Guest Author - Alissa Moy
The letter C is not only easy to write, but there are also lots of fun "C" themed activities to do with your preschoolers. Use an activity table, or a center, to offer letter coordinated projects and activities. Here are several ideas for teaching the letter c:
Begin your study of the letter c with a brainstorming session to think up all of the words that start with the letter c. Your preschoolers will likely come up with an array of words that you can write on an easel or dry erase/chalk board. Draw a picture to go along with the vocabulary if possible. Some great words include cat, car, cap, cup, candy, camp, carrot, chicken, cow and cookie.
Speaking of cookies, read your class "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff. This is an enjoyable and repetitive story the whole class is sure to love. After reading it to your class once, or several times, put the book out on your activity table. Encourage students to read the book independently, or they can practice reading aloud to you or a classroom parent reading volunteer. Within your group reading session, inform the children about the basic idea of cause and effect. Explain that the first part of each sentence in the story tells something that might happen. It is called the "cause." Then explain that the second part of the sentence tells what might happen because the first thing happened. It is called the "effect." In addition, you can ask your students to identify the "cause" and "effect" of the sentences on each page of the book. Use this idea at your activity table, too, by placing 8 1/2 by 11 piece of paper out, folded in half, and have the children draw a cause and effect sentence from the book. Those students who can write their sentence, or even a word or two are encouraged to do so.
For science experiment with carrots! The easy Science experiment below does require some adult supervision, so employ an assistant or parent volunteer to help the children if possible.
"Carrots and Apples: Sink or Float?"
What you'll Need:
1 large mixing bowl, filled with water (about 75% full)
1 apple, unwashed and unpeeled, any variety
1 large carrot, unwashed and unpeeled, long enough to fit in the bowl and be able to sink or float.
Directions:
First, ask the children what they predict will happen when the apple and the carrot are put in the bowl. Place the carrot in the bowl first; then remove it and place the apple in the bowl. After each item is placed in the bowl, ask the child what they observe. Have them draw their observations in a Science journal or on paper. After the experiment is concluded, explain the results they observed. Discuss with your students how foods like carrots and apples vary greatly in the amount of air they contain. As carrot matter is packed very tightly and is very heavy, this lends itself to the carrots sinking. The apple is not packed as tightly, and it has many air spaces, therefore allowing it to float.
Crafts are fun, and your preschoolers will enjoy making a "You Learn It! Kids Mini Build a Cat Craft Kit" by Colorbok. This extensive kit is pricy, but may be an option if you were having children make gifts, etc.
Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman is a fantastic and funny books that will have your preschoolers chuckling for a while. Interrupting Chicken by
David Ezra Stein is another funny book that is wonderful to read when exploring the c word chicken. If you can arrange a field trip to a local farm to see a chicken, or a cow, this would be an ideal time.
Crafting is not limited to cats, however! Check out the Cow Sticky Mosaics by The Orb Factory for some "moovalous" fun! These are portable and safe, not to mention entertaining.
Here are the letter c resources mentioned above:
