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Volume 2 Issue 1
February 3, 2004
LOVE of Learning
WELCOME! to Education World's Early Childhood Newsletter. Each month, I'll share some ideas
on a familiar teaching theme. Hopefully you will find a new activity idea or two -- or a new twist
on one of your old favorites! Since I know you are very busy, I'll be short and sweet -- like most
of activities I suggest.
Tell a friend about us! Invite them to sign up for their own FREE subscription at http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml#childhood
The Early Childhood Education Newsletter is brought to you by Colgate Bright Smiles,
Bright Futures®
Flip your calendar to February...it's National Children's Dental Health Month! And you'll flip
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February is the month
of LOVE. Valentines Day makes its annual appearance this month, but February is also a great time
to turn your focus to another kind of love -- the love of learning.
Why not take time this month to share what YOU love to learn with the children you teach? Do you
love learning about birds, about gardening, about people who lived long ago? Do you love to read,
climb mountains, run marathons (or shorter races)? When you share the things you love, students
will catch your enthusiasm, and they will see that grown-ups are still learning new things.
Take time to find out what STUDENTS would love to learn too. Make a list and search for books,
activities, and invited guests who can share their knowledge of those topics. Who knows? Some other
students -- or even you -- might get hooked" too.
What do you love about school, or teaching? What do your students love about school? Build on and
share those loves.
In the ACTIVITY section of this month's newsletter, you will find some more ideas for teaching
about Valentine's Day. Plus, find some fun ideas for celebrating Presidents Day and Dental Health
Month too!
Have a month filled with love -- of learning!
Anne Guignon
Editor, Early Childhood Education Newsletter
Coming Next Month: What's blowing in those March winds?
Learning about your TEETH
February is National Children's Dental Health Month, a great time for a visit from a dentist or
dental hygienist or a class visit to a dental office.
* Have a "share a smile" party for another class to show off shiny teeth. Serve tooth-healthy
foods.
* Share the book "How Many Teeth?" by Paul Showers with the class.
* Did you know that February is also Pet Dental Health Month? Take some time to learn about animal
teeth. Which animals have pointed teeth? Which animals have flat teeth? Why? How can we take care
of our pets' teeth? Check the books "Up Close: Teeth That Stab and Grind" by Diane Swanson
and "Whose Teeth Are These?" by Wayne Lynch (photographer) to see if they
are appropriate for your class. Some photos and illustrations may be helpful even if the entire
book is "too much" for little ones.
* If your students are losing baby teeth, create a picture graph to record the event. Use the graph
to learn how many teeth students lose in February, March, April...
Learning about PRESIDENTS
Presidents Day recognizes the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and honors all
presidents.
* Help your children learn to recognize and identify the current president. Hang several newspaper
or magazine photos of President Bush where students can easily see them. Label the pictures with
his name.
* Read stories about past presidents, especially Lincoln and Washington. Although the 200 year time
span is difficult for young children, they can relate to "long ago" and the differences
in transportation, clothing, and other details. Books include: "Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved
Books" by Kay Winters; "Don't Know Much About the Presidents" by Kenneth C. Davis;
"George Washington's Teeth" by Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora. (This book about
Washington can connect with dental health!) You are bound to have a few budding historians.
* Show students the faces of presidents on U.S. coins and bills. Sort, count, and graph a pile of
pennies and quarters. Toss a coin ten times and record the number of times a president's HEAD comes
up.
* Some children may be interested in "Who was president when." their teacher was little,
their mothers were born, etc.
* Do YOU have a favorite president? If so, share that with your class. Your excitement will be catching.
Learning about and celebrating VALENTINES DAY
* Create a storm of hearts in your classroom around Valentines Day. Using white, pink and red hearts,
help children paste same-size heart shapes together, two or three over a length of yarn. Hang from
the ceiling.
* Show children how to cut hearts from a folded paper. Trace several half-hearts, one inside the
other. As children keep cutting on the fold, they will get small one solid heart and several open
hearts. They are great for decorating Valentine boxes or Valentine cards.
* Sponge paint using sponges cut into heart shapes.
* Help children create rebus valentines for their friends using small pictures cut from magazines
or from clip art. (Pictures will take place of words.) Children can practice reading the valentines
they make.
Check out the following Web sites for more
background and activities.
KidBibs: Biographies of Black American
Heroes...
http://www.kidbibs.com/learningtips/lt36.htm
The list is great for all year -- not just Black History Month in February.
Enjoy Valentines Day
http://www.2learn.ca/mapset/Enjoy/enjoyval/val.html
Filled with craft ideas; stories suggestions; math, science and other activities.
Activities and Crafts
for Presidents Day
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/presidentsday/
Instructions for president-related crafts
U.S. Presidents: From the White House
Kids website
http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/presidents/
Pearly Whites: For Dental
Health Month
http://webtech.kennesaw.edu/jcheek3/dentalhealth.htm
Links to a variety of dental health information and activities.
Pet Dental:
Background information on pet dental health.
http://www.petdental.com/pet_dental/pet_index.jsp
This week, Education World introduces its newest feature -- The Weekly Survey.
Cast your vote on questions of interest to all educators.
This week's survey question:
Should parents have a say in choosing to which teachers their children are assigned?
Cast your vote at:
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/archives/survey.shtml
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