Start Your Day: Curious Critters-IT

Indicators: Receptive Language (Listening and Understanding) DL1.1(B), DL1.1(L), DL1.1(M), Expressive Language (Speaking Second Language) DL2.1(B), DL2.1(L), DL2.1(M), Receptive Language (Listening) L1.1(0), L1.1(1), L1.1(2), Expressive Language (Speaking) L2.1(0), L2.1(1), L2.1(2), L2.2(0), L2.2(1), L2.2(2) (More...)

Resources: All About Me Card: I can try broccoli. 2023, Weather Display 2023-24: Infant/Toddler

You Will Need:

Weather Display (Starter Pack OR see Resources)
One Moose, Twenty Mice by Clare Beaton and Stella Blackstone
All About Me Card-I can try broccoli (see Resources)
favorite books

Family Engagement

Encourage families to join children's learning process.

Send home information about fire safety and prevention to each family for Fire Prevention Week. Encourage families to check smoke detectors, have a fire escape plan, and review other fire prevention/safety methods such as sleeping with doors closed.
Invite families to go on a walk with their child to look for the color orange and critters. They might find a squirrel climbing a tree, trees with orange leaves, an orange car, or other interesting things.
Have families share their favorite broccoli recipes. Post the recipes with the All About Me Card labeled "I can try broccoli" (see Resources) so that families can gather meal/snack ideas and have context for the solicitation.

Greeting/Welcome

Welcome children with unique greetings each day.

Pretend to move like a different critter each morning.
Look out the window with each child and decide what the weather is. Place the corresponding weather card on the Weather Display (Starter Pack OR see Resources).
Do a few yoga poses to have a relaxing start to the day. See Related Activities for ideas.

Daily Review

Review concepts or recall children's favorite activities.

Review numbers and animals with the book One Moose, Twenty Mice.
Recall fire safety rules and the role of firefighters.
Re-read favorite books from the theme. What critters were the children's favorite to learn about? Help make further connections with these animals.

Note:

Order a 2023-2024 Starter Pack for each teacher to use all year. Includes a Getting Started Guide, Weather Display with pieces, Color and Shape Display with pieces, Sign Language Poster, Alphabet Display with pieces, Body Parts Poster, 8 Emotions Cards, and Early Learning and Development Continuum. $20

https://www.funshineexpress.com/2023-24-buttercups-starter-pack.html

Related Activities:
Armadillo Yoga Pose Children learn a little about armadillos before getting into the armadillo yoga pose position.
Mouse Yoga Pose Children learn a new yoga pose.
Raccoon Yoga Pose Children learn the raccoon yoga pose.