Just like many families, I've gone from working most of my day to caring for my small children all day. In order to keep sanity and a schedule for all of us, I've begun homeschooling the 2 and 4 year old. My very minor contribution to the lives of us in quarantine is that I will share resources and even free worksheets right here!
When it comes to resources, I go the path of least resistance. I first search the internet and resources I have on hand. If I can't find what I want for free, then I make it. Paying for materials is a last resort. Any worksheets I've made, I will post up here for you. I will update this page frequently.
'tis the Season for Daycamp!
We have opted NOT to send our kids to Day camp this year. It was a difficult decision. For safety and out of uncertainty about what this virus will do over the summer, we have decided to keep the kids home. SO, I have created a complete 8-week mommy daycamp. You can read all about it here!
Resources
Here are some resources that I use in our homeschool. Any Amazon links will give me a small commission. Thank you for your support! Here's what I'm using in my preschool:
This book is amazing. I use this book every single day to guide our learning. I have one book and make color copies for my second child.
And it's excellent counterpart.
ABCMouse.com has been a priceless asset. After the preschool day, I like to set the kids up with the ABCMouse app to work on their skills.
Worksheets/Lessons
Three Little Pigs
For this lesson, I read the kids the Three Little Pigs book, and then completed the worksheets and discussion (guided by the worksheets). This lesson teaches sequencing and reading comprehension.
Three Little Pig's Lesson, Download Here
Seasons: Spring
This lesson began by watching the Bubble Guppies Season 1, Episode 13 The Spring Chicken is Coming. Season 1 is free with Amazon Prime. We then worked through "My Book About Spring" discussing the elements of Spring as they interacted with each page. They found it really fun and were talking about it for days, showing off their books with pride!
My Book About Spring, Download Here
Science: Growing a Bean Sprout
I spread this lesson out over a few days. Day 1, we went on a nature walk and talked about the blooms on the trees and the different types of plants we saw. Each child brought along a disposable cup and plastic spoon. I had them dig up a little dirt and put it in their cups with the spoon. We read The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle (left). We took bean mix and planted a few and watered it. Then we did some other supplemental games and such I found online. To go along with this, I created a Bean Journal that the kids will use to observe their plants over 14 days. The Bean Journal is attached below.
My Bean Journal, Download Here
Brief Lesson about the Hygiene and the Pandemic
I created a few learning pages with an experiment, a worksheet and some fun ideas for indoor activities. I made this to help my preschool-age kids process the strange things they are seeing and what they can do to feel safe and have fun during this time.
Pandemic Hygiene, Download Here
4-Day Unit on Community Helpers
For this lesson, I spread out my resources over 4 days. I'll just list everything here and you can pick and choose what to use and how to spread it out. Here goes:
We also read these two great books. And we watched Blippi, Season 2, Episode 6, which goes over community helper vehicles in great detail. Show is free with Amazon Prime.
Reinforcement Worksheets from the Preschool book above as well as my own: Download Worksheets
Lastly, we played Community Helpers Dress up. I'm a huge fan of the quality and realness of the Melissa and Doug Costumes. So, that is what we use at home. I'll link a few below, and I'll include the best doctor play set I have ever found.
All About Me
I am starting a week-long unit about the self. Each day has a different theme. Day one is "All About Me" We watched the YouTube video: "I Like Myself" from OBKidz which is a book read aloud. This is my new hack since libraries are closed. If I need a book, I find someone reading it on YouTube! I gave the children a mirror and had them make a marker drawing, self-portrait. We also read the book Just Look at You! which incorporates both Hebrew and English names for the body parts in a really sweet story. Lastly, we did an interview "All About Me," which was really fun to do and will be an awesome keepsake for the future. The interview is free to download.
All About Me Interview: Download Here
Body Parts
For day two, we focused on body parts. I wrote a book as I was creating this lesson. My book, "I Can Take Care of my Body" is available on barnesandnoble.com. We also watched the Bubble Guppies video Season 1, episode 1 "Call a Clambulance!". Lastly, we did a body parts puzzle that I printed from preschoolactivities.us. I cut out the parts and let the kids glue together the boy on a piece of construction paper.
Reinforcement Worksheets: Download Here
Farm Week
I did a 4-day unit on farms. We watched "Big Red Barn" read aloud on YouTube. We also watched "Before We Eat from Farm to Table" read aloud. We did reinforcement worksheets that I picked up from the web. Then for art projects, we made a Cotton Ball sheep. To do this, cut a large oval and to small circles from white construction paper. Then cut two smaller circles, two squares, an oval and a rounded triangle from black construction paper. Glue the squares onto the white oval (they are feet.). Then add the rounded triangle with the white and black circles (the head and eyes). Lastly add the oval tail. Let your kids cover it in glue and stick on as many cotton balls as they can! For another craft, we took ground coffee and some seeds, beans and popcorn kernels and created a "field" inside a small dish. The kids got to till the soil and plant their seeds. We finished that off, by allowing them to glue some of the coffee grounds and seeds to brown construction paper to make their own field art project. We made butter. Put heavy cream into a small jar and seal tightly. The kids can then shake, shake, shake. It takes 8-10 minutes to turn into butter and buttermilk. We then ate some of the butter on crackers. They were SO excited to eat butter they made with their own hands. I used the buttermilk from all the kids and made my Buttermilk Pancakes the next morning. They covered their pancakes in the last of their homemade butter. Lastly, the kids got to "milk" the cow for their milk to drink. Fill a latex glove with milk and knot it. Then poke small holes in the fingers and let the little ones "milk" the udders!
