Susan Portman Copyright 2006

The aim of this booklet is to show you how to design your own
preschool curriculum program, to use with a group of children that you
teach or care for, or to use with your own child. I would like to do that
as simply as possible, to save you time. You will be creating a program
that lasts for a day, or a week. Those segments can be extended or
combined with other segments to last as long as you want. I will not be
going into the educational theory about why the designs that I am
going to show you work. I will just tell you HOW to do it.
By designing your own program, you can:
Focus on the interests of the children
Have control over the costs of running your program
Find that the activities and projects are more authentic, because
YOU have thought of them. You do not have to adapt to
somebody elses thought processes.
First I will describe the design sequence that you will follow:
Decide on the topic you will be designing the program around. Do
this by choosing an interest demonstrated by the child or the
group, or deciding on the topic yourself.
Choose one of the three templates, and print it.
Fill in the spaces on the template with ideas for activities, books,
and projects to immerse the children in the topic. Use primarily
what you have already, and I am assuming you have the basic
supplies.

 Collect books, CDs and videos by ordering them from the library
online; calling your librarian to collect some books related to your
topic and go pick them up; or purchasing from Scholastic, Amazon
or Barnes and Noble (et al.).
The Templates
I have given you a choice of three templates. Each template can be
printed with or without specific subject areas written on it.
The Webbing Template: can be used to design for one day, or up
to a week, or longer
The Grid Template: use for 5 days (a week)
The Sequence Template: best used for one day, but can be
adapted for longer.
The Topic/Theme Suggestions
This is a list of topics to give some to give some ideas about what the
children might like to study or learn about. Of course you will come up
with plenty of your own, too.
The Activity Lists
I have chosen activities that can be easily adapted and used for every
theme/topic. I have chosen 30 of them for each subject that you will
be introducing in your template. The subjects are:
Language and Literacy
Creative Art
Music
Discovery Science
Discovery Math
Discovery Cooking
Discovery Letters
A Fun Game
A Spark Activity to focus interest

Use the Activity Lists after choosing your topic and writing it on your
Template. For each subject, choose one of the activities suggested on
the list under that subject, and adapt it to the theme.
Example: You have decided to study Butterflies. You are trying to
think of an activity for Language and Literacy. Look on the L and L list,
and you decide to choose the general activity Imagination Story
Starter. You adapt the story starter to the Butterfly theme. ( I am
a butterfly squeezing out of the chrysalis. I pushed my head out, and I
saw )
Another Example: Same theme. You want to find an activity for
Creative Art. Look on the CA list, and you decide to choose the general
activity Tissue Collage. You adapt the tissue collage concept to the
Butterfly theme. (Set out wax paper, Contact paper or construction
paper cut in the shape of a butterfly. The children attach colorful
small pieces of tissue paper to the butterfly shape).
One More Example: You need inspiration for a Spark activity for the
Butterfly theme. Go to the Spark Activities List, see which spark
would really work best with your theme. Perhaps Have a real animal or
item to show the children. Or Make a puppet.

Terrific Books
I have included a list of great books for preschool/Kinder ages. Use it
to get ideas for stories for linking to themes.
Links to Great Sites
And last but not least, a list of indispensable preschool web sites to
use to gather more information for creating preschool program
curriculums.

Books

Spark!

Art

Language & Literacy

Music
THEME

Letters Discovery

Math Discovery

Science & Cooking

Game

DATE: ________________

Game

Music

Creative
Art

Discovery:
Science
Cooking
Sensory
Math

Language &
Literacy

Spark!
Activity

Theme:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Date:
Thursday

Friday

Books/Videos

Theme:
SPARK! ACTIVITIES

DISCOVER

CREATIVE ART

MUSIC

STORY

GAME

The Topic/Theme Suggestions

Apples
Beach
Snakes
Animals
Farm
Pigs
Weather
Popcorn
Masks
Cooking
Cookies
Construction
Flowers
Cars
Halloween
Teeth
Clowns
Butterflies
Patterns
African animals
Hands
Leaves
Thanksgiving
Toys
New Year
Coziness/warmth
Costumes
Groundhogs
Bicycles
Air
Wind

