L is for Leaves

This is another exciting week in 4K.  This week we will continue working on learning the letters of the alphabet and the sounds that they make.  Our first letters are F, P, & L.  This week we will learn that L is for leaves. 

At one center today the children used droppers to drop colored liquid on a coffee filter to make fall leaves.  This activity also incorporates scientific inquiry, because the children observed what happened when the colors mixed.

Using eye droppers increase the children's fine motor skills.  Here are a few other ways you can help your child strengthen their fingers:

*Do finger-plays.  Find them on-line or in a book at the library.

*Cut pictures out.  Parents can boldly outline them with marker to make it easier.

*Play with small beads, Legos, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, etc.

*Knead play dough or clay.  Build objects with them.

*Dig through play dough for hidden objects.

*Put pegs in a board or styrofoam.

*Pick up small objects with tweezers and put them in a container.

*Move little game pieces.

*Squirt water out of bottles.

*Squeeze air out of a turkey baster to move cotton balls on a table.

*Finger paint with Jell-O or cocoa on a paper plate.

*String cereal, buttons, or beads to make necklaces.

*Punch holes on a paper plate.

*Clip clothespins to a container.

*Lace cards.