Discussions Regarding the Preschool Observation Checklist and Evaluation Tool (POCET)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Summer Countdown!

There are only four more weeks left until the first day of summer! Can you believe it? The coming of summer calls for a countdown. Here's a great activity to try with your preschoolers, called Link-by-Link Calendar. This project will aid in the understanding of calendar days by making the concept of date and time more engaging and easier to visualize. Children will also track the days in the calendar by counting, which will serve as a useful introduction to the concept of numbers, dates, and time.

For this activity, you will need several sheets of construction paper, a pair of scissors for each child, and crayons or markers.

Activity: Link-by-Link Calendar

Goal: Participate in a Variety of Tasks, Complete Tasks and Express Curiosity about New Activities

Let's Get Started:

1. Distribute one strip of paper to each child

2. Assign a number to each child (this will represent each calendar date until the event)

3. Allow them to decorate their strips, making sure they include their assigned number on the strip.

4. When all of the strips are decorated, demonstrate how to create the first 'link' by securing both 1 1/2"ends of the strip together with tape.

5. Have the students line up in numerical order, with strips in hand.

6. The first child in line will link her strip by looping it into the center of yours and securing the 1 1/2" ends together with tape.

7. Each child will do the same, one by one, in numerical order, ultimately creating a chain.

8. At the end of each day that passes, have each child unlink his or her numbered link, corresponding to the calendar date.

9. Each day, the chain will allow young ones to 'see' how many days are left until the special day, just by looking at their chain and counting the links.

If using POCET™, this Activity correlates to Developmental Guideline: AL1 Participates in a Variety of Tasks, Completes Tasks and Expresses Curiosity about New Activities.

For more great developmentally-apppropriate activities, visit http://www.teacherquicksource.com/ and browse through all age areas, including Preschool, Kindergarten, Infant, Toddler, and Head Start. Don't forget to explore activities promoting environmental awareness at Environmental Quicksource®.