preschool skills

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

January 23, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Do you want a fun way to teach the letter i pre-k level? Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

Jump into this multi-sensory lesson that is part early literacy, part math, part science, and all fun just like preschool should be.

The “i” in “inch” makes a short “i” sound, like in the word ‘bit’ and ‘hit’.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Typically, it is recommended that you begin teaching your child the short vowel sounds first because they are easier for them to master.

Next, once your child can identify the numbers 1-12, they can be casually introduced to a ruler and the concepts of measurement.

We are going to explain a ruler over all but for now just focus on measuring 1 inch.

MATH BOOKS FOR KIDS

Also, look at these math books to add to your reading day.

Books About Math Concepts Measuring, Counting

Add these fun books to help kids learn about standard and non-standard ways to learn about measurement.

Inch by Inch

A small green inchworm is proud of his skill at measuring anything—a robin’s tail, a flamingo’s neck, a toucan’s beak. Then one day a nightingale threatens to eat him if he cannot measure his song. Children will enjoy the clever inchworm’s solution and delight in finding the tiny hero on every page.

Anno's Math Games 2

Pictures, puzzles, games, and simple activities introduce the mathematical concepts of counting, comparison, and measurement

Sir Cumference Series 12 Books Set

This Sir Cumference Series 12 Books Set includes: 1. Sir Cumference and the First Round Table 9781570911521 2. Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi 9781570911644 3. Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland 9781570911699 4. Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone 9781570916014 5. Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter 9780439025805 6. Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens 9781570917288 7. Sir Cumference and the Viking's Map 9781570917929 8. Sir Cumference and the Off-the-Charts Dessert 9781570911996 9. Sir Cumference and the Roundabout Battle 9781570917660 10. Sir Cumference and the Fracton Faire 9781570917721 11. Sir Cumference Gets Decima's Point 9781570918452 12. Sir Cumference and the 100 PerCent Goose Chase 9781623543211

The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat

Penrose, a cat with a knack for math, takes children on an adventurous tour of mathematical concepts from fractals to infinity.

A Place for Zero (Charlesbridge Math Adventures)

Join Zero on his math adventure as he discovers his place through multiplication. Zero is lonely in Digitaria. He can't play Addemup with the other numbers because he has nothing to add. All the other numbers seem to belong and they all have a place, but when zero discovers multiplication he thinks he might have a place there. He sets out to find King Multiplus who also is curious about what will happen when Zero gets thrown in the mix. With math and wordplay A Place for Zero is the perfect introduction to multiplication and number placement. A playful way to make math less intimidating and more fun to explore.

The Boy Who Loved Math- The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos

Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty. Instead, he traveled around the world, from one mathematician to the next, collaborating on an astonishing number of publications. With a simple, lyrical text and richly layered illustrations, this is a beautiful introduction to the world of math and a fascinating look at the unique character traits that made "Uncle Paul" a great man.

Equal Shmequal (Charlesbridge Math Adventures)

Mouse and her friends want to play tug-of-war, but they’ll need to use some everyday math to figure out how to make teams that are equal. As Mouse looks at various solutions she is not sure what it means to be equal. Nothing works until Mouse starts to think about it mathematically
and divides the teams based on weight. Wonderful illustrations capture
Mouse and her animal friends from whiskers to tails as they work to measure and equalize their teams based on size, weight, and effort. A
perfect addition to any STEM/STEAM collection that shows readers how
math can be used in everyday problem solving.

Mouse Count

Count the mice from 1 to 10 and back again as they outsmart a hungry snake! A companion to Mouse Paint and Mouse Shapes. This suspenseful story features bold collage art and a touch of mischief that's sure to appeal to preschoolers who have mastered counting from 1 to 10 and causing some mischief of their own.

Next, let’s wiggle into learning about the adorable inchworm with a little science lesson on the creature itself.

After you have introduced the letter ‘I’ and its sounds to your child you go further in by talking about things that start with the letter I like inch and inchworm of course.

If your child is not yet ready to write with a pencil and paper they can practice copying your I/i.

For instance they can use their finger to write in shaving cream, sand, finger paints, or even bubbles in the bathtub.

ALL ABOUT INCHWORMS

Inch worms are typically about 1 inch long, but the exact size depends on the species and how mature they are.

They are also called measuring worms or loopers and are the larvae of certain species of moths.

