Loving our new Valentine Centers!

Good-bye, snow!  We're ready for Valentine's Day.  

I am so excited about all the lovely learning centers we are going to do in class this week and next.  Here's a little sneak peek at a few of them.

Pattern Sorting - Students sort a pile of colorful hearts by their pattern: Zig-Zag, Solid, Striped, and Polka Dot.  Sorting is so good for cognitive development!

Heal my Broken Heart - This math center has the kiddos counting hearts and matching them to the correct numeral.  When the match is correct, the heart is whole again!

Writing Practice - Students trace the dotted line from the pencil to the Valentine.  We have a few versions of this activity.  Sometimes students will use pencil and trace directly on the paper, but most often we print the sheets in color and slide them into a plastic sleeve.  They can use a dry erase marker, erase and try it again.  (I just recently learned this classroom "Life Hack": glue a pom-pom to the end of each marker for students to use as an eraser.  How did I not know about this earlier?!)

Beginning Sound Stamps - Each Valentine postcard needs a stamp!  To complete this center, the students say the name of the animal, and then find the stamp that has the correct beginning sound.

Hugs & Kisses Patterning - My preschoolers are working on simple AB, AAB, ABB patterns.  At this center, they find the hug or kiss to continue the pattern.

Heart or Valentine - This is another beginning sound sort.  (Identifying beginning sounds is one of our major literacy goals this winter!)  To play, the students say the word that is pictured on the card.  If it starts with H, it goes in the H envelope,.  If it starts with V, it goes in the V envelope.

All of these centers, plus a week of Circle Time activities, art ideas, play dough mats and more are included in our Love Unit for Preschoolers.

Have fun playing and learning with your children today!