Patriotism: Day Two

I Pledge Allegiance

Purpose: Children will learn the Pledge of Allegiance and how to show respect for the flag.

Read I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin, Jr.



Talk about why we say the Pledge of Allegiance and what it means. Teach children to show respect during the pledge by:
standing quietly
removing hats
placing hands over hearts
reciting the pledge.

Display a flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. Say the Pledge, having children follow. Even if children don't learn it right away, through role-modeling and consistency, they will! Now, you can start each day by reciting the pledge.

Additional Activities:

• Learn the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language.
• Sing patriotic songs, marching with the flag.
• Flag color pages.
• Learn the Pledge of Allegiance song.
  

Patriotism: Day One

F is For Flag

Adapted from lessons from First School.


Purpose: Introduce young children to the importance of a national symbol, the United States flag.

Read a book about flags such as: Stars and Stripes: The Story of the American Flag by Sarah L. Thompson.


Activity #1: What is a flag? What does a National Flag represent?
Display a flag picture of point out pictures from books.

*Ask the children: "What is a flag?"
A flag is a piece of cloth, in the shape of a rectangle or triangle, with colors, and designs. Flags are used for signaling or as symbols of a country or organization.

*Every country has a national flag. A national flag represents a country’s citizens. When you are the citizen of a country is like being part of a team and you work together to take care of the country. A country is like a big home with many rooms and in each room are families and individuals living in communities. You can expand on how "the big rooms" are states, with "smaller rooms" called counties and sections called towns and cities.

*Sing: "You're a Grand Old Flag"


Alphabet Activity: Alphabet Letter F is for Flag

Print the F flag coloring page.

* Finger and Pencil Tracing:
Trace letter F's in upper and lower case with your finger as you also sound out the letter. Invite the children to do the same on their coloring page (first presentation) or handwriting practice worksheet.
Encourage the children to trace the dotted letters with your choice of sharpened crayon, fine tip marker, coloring or regular pencil and demonstrate the direction of the arrows and numbers that help them trace the letter correctly. During the demonstration, you may want to count out loud as you trace so children become aware of how the number order aids them in the writing process.

*Find the letter F's: Have the children find all the letter F's in upper and lower case on the page and encourage them to circle or trace/shade them first. Visit each child to make sure they have identified the letter F's and then discuss the locations with the poster.

Coloring Activity: Encourage the children to color the image in the coloring page or worksheet.

Print this American Flag Coloring Page.

Here are some important facts about the American flag that children should understand. Discuss these facts while children color the flag pages:

1. Shapes > Identify that the flag is a rectangle. Two long sides and two short sides. Have children trace with their finger the long sides and short sides in the template.
2. Colors and counting > Discuss that red, white and blue are the national colors. Have children count the thirteen stripes. Identify that seven are red and six are white.
3. The blue rectangle houses 50 white stars for each state. Show a map of the states and locate the state where you live.
4. Tell the children they will decorate and add the stars > choose painted fingerprints or star stickers (silver stars are easy to locate). Add only 13 fingerprints for the first colonies or add up to 20 to fill up the blue space.




Additional Activities:

• Pull out a real American Flag for children to look at/play with. Talk about the colors, the stripes, the stars, the shape, etc.
• Make a "flag" by tying a piece of cloth or a towel to a dowel or wooden spoon. Have children wave the flag as you sing "You're a Grand Old Flag."
  

All About Me: Day Five

Field Trip!

This one is a little harder than some. You need to go somewhere you can use or learn about body parts. I was thinking it would be cool to to a tumbling or karate class or maybe go get measured at the doctor's office. You could also just go to the park and use different body parts in play.

All About Me: Day Four

I'm Unique!

Children will learn that there is no one else quite like them and to appreciate the things that make them different and special.

Read Verdi by Janell Cannon. Talk about what Verdi, the snake, liked about himself and how he could describe the things that made him-HIM! We each have bodies, very similar to everyone else's, but there are things that make each of us unique, special.

Make Coffee Filter Butterflies. Each child's butterfly will turn out to be different and beautifully unique, just like they are!

