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EARLY CHILDHOOD NEWSLETTER

 

Volume 3 Issue 03
January 31, 2005


THIS ISSUE'S EARLY CHILDHOOD NEWSLETTER THEME:

Hearts


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.

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A WORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE'S THEME

Hearts bring to mind love, kindness, even warm thoughts about a special person. As February approaches, let the symbol of love remind children to be kind and caring not only on Valentine’s Day, but also throughout the year. Let these “heartfelt” activities guide your students in their everyday interactions with others.

Susan LaBella
Editor, Early Childhood Education Newsletter



ACTIVITY IDEAS

READ IT
Read to your children Amos and Boris by William Steig. Discuss with them this story of friendship, courage, and character. Invite children to help you list some characteristics that make the friendship between Amos and Boris special.

MAKE HEART NECKLACES
In advance, prepare heart shapes that are about two inches in height. Give each child six hearts. Invite children to decorate their hearts. Then encourage children to exchange their hearts with their classmates. Be sure when the exchange is complete that each child still has six hearts. Help students string their hearts on twine, narrow ribbon, or yarn to create necklaces. Remind children that their necklaces represent their friends at school.

COUNT HEARTS
Prepare about 100 paper hearts. Hide the hearts around the classroom. Divide the students into small groups. Encourage groups to find as many hearts as they can. Then have groups return to their tables to count how many hearts they have. Children can also work cooperatively to demonstrate simple number sentences using their hearts.

HAVE A HEART RELAY
Don’t forget the body’s heart! Divide your children into two teams, reminding them that teams work together. Give each team a large heart-shaped pillow. Have one child from each team place the pillow between his or her legs and hop to the end of the room and back. Repeat for each team member until everyone has a turn.

CREATE A QUILT OF HEARTS
Cut large hearts from many kinds of fabric. Cut each heart into three sections. (Each heart should be cut on the same lines so that hearts have identical parts.) Give each child a heart and encourage children to trade heart sections with others for a patchwork look. Help children glue their patchwork hearts on a square of colored posterboard. Hang the squares on a bulletin board to create a heart quilt. Remind students that each of their squares contributes to the final large creation.



ON THE WEB

Check out the following Web sites for more background and activities.

Valentine’s Day
Gather loads of teaching ideas, activities, and links -- all about hearts!
http://www.educationworld.com/holidays/archives/february.shtml#valentine

Hearts (A Storybook)
Share this fun heart storybook by David Lumerman.
http://www.lil-fingers.com/hearts/index.html

Valentine’s Day Crafts
Visit this site for a variety of heart craft suggestions.
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/_Val.html

Fingerpaint Valentine Cards
Let children create their own special cards with these easy-to-follow directions.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/valentine/fingerpaint/

Love Feels (for Valentine’s Day)
Teach your children to sing this song.
http://www.songs4teachers.com/lovefeels.PDF