Rocks
Martin Luther
King
Quilts
Light
Picnics
Water
Kangaroos
Ants
Bears
Insects
Boats
Fairy tales
Friends
Elephants
Shapes
Christmas
Grandparents
Bats
Trees
Nuts
Spiders
Rain
Mittens
Bubbles
Action heroes
Chinese New Year
Cinco de Mayo
Frogs
Whales
Ladybugs

Camping
Homes
Rainforest
Seasons
Shells
Ocean
Community
Helpers
Gardens
Magnets
Lions
Shadows
Harvest
Night sky
Family
Snow
Colors
Ballerinas
5 senses
Mice
Scarecrows
Squirrels
Corn
Gingerbread
Umbrellas
Hibernation
Magic
Valentines
Arctic animals
Shoes
Spring
9

Alphabet
Money
Food
Vacations
City and country
Circus
Monkeys
Australian animals
Birds
Hanukkah
Favorite book
Dinosaurs
Fire safety
Health/nutrition
Nursery rhymes
Penguins
Space
Birthdays
Babies
Favorite things
Living things
Pets
Pumpkins
Fall
Winter
Rainbows
Teddies
Transportation
Airplanes
Chickens
Cows

Tools & machines

Sun
Owls
Earth Day
Arbor Day
Pizza
Ice Cream
Trains
Vegetables

Summer
Eggs
My neighborhood
Ducks
Mothers Day
Restaurant
Castles
Maps
Ducks

St. Patricks Day

Fathers Day
Supermarket
Baking
Parts of a Plant
Construction
Workers
Wheels
Puppets

10

Horses
Cats
Dogs
Strawberries
Watermelon
Amphibians
July 4th
Fruit
Vacations

The Activity Lists

The ideas and activities in these collections will work for most themes, with
just a little adaptation and imagination.
Spark! Activities
Think about the essence of the theme, the core of what we want to find
out. You need a simple but dramatic presentation to introduce the concept
and focus attention.
The Treasure Box hide a theme item in an interesting box, and
have the children guess what it might be. Give clues.
The Magic Wand make a wand out of found materials even a ruler
with a taped paper star and curling ribbon everywhere makes an
impression. Use it many ways to encourage imagining, to choose
players, to point to interesting things. Be dramatic.
The Puppet anything on your hand works as a puppet, as long as you
use a funny voice to go with it. A sock can be a snake; a face drawn
on a paper plate or cup can be anything at all.
The Interesting Story your chance to be an actor. Girls and boys,
you will not believe what I saw when I went to get my coffee this
morning. It was absolutely amazing!! etc.
The Unusual Object(s) to touch and explore. Perhaps a rock, a live
worm, a pair of tiny baby shoes
Can you guess what I have, I saw, I did? Give clues.
The Field Trip nothing really beats this for focusing attention.
Talk about what you might see before you go. The pet store, the
supermarket, the creek, the big old treeetc.
A Happening in the life of a child new baby or pet; grandma comes
to visit; scary nightmare
The Sensory Activity taste, smell, listen, touch.
The Picture Talk. Rest an interesting picture on an easel or a chair,
and have the children focus on it for a set time period. Then have

them tell you what they see in the picture. Dont forget to
intersperse some great new vocabulary words into the discussion.
The New Book
Wear an unusual hat, costume, shoes etc., related to your theme.
The Visitor someone who can expand and illuminate the topic for
the children. Mom with new baby, firefighter, neighbor with a pet
cat.

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Creative Art
(for any theme)
Make a mask (paper plates, grocery bag, cardboard, use pop stick or
similar for handle
Print with objects (sponges, washable shapes and toys, cookie
cutters..)
Creative junk structures (cardboard, pop sticks, recyclables, tape,
yarn, egg cartons, Styrofoam)
Crayon resist wash with diluted watercolor over thick crayon drawing
(use colors, subjects related to themes)
Glued collage with colors and objects related to theme (tissue, glitter,
doilies, construction paper shapes)
String theme shapes alternately with cut straw pieces on yarn or
string.
Play doh in various colors and scents can make snake shapes, balls,
eggs, insects with pipe cleaner legs
Crayon rubbings cut a theme related shape out of card, tape to back
of paper, rub sides of crayons over front of paper. Use for bark,
leaves, cement, brick, furniture, fences etc
Egg carton creations - use top or bottom or both. Make insects,
animals, eggs, finger puppets, flowers etc.
Painting with different kinds of brushes feathers, cotton swabs,
finger tips, cotton balls, conifer twigs, balled up tissues etc
Create a hat can be a stapled construction paper strip with ears, a
crown, a stapled cone, a decorated donut shape, a headband with 8
zigzag spider legs etc
A simple mobile can be one created item hanging from a piece of
yarn, several hanging from a coat hanger or straw etc. Hang from the
top of a door opening, or in front of a window where the breeze can
move it.

