February 12, 2013

What is a Valentine math activity or game that my preschooler can play?

Back in December I did this fun candy cane math game with Little Bear. He liked it quite a bit more than I thought he would, so I decided to reincarnate the game as a Valentine’s Day math game. We started by printing off a few copies of this Valentine math activity sheet. Next, we borrowed the Valentine’s Day stamps from Smiley Man’s Valentine themed tot trays. Little Bear has been begging to play with these and I figured they would work well with this activity. Finally, we got some dice and Little Bear was set to do some valentine math.

First, Little Bear chose 4 valentine’s stamps that he would use for this activity. He put them in the order he wanted. Next, he rolled one die (we always put dice in a small container so that it doesn’t roll off the table and onto the floor).

He got the first stamp and made that many stamps on the Valentine math activity sheet. He rolled the die again and used the second stamp to make that many stamps on the activity sheet. He continued until the entire heart was completely filled.

Little Bear really enjoyed using the Valentine’s stamps, but we both agreed that the heart looked just a tiny bit boring because it was all in one color. When we did the candy cane math, Little Bear had used dot markers. So, we did the activity again with dot markers, just so it would have more color.

Little Bear loved this game just as much as the first time we played it. He liked using the stamps and the dot markers, but the heart made with the dot markers is definitely more colorful. You could use stickers, crayons, or paint to complete this activity. This was a really fun way to get some math learning in, but with a Valentine’s Day theme. Don’t forget to print off a Valentine Math activity sheet and be sure to check out our other Valentine printables.

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

February 5, 2013

What is a Valentine’s math game my preschooler can play? What is a sight word game for my preschooler that has a Valentine’s Day theme?

Do you remember that awesome Gingerbread Man Math printable that was all over Pinterest around Christmas. Well, I decided to recreate this dice game for Valentine’s Day. First, we printed the Numbered Heart Printable, got our dice, then I opened a bag of Valentine’s stickers from the dollar store.

I told Little Bear that we would roll the die and count the dots. Then, we would cover that number on the Numbered Heart Printable with a Valentine’s sticker. Little Bear rolled a five first.

So, he got a sticker and covered a number five.

We continued until we had covered the entire Numbered Heart Printable. This activity can easily be done with dot markers or crayons rather than with stickers. We only used stickers because I saw them at the dollar store and they were too cute to pass up.

After we did the Numbered Heart Printable, Little Bear went on and on about how fun it was. So, I decided another printable was in order. This time I used sight words rather than numbers. The Sight Word Heart goes along with my Valentine’s Tot Book that I made for Smiley Man’s Tot Trays. You can print the color or black and white version.

I first went over all of the sight words (it, is, a, red) with Little Bear. Then, we read It is a Red Valentine’s Day. Each time we read one of the words, we put a sticker on the same word on the Sight Word Heart. The Sight Word Heart only has the sight words, with two exceptions. I put two other words on the Sight Word Heart just to make it more exciting for Little Bear.

Little Bear really liked this activity, too. He loves reading simple books like this because he really feels like he is reading. Again, this activity can be completed with dot markers or crayons, rather than the stickers. We just used stickers because that is what we had. :)

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

February 4, 2013

What are some Valentine’s Day tot trays I can do with my child?

Smiley Man is loving these tot trays so much! He really likes that he does his own school work. I really like that he is engaged while Little Bear is doing his preschool stuff. My biggest problem is explaining to Smiley Man that he can only do his trays during school time. :) Even Little Bear likes to do some of Smiley’s tot trays. The tot trays for the next two weeks are Valentine’s Day themed.

Here are the tot school trays in more detail:

Sweep small hearts into a big heart

Use the mini broom and dustpan (dollar store) to sweep the small plastic hearts (also dollar store!) into the heart made from masking tape.

Valentine’s Stamps and Paper

Play with Valentine’s stamps using stamp pad and paper.

Matching Stickers

One sheet has 2 rows of stickers. Smiley Man draws a line to the matches. The second sheet just has stickers and there are some stickers on the tray. Smiley Man gets a sticker from the bag and puts it next to the same sticker on the paper.

Styrofoam and Toothpicks

A heart shape is drawn on the sytrofoam and Smiley Man uses the toothpicks to cover the heart shape.

Counting Hearts

There are three clear cups on the tray. Each cup has a number attached to the front of it (1, 2, 3). There are 6 heart picks (dollar store) on the tray. Smiley Man puts the correct number of hearts into each cup. I started this tray with only 1 cup, and then added the second cup after a day or two. I haven’t actually added the third cup yet. I’ll add it when I think Smiley is ready.

Color Game 5 and Color Game 6

Each color game is only on the tray for one week. The rest of the activities are on the trays for two weeks. That means I go through two color games, but only one of all the other activities. Here is Color Game 5 and Color Game 6.

Valentine’s Day Tot Book

I read this book at least once during the time that these trays are out. If Smiley man uses this tray while I am working with Little Bear, he can color the pictures or just look at the pictures as he turns the pages. I do not in any way expect Smiley Man to learn how to read by looking at this book. This book is simply for exposure to words and letters and concepts of print. I usually make these books in black and white, but since the book is about the color red, I decided to make a color version, too. We used the black and white version.

Printables

Color Hearts, Pompom Magnet page

Featured Toy

Shape Sorter

Themed Books

Do You Want to Be My Friend?, Officer Buckle and Gloria, Valentine Friends, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse . These books have a theme of love and/or friendship. They are not necessarily Valentine’s Day books. Here are a few Valentine’s books if you looking for those:

• Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse!
• The Day it Rained Hearts
• The Biggest Valentine Ever
• Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink

Tissue Paper Hearts

Cut out a black heart outline. Place it on a piece of contact paper. Be sure that the contact paper has the sticky side up. Put small pieces of tissue paper next to the heart outline. These can be very small pieces so no tearing or cutting is required, or you can have bigger pieces so your toddler has to cut or tear the pieces before putting them on the contact paper. Your child will put pieces of tissue paper on the sticky side of the contact paper. When the masterpiece is finished, cover the tissue paper side with another sheet of contact paper. Cut off the extra contact paper before displaying the heart. Make as many as desired.

Tearing Paper

On the tray are a few different pieces of construction (red and pink) in different sizes. Smiley Man tears the paper to his heart’s content. This one is always a favorite!

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me