They are called inchworms because of their unique way of moving, which involves arching their body and then bringing their rear end forward to meet their front end. This creates a looping motion that gives them their name.

Inchworms have long, slender bodies that are typically green or brown in color. They have six pairs of legs, with the first three pairs located near the front of their body and the last three pairs located near the rear.

They also have a pair of prolegs, which are fleshy appendages that help them grip onto surfaces.

Inchworms eat a variety of plants, including leaves, flowers, and fruits. They can be a nuisance in gardens and orchards, as they can cause significant damage to plants.

When an inchworm is ready to pupate, it will spin a cocoon around itself. Inside the cocoon, the inchworm will transform into a moth. The moth will then emerge from the cocoon and fly away.

Make this adorable Inchworm Easy Paper Plate as you learn about its characteristics.

Let this video teach them How to Do an Inchworm For Kids to get some gross motor movements in for the day through simple yoga.

INTRODUCING INCHES

Introduce the concept of a ruler and measurement to a preschooler first.

Start with a simple ruler– because it is the one most used and seen I would start with a standard 12” ruler. Compare different rulers if you have them to show whether they are wood, plastic, pink or green the standard measurement stays the same.

Show your preschooler how to hold the ruler– The ruler should be held with the zero end at the bottom and the numbers increasing as you move up the ruler.

Explain the numbers and markings on the ruler- Tell them that each number and longer line represents an inch and there are 12 inches in a 1 foot ruler.

Each short line is showing part of an inch, have them count each of the 16 lines in an inch.

Don’t worry about them memorizing all of the measurement words, this is just a gentle introduction to measurement so that when you teach it more in depth later, they are already familiar with it.

Help your preschooler measure objects around the house- Choose objects that are different sizes and shapes.

MORE LETTER ACTIVITIES

Now let’s focus on learning about an inch.

LETTER I PRE-K MEASURING INCHES IN A FUN WAY

You will need:

A ruler
Sturdy cardstock
Ink pad
Fine line pen
Scissors

First, use the ruler to help your child draw a one inch line on sturdy paper, draw a line along both sides of the ruler.

Change the direction of the ruler and draw lines down both ends to create a 1 inch rectangle.

Cut it out of the paper and again demonstrate that what you made is 1 inch long.

Press your child’s finger into ink.

Then press it onto the paper a few times. Fill in the length of your little handmade 1 inch ruler.

Use a fine line marker to add eyes and antennae. Let dry for a few minutes until it no longer smears.

Challenge your child to go around the house and measure things that are shorter, longer, and equal to one inch.

This is a great time to introduce these concepts to your child if they don’t already know them.

For example, use toys, fruits, vegetables, manipulatives and cabinet knobs.

Everything can be used to identify things that are bigger or smaller than 1 inch.

How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid’s Game (free printable cube)

January 14, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a build a snowman free printable game. Also, look at my pages Winter Season Unit Study Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas.

Whether you’re looking for a fun activity to do indoors to keep ~~you~~ the kids from going stir crazy or looking for an easy activity to go with a winter unit study, you’ll love this build a snowman kid’s game.

How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid's Game (free printable cube)

Also, reading aloud while your kids play is a great way to add in some facts about winter.

For example, we love living books.

When possible, we prefer to read them over how to books.

And for this theme of snowman, you’ll want to add a few story books.

BOOKS ABOUT WINTER FOR KIDS

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

It is the fall of 1930, and America has plunged into the Great Depression. On a remote dirt road deep in the snowy woods of northern Wisconsin, misfortune forces the impoverished Sparkes family to take desperate measures.

A wayfaring quartet consisting of thirteen-year-old Araminta (nicknamed Minty), her recently unemployed father-a poetry-quoting widower called Pops-and her younger sister, Eglantine (known as Eggs-a dreamer like Pops), and their dog, Buster, are on their way to Minneapolis to live with the curmudgeonly Aunt Amy. When their car breaks down and they are unable to fix it, the homeless four stumble upon a vacant summer cottage by a lake. In desperate straits, they decide to settle in.

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow.

2. Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”.

3. Snowmen at Night

Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

5. Over and Under the Snow

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivean zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

A Hat for Minerva Louise

"Stoeke's second book about that intrepid screwball, Minerva Louise, is a rare find."—The Horn Book, starred review. The other chickens hate snowy mornings. But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day—like everything else—is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds—and how she finds it—will keep young readers cackling.

6. How to Catch a Snowman

Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it? Get ready for snow much fun as you travel through a winter wonderland with running, skating, and bouncing through trap after trap to catch the snowman and claim the winning prize. Will the snowman teach our heroes a lesson they'll never forget?

The Big Snow

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

SET OF 10 FUN AND FRIGID FIGURES – It’s hard to stay warm at the North Pole, but you can discover its wonders in your home with these frigid friends. This TOOB includes a Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, and Polar Bear.

10. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

Next, look at ways to play the snowman game.

BUILD A SNOWMAN GAME PLAYING IDEAS

This game can actually be done many different ways depending on the ages of your kids.

Look at these suggestions below on how to do this latest fun activity I have for you.

Roll the cube, and have an older child cut out cardboard and draw, color or paint each piece as he builds the snowman.
Roll the cube, and have a younger child cut out card stock and draw, color or paint each piece as he builds the snowman.
Print two pictures of the cube or die on card stock. Have your child cut out the pictures on one cube and glue the pictures on cardboard or paper. Use another cube for game playing.
To teach a preschooler shapes, make the snowman parts different shapes. Octagon for the body, circles for the buttons and cone for the nose will have him practicing geometry skills.
Of course, you can just have the child color the picture as he rolls that part of the snowman on the cube.
Another easy tip is to cut out the snowman on the download below and put him back together as your child rolls the cube.

Grab this FUN and FREE How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid's Game (with free printable cube). It’s a great activity for a winter unit study to keep the kids busy.

Next look at more snowman fun.

MORE SNOWMAN ACTIVITIES

Snowman Kid’s Game

Although a game like this is fun, it also teaches many skills.

Preschoolers strengthen fine motor skills by both coloring and cutting.

In addition, you can expand this game by writing down words that correspond to the pictures on the cube.

And children learn to take turns as they play together.

Another way to make this game fun for your artsy kids is to have them roll the cube and draw their own parts for the snowman and build it as they go along.

Designing their own snowman builds creativity and strengthens the imagination.

A game like building a snowman is also a fun activity to do with a group of kids in a homeschool co-op.

Each kid can design their own snowman and learn to play together.

One more idea is to have your children work together to build a giant snowman on butcher block paper.

Collaboration is a skill that a child uses on to high school.

HOW TO GET THE FREE SNOWMAN PRINTABLE PAGE AND CUBE

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie now.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

What ideas do you have for building a snowman?

How to Make a Triorama Teaching the Primary Colors with Dollar Tree Supplies

January 7, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m showing you how to make a triorama using Dollar Tree supplies to teach your little one primary colors. Also, look at my page Trioramas: How To Create Engaging Visual Narratives For Kids for more ideas.

Introducing primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—to preschoolers lays a strong foundation for their artistic and cognitive development.

How to Make a Triorama Teaching the Primary Colors with Dollar Tree Supplies

And there are so many fun ways to do it.

Once they have mastered primary colors (red, yellow, blue) you can move on to secondary colors (orange, purple, green) through color mixing.

Our activity today introduces children to the idea of color mixing primary colors to create new colors in a simple hands-on way.

Too, I have a rainbow of colorful ideas to help you teach them in the most fun ways.

Incorporating engaging activities is an effective way to teach primary colors to preschoolers, fostering their color recognition, artistic skills, and overall cognitive development.

BOOKS ABOUT COLORS FOR PRESCHOOL

Next, add some books that teach color concepts.

8 Books About Color

Add these books about color to your home library.

The Days The Crayons Quit

Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown. Blue needs a break from coloring all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?

Mix It Up!: Board Book Edition

Follow the artist's simple instructions, and suddenly colors appear . . . mix . . . splatter . . . and vanish in a vivid world powered only by the reader's imagination. The result is not only enchantment and giggles, but a real and deeper understanding of colors brought by a true master of his craft.

Mouse Paint

One day three white mice discover three jars of paint--red, blue, and yellow. But what happens when they splash in the colors, mixing the
red and blue? Or dance in the blue and yellow? This playful introduction
to colors will appeal to any budding artist or curious preschooler.