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Sprinkle things on glue sand, birdseed, Kool-Aid powder, powdered

tempera, cornmeal, salt, pumpkin seeds, popcorn, glitter. Can use a
spoon, or fingers.
Glue different colored shapes of construction paper to make a mosaic.
Make a collage with computer clipart or magazine pictures related to
the theme.
Weaving yarn around a paper plate; natural items like leaves and
grass through twigs or small braches; weave yarn and a safe needle
through burlap or plastic mesh; weave crepe paper strips through a
chain link fence etc
Finger painting with liquid tempera mixed with Joy soap on a
laminate surface; use shave cream with drips of food coloring; use
foam paint
Liquid watercolor painting with small brushes using theme colors gold
and silver add a stylish touch
Paint on glass windows or doors with spray on foam paint or liquid
tempera with a dollop of Joy or Dawn added. Use brushes, fingers,
sponge rollers etc. The kids can clean up with a LOT of paper towels.
Lacing colorful yarn through paper punch holes around paper theme
shape.
Chalk drawing, blending, and scribbling. Chalk can also be dipped in
water, or used on wet paper for a different effect.
Drawing or painting while listening to theme related music or recorded
sounds.
Designing wrapping paper, cards and placemats for occasions and
holidays.
Make shakers from stapled paper plates, or paper towel tubes with
the ends covered, in theme colors. Use lots of colorful streamers to
decorate.
Paint with brushes on easel with theme colors; add glitter, scents or
textures to paint.
Paint or draw a cooperative mural on BIG paper on the wall.

14

Wax paper art (perhaps cut in the shape of a theme object such as a
bird or butterfly. Glue on tissue pieces so that they are touching.
Add glitter, yarn, feathers etc. You can peel it off when it is
completely dry if you wish.
Construct with popsicle sticks or tongue depressors. Tape together,
or make a 2 dimensional design by taping or gluing on paper.
Eye dropper dripping liquid water colors on paper towels or coffee
filters in theme colors.
Drop blobs of theme colors on paper folded in the middle. Fold
closed, and squish the paint.
Older children can trace around cardboard theme shapes with
markers. Superimpose several to make a design.

15

Music and Movement

(for any theme)
Songs and sung finger plays.
Nursery rhymes
Circle singing games
Creative movement to music classical, childrens songs, show tunes,
world music etc Relate to theme.
Chants both rhyming and responsive.
Clapping rhythms, and playing percussion instrument rhythms.
Listening to a short piece of music, and recognizing pertinent points
such as a birdsong, a drum solo, a long pause. Use the music to
demonstrate the difference between fast/slow; high/low; loud/soft.
Play a game to match tones. One child hides, and another sings
Where is Melissa? with each word sung on the same tone/note.
Melissa answers: Here I am on the same tone. Theme example:
Where is the chicken? Cluck, cluck, cluck.
Sing 2 tones: la lah. Ask the children if they sound the same, or
different. Theme example: Frog (rebbit rebbit).
Complete a simple obstacle course while listening to music. Or jump
from paper flower to flower, or shamrock to shamrock etc.
Some excellent CDs for children to listen to:

The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Disney

Abbey Road Beatles
Peter, Paul And Mommy Peter, Paul and Mary
Smithsonian Folkways Children's Music Collection Various
artists
A Child's Celebration of Rock 'n' Roll various artists
Jazz for Kids: Sing, Clap, Wiggle and Shake various artists
A Child's Celebration of Broadway various artists
Baby Beluga Raffi
You Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song Ella Jenkins
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 Buzz Buzz Laurie Berkner

