Preschool

Loose Parts Nature Designs

October 18, 2018 by Stacy Leave a Comment

Now that it’s fall, we’ve been learning about orchards, trees and also parts of a tree. This loose parts nature designs activity from Mother Goose Time was so inspiring! Using natural items with children is well, just natural. They are drawn to rocks and sticks. It’s an inviation to play chilren can’t refuse.

Thanks for reading! Subscribe to Share & Remember or follow me via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a small amount of money when you purchase through the link. Full disclosure policy here. Your privacy is respected. Read our privacy policy here.

Nature Designs with natural loose parts a Mother Goose Time activity from Share & Remember #MGTblogger #looseparts

Loose Parts Nature Designs

Making nature designs with natural loose parts like rocks, sticks and leaves focuses on fine motor skills, spatial awareness as well as patterns and sorting.

Mother Goose Time provided beautiful Nature Design Mats in October’s kit.

kids making Loose Parts Nature Designs with rocks, leaves and sticks

Loose Parts Nature Designs materials table top activity

The kids made their own designs too. Creativity counts!

Looking at a picture and duplicating the design isn’t easy. I guided them to count how many sticks or rocks they needed.

making a design with leaves and sticks Loose Parts Nature Designs

We used our alphabet rocks so some kids recognized letters and chose the rocks they wanted to use based on the letters.

circular design with rocks and sticks Loose Parts Nature Designs

We don’t have many trees in our yard so I bought some sticks to use for loose parts and preschool crafts. I know it sounds silly to buy sticks, but it can be a good alternative if you don’t have sticks readily available. I like that they are a uniform size for these types of activities.

leaves and sticks starburst design Loose Parts Nature Designs

preschool table activity Loose Parts Nature Designs

The clear bowls I used for this activity and displaying manipulatives on our shelves were from the Dollar Tree store. I believe they originally intended for terrarium gardens but I just love to use them for play materials.

A beautiful nature pattern design!

The Busy Tree

The Busy Tree is one of my favorite books. I love the close up look at a tree. It seems like the tree is just standing there until you get up close and see all that’s going on in a tree.

Mother Goose Time Blog Ambassador — **Mother Goose Time | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram**

What’s in the Box: Transportation Station

October 16, 2018 by Stacy Leave a Comment

Here comes November’s theme, Transportation Station! I don’t know about you, but I always love starting a new kit. It’s exciting and a fresh start. By the end of the month, I’m ready for a change of mindset, toy selection around my room and learning theme. Mother Goose Time is always a fun way to learn for kids and as well as educators to use, as you’ll see again this month. See What’s in the box: Transportation Station.

What’s In the Box: Transportation Station

Mother Goose Time Transportation Station theme poster — Mother Goose Time Transportation Station Preschool Theme

This month your child will explore the fascinating world of transportation. He will design a road, traffic signal and bridge. Your child will explore flight in an airplane, a hot air balloon and a helicopter. Then, he’ll make a boat and test it in water. He’ll count dollars and buy a ticket on the ferry. There are so many ways to go, which one is your family’s favorite?

Theme Web

Teacher Guides

First week’s theme web

Week one Theme Web for Transportation Station

Loose Parts Letters D, J & U

letters D, J, U loose parts letters pieces and alphabet cards

Lesson 1: Road

Lesson 2: Traffic Signs

Lesson 3: Map

Lesson 4: Bridge

Lesson 5: Service Station

Lesson 6: Car

Lesson 7: Truck

Lesson 8: Bike

Lesson 9: Foot

Lesson 10: Animal

Here’s another picture of the storytelling poster:

What's in the box: Transportation Station

Lesson 11: Airplane

Lesson 12: Hot Air Balloon

Lesson 13: Helicopter

Helicopter pad game What's in the box: Transportation Station

Lesson 14: Tugboat

Lesson 15: Canoe

Lesson 16: Train

Lesson 17: Bus

Lesson 18: Taxi

Lesson 19: Subway

Lesson 20: Ferry

Next Month: Sights & Sounds

Order next month’s curriculum here.