Sing the "Special Song" (to the tune of "Did you ever see a Lassie?")

_________(child's name) is special,
is special,
is special!
_______ is special.
There's no one like him!

Sing some of the week's body action songs.

Read through parts of My Book About Me by Dr. Seuss, talking about some of the special things that are unique about the child. Have each child make their own All About Me book. (You can find an example here.)

Talk about how we can measure and count and describe different things about our bodies or things we like and don't like, but there is one part of our bodies that leaves a unique print behind: Our Finger Print!

Press child's thumb/fingertips into ink or color with a marker. Print out on this worksheet. (It's says: "I'm special. No one has fingerprints like mine."

You could also use regular paper and have children turn their fingerprints into art, animals, etc. (Butterflies would tie into the earlier butterfly activity!)

Finger Print Cookies:

1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup butter
2 TBSP water

Mix together in a bowl until stiff dough forms. Give each child a small amount to roll into a ball. Place on cookie sheet and have each child press a thumbprint into the middle of each cookie. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. While still warm, spoon jelly into the print and enjoy!

All About Me: Day Three

Eyes, Ears, Mouth, & Nose

Children will understand more about the ways we use our eyes, ears, mouth & nose. (Taken mostly from LDS Nursery Manual, 1983)

Sing Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes

Play Body 'Simon Says,' (Here are MY eyes-where are YOUR eyes?) focusing on eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

Sing "Thanks to Our Father" (verses 1& 2) LDS Children's Songbook, #20
Sing "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" (verse 2) LDS Children's Songbook, #228

These songs talk about parts of our body that Heavenly Father gave us to help us enjoy the world around us. (Our senses)

Eyes to See:

Heavenly Father gave us eyes to see beautiful things in the world.

Activities:

• Provide paper tubes (from rolls of paper goods) for each child. Have them look through the hole, at other people, talking about all the things he/she can see. (I think Kyle was trying to use his telescope to smell the things around him:)

• Prepare a treasure hunt by hiding things (shells, flowers, rocks, leaves, toys, etc) around the room. Tell children what to look for, helping when necessary. "Use your eyes to find the treasures."
• Go on an observation walk. Talk about what you see along the way: "I see_______. What do you see?"
  
• Sing "Two Little Eyes," (LDS Children's Songbook, 268)

Ears to Hear:

Heavenly Father gave us ears all the sounds around us.

Activities:

• Play music or prerecorded sounds such as animals, cars, trucks, airplanes, tools, etc. Ask questions like "What is making this sound?" or "Is this sound found outdoors or indoors?" "What part of your body helps you hear these sounds?" (If you don't have prerecorded sounds, you could make sounds and ask children, "What am I?"

• Show pictures of things that makes sounds (same as above). Ask questions like, "What sound does this make?" Then, mix up the sounds. For example, show a picture of a train and say, "Meow, meow" or a cow and say, "Baaaa, baaa." Have children correct the sounds for each wrong one.

• Gather items found in the home that make sounds: bells, clocks, paper, radio, kitchen appliances, instruments, etc. Have children make sounds with the items. Then, have them close their eyes and try to guess what item is making the sounds.

• Go on a listening walk. Ask children to use their ears to hear the things around them. "I can hear______. Can you hear it too? What can you hear?"

• Sing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."

Nose to Smell, Mouth to Taste:

As we smell and taste good things around us, we are thankful to Heavenly Father for our noses.

Activities:

• Gather small, bite-size samples of familiar foods that have distinctive taste and smell. Cover or bring them in boxes with lids so children can't see them. Have children close their eyes and try to smell and taste a sample, trying to guess what it is.

• Prepare several small jars with a different liquid in each or several cotton balls saturated with liquids. Also bring the things the liquids came from. For example, bring orange juice and an orange, onion juice and an onion, apple juice and an apple, perfume and a flower, etc. Have children smell the liquids and try to guess what it is. Then show the correct answers.

• Explain that the way a thing smells tells us something about it. For example, if we smell bread baking, we know that someone is making bread. If we smell smoke, we knows there is a fire. If we smell food cooking in the kitchen, what do we know? Taste tells us something, too. An apple that isn't ready to eat tastes sour. When milk is spoiled, it doesn't taste good.