World Playground (1 and 2) Putumayo
Classics for Kids (RCA Victor)- we played this one so much we
wore it out
Classical Music for Children: A Toddler's Introduction to
Classical Music
Bernstein Favorites: Children's Classics
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet conductor
Gergiev

17

Language and Literature

(for any theme)
Create environments for dramatic play situations vets office,
restaurant, under the ocean etc.
I am thinking of or What am I? Give clues.
Whats missing? a memory game. Have children observe a set of
them related items, close eyes, and then guess which one you have
removed.
Concentration turn over pairs of theme related cards to find
matches. Set them up in a grid, so children can use logic as well as
memory.
Show and tee children bring theme related items and talk about
them to the group. Others take turns to ask questions of the child.
Read a story, stopping before turning the page, to ask children what
they think will happen next.
Read a rhyming story, leaving out the second rhyming word. Ask the
children to fill it in.
Pairs of rhyming pictures to match. Always begin a new game by
showing the children exactly which pairs do match before they try it.
Use clipart, drawn pictures, or a commercial set.
Play a similar game with pairs of cards that show opposites. Or ask
verbally The opposite of high is? Demonstrate with hand
movement until kids get the idea.
Show 2 similar pictures with a few differences. Can you see what is
different?
Feel whats in the bag, and tell what you think it might be.
Write childrens words and stories on pictures they have made.
Write a predictable list, and then read it together. For example,
each child finishes this same sentence: For breakfast I ate
Tape the children telling a story, poem, song etc. Play it back and let
them hear themselves.

18

Child describes an event as it is happening. For example, putting on a

coat, boiling an egg.
Give child a sequence of directions to follow. Number depends on
developmental level.
Child reads a wordless picture book.
Children give answers to What will happen if? questions. For
example, What will happen if you build a tower with 11 blocks?
Children look at the cover of a previously unseen book, and predict
what the book might be about.
Use descriptive and complex vocabulary when speaking to the
children. The words do not have to be explained, they will be
understood from the context.
Place written labels around the room or house, and have the child tell
you what they think each label says. Leave them for a while.
Follow a recipe illustrated with pictures and simple words.
Play games to recognize own name, and names of others in the group.
When relating to theme, write the names on theme shapes.

19

Letters and Phonics

(for any theme)
Clap syllables of names, pets, family, theme related characters.
Make up a rhyme chant. For example, The cat sat on the mat! The
cat sat on the mat! Cat, mat! Mat, cat! The mat sat on the cat! Clap
it, stamp it, shout it, whisper it.
Practice breaking words and sentences into their individual
components. Example: My-name-is-Susan. I-like-to-paint. OR c-at, dog. Break up compound words: house-boat.
Sing the Alphabet Song. This is to familiarize with the names of the
letters, to hear the as a group, and to recognize that there is a finite
number of them.
Create letter shapes with chenille pipe cleaners, playdoh, rolled
thawed frozen bread dough.
Cut out letters form newspapers and magazines.
Sing a song related to your theme, but instead of the words, sing a
letter sound. For example, ss-ss-ss-ss-ss-ss-sss is Old Macdonald
Had a Farm. Hold up the letter shape while singing.

20

Math and Logical Thinking

(for any theme)
Classification theme related examples: sort all the cats and dogs; all
the mammals and amphibians; all the vehicles that have wheels, and
those that dont have wheels.
Seriation arrange from biggest to smallest; widest to narrowest;
tallest to shortest etc. Use any theme shapes.
Match a set of items (real, clipart, magazine) to its silhouette outline
drawn on paper.
Dot-to-dot at any level for any theme shape. Make your own
Arrange paper sets of items with numbers written on them in
numerical order, eg. apples, fish, ice cream cones. Start with just a
few, and work up.
Match counters, or any small theme item to numbered sections in a
muffin tray.
Make a set of construction paper theme shaped mats, each one with a
set of appropriate things drawn on it. Match numeral cards to the
correct set. For example, frogs with spots, buses with windows.
Graphing items with a simple bar graph. For example, have the
children taste 3 flavors of jam and choose a favorite. Write or draw
the jams across the bottom line of the graph, with numbers going up
the side line. With one child, you could have them graph how many of
each fruit in a bowl of fruit.
Use measuring cups in a theme related sensory box. For older
children be sure and point out the measurements on the side, how
much each cup can hold, and how to level the top.
Use a balance scale to measure, weigh and compare theme related
counters, or other small items. Record their discoveries with pictures
or words.
Pattern making. Use 2 or 3 different them related (real) items, or
pictures. Have at least 10 of each, so long patterns can be created,
and the concept understood better. Start simply, with ABABAB, then
21