Coming soon, join us next month for the December preschool theme from Mother Goose Time Sights and Sounds

See Transportation Station in Action

Apple Seed Art

October 4, 2018 by Stacy Leave a Comment

I just have to share our apple seed art from day one of the Orchard Harvest theme. They turned out so cute. It was a perfect transition into fall and a fun way to work with seeds.

Apple Seed Art

Supplies Needed:

small paper plates
red paint
dry black beans
glue
paintbrush
leaf (we used a real leaf from a crab apple tree)

Apple Seed Art gluing seeds on a red painted paper plate

Our apple seed art display.

We also played a matching apples game.

I like all the different varieties of apple pictures for visual discrimination.

We read Johnny, a story about Johnny Appleseed.

I like using various resources to pull together a theme. The Scholastic My Big World with Clifford from September 2017 was perfect along with our apple seed art, Johnny book, and apple matching game!

Scholastic My Big World with Clifford from September 2017 parts of an apple poster

Scholastic My Big World with Clifford from September 2017 Find 5 seeds

Seed Sort Page

Use this printable activity page to sort and glue on seeds. Great fine motor work and visual discrimination. Click on the button below to download.

Seed Sort Page Download

Apple Tasting Activity

Try an apple tasting activity with a free printable page. Fun for everyone!

Exploring Seeds

Lots of seed ideas here from exploring sunflower seeds and sorting and counting seeds.

Super Fun Circle Time!

October 3, 2018 by Stacy 3 Comments

Circle time or no circle? Say yes to circle time! It can be so fun or it can be a dread, it’s all what you make it! If your circle time is no longer fun or you’re all frustrated (we’ve all been there!) try some of these tips to make circle time a super fun circle time for everyone!

Ideas for Super Fun Circle Time!

October preschool calendar super fun circle time

Get their attention.

Mother Goose Time makes this easy with the circle time song. You can play that to signal that it’s circle time. Children respond very well to using music for transitions. It’s a movement song so everyone gets the wiggles out before sitting down. I set up my circle time area like this and then turn on the Mother Goose Time song.

circle time preschool in home child care environment super fun circle time

A spot for everyone.

Little kids do not really understand the concept of personal space. Unless someone is in theirs and they don’t like it! Wouldn’t you know it, when you need everyone to sit and keep in their space, that’s when they don’t.…

colorful vinyl spots for sitting at circle time super fun circle time

Having a little spot for each child helps set the expectation to sit. They learn it’s where they stay for circle time. I don’t have a fancy rug with spots for everyone to sit on so I use these little-colored vinyl “spots”. They can be used for many other kinds of activities and free play as well.

Be prepared.

Being prepared is an obvious one but it’s a lesson I seem to need to learn on a weekly basis. I’m always forgetting something and needing to get up and find it. That’s a sure fire way to lose everyone’s attention!

lesson book teacher guide Mother Goose Time Roots lesson super fun circle time

I keep a handy little basket nearby my circle time area.

basket with items for preschool super fun circle time

I keep it on the shelf where we do circle time so it’s handy. Everyone knows this is my circle time basket and it stays there. (Most of the time this works.)

basket with items for super fun circle time

These little plastic zipper bags hold our weather pieces and alphabet cards for circle time. I found them at the Dollar Tree.

plastic blue polka dot zipper bag for weather pieces at super fun circle time

Supplies I use at circle time:

name sticks
glue stick/calendar numbers
weather pieces
marker
pen
Teacher Guide
Pocket Cube
Pointers

Don’t forget whatever else you need for activities during or after circle time. Maybe bring something extra in case you need to switch things up.

bowl with red yarn basket with Scholastic My Big World Clifford Magazines for super fun circle time

Lower your expectations.

I don’t like to say that because I believe children will rise to your expectations (generally). We do have to consider however, what is developmentally appropriate.

