Miss Mary Jo's Class - Olmsted Center for the Visually Impaired

November 2008 Themes and Concepts

Language and Vocabulary – We will discuss, read stories, and integrate activities and crafts for fall harvest, fruits and vegetables, the meaning of giving thanks, sharing, using good manners, prepare for Thanksgiving and celebrate by participating in a Thanksgiving feast with our PALS group. Color of the month – Brown Shape of the month – Triangle

Fine Motor – Lacing leaves, sponge painting, cutting, coloring, watercolor painting with fine brushes, tracing dotted line names

Perception – Sorting items by the letter they begin with A, B, C, D, E, F, same and different, puzzles, matching the patterns of different types of transportation on cards

Directional and Positional Concepts – Up, down, in front of, behind, in and out

Gross Motor – Climbing room,gym/ride bikes and tumbling on mats, basketball, creative movement, dance, throwing and catching balls with a partner

Sensory Experience – Feel inside a pumpkin and pulling seeds out, sand table, ball pit, touch, taste and smell fall objects (leaves, pumpkin, apples, apple cider, corn husks, and gourds)

Pre-Math – Continue adding new calendar activities, new shape-triangle, identifying numbers

Snack – Fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, foods that are brown and triangular

Self-help – Work on fasteners, snaps, buttons, putting on outerwear

Book We Will Read:

Leaf Man

Curious George at the Fire Station

Just Me and My Friend

The Story of How a Pumpkin Grows

Autumn’s First Leaf

The Silly Scarecrow

Leaves

Who Loves Fall?

Apple Trouble

I Like Pumpkins

My Very Own/What’s for Lunch

‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

A Turkey for Thanksgiving

Over the River and Through the Wood

How are You Peeling? Foods with Moods

How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?

October 2008 Themes and Concepts

Language and Vocabulary-Fall-take a fall walk to collect fall items along the way then discuss and label them. Read books about fall, changes in weather, pumpkins, kindness and new school friendships. Fall activities-field trip to the Great Pumpkin Farm, fall sports (football, soccer). Fire prevention and safety discussion, what is a fire, firefighter, smoke detector, hose, boots, hat, jacket, ladder, fire extinguisher, etc.

Color of the Month-Orange Shape of the Month-Circle

Fine Motor-Gluing small squares of tissue paper, cutting and tracing on dotted lines, play dough, painting with toilet paper rolls, leaf prints

Perception-Puzzles,alternating red and orange objects, fall leaf collection, leaf people and autumn sorting

Directional and Positional Concepts-Up, down, front, behind, top and bottom

Gross Motor-Football toss, squish ball throwing and catching, Creative movement, dance, playground, riding bikes, neighborhood walk

Sensory Experience-Sand and bean box, hand massagers, bean bag toss, beanie babies

Pre-Math-Daily calendar activities, count your fingers and your toes, counting together, number identification

Snacks-Applesauce, cheese sticks, ABC pretzels, mini Nilla wafers, chocolate chip cookies, white cheddar cheez-it crackers, banana circles and oranges.

Self-Help-Hang backpack, jacket, remove items from lunch box, open and close lunch containers, toileting routine

Books We Will Read:

A Apple Was Once An Apple Pie

Apples, Apples, Apples

The Acorn and the Oak Tree

The Nutty Nut Chase

Hey, Little Ant

If You Give a Pig A Party

Corduroy’s Birthday

I Love School

Curious George Learns the Alphabet

Brown Bear, Brown Bear

The Teeny Tiny Ghost and Monster

Anything for You

September 2008 Themes and Concepts

Language and Vocabulary-School and bus rules, manners, class routine, naming objects around the classroom, naming classmates, teacher, and other adults in our room. “Simon Says” helps with naming body parts, how they move, and self-concept (“I am special”)! The Letters “A”, “B” and “C”

Color of the month-Red Shape of the month-Square

Fine Motor-Cutting, gluing, bead stringing, coloring, play dough and floam manipulation

Perception-Puzzle skills, peg boards alternating red and blue pegs

Directional and Positional Concepts-In front of and behind your classmate, top and bottom

Gross Motor-“Simon Says” body awareness and movement, Freeze Dance, ride bikes, climb on playground equipment

Sensory Experience-Water table (weather permitting), sand box, bean box, different smells

Pre-Math-Calendar activities, number identification, rote counting, matching one-to-one correspondence

Snack-Red apple slices, raisins, vanilla wafers, goldfish crackers, pretzels, cheese squares

Self-help-Hang backpack, take lunch box out of backpack, put notebook in basket, hang jacket in cubby

Books We Will Read:

Curious George’s First Day of School

If You Take a Mouse to School

I Love School

Mind Your Manners in School

I Like Myself

Whoever You Are

When I Was Little

Zaki and Venus: Dog Adventure

All by Myself

The Little Red Sled

The Color Book

The Shape Book

July/August 2008 Concepts and Themes

Language and Vocabulary - Summer weather, appropriate dress for warm weather, different outdoor activities, discuss various water animals, zoo animals, the beach, and picnic time. Color of the month – review all colors. Shape of the month – review all shapes

Fine Motor – Painting, sidewalk chalk, water table, sand box toys, bingo dabbing.

Perception – puzzles, zoo animals and their various sizes, sea shells and sort by size

Gross Motor – playground, walking, jumping, climbing, riding bikes

Sensory Experience – water and sand play, objects hidden in beans, massagers, nubby rubber balls, music and instruments

Pre-Math – Calendar, counting objects, identifying numbers

Snack – Rainbow goldfish, bananas, animal crackers, ABC pretzels, chocolate chip cookies

Self-help – Continue reinforcing toileting skills, clothes on and off to change into swimsuits and redress, sneakers on and off, set up and eat lunch independently

Books We Will Read:

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell

There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed the Sea