Green

Die cut pages bring surprise after surprise in this magical new book from the "Queen of the concept book"―an intricate and satisfying homage to green, the color of all creation.How many kinds of green are there? There's the lush green of a forest on a late spring day, the fresh, juicy green of a just-cut lime, the incandescent green of a firefly, and the vivid aquamarine of a tropical sea. In her newest book, Caldecott and Geisel Honor Book author Laura Vaccaro Seeger fashions an homage to a single color and, in doing so, creates a book that will delight and, quite possibly astonish you.

White Rabbit's Colors

White Rabbit finds three pots of paint―and discovers the magic of color!Young children will enjoy following Alan Baker's inquisitive LITTLE RABBITS as they make new discoveries. Simple storylines and playful artwork offer a fresh approach to learning early concepts.

Ruby, Violet, Lime: Looking for Color

Ruby flowers, violet quilts, lime frosting ― colors are all around us. How many colors can you find in the pages of this book?

Edible Colors: See, Learn, Eat

With a combination of unusual foods and a kaleidoscope of colors, this concept book shows that not all foods have to look the same way. A banana can be red, broccoli can be purple, and cherries can be yellow and still taste just as delicious.

Colors

A red fire truck races, orange pumpkins glow, and purple flowers bloom.Vivid pictures of familiar scenes, animals, and objects introduce future readers to color words and inspire them to look carefully at the world around them. Full of striking close-ups on fruits, flowers, and animals, as well as striking portraits of kids from diverse backgrounds, Colors is a bright, brilliant concept book from the creator of the award-winning Shades of People.

Before we get to our tutorial on how to make a triorama for young learners which teaches primary colors, here are some other great ideas with you.

TEACHING PRIMARY COLORS WITH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

Color Conversations – Regularly point out and name primary colors in everyday objects like toys, clothing, food, and nature. “Look at the blue sky!” or “Your banana is yellow!”

Color Themed Days- Dedicate specific days to each primary color, encouraging children to wear that color or bring in objects of that color.

Color Sorting- Provide a basket of objects in various colors and have children sort them into primary color groups.

I Spy with Colors- “I spy something red!” Children search for an object matching the called-out color.

Color Matching- Create cards with primary color blocks and matching pictures of objects (red apple, yellow sun, blue bird). Children match the colors and objects.

Color Scavenger Hunt- Give children a list of primary colors and have them find objects of those colors.

Finger Painting- Provide red, yellow, and blue paint and let children explore mixing the colors with their fingers.

Color Mixing with Watercolors- Demonstrate how mixing primary colors creates secondary colors (red + yellow = orange, yellow + blue = green, blue + red = purple).

Rainbow Art- Encourage children to create rainbows using various materials like crayons, paint, or colored paper.

Primary Color Collages- Provide red, yellow, and blue paper and have children tear and glue them to create collages.

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES TO TEACH COLORS

Colored Rice or Pasta- Dye rice or pasta red, yellow, and blue and let children explore the textures and colors.

Color Mixing with Playdough– Provide red, yellow, and blue playdough and encourage children to mix the colors.

Water Play with Food Coloring- Add red, yellow, and blue food coloring to water and let children experiment with color mixing.

Color Songs– Sing songs about primary colors, incorporating actions and movements related to each color.

Color Dance-Play music and call out primary colors, having children dance or move in a way that represents each color.

Color-Themed Books- Read books that focus on primary colors or incorporate color-related themes.

Color Word Recognition- Create flashcards with primary color words and matching pictures, have your child match the words and pictures.

Look at more triorama activities.

MORE TRIORAMA IDEAS

Finally, look at how to make a triorama teaching the primary colors.

HOW TO MAKE A TRIORAMA TEACHING THE PRIMARY COLORS WITH DOLLAR TREE SUPPLIES

We are going to use a cardboard box for this to make it a bit sturdier when it’s soaked in paint and so that it holds up to a toddler or preschooler playing with it.

You will need:

Cardboard box
Red craft paint
Blue craft paint
Yellow craft paint
Paintbrushes
Black permanent marker
Scissors

If you don’t already have a cardboard box laying around like an old Amazon box you can pick up a shipping box at Dollar Tree for $1.25.

But after wandering around I realized they had a big stack of broken down boxes and grabbed one for free.

Use a ruler to cut out a square of whatever size you would like from one side of your cardboard box.

Draw a line from corner to corner to create an X using the ruler to help you stay on a straight line.

TRIORAMA TEACHING THE PRIMARY COLORS

Now you are going to use either a box cutter or the point of your scissors to just score the lines you’ve drawn.