You will see many arguments for or against circle time for young children, but I’m a fan. Some days go better than others of course, my group does well with circle time because it’s something we’ve practiced.

kids playing feeling shapes game super fun circle time

Children do need to learn to sit and control their bodies for short periods of time. It’s is a reality that they will need to eventually learn to sit for group activities in school. Children who start in an early childhood earlier may have more time to practice this than a 4-year-old who is soon starting school so exposing children to the need to sit (relatively) still and quiet is not an unrealistic expectation. It must be learned like anything else and used with balance.

Some of my younger ones will wander off and that’s okay. You will know if some in your group are not ready for circle time. If I see I’m “losing” them, I wrap things up. Again, keep it short and go from there.

Use a puppet.

Kids looooove puppets! Sometimes I feel like, “what do I do with this thing??” but don’t overthink it. It doesn’t need a crazy voice. It’s doesn’t need to be a huge story. Just hold the puppet and see the response. Children quiet down and wait. They are excited to hear what it’s going to say. Then use it consistently to give directions, build a story or for a certain purpose at circle time. It takes practice.

Read a book.

A to Z Animals book circle time super fun circle time

I usually put a book out at circle time and everyone waits in anticipation for the story. Starting or ending circle time with a short, developmentally appropriate book relating to the theme can extend the lesson. Don’t limit it to just books, try Scholastic Magazines, poems, nursery rhymes, fingerplays,

Play a game.

kids playing a puzzle game super fun circle time

Kids love games and that’s how kids learn is through play, so let’s do that! Mother Goose Time has wonderful ideas for playing little games and learning basics like colors and shapes. When everyone is participating they learn from one another while they practice waiting for their turn and respecting their friends. So maybe circle time turns into a small group activity.

Move!

Keep kids moving to keep the learning going. Dance, do yoga, play a listening game or song, exercise, make animal movements, or play follow the leader. The Mother Goose Time Teacher Guides provide plenty of ideas for music and movement.

Transition to or from circle time with music and movement. Or move and then return to a sitting activity so everyone isn’t sitting too long.

We like these music and movement songs:

Going on a Bear Hunt (we like the Greg & Steve version best)
Hello, Hello
Freeze Dance
Goldfish Song
I Like to Move It, Move It
We Are the Dinosaurs

Use a pointer.

teachers pointing pointer and star wand super fun circle time

Ah, the magic of a pointer/wand! Kids love them. It gives them an element of control. If they have the pointer, all attention is on them. Ha, you can just see it on their face. It makes them excited to learn and participate. What a great tool! Sometimes Target has them in their dollar section or you can find them on Amazon.

child pointing to the calendar with pointer super fun circle time

Give everyone a turn.

Everyone gets a little job. The calendar number, the counting leader, the alphabet pointer, the shape finder, the weather updater. Make it up as you go! I say, “Can you find a letter E?” Another child might need more of a challenge so I’ll ask him to find a word. Hand over the pointer and the child has control while you guide their learning. So fun!

children using mother goose time theme poster during super fun circle time

Another amazing thing happens at circle time – children start to help one another and therefore learn from one another.

Name sticks.

How do you make sure everyone gets a turn? Name sticks are my little trick for making sure everyone gets a turn and it’s fair. It’s not my choice who gets to go first, it’s whoever’s name is drawn. It creates an excitement all of its own. One of the best things I’ve ever done for circle time!

tin can with craft sticks with names on them for taking turns super fun circle time

Just use colored craft sticks and add each child’s name on them with markers or a label maker. Use all the same colored sticks so there’s no favorites or the kids don’t memorize whose stick is whose.

Keep it short.

Goodness, don’t try to do everything at circle time! I usually hit calendar, weather, some basics, a song or small group activity. The more use to circle time your group is, the longer you may be able to keep their attention but the goal isn’t how long you can make it last. Move to a table for a small group activity or bring out new pencils for a writing activity. Incorporate music and movement. Remember, this is supposed to be fun!

Change things up.

Don’t do the same thing every day. Don’t even do it in the same order every day. That’s boring. Yes, there’s a certain amount of things that we do daily but change the order or the method. Children thrive on novelty and new experiences.

children writing in journals super fun circle time

Consistency is definitely key but sometimes I get burned out on circle time, work, life…so I just have someone put up the calendar number and move on.