work slowly towards more complex. This fun with colors and shapes,
too.
Sort and categorize theme items with a Venn diagram, two circles
that overlap. This can be drawn, or 2 hoops used. To categorize
kittens by their fur pattern, those that are all white go in one of the
circles, those that are all grey go in the other circle, and those that
have both characteristics of grey and white go in the overlapping
part. Great activity for developing logical thinking.
Does this object belong in this set? This activity involves examining
similarities and differences. These circles are all red. This circle is
blue. Does the blue circle go in this set of red circles? There are 2
possible answers here. No, because its blue, and the set of circles is
not blue. Or yes, because it shares the attribute of being a circle.
Comparing sets of objects does one set have more or less items, or
are they equal? Estimate, and then count. Match them one-to-one.
Any left over without a partner? Then theyre not equal.
Ordinals vocabulary. Find first, second, last, etc in a line of things.
Rote counting. Use to count pennies into a jar, numerals on a chart, or
just plain counting for fun.
Sort and name shapes of various sizes and colors. There are
commercial sets of attribute blocks that are perfect for this, but
they can be easily made out of paper.
Fractions have the children try to divide an item (graham cracker?)
into 2 approximately equal parts (halves). How about 3 equal parts?

22

Science and Sensory

I am discussing broad concepts here, which can be applied to most themes.
There is not enough space to discuss the many different activities for each
concept as they relate to themes. That can be found in my file KidSparkz
Super Science!
Explore all kinds of substances in a sensory box. Have something
available every day if possible.
Observation. Investigate with magnifiers; through a hole cut in a
piece of paper; though rolled up fingers with one eye closed; with both
eyes. Have the children compare and discuss observations at their
own developmental level.
Sorting and classifying according to attributes and qualities. For
example, some animals are wild, and some can be kept as pets. Lets
look at the differences and similarities. Also, some children might
like to make a collection of items, and find different ways of
organizing it.
Focus on a scientific aspect of your theme how it works, or grows;
what it does; what it looks like; how it fits together with other things.
Look for more information in books, online, at the library, from
encyclopedias, people who know more. Let the children know that
nobody knows everything, and we can learn more about things by
researching and asking. Explain what an expert is, and what a
scientist does.
Think about a life cycle in different aspects: in animals; in time; in
obsolescence. How do things change?
Exploring colors in nature and in science. Color mixing; colors in light
spectra; camouflage.
Find a way to record discovered information at the childrens level
drawing, photos, graphs, group painting, or writing. Have the children
recap what was done, by describing verbally.

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Comparisons. Describe how things being discussed in the theme are

the same, and how they are different. For example, chickens and
cows; or pumpkins and apples.
Predicting. Use concepts and objects from the theme to have the
children predict what might happen. It should be provable, so results
can be seen. For example, This building is built out of wood and
bricks. If it was built out of marshmallows (or playdoh, or paper etc)
what do you think would happen? Then build a small structure out of
marshmallows, and leave it outdoors for a day or two.
When doing a theme about things that are alive, you could discuss the
characteristics of things that are alive and things that are not.

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Games for Fun (and Learning)