You just want to cut through the first layer of cardboard to make it bend a little easier, do not go all the way through.

Use your scissors to cut from one corner to the center point on just one corner.

Add one of each of the primary colors to every triangle but one, this one will be folded underneath.

Have your child paint the color all over that section, trying to stay within the triangle at first.

Now you can have them draw a little paint from both sides to combine it and create a new color wherever the colors touch.

For the two that are separated by a blank triangle just use the paintbrush to transfer from side to side.

Allow it to dry completely and then use a marker to write in each of the colors.

Fold along the scored lines you made and fold the cut pieces on under another and glue into place to make the pyramid shape.

You can use the triorama as an activity to have your child gather items from around the house in each of the colors, or just put it on display as is.

How To Make A Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak

September 12, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, we’re making a letter Y handprint craft. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more handprint crafts and preschool ideas.

And we’re featuring a yak, a fun new animal to introduce to your preschooler or kindergartener.

There is just something so precious about those first little handprint crafts with tiny fingers that won’t stay that way for long.

Too, they are so proud of the finished product.

How To Make A Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak

My main focus during the preschool years is reading good quality books.

Reading aloud develops imagination, vocabulary, language development, listening skills, comprehension, and helps grow their focus and attention.

I found the absolute cutest story that went right along with our activity and of course “we” had to model our yak after the little hero of the story Gertie.

The book is The Littlest Yak. A cute must read with your littles.

While Gertie is adorable, yaks really are amazing animals that live in the high mountains of the Himalayas. Yaks are very important to the people of the Himalayas

Known for their long, shaggy fur and their big horns, yaks are found in the high mountains of Asia.

What makes them so amazing is that yaks are very strong and can carry incredibly heavy loads.

They are also very gentle and friendly animals.

People in the Himalayas use yaks for many things.

For example, they are used to transport goods, to pull plows, and to provide milk and meat.

Books about the Continent of Asia for Kids

Also, grab some of these books to read about Asia to your child.

I love to use living books when I can find them.

9 Asia Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Asia is a large continent but I try to list some of our favorites.

Prairie Lotus

Acclaimed, award-winning author Linda Sue Park has placed a young half-Asian girl, Hanna, in a small town in America’s heartland, in 1880. Hanna’s adjustment to her new surroundings, which primarily means negotiating the townspeople’s almost unanimous prejudice against Asians, is at the heart of the story.

A Single Shard

Tree-ear is fascinated by the celedon ware created in the village of Ch’ulp’o. He is determined to prove himself to the master potter, Min—even if it means making a solitary journey to present Min’s work in the hope of a royal commission . . . or arriving at the royal court with nothing but a single celadon shard.

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

The star of her school’s running team, Sadako is lively and athletic…until the dizzy spells start. Then she must face the hardest race of her life—the race against time. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the courage that makes one young woman a heroine in Japan.

The Big Wave

Kino lives on a farm on the side of a mountain in Japan. His friend, Jiya, lives in a fishing village below. Everyone, including Kino and Jiya, has heard of the big wave. No one suspects it will wash over them, until the rushing water sweeps away the whole village—including Jiya's family.

One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale

Long ago in India, there lived a raja who believed that he was wise and fair. But every year he kept nearly all of the people's rice for himself. Then when famine came, the raja refused to share the rice, and the people went hungry. Then a village girl named Rani devises a clever plan. She does a good deed for the raja, and in return the raja lets her choose her reward. Rani asks for just one grain of rice, doubled every day for thirty days. Through the surprising power of doubling, one grain of rice grows into more than one billion grains of rice - and Rani teaches the raja a lesson about what it truly means to be wise and fair.Demi's exquisitely detailed art, inspired by traditional Indian miniature paintings, combine with her simple retelling to convey the heart and wisdom of this satisfying mathematical tale.

I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade

A moving and heartfelt story about the lengths one would go to help their family.

When Oyuna was a baby, a horse accidentally crushed her foot, cursing her family with bad luck. Oyuna vows to restore good fortune to her family…but how?

One fateful day, soldiers from the great Khan's army invade her village to steal horses and gather new soldiers. In hopes of bringing honor to her family, Oyuna courageously disguises herself as a boy and joins the soldiers on their quest. With only her horse and her cat to keep her company, Oyuna sets off on an amazing journey across deserts and mountains―a journey that will change her life forever.