• Tell a story about making cookies: "Mmmmmm! Have you ever helped make cookies? I am going to tell you a story about making cookies. Maybe we can pretend to help ." (Have children do actions while the story is being told, providing objects such as bowls, spoons, etc.)
  "Mommy, may we make some cookies?"
  "That sounds like a good idea," said mother. "Will you be my helpers?"
  "First, let's wash our hands." (pretend to wash hands.)
  "We will need some sugar" said mother, pouring some into a measuring cup and into the bowl. (Pretend to measure sugar and pour into the bowl.)
  "We will need some butter, eggs, and flour, too." (Pretend to put in all the ingredients and stir the mixture.)
  "Drop the dough on the cookie sheet in little round balls." (Pretend to roll up the dough and lay it out.) When the dough is all gone, you can lick the bowl and spoon. (Act this out.)
  "Now, put the pan in the oven."
  The cookies smell SO good while they're baking. (Take in a deep breath to pretend to smell them) Soon, they will be ready to eat!

• Make real cookies and enjoy eating them!
  

Summary:
Heavenly Father gives us everything and made our bodies for us to be able to experience and enjoy the world around us!

More ideas on Senses: A to Z Kids Stuff

All About Me: Day Two

More Body Parts

Start by reading a few body-themed books.

Sing a few body action songs such as:

Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,
Knees and Toes,
Knees and Toes.
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,
Eyes, Ears, Mouth and Nose!

I Have a Wonderful Body

I have a wonderful body (touch hands to chest)
That Heavenly Father planned for me.
He gave me ears so I might hear (cup hand around ear)
And eyes that I might see (point to eyes).

I have two hands that I can clap (clap hands),
Two feet that turn around (turn around).
When I want to, I can touch
My toes down on the ground (bend over and touch toes).

When I think about my body (put finger to head),
The best part of it is (sit down quietly)
That Heavenly Father planned it
To look very much like his.

If You're Happy and You Know it, Clap your Hands

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you're happy and you know it,

And you really want to show it,

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

(Other Variations:)

shout "Hurray!"

(hoo-ray!)

say "Amen"

(Amen)

slap your legs

(slap slap)

turn around

snap your fingers

(snap snap)

slap your knees

(slap slap)

nod your head

(nod nod)

tap your toe

(tap tap)

Honk your nose

(honk honk)

Stomp your feet

(Stomp Stomp)

My Body

(sung to THE BEAR WENT OVER THE MOUNTAIN)

My fingers are starting to wiggle,
My fingers are starting to wiggle,
My fingers are starting to wiggle,
Wiggle all around.

(My hands, arms, head, legs are starting to wiggle, etc.)

My whole body's starting to wiggle,
My whole body's starting to wiggle,
My whole body's starting to wiggle,
I guess I'll just sit down.

Author Unknown

Do Your Ears Hang Low

Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them o'er your shoulder

like a Continental Soldier?
Do your ears hang low?

Does your tongue hang down?
Does it flop all around?

Can you tie it in a knot?
Can you tie it in a bow?
Can you throw it o'er your shoulder
like a Continental Soldier?
Does your tongue hang down?

Does your nose hang low?
Does it wiggle to and fro?
Can you tie it in a knot?
Can you tie it in a bow?
Can you throw it o'er your

shoulder like a Continental Soldier?
Does your nose hang low?

Do your eyes pop out?
Do they bounce all about?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them o'er your shoulder
like a Continental Soldier?

Do your eyes pop out?

Dem Bones

The toe bone connected to the heel bone,
The heel bone connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone connected to the leg bone,
The leg bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the head bone,
Oh, hear the word of the Lord!

Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk aroun'
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun'
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun'
Oh, hear the word of the Lord.

The head bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the leg bone,
The leg bone connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone connected to the heel bone,
The heel bone connected to the toe bone,
Oh, hear the word of the Lord!