(for any theme)
Hide theme related items around the room, and have the children find
them (photos, clipart, stickers, real items). The children can describe
what they found. Make a collection, a display, or use the items for a
creative activity.
Follow the leader around the room or house. Leader can be different
kinds of animals, do a dance, imitate community workers, make parts
of body into shapes, sing songs etc.
Simon Says (or Spider Says, Leprechaun Says, Ballerina Says etc)
Statues move or dance around, then freeze! (into a theme
character?)
Whats the Time Mr. Wolf? (Mrs. Rabbit, Mr. Whale, Mrs. Owl etc)
Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar? (Could be Who stole the
fishy from the aquarium? Or who stole the spider from the sticky
web?)
Duck, Duck Goose (insect, insect spider; dentist, dentist doctor etc)
Drop the Hanky (drop any them related item behind child sitting in
circle)
Doggie wheres your bone? Child creeps up to sleeping dog to get
bone, dog wakes up and chases. Can be any theme related character
and his/her precious thing.
Farmer in the dell use different kinds of insects, ocean animals,
community workers etc.
Hide the ____ under one of 3 or 4 paper cups or bowls. Move them
around, guess where it is.
Mother hen (Father Rooster), where are your baby chicks? Children
hide around room and make cheeping noises. Change to any kind of
animal.
Catching fish with paper clips on nose with magnet attached to fishing
line. Use with any theme shape.

25

Hot Potato pass potato around circle until music or humming stops.
Use with any them related item.
I Spy use with colors, shapes, initial letters, sets of 2,3,4 (windows,
pillows etc)
Puddle jumping jump from paper rock to paper rock across room. Can
be shamrocks, butterflies, pizzas, etc.
Hokey Pokey - can be any them be fall and put your fall things in;
be a house and put your house things in.
Telephone whisper game whisper any theme related short sentence
to pass around the circle.
Red Light Green Light can be any 2 things that are opposite. For
example you could hold up a sun for day, and a moon for night. When
you hold up the moon, all the little nocturnal owls can fly, when you
hold up the sun, the owls sleep.
Bean Bag Toss into a basket or box. Can be balls, paper airplanes,
snowball rolled socks etc.
Charades relate to theme
Pin the Tail on the Donkey (nose on the reindeer, eye on the octopus
etc
Mother May I? (Take 2 big steps etc). Mother can be any theme
related character.

26

Cooking and Food Preparation

(see many more food prep ideas in my file Cooking With Kids)
Theme related milkshakes and smoothies red Valentine
strawberries; fall pumpkin; sunshine pineapple etc
Spreading round breads (bagels, muffins) with cream cheese or
peanut better, and decorating with cereal, veggies, raisins etc to make
theme item
Make them related muffins or quick breads cranberry, apple, cheesy
corn, zucchini, etc
Squeezable cheese on crackers.
Use graham crackers and thick frosting or cream cheese to build a
snack.
Decorate theme related baked sugar cookie shapes with frosting etc.
Paint white bread slices with food coloring with watercolor brushes,
and then toast it.
Paint unbaked sugar cookies (or any light colored flat cookie) with egg
yolks colored with food coloring, and then bake them.
Food from different cultures for example pizza, latkes, stir fried
veggies with noodles, matzo balls, crepes, sweet potato pie, guacamole
etc
Specific theme snacks ants on a log, make butter from cream, candle
salad with a banana half, pineapple ring, and a cherry, applesauce,
pumpkin seeds etc
Make peanut butter balls, and create theme related items with it
before eating it.
Color and flavor vanilla pudding according to the theme, and then
finger paint with it on a paper plate.
Make shapes from cheese slices.
Make theme related soups chicken alphabet noodle; dinosaur bone
(beef bone); veggie/minestrone; stone soup; seafood chowder etc

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Activity Recipes
(can be used with most themes)
Everyday Playdoh
Mix 1 cup of flour, 1/3 cup of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter in a
bowl. Meanwhile, bring to boil 1 cup of water, one tablespoon of cooking oil
and a few drops of food coloring. A little flavoring essence could be added,
too. Pour hot mixture into flour mixture and stir. Add more flour if
necessary.
Kool-Aid Playdoh
Add a packet of unsweetened Kool-Aid to boiling water in Everyday Playdoh
recipe to strengthen the color and scent.
Self-hardening Playdoh
Mix 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of flour, and add cup of water. Use the same
day, air dry for about 48 hours, and paint if desired.
Peanut Butter Playdoh (edible)
Mix together 1-cup peanut butter and cup honey. Blend in powdered milk
until mixture is not sticky, and a playdoh consistency. Double the recipe if
necessary.
Fudgy Chocolate Playdoh (edible)
Mix together 4 tablespoons softened butter, 1/2 cup white corn syrup, 6
tablespoons cocoa, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 3 cups powdered sugar, and 3/4 cup
powdered milk. Knead well.
Finger Paint
Pour about a tablespoon of liquid tempera on laminate surface or large piece
of shiny paper. Add a few drops of mild dish soap.

