Rainbow Reading and Footprint Craft

Lesson Plan:

Activity:

Lesson plan developed by Ms. Erika Geelhoed, BA Ed

Age Group:

Mobile Infants

* Lesson plan objective and assessment can be adapted to use this activity with toddlers.

Objectives:

Children will:

develop sensory motor skill.
practice pre-literacy skills.

CDA Competency Standard:

II.6.2a

Activities promote language development
- a) Children are read to every day

Materials:

Rainbow Zoo: A Colours Board Book by Martina Hogan
paper
paint
paintbrush
construction paper
tape or glue

Procedure:

Begin the activity by reading Rainbow Zoo with the children in a comfortable spot.
Be sure to use an expressive tone to keep the children engaged.
Encourage them to try turning the pages on their own.
When finished, begin the memory craft.
Paint the children’s foot and stamp it onto a piece of paper.
Do this with all of the colors of the rainbow.
Allow to dry.
Cut out a pot and pieces of gold using the construction paper.
Tape or glue under the rainbow feet.
Be sure to take pictures during art time to share with families.

Assessment:

Observe and record the children’s pre-literacy skills. Did they attempt to turn the pages on their own? Did they make any verbalizations or reactions while you were reading together?

Online Early Childhood Education

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The Benefits of Music and Movement

Like all the best learning experiences in early childhood, music activities simultaneously promote development in multiple domains. Singing a lullaby while rocking a baby stimulates early language development, promotes attachment, and supports an infant’s growing spatial awareness as the child experiences her body moving in space. It is very important to help young children develop musical awareness. The key is to start exposing young children to the joys of music early in life. In addition, don’t be afraid to sing and dance with the children. The more enthusiastic you are, the more the children will enjoy learning about music. Through experience with different instruments and types of music, children slowly become aware of differences in pitch, tone, and volume.

Even young babies will look surprised when one egg shaker makes a different sound from all the others. Music plays a powerful role in the lives of young children. Through music, babies and toddlers can come to better understand themselves and their feelings, learn to decipher patterns and solve problems, and discover the world around them in rich, complex ways. Most important, sharing music experiences with the people they love makes very young children feel cherished and important.