Remember, it’s supposed to be fun!

If it’s not fun, it’s not working! We want the things we spend our precious time with the children doing to be of value. If it doesn’t have value anymore, stop and/or fix it.

girl writing #4 My Little Journals super fun circle time

Please share what works for you at circle time in the comments below!

Making the Most of Your Mother Goose Time Materials

October 3, 2018 by Stacy Leave a Comment

Whether you’ve been using it for a long time or just starting with Mother Goose Time, it seems like we can always use suggestions and new ideas for tips for making the most of your Mother Goose Time materials.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Mother Goose Time Materials

Get Organized.

children with Mother Goose Time curriculum box

However you do it, there’s a certain amount of organization that’s necessary in order to make the most of your Mother Goose Time curriculum. Every box has 20 daily topic bags plus the teacher tool bag. See what’s included here.

Know what’s in the box.

First, you have to know what’s in the box. There’s so much!! Maybe it feels a bit overwhelming at first but after you use the curriculum for a few months, you get the idea of what’s included each month.

Orchard Harvest teacher tools supplies from Mother Goose Time

I feel the most organized when I go through the box and prep it before the month starts. This post shows how I prep my materials for the month. Especially if using Mother Goose Time is new to you, you’ll want to look through everything and see what it’s all for.

Supplied Core Tools page from Mother Goose Time curriculum

The Supplied Core Tools page is one you’ll want to keep and reference all month long. I put it in the front of my binder so it’s handy. It shows you where to find each item whether it’s in the Welcome Kit, Member Resources, Teacher Tool Bag or a specific lesson. The STEAM stations are noted on the bottom. It’s so easy to find what you’re looking for at a glance!

preschool curriculum weekly binder for getting organized

My weekly binder of activities for Monday through Friday.

binder with preschool curriculum Orchard Harvest from Mother Goose Time

Read the Teacher Guides.

Teacher Guides for Orchard Harvest Mother Goose Time fall preschool theme Making the Most of Your Mother Goose Time Materials

Everything you need to know is in the teacher guides and the included materials. It’s amazing how much information is in there! I always like to look at the overview pages in the front of the teacher guides.

Learning objectives and overview for week one Orchard Harvest Making the Most of Your Mother Goose Time Materials

Definitely check out the STEAM Stations right away too. These are wonderful ideas you use to set up centers or stations for the week ahead! They can be left out to be explored for as long as there’s interest. Definitely take advantage of these ideas and put them into action.

STEAM stations ideas for week one of Mother Goose Time Orchard Harvest Making the Most of Your Mother Goose Time Materials

Have a plan.

Go through the teacher guide and decide what activities you’re going to do. Circle them or make notes. Then you will have all the supplies ready to go or have the time to locate them.

Weekly planning calendar pages in teacher guides from Mother Goose Time Making the Most of Your Mother Goose Time Materials

Maybe your plan is to grab and bag and go! That works for me many days.

Each Teacher Guide has a planning section that’s awesome for making notes, writing goals or individualizing lessons. Lots of room for planning and notes!

Notes pages in teacher guides from Mother Goose Time Making the Most of Your Mother Goose Time Materials

Check out the Member Resources.

screenshot of the member resources on the Mother Goose Time website Making the Most of Your Mother Goose Time Materials

You have access to the member resources for the kits you’ve purchased. Log in to access:

streaming music
activity calendar
suggested book list
song lyrics
Mother Goose Time Family Newsletter
teacher certificate
coloring sheets
gathering list
assessment tools/printables
Celebration Kits
and more!

Learn.

Watch some of the daily training YouTube videos from Mother Goose Time. What a great resource! These short little videos really help me get my head into the lesson and shape ideas before I’m in the middle of it. I don’t know about you but it seems like I’m always learning right along with my kids!

Mother Goose Time has several Facebook groups for the family child care, homeschool, center directors and preschool communities. It’s the place to find help, share your ideas or ask questions.

