Happy New Year to all - January 2009

I visited the Goldstream Park Nature House this week and was reminded of what a great resource such park facilities provide for teachers and parents. This particular park has a world-class salmon spawning stream with thousands of Chum Salmon returning each year. At the end of the salmon run, many eagles come for a salmon feast.

Many park nature houses are full of hands on activities for early learners and provide interesting experiences to start or complete a theme. They also offer age appropriate books for sale on environmental or nature themes, which can be easily checked out as the books are right in the nature house.

Another great source of environmental and nature books, is publisher, Dawn Publications Sharing Nature With Children. The company publishes children's picture and other books that instill an awareness of nature. The mission of the company is to assist parents and educators to open the minds and hearts of children to the transforming influence of nature.

They publish books about climate change, nature appreciation, global awareness, habitats, nature’s cycles, the universe and also simple ABC and nature books, many of which are perfect for kindergarten children.

You can also download free teacher resources for some of the books and also activities to share nature with children.

Choosing books to read to a preschool or kindergarten class is a challenge. The pictures need to be clear and large enough for all to see from the carpet or tables, the font large enough for the children to observe a few things about print conventions and the content interesting enough to sustain the interest of the class.

One such book I came across with all the criteria mentioned is, Tale of a Great White Fish: A Sturgeon Story, by Canadian author, Maggie De Vries.

Valentine’s Day is coming soon!

Open ended Valentine's ideas involve children at a wide range of developmental levels and students are relaxed and more creative as they work at their own levels. Visit the two new Valentine's pages. Find party tips, math and language arts ideas as well as ideas to create a Valentine’s graph bulletin board from the students’ creations. I love the convenience of using Post It Notes Heart shaped sticky notes for Valentine pocket chart poems and other activities.

Happy teaching,
From Patricia at kindergarten-lessons.com