ABC’s in sign language!!!!!!!!!!!

Threes, fours and fives will all have different abilities aptitudes and learning styles. You may want to avoid solely concentrating on number and colors in different languages as some three year olds will still be developing number sense. One of the things many threes enjoy is learning sign language for the expressions they already use. Like sign language for butter fly, or wasp and buzzing. It also provides groundwork for future linguistic development which could then include different languages. (Somehow it teaches symbolism to very concrete, literal thinkers). Of course you will need some knowledge of sign language yourself. Since you apparently want to teach numbers and colors to threes and fours you could teach the color wheel to five year olds (and some fours) and some art information about mixing and using colors. Or you could extend into some simple physics fun using sound and water, watching waves and counting frequency with the differences in pitch. However sometimes the best thing to do is check with the class and offer a few lesson options and do some class, child directed “teaching”. Lesson plans and all sorts of ideas are on the internet for the taking, particularly if you check out Home schooling sites. Of course if the children are developmentally ready you can do all sorts of number concepts, fractions or just stick to adding and subtracting, and as some of your other answerers said music is a wonderful attention getter. And of course music is very mathematical. Or you could do some history with a time capsule, or some geography with mapping the school, or just directions or money and going to the store. Or modeling with clay or jewelry making, just go crazy. It sounds like its a one shot time, so…check out some plans that appear tried and true. Good luck

Stories or songs are a great way to capture a small childs attention. Bright colors, cartoons, silly voices, make believe. My kids learned about the number 0 with “Zero Hero,” and my son has a “magic ring” for story time at school, and don’t forget the “Month Macarena.” Look on some preschool websites and you’ll find many ideas.

Getting the attention of little ones is largely a matter of knowing how to shift the mood and bring them all along. They love to move and be active so if you can find the way to begin with a song or jumpy activity that’s great- they need very little encouragement to move. The trick is getting them from that to stillness- move the activity lower and lower to the ground and get quieter and quieter until everyone is sitting. Then whispering, begin the’teaching’ part…. modelling and giving them the cues to follow or imitate if your are using a song or rhyme for them to repeat. Then, let them do something with what they have- can they march or clap the song, can they match letters or colors in time with the poem? How will the ‘learning be brought into action…..then collect them and end it in a quiet and reflective way or else they run on to the next activity and all the work runs away with them. Good luck.

I think you would have better luck teaching the kindergarteners colors in different languages. My five year old is just now starting this. She started shortly after 4 years old but it seems like she keeps forgetting them. My 2 year old loves bubbles I think this goes for 3 year olds too. My 5 year old still likes to run around and pop them. I think a good thing with all of these ages are things like coloring, cutting, drawing, writing abc’s and 123’s. Singing song is a lot of fun and reading books. Is there a playground to take them to play on? And is there someone else to go to help watch them? Blocks, puzzles, and make believe is also popular at this age.

Kids learn really well and love music. They love learning hand and body movements to the songs. You can even put together a little program where they sing songs as a group and some of the braver ones can do a song together or a solo.

There are lots and lots of songs you can use. My class used to put on a Halloween program (young fours) the older fours class did a Christmas program. They also do an end of the year program.

If you need more help just ask me.

Good Luck

Here’s an example of one activity you could do with your group. At the child-care centre where I worked they had a music-appreciation class there every week run by a music teacher who would attend for approx. 30 minutes as the attention span of the kids at this age is short as you know. The music teacher brought about 3 of each musical instruments that she had eg. triangles, mini drums, tamborines, recorders, cabassas and others to name a few. She would play music and all the kids would walk in a circle playing follow-the-leader banging/playing to the beat of the music, and then she would stop the music and name an instrument to be brought back to the centre of the circle and placed on the floor by each of those children that had them. Then these kids would join back into the circle as the music started and would clap along until the music stopped again and another instrument would be named and the procedure repeated until all instruments were placed back into the circle and the reverse would happen where all kids would get there instruments back as they were called in succession. The kids loved this and were learning the names of each instrument and learning the beat of the music as well.

Keep it active, Keep it fun and watch them learn!

Remember their attention span is short so activities that keep them moving and engaged are really good for them.

There are many preschool websites that offer great songs, poems, art projects etc. for a variety of age appropriate themes.

Hands on! Children this age love to touch and feel and explore, they will be able to relate to material that is presented to them this way. So anything with paints, chalks, crayons, playdough, all of these can be used to teach numbers and the alphabet.

Do plenty of activities that involve their help. Ask them to help you by making sound effects, holding props, acting out lessons and whatever else you can direct them with. Give them attention and show them respect.Keep lessons short and change activities often.