Valentine's Day art projects - February Preschool Curriculum can be used for other classes too

Do you need some art patterns .... get going now and grab the Sampler download membership at www.Tools4PreschoolandKindergarten.com.  


It contains a bunch of new currriculum / resources.  Just added the heart template - many sizes of hearts.  


Use the hearts for Valentine's Day decorations, coloring pages, make up calendar pieces - Great for  making texture / tactile items (use sand and glue).  So many ideas for the heart / Valentine set.  


Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  Join my blog and add your suggestions.


I am also open to suggestions for new pieces of curriculum.


Here's the video of the Valentine Heart Resource Set:

Practice Functional tasks while building Fine Motor Skills

Incorporating everyday tasks into your therapeutic setting is an important part of growing the fine motor skills of any individual with delays or difficulties.

If your child or client has the ability to even attempt the tasks below – go for it! Every effort made is not one wasted!

* Zipping a Jacket and unzipping

* tie shoes and untie

* buckle and unbuckle a belt or bag strap

* do puzzles (any level)

* working with Legos or other snap together blocks – be sure to take apart too

* buttoning and snapping

* using scissors (with appropriate monitoring – of course

)

*painting (be sure to utilize several different angles – use a 90 degree then the next time use the 180 degree – just an example)

More suggestions coming – here are some sample pages from the Fine Motor Fun for Everyone Download Membership – I hope these help to get you started.

http://www.Tools4PreschoolandKindergarten.com

Fun Preschool and Kindergarten Activities - Visiting the Preschool Zoo or Circus

Ohhh! Look …. It's a lion! … and a llama! Imagine the journey of little feet visiting the zoo or the circus. The simple amazement of big eyes trying to take every little detail in, wishing that the day would never end. Well, it does not have to end there. At home or in the classroom, create your very own zoo or circus to keep the experience alive.

What animals did your little ones see? Was there a snake, an elephant, an ostrich or an iguana? What animals would they have liked to have seen? Did they want to see a koala, yak, turtle, vulture, whale, zebra, alligator and rhino? The simple solution is to make your own – sounds included.

All of the items that you will need to make your own preschool zoo or circus will be crayons, scissors, paper lunch bags, glue, printer with paper - of course, animal templates and an imagination. Your preschoolers will provide the imagination …. you will need to gather the rest.

You could create your own animals using the basic shapes (circles, squares, ovals and rectangles) or you could use ready made bag templates. If using the templates or printables …. have the student color the pieces prior to cutting out the shapes. This process eliminates a lot of frustration on the little one's part. Next cut out the pieces, follow the directions and paste the pieces onto the bag. Once the critters have been created and dried.... let the imagination take over. If you do not readily have any bag templates, visit http://www.Tools4PreschoolandKindergarten.com for a cute, complimentary llama template to get you started.

Creating the lunch bag puppets does not have to compliment a zoo or circus trip. It can be a fun rainy day activity, themed based art project or a fun fine motor task. No matter the reason for creating these wonderful animals, it is always a joy to see the smiles on the students' faces as they roar, growl, meow and chirp.