each one. I will do B, Qu, K & one of my child’s weakest letters. Place a counting bear underneath one, and have your child say the letter sounds until they find the bear. Repeat as many times as you can before your child bores.
Bear bounce – Place a small blanket on the floor with a teddy bear in the middle. With your child, grab a side of the blanket and toss it up in the air and catch it with the blanket.