More Body Part Fun:

• Body See & Say: play "Simon Says" by giving children directions such as: "Touch your fingers to your toes, bend your knees, touch your nose, clap yo ur hands, stomp your feet, tap your toe, wave your hand, nod your head, shrug your shoulders, etc." Have children take turns playing"Simon." End the game by giving the direction to "sit your whole body down."
• Bandage a Bear: set out bandaids, first aid tape, gauze. Give children directions as to which body parts need to be taken care of.
• Body Balloon Bounce: Blow up balloons and have children take turns bouncing them with different body parts.
• Stick it To Ya: Give children big stickers and instruct th em to place the stickers on different parts of their body. (May also be done with tape.)
  
• Body Bubbles: Blow bubbles and have children try to pop them with different body parts.
• Shape Cut-Outs: Cut out several different shapes out of construction paper. Have children build a body out of the shapes and glue them onto another piece of paper. Decorate and label parts. (See top picture.)
• The Big Face: Cut out a face out of a big piece of cardboard or a box. Have children throw beanbags or drop through blocks through different "body parts."
  

More lesson ideas about bodies:

LDS Primary 1 Manual: "I Have a Body"
LDS Nursery Manual: "I Will Take Care of My Body"

All About Me: Day One

My Body

Read books on body parts, having children interact with the theme of the book.
We read:
1. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
2. The Eye Book by Dr. Seuss
3. The Nose Book by Al Perkins
4. Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins

Ask child to point to different parts of his/her body.

Point out body parts in pictures or read a book such as:
The Best Part of Me by Wendy Ewald, a collection of children talking about their favorite body parts in pictures and words. (Kyle loved looking through the pictures and making connections between the children in the book and his own body parts.)

Sing action songs about bodies:

Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,
Knees and Toes,
Knees and Toes.
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,
Eyes, Ears, Mouth and Nose!

If You're Happy and You Know it, Clap your Hands

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you're happy and you know it,

And you really want to show it,

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

(Other Variations:)

shout "Hurray!"

(hoo-ray!)

say "Amen"

(Amen)

slap your legs

(slap slap)

turn around

snap your fingers

(snap snap)

slap your knees

(slap slap)

nod your head

(nod nod)

tap your toe

(tap tap)

Honk your nose

(honk honk)

Stomp your feet

(Stomp Stomp)

My Body

(sung to THE BEAR WENT OVER THE MOUNTAIN)

My fingers are starting to wiggle,
My fingers are starting to wiggle,
My fingers are starting to wiggle,
Wiggle all around.

(My hands, arms, head, legs are starting to wiggle, etc.)

My whole body's starting to wiggle,
My whole body's starting to wiggle,
My whole body's starting to wiggle,
I guess I'll just sit down.

Author Unknown

Do Your Ears Hang Low

Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them o'er your shoulder
like a Continental Soldier?
Do your ears hang low?

Does your tongue hang down?
Does it flop all around?
Can you tie it in a knot?
Can you tie it in a bow?
Can you throw it o'er your shoulder
like a Continental Soldier?
Does your tongue hang down?

Does your nose hang low?
Does it wiggle to and fro?
Can you tie it in a knot?
Can you tie it in a bow?
Can you throw it o'er your
shoulder like a Continental Soldier?
Does your nose hang low?

Do your eyes pop out?
Do they bounce all about?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them o'er your shoulder
like a Continental Soldier?
Do your eyes pop out?

Dem Bones

The toe bone connected to the heel bone,
The heel bone connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone connected to the leg bone,
The leg bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the head bone,
Oh, hear the word of the Lord!

Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk aroun'
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun'
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun'
Oh, hear the word of the Lord.

The head bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the leg bone,
The leg bone connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone connected to the heel bone,
The heel bone connected to the toe bone,
Oh, hear the word of the Lord!

Body Art:

Trace around child's body on large sheet of paper. Have child fill in parts with crayons or by gluing on string for hair, magazing cut-outs for features, and fabric or paper for clothes. Label different body parts and title the page _______'s Body.

Body Game:

Touch your nose, touch your chin.
That's the way the game begins.
Touch your eyes, touch your knees.
Now pretend you're going to sneeze.
Touch your hair, touch your ear.
Touch your two red lips right here.
Touch your elbow where it bends.
That's the way this touch game ends.