The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan

"You must not speak of the Golden Hawks! Word easily flies down the caravan trails to the ears of the Mongols in the land of Genghis Khan. And then, Jalair, the Mongols will come and slay you!"

The Story about Ping

Ping, the spirited little duck who lives on a boat on the Yangtze River. Ping's misadventures one night while exploring the world around his home form the basis of this timeless classic, which is brought to life by Kurt Wiese's warm and poignant illustrations.

The Littlest Yak

A little yak yearns for BIG things in this rollicking, rhyming picture book that celebrates individuality, unique talents, and the importance of not growing up too fast.Gertie is the littlest yak in her pack, feeling stuck in her smallness. She wants to grow up and have BIGNESS and TALLNESS, with the hugest of hooves and humongous horns too! Because there isn't anything a BIG yak can't do.So Gertie devises a growing-up plan. She eats her veggies, exercises every day, and reads lots of books. Still, she isn't any bigger. But when the other yaks come calling for Gertie to help them with a daring and dangerous task, could it be because it's something only a small yak can do?

Then look at some fun facts about yaks to share with your children.

5 Yak Fun Facts

Yak poop doesn’t stink-when they have water and are able to forage to eat, their dung has little to no odor. The Tibetan plateaus don’t have trees, so yak dung is the only easily obtainable fuel.
Yaks have two layers of fur to keep them warm in the high altitude cold mountain air of places like China, Nepal, Mongolia, and Tibet. See if you can find these places on a map or globe.
They have a long social life in the wild and can live for up to 20 years with their herds.
Yaks are herbivores, which means that they eat plants like low lying grasses and shrubs.
Yak butter is big in Tibet, their milk is white or pink and very nutritious. It is also used to make a unique popular cheese.

Also, add a few more letter y handprint crafts to your day.

More Letter Y Handprint And Y Crafts

Y is for Yo Yo, Here you will find some Letter Y craft ideas including a cute little hand that has been traced, cut out, and holding a yo yo.
For a unique take on the letter, check out –Y is For Yacht and take a boating turn on letter learning.
I thought that Y is for Yellow was a clever practice for Y, bright and colorful it catches a child’s attention and is a good representation of the sound.
Loads of activity ideas to supplement and a Y is For Yawn craft that might make you a bit sleepy too ( I recommend this one before nap time).
Make a mess with squiggly piles of yarn to create this Y is for Yarn craft.

More Handprint Crafts

Additionally, here are more activities about Asia if you want to include you older children.

Asia Activities For Kids

Finally, look at how to make this letter Y handprint craft.

Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak

We are going to make a handprint craft from two handprints that make an adorable little yak.

We made ours black and white, but you can choose from the wide variety of yak colors to create yours.

Their fur comes in black, brown, white, and yellow.

You will need:

Construction paper
Craft paint
Google eyes
A little hand
paintbrushes

First, gather all your supplies and have them close at hand so you don’t have to leave little painted hands unattended while you run to grab something.

Paint the entire hand white.

Now quickly go over the white with black paint on the 4 fingers only, excluding the thumb.

Then press the hand firmly onto the paper, making sure to press gently but firmly all over your palm and fingers.

Wash the hand clean.

Paint the palm black and the pinky and thumb white and press onto the paper slightly overlapping the body hand print you made.

Again, press the entire hand down firmly to transfer as much paint as you can.

Use a paintbrush to extend the horns or fill in gaps of missing paint if you need to.

To create their cold snowy climate, use the back and of a paintbrush dipped in white paint for snowflakes.

The final step is to draw a large Y in pencil.

Now, let or help your child paint over it with a small paintbrush to become more familiar with the letter.

Once everything is dry, glue googly eyes to the face to finish it off.

The Best Homeschool Preschool Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations

July 1, 2024 | Leave a Comment
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Choosing the best homeschool preschool curriculum can be really easily. Also, you’ll love my page Homeschool Curriculum for more ideas and grade level curriculum. And my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

You don’t need to buy a box or prepared curriculum but rather learn through play.

Learning through play can be easily directed by the parent (but not forced) to create a rich learning environment.

It should be more like fun and naturally being introduced to math, science, history, language arts, and more.

The Best Homeschool Preschool Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations

Preschoolers don’t need to worry about writing yet.