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Pudding Finger Paint (edible)

Add food coloring to prepared vanilla pudding, and finger paint on a paper
plate.
Colored Rice and Noodles
Put the desired amount of rice or noodles in a plastic bag and add a few
drops of food coloring. Close the bag and gently shake and squeeze until
the ingredients are uniformly colored. Spread on a paper towel to dry for a
few minutes.
Cornstarch Mix
Place cup cornstarch in a bowl. Add water little by little to create a
workable consistency. This mix alternates between liquid and solid.
Egg Yolk Paint
Separate the yolk from the white of an egg. Put the yolk in a small cup, and
save the white for another use. Mix a few drops of food coloring and
teaspoon water with the yolk. Make several colors with more yolks. Use a
small brush or cotton swab to paint. This paint dries with a glossy finish on
paper. It can be used to paint cookies before they are baked.
Buttermilk or Condensed Milk Paint
Mix drops of food coloring with cup buttermilk or condensed milk. This
creates pastel colors
Corn Syrup Paint
Mix drops of food coloring with a small amount of corn syrup. Mix in small
glass cups to see the translucent colors. This is sticky and glossy.
Bubbles
Mix together equal parts of water and Joy dishwashing soap. Make a wand
by twisting a pipe cleaner into a circle with a handle.

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Theme Related Books

Children and Families

Are You My Mother? by P. Eastman

Babar by Jean De Brunhoff
The Box With Red Wheels by Maud Petersham
Bye Bye Baby by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Daddy Makes the Best Spaghetti by Anna Hines
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley
Into the Night by Deborah Heiligman
Just Grandpa and Me by Mercer Mayer
Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Little Bear by Else Minarik
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Mama, Do You Love Me? by B. Joosse
Mama Don't Allow by Thacher Hurd
On Mother's Lap by Ann Scott
The Relatives Came by C. Rylant
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
The Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone
Umbrella by Taro Yashima
Where's My Mother? by H.A. Rey
Wolf's Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza
Food

Bread by Ann Morris

Chicken Soup With Rice by Maurice Sendak
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
Corn is Maize by Aliki
Daddy Makes the Best Spaghetti by Anna Hines
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The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins

Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley
Fruit a First Discovery Science Book Scholastic
The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Lord
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
Jamberry by Bruce Degan
Little Red Hen by Lucinda McQueen
Lunch by Denise Fleming
Mealtime by Maureen Roffey
The Milk Makers by Gail Gibbons
Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle
Peanut Butter and Jelly by Nadine Westcott
Sam's Sandwich by David Pelham
Stone Soup by Ann McGovern
Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
What Food is this? by Rosmarie Hausherr
You Are What You Eat from Macmillan Science books

Farms

The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

The Box With Red Wheels by Maud Petersham
Chicken Little by Stella Nathan
Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
The Gingerbread Man by Karen Schmidt
How Ducklings Grow by Diane Molleson
Jump Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan
Let's Go to the Farm by Pat Whitehead
Life in the Meadow by Eileen Curran
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Mr. Gumpy's Outing by John Birningham

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Farm by Betty MacDonald
Old MacDonald by Pam Adams
On the Farm by Richard Scarry
Over in the Meadow by Lillian Obligado
Piggies by Audrey and Don Wood
Rooster's Off to See the World by Eric Carle
Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins
Seasons on the Farm by Jane Miller
See How it Grows by Marguerite Walters
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Three Ducks Went Wandering by Ron Roy
Three Little Pigs by Vera Southgate
Who Took the Farmer's Hat by Joan Nodsett
The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice Provenson

Friends

Alexander the Wind-up Mouse by Leo Lionni

At Night by Anne Rockwell
Clifford's Pals by Norman Bridwell
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Dandelion by Don Freeman
Do You Want to be My Friend? by Eric Carle
I Like Me by Nancy Carlson
The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara Joose
Mary Wore Her Red Dress by Merle Peek
Monkey Face by Frank Asch
Nicky's Friends by Harriet Ziefert
No Roses for Harry by Gene Zion

