Games That Teach

We all like to play...  Isn't it easier to learn things, even as an adult, when we are encouraged, having fun, and relaxing with friends?  

Our little preschoolers feel the same.  That's why we strive to provide skill building exercises that are fun, educational......and FUN! (I said that already, didn't I?)

Our "Here We Go" theme from Mother Goose Time has been full of games that promote Language Arts, Social/Emotional, Creative Arts, and STEM games.  These are simple, easy to understand and fun to play.  

Plus, I just LOVE to watch them have a great day at school!

This game was included in our "Airplane" day circle time activities.  Each child received his/her own "runway" for their airplane that we made using blue construction paper.  Once the airplane was created, each child decorated their plane using shape stickers so no two would be alike. 

These were VERY small stickers and required a bit of patience as they worked their little fine motor skills over and over peeling and then sticking stars, ovals, rectangles, circles, and squares in patterns on their planes. 

We finished it all up with glitter glue (of course!).  

I cut up one runway and used the numbered pieces as a number recognition activity/game.  Each child had their own plane and would land their plane on the runway on the appropriate number as each number was called.  This little game was a game of number recognition, shapes matching, and following directions.  Since we each had our own playing pieces (runway and plane), we didn't need to take turns.  We simply practiced calling out each number as quickly as we could and find the matching number on the runway.  

Turn based games

Games are irresistible to children..  

​Just ask, "Do you want to play a game?"  

I've yet to have a child refuse.. It will draw them in and give them a fun based experience for learning concepts and building social/emotional skills like waiting for and taking turns, being a graceful winner, and trying again!..

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This game from Mother Goose Time focused on letter recognition and beginning word sounds recognition.  

Our letter focus for this month are the letters "C," "W," and "T."  This sweet game came after making our Creative Arts project during our "truck" day where we were discussing and learning about all the different things a truck can haul.  We discussed delivery people, farmers, and floats!  We also made a truck and practiced hauling all types of things in it.  

We observed that when a load was too heavy for the truck, the truck bed would collapse and we would have to tape it all up again.  This was a great way for the children to understand capacity (science).  

After a bit of truck play we put this sweet game on the table.  The houses with the letters on them were the point of delivery, the destination location for the "packages" we were going to later deliver.  First, we discussed the letters and the sounds they made.  Next, we placed pictures of several items beginning with those letters and the letters printed on the back all around our classroom.  We then called each child, one by one, and instructed them to find and deliver a package to the right house.  We made certain that they understood that the "right" house was the house that had the same letter on it that the word started with.  

Then the game began! 

They excitedly searched for the packages and carefully took time to sound out the word thinking about the beginning sound.  We would discuss the sound as they were on their journey to the letter house to deliver each package.  Then they would dump the package out of the bed of their truck and look to me with expectant eyes to await the verdict.

HIGH FIVES!!!  The package was delivered to the right "address!!!"

They LOVED this game and spent quit a lot of time delivering packages and resetting the "parcels" to again play the game.

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But that's not all we did this week!!!

We made elephant masks like the one pictured here during our discussion about, "How We Go With Our Animal Friends!"  They even came complete with blower noses!!!

Everyone gets to join in the play!  It does not matter how young...we make a way for play and experience.  This craft was full of sensory as we squished and squeezed our glue bottles into puddles on our masks and then added several colors of tissue paper squares for colors, patterns, and decor.

Once each child was satisfied with their little creation, we had to let them dry out before adding the noses.  This took the entire day as we allowed the children to use as much glue as they decided to use.  

The results were pride filled projects that they are still requesting to play and pretend with.​ 

In addition to our new stories and songs we have painted, counted our blessings, practiced drawing and writing with markers, colored pencils, crayons, on our hands, and in the air!  We have sang and danced and watched the flood waters rise!!!

It has been a great week of learning about the ways we travel by airplane, hot air balloon, with animal helpers, by foot, and bike!

​As always...I wish you well and I hope you get to play today! - L