It is more important to build up their fine motor skills.

And this is easily done by building with blocks, playing with playdough, buttoning and unbuttoning their clothing, and digging in the dirt.

This can be as simple as putting letters in a sensory bin and asking them to find the letter that their name starts with or counting out crackers for a snack.

Common Household Items for Play Based Learning

You can use much of what you already have in your own home to teach preschoolers.

For example look at these items:

inexpensive craft supplies,
blunt scissors,
measuring cups/spoons,
beans for manipulatives,
toys for practicing beginning letter sounds,
cooking utensils for pouring and measuring,
mini scale,
crayons,
seeds,
analog clocks with hands and minutes,
maps, and anything else you can think of.

But for some structure that is still enjoyable, I have recommendations for each subject to help you facilitate a wonderful early learning environment.

Themes are especially fun in preschool and can be used to create a homeschool preschool curriculum with all the subjects.

Some favorites for us were farm, construction, space, dinosaurs, winter, and pets.

Focus on letter and number recognition, simple counting, read-aloud, and lots of play for little ones.

Also, look at more tips for teaching preschoolers.

More Homeschool Preschool Curriculum Tips

Best Homeschool Curriculum By Grade

Finally, look at these recommendations.

14 Preschool Homeschool Curriculum Options

Look at what your homeschool preschool curriculum might look like with some suggestions for activities, books, and learning ideas.

Preschool Math at Home: Simple Activities to Build the Best Possible Foundation for Your Child (Math with Confidence)

Preschool Math at Home will guide you step-by-step as you introduce your preschooler to the world of numbers. Your child will develop a thorough understanding of the numbers up to ten, including:
counting comparing and ordering numbers recognizing written numerals beginning addition and subtraction.

Alphabet Letter A is for Apple Craft for Preschool | Fun Apple Study

Use my Preschool Phonics units for teaching letter of the week, there are currently 13 and counting letters available to start with, full of activities, ideas, crafts, and more.

Slow and Steady Get Me Ready For Kindergarten: 260 Activities To Do With Your Child From Age 0 to 5

Looking for quick, engaging activities to prepare your child for kindergarten? Spend a few minutes a day with your child in productive, interactive play with Slow and Steady Get Me Ready For Kindergarten!

Slow and Steady Get Me Ready For Kindergarten abounds with hands-on developmental activities that parents can do with their children between the ages of 0 and 5 years old to get them prepared for kindergarten. June R. Oberlander, a 19-year veteran kindergarten teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia, first published this book in 1988. Now her granddaughter, Hannah Oberlander, a current teacher in Loudoun County, Virginia, has updated and enhanced these classic activities for today's parents of the next generation.

Developing the Early Learner: Level 1 by Simone Bibeau (1982) Paperback

BOOK 1 of 4 (AGES 2-6) Book 1 is a pre-reading experience designed to provide your child with a complete program in perceptual readiness. Here are some of the unique qualities that you will find within these pages. We include all four major areas of perception: visual, auditory, motor, and comprehension skills. Each major category is then broken down into specific sub-skills so that you can understand just what type of learning is taking place. Every page develops only ONE sub-skill to avoid confusion when the child is working the page. A target score on each page quickly gives you a score as well as an incentive for the child to work toward a certain goal.

My First Book of Patterns: Pencil Control

A perfect fun activity book designed for early learners to develop pencil control and motor skills. By following the arrows and tracing the dotted lines, the little scholars can complete the tracing exercises and creative activities leading to development of their early writing skills. The child will also learn to identify, write and revise straight, curvy, zig zag lines and multiple patterns. The book is also an excellent first step to prepare for school.

Before Five in a Row: Second Edition

Designed to be used with children ages 2 through 4, Before Five in a Row is a rich treasury of creative ideas that help you gently, consistently prepare your children for the lifelong adventure of
learning. Now in a revised second edition, this bestselling volume is the foundation for inspired learning through great books and future studies with the entire Five in a Row curriculum.

408 Pcs Lacing Letters Alphabet

Rich Numbers: you will get 2 buckets of lowercase letter beads, including 384 lowercase letters and 24 ropes, a total of 408 items, and the equipped storage buckets are easy to storage and protect these accessories; And the quantity is very large, which can meet the needs of daily learning and playing

A Unique Flexible and Beautiful Preschool Homeschool Planner

This unique flexible and beautiful preschool homeschool planner is the perfect homeschool planner to use for early learners. While creating this 47-page early learner planner I included flexible planning pages.