Making the Most of Your Mother Goose Time Materials Facebook groups for early childhood education and child care providers

Laminate displays and heavily used materials.

laminating star card game for Mother Goose Time preschool theme

Laminating display pieces and heavily used materials extend the life of paper or card stock materials and make them nicer for the kids to use. And you won’t get upset about card games being torn or completely crumpled.

It’s important that we make materials accessible to the children. Putting the circle time board at the child’s level allows them to look at the numbers, letters and other concepts we’ve discussed in group time and review them on their own.

circle time board display for Mother Goose Time

I love it when I see someone at the circle time display pointing at numbers and counting or pretending to play school. Yes, they might damage some pieces in the beginning but the board in these pictures has been used for about 3 years now.

circle time board display for Mother Goose Time in home child care environment Making the Most of Your Mother Goose Time Materials

Little ones might need to be redirected countless times, but eventually, they learn that it’s to look at. Let’s make use of what we have and get the most out of it by allowing the children to actively use it! If you need a new set of display materials, you can buy them here.

Put the materials out in your environment.

I want my group to get a lot of use of the materials each month. So I don’t save the puzzle until the day it’s introduced in the teacher’s guide. On the first of the month, I change my room up for the new theme and put out many of the Mother Goose Time materials so they can be explored during free time. Items I put out at the beginning of the month:

Theme poster
Letter cards and loose parts
Story scene and magnet sets
Puzzle
Manipulatives/activity cards
Books
CD
Posters
Matching Games

Be creative.

The suggested activity doesn’t sound like it will work with your group? Change it up! Have a better idea? Go with it! Make the curriculum your own and make it work for you.

On the other hand, not sure about some of the ideas in the book? Give it a try! I’m often surprised that a simple activity is so fun and engaging for the kids and I’ve learned to present a concept in a different way.

Multi-Task

I use some of the materials for more than one task like the name tags. We use them all month long. On the first day of the month everyone practices writing their name. Then we put them in the pocket chart. Anyone who needs help remembering the letters of their name or wants to practice writing names, can grab their tag and reference it.

This month we tried laminating them and using dry erase markers. What a great idea! Now they get used even more. Plus our names tags are used for display. They are handy for any activity or transition as well.

Pocket Charts & Display

I *love* these little pocket charts for displaying the awesome Mother Goose Time tools. I change these areas up often so they get used. Otherwise, everyone just ignores them. When we did the communication/sign language activity last month it was very popular. It would be a shame to put these sign cards away where the kids couldn’t use them! This is the perfect spot for them. I keep the theme poster magnifying glasses in the bottom pocket so they can be played with throughout the day.

This pocket chart changes often too. This one is holding the yoga cards. The kids love these and I see yoga poses often throughout the day! How awesome is that?! Another tip – grab a card and use it for a transition activity. Need everyone’s attention to wash hands? Pick a card and have each child do the pose before going to wash.

I always laminate and save the nursery rhyme posters so I have quite a collection from over the years. I put a coordinating poster or two each month.

Gems like this need to be laminated and displayed! I put the American Sign Language poster in our library area. It’s a great quiet time activity in addition to resting and looking at books.

Reuse and Re-purpose

What to do with all these supplies after you’ve done the daily lessons? Here’s some ideas:

Create displays
Make a book of the daily topic pages
Make check out or take home bags for family involvement
Add craft supplies to your art station
Put extra or leftover materials in a scrap box to be used at free time
Donate extra materials to another provider
Create a game file and rotate the games in your centers
Give them to the children to take home
Save for future use when you revisit the theme

Don’t stress!

There’s a lot of materials and activities included daily and each month. You may not be able to get to them all but don’t stress!

In fact there’s so much that some people stretch one box over more than one month depending on how their schedule works.

children playing on the light table in home child care environment

If you’re falling behind, just start again. Every day is a new beginning!
It works best for me to always try to keep up each day and move on to the next if I miss one. Sometimes I combine lessons if we miss days. If nothing else, I always try to use the craft materials. That’s one thing that’s so great about using Mother Goose Time, it’s all very flexible. Make it work for you!

Do you have more tips for making the most of your Mother Goose Time Materials? Leave a comment and share it with us!