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Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman
The Pokey Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey
The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy by Jane Thayer
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Stellaluna by Janelle Cannon
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Who Wants an Old Teddy Bear by Ginnie Hofmann
William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow
Dinosaurs

Baby Triceratops by Beth Spanjian

Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones by Byron Barton
Curious George and the Dinosaur by H.A. Rey
Day of the Dinosaur by Jan Berenstain
Dinosaur Babies by Maida Silverman
Dinosaur Day by Liza Donnelly
The Dinosaur Who Lived in My Backyard by B.G. Hennessy
Dinosaurs a First Discovery Science book from Scholastic
Dinosaurs by Gail Gibbons
Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton
My Visit to the Dinosaurs by Aliki
Whatever Happened to the Dinosaurs? by Bernard Most
Science Books About Animals and Plants

Animals and Their Babies from Macmillan Early Science books

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

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The Caterpillar and the Polliwog by Jack Kent

Chickens Aren't the Only Ones by Ruth Heller
Dinosaur Babies by Maida Silverman
The Egg a First Discovery Science book from Scholastic
Flowers a First Discovery Science book from Scholastic
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
How Ducklings Grow by Diane Molleson
Now I Know All About Seeds by Susan Kuchalla
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
The Reason for a Flower by Ruth Heller
See How It Grows by Marguerite Walters
Seeds Get Around from Macmillan Early Science books
Skeletons! All About Bones by Katy Hall
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Tree a First Discovery Science book from Scholastic

Response, Predictable and Rhyming Books

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg
Funny Fingers, Funny Toes by Laura Damon
Gingerbread Man by Lucy Kincaid
How Many Bugs in a Box by David Carter
I Know an Old Lady by G. Brian Kaus
Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw
Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
Look Closer by Brian Wildsmith
Look! Look! Look! by Tana Hoban
Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss

Old MacDonald by Pam Adams

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Old Mother Hubbard by Colin Hawkins

Over in the Meadow by Lillian Obligado
Says Who? by David Carter
Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi
Today is Monday by Eric Carle
Three Bears by Paul Galdone
Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Childrens Favorites

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Billy Goats Gruff by Stephen Cosgrove
Blueberries For Sal by Robert McCloskey
Curious George by H.A. Rey
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
Corduroy by Don Freeman
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
The Little House by Virginia Burton
Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia L. Burton
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Red Riding Hood by James Marshall
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

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Online Resources
This list of sites is taken directly from My Favorites. These wonderful
sites have been my support over many years of constructing programs for
young children. You will be VERY glad to have them, too.
http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/themes.html
http://atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/index.shtml
http://www.fastq.com/~jbpratt/education/theme/earlychildhood.html
http://123child.com/act/
http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=11
http://www.cptoys.com/cgibin/cptoys_cgi.sh/WService=cptoys/cptoys.com/school/default.htm
http://www.fvsd.ab.ca/stm/sites_for_teachers.htm
http://www.crayola.com/educators/index.cfm?mt=Tab_educators
http://www.geocities.com/djkreinus/spider.htm
http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Default.aspx
http://www.earlyliterature.ecsd.net/
http://www.earlychildhood.com/articles/index.cfm?CatID=172.0
http://www.edupuppy.com/categorie.php
http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/
http://www.tlsbooks.com/preschoolworksheets.htm
http://members.tripod.com/pippee/athemepage.html
http://learningpage.com/free_pages/home/site_map.html
http://www.earlyliterature.ecsd.net/resources1.htm
http://www.prekinders.com/themes.htm
http://www.michigan.gov/greatstart/0,1607,7-197-27385-83422-,00.html
http://www.preschooleducation.com/
http://www.preschoolexpress.com/
http://www.preschoolprintables.com/filefolder/pizza/filefolderpizza.sht
ml
http://www.head-start.lane.or.us/education/activities/music/

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http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/ArtsAndCrafts/ColouringPictures/ind
ex.html
http://stepbystepcc.com/themes.html
http://www.preschoolbystormie.com/themes.htm
http://www.kinderhive.net/themes.html
http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/wil/home.html#DecemberBooks
http://www.kinderkorner.com/
http://www.project-approach.com/

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