Forms like 21 thematic planning pages, a year at a glance page, and 12 months of planning your theme are a few included.

Adding in an editable lesson planning template and 4 colorful
attendance sheets helps you to easily meet record keeping guidelines if
necessary

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

Science books for your preschooler's curriculum should be simple and colorful but contain rich information in small bites. Nature Anatomy and The Big Book of series are perfect resources to keep on your shelves for preschoolers as they will grow with them for years.

The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library Favorites: There's No Place Like Space!; Oh Say Can You Say Di-no-saur?; Inside Your Outside!; Hark! A Shark!

This sturdy boxed set of four bestselling Cat in the Hat's Learning Library books includes something to pique the interest of every child! Beginning readers will learn all about our solar system in There's No Place Like Space!; all about dinosaurs in Oh Say Can You Say Di-no-saur?; all about the human body in Inside Your Outside; and all about sharks in Hark! A Shark!

Preschool Exploring Creation Together Science

At the preschool level, science is all about exposure, not memorization of facts. It’s helping the youngest explorers understand that their world is discoverable. Through guided exploration of their world, young children learn how to naturally incorporate all aspects of language (expanding vocabulary), math (counting and recording), science (observing and experimenting), and art (drawing out ideas) into their understanding of how their world works. Most importantly, children will come to understand that their world is wonder-full, peace-full, and beauty-full because God created it full of His love and wisdom. Preschool Exploring Creation Together is a spiral-bound curriculum with 2 distinct sections included

Fun-Schooling for Beginners - Do-It-Myself Journal: Letters, Numbers, Animals, Coloring, Tracing, Mazes, Logic and Drawing (Full-Sized Activity Book for Preschool & Kindergarten)

Fun-Schooling for Beginners - Do-It-Myself Journal: Letters, Numbers, Animals, Coloring, Tracing, Mazes, Logic and Drawing (Full-Sized Activity Book for Preschool & Kindergarten) (Volume 1

A1 & A2, ideal for ages 2-6 (Preschool & Kindergarten) A beginners journal full of 100 educational and fun activities. This secular journal can be used by children of any religious background
Includes colors, numbers, letters, feelings, early reading & writing, and more.

Photo Credit: www.bfbooks.com

Teacher Guide Around the World Part 1 - Homeschool Teacher's Guide

This teacher guide contains gentle Socratic questions designed to prompt discussion and discovery. Beautiful drawings of indigenous animals are also included which will familiarize students with some remarkable creatures, their habitat and habits, cultivating respect and wonder for the natural world.

Photo Credit: www.bfbooks.com

Early American History K-3rd - Homeschooling History Pack

Sure to ignite curiosity about our nation's history, this Early American History Through Literature study will take you and your K-3 homeschooling students through the first Indigenous people of the Americas, the Vikings discovery of America, the exploration, colonization, settlement, and establishment of the United States. Spanning 1000 AD to the mid-1800's this course makes teaching this literature-rich curriculum easy and fun!

preschool skills

MATH BOOKS FOR KIDS

ALL ABOUT INCHWORMS

INTRODUCING INCHES

MORE LETTER ACTIVITIES

LETTER I PRE-K MEASURING INCHES IN A FUN WAY

BOOKS ABOUT WINTER FOR KIDS

BUILD A SNOWMAN GAME PLAYING IDEAS

MORE SNOWMAN ACTIVITIES

Snowman Kid’s Game

HOW TO GET THE FREE SNOWMAN PRINTABLE PAGE AND CUBE

BOOKS ABOUT COLORS FOR PRESCHOOL

TEACHING PRIMARY COLORS WITH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES TO TEACH COLORS

MORE TRIORAMA IDEAS

HOW TO MAKE A TRIORAMA TEACHING THE PRIMARY COLORS WITH DOLLAR TREE SUPPLIES

TRIORAMA TEACHING THE PRIMARY COLORS

Books about the Continent of Asia for Kids

5 Yak Fun Facts

More Letter Y Handprint And Y Crafts

More Handprint Crafts

Asia Activities For Kids

Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak

Common Household Items for Play Based Learning

More Homeschool Preschool Curriculum Tips

Best Homeschool Curriculum By Grade

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