The Crazy Pre-K Classroom

O.K. so we all remember those famous dioramas that we made in elementary school were meant to teach us about animals and where they live. While these are cute projects with a purpose they are best suited for elementary students not pre-k. But with curious minds and a natural love for animals it only makes sense to introduce our kiddos to facts about animals and where they live around the world. For pre-k there are so many great easy ways to incorporate animals into our classrooms. I like to make animal masks for each habitat we are working on as well as read the room cards and recording sheets. The kiddos can record the name of the animal by reading it on the other childs mask. My class also enjoys making animals out of construction paper and gluing some facts that I have typed and printed about the animals. I like to try to decorate my room to mimic the habitat we are working on, I have to say I am a huge stuffed animal collector so I have many of the animals needed in beany baby size...

This months giveaway is my Bug-Jar-Math  unit from TpT! Currently my best seller! Join my blog for a chance to win! Below are details of what is included in the great unit: This is a set of Math Mats that help kids learn numbers, counting, one to one correspondence, patterning, sorting, colors, number recognition and order, visual discrimination, math vocabulary and various other math concepts. Use groups of bugs to teach skip counting. Use the sorting mats to assess sorting skills. Use the skills worksheets for extra practice. This set includes everything you need to do a unit on numbers 1-10 with insects/ bugs. Included are: 10 jar mats with 1-10 bugs inside for counting and matching (one to one coorespondence) 10 jar mats with the number above for counting 3 pages of bugs for completing everything in the packet 1 page of extension ideas 5 sorting mats with 4 jars each with 1 bug in each jar 1 matching worksheet, cut and paste the correct bug 1 size order works...

Non-standard measurement is using common objects to measure versus using a ruler or measuring tape. You can use just about anything, like legos, blocks, pencils. Using common objects and pictures make the introduction of measurement fun. I have found that using pictures of animals from the weekly/monthly theme to measure items in the classroom is fun and kinesthetic for my students. I have created several different worksheets that teach non-standard measurement: On this worksheet the children were asked to cut out a set of each of the bugs shown. Each bug is a different size therefore requiring more or less bugs to measure. I instructed them to start at the bottom of the tree and work their way up to the top. They were then to count how many bugs it took to measure the tree and record that number next to the proper bug. Even though this student's 6 is backwards she ended up with all of the correct answers. Once we were finished with the worksheet I had each child pick a pile of o...

**** I have just added 10 more math practice worksheets to this unit**** Bugs-Math-and-Literacy-unit-110-pages-of-centers-and-worksheets  Read the room with recording sheets and several ideas for different variations. All five bugs are included to use for measurement each in a different size. Use them to measure the tree, complete the classroom common items worksheet and encourag parents to let their child measure objects at home with them. Compare and contrast the results, which items are longer/shorter, taller etc. I have/Who has 1-100 and ABC to play with your students. This game is great for number and ABC order. Staple in my classroom! Print out these jars and use the bugs below to match the correct number to its word, record the proper word on the included recording sheet. This activity can be printed and laminated for years of use or copied in black and white, stapled and completed as a booklet. Number words and numbers 1-50 are included. This is also included as a sigh...

     This week my class is studying insects. One of my favorite activities to do is to go on a bug hunt with magnifying glasses and exploring live and deceased bugs in the science center. I use test tubes I bought from oriental trading that come with stands to store my bugs. I try to work my theme into every aspect of my day so in addition to my science center which will have rolly pollies, chicadas, an ant farm, plastic bugs, magnifiers, insect word cards and clipboards with recording sheets, I will also be using my Bug-Jar-Math Unit  to reinforce math skills with an insect theme. This unit is 39 pages long and is on sale for $3.50 on teacherspaypeachers.com.      Today my class had fun counting the correct number of bugs for each mat (1-10) and sorting the bugs on the sorting mats. I had each child draw the bug, tally the number then write the number. I simply drew 2 lines down a blank sheet of paper to make three columns for them to...