A Guide to Preschool Calendar Time

Preschool Calendar Time Activities

Calendar time in preschool is much more than learning about the days of the week, it’s an opportunity to spark curiosity, foster a sense of routine, and lay the groundwork for essential skills like counting, pattern recognition, and understanding the concept of time. Calendar time offers learning experiences that engage preschoolers while building peer relationships and strengthening social-emotional skills.

Today, we're diving into the world of calendar time with a plethora of engaging activities crafted specifically for preschoolers. Whether you're a seasoned educator in search of new ideas or a parent eager to enhance your child's learning journey at home, this post is your go-to resource. We've organized our content into sections for easy navigation, so feel free to jump to the section that piques your interest the most using the table of contents below.

Table of Contents

Why is Calendar Time Important?
Integrating Math & Literacy Into Circle Time
What are the Key Elements of Calendar Time?
Teaching Days of the Week
Teaching Months & Special Observances
Teaching Seasons
Teaching Weather
Tips for Calendar Time

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Why is Calendar Time Important?

Building Routine and Structure: Engaging in calendar time activities helps establish a sense of routine and structure in the preschool classroom. Children learn to anticipate and participate in daily rituals, fostering a sense of predictability and security.

Cognitive Development: Participating in calendar time activities supports cognitive development by enhancing skills such as sequencing, pattern recognition, and numerical literacy. Children learn to recognize patterns in the calendar, understand the order of days and months, and develop basic mathematical concepts such as counting and addition.

Language and Communication Skills: Calendar time provides opportunities for language development through verbal interactions, storytelling, and discussions about the days of the week, months, and seasons. Children expand their vocabulary, practice articulating thoughts and ideas, and learn to express themselves verbally.

Socialization and Collaboration: Engaging in calendar time activities encourages social interaction and collaboration among preschoolers. Children learn to take turns, listen to others, and work together to complete tasks, fostering important social skills such as cooperation, empathy, and respect for others.

Cultural Awareness: Calendar time often includes discussions about holidays, birthdays, and cultural events, providing opportunities to explore and celebrate diversity. Children learn about different cultural traditions, customs, and celebrations, promoting cultural awareness and appreciation.

Raise awareness for a variety of holidays such as Kwanzaa

Preparation for School and Life Skills: Calendar time helps prepare preschoolers for the structured routines they will encounter in school and later in life. By learning to navigate the calendar, follow schedules, and manage their time, children develop essential life skills that contribute to academic success and overall well-being.Calendar time is important in preschool education for several reasons:
Introduction to Time Concepts: Calendar time provides an early introduction to fundamental time concepts such as days of the week, months, seasons, and the passage of time. This lays the groundwork for understanding temporal concepts later in life.

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Integrating Math & Literacy Into Calendar Time

By integrating math and literacy activities into calendar time, educators can create a rich and engaging learning experience that reinforces key concepts while promoting cross-curricular connections and critical thinking skills.

Numeracy Skills Development:

• Counting Days: Start each calendar time session by counting the days of the month. Encourage children to participate in counting aloud, pointing to each day on the calendar as they go.
• Identifying Numbers: Use the calendar as a tool to help children practice identifying numbers. Point to different dates on the calendar and ask children to identify the corresponding numeral.

Use calendar time to show how numbers can be represented in a variety of ways, like these Apple Ten Frame Cards from our Fall Calendar & Games

• Discussing Numerical Patterns: Explore numerical patterns with children by discussing recurring patterns on the calendar, such as days of the week or the sequence of dates. Ask questions like, "What comes after Tuesday?" or "How many days are there between Friday and Monday?"
  

Literacy Concepts Introduction:

• Reading Calendars: Encourage children to practice reading calendars by pointing out specific dates, days of the week, and months. Discuss the organization of the calendar, including how days are arranged in rows and columns.
• Recognizing Written Dates: Help children recognize and interpret written dates by highlighting different dates on the calendar and asking children to read them aloud. Provide support as needed, reinforcing the association between spoken and written language.
• Discussing Events: Use calendar time as an opportunity to discuss upcoming events, holidays, or special occasions. Engage children in conversations about the significance of these events and how they are represented on the calendar.

• Critical Thinking Skills: Encourage critical thinking by asking open-ended questions related to math and literacy concepts. For example, "What type of things would you write on your calendar?" or "What do you notice about the pattern of dates on the calendar?"
  
• Interactive Learning: Make calendar time a hands-on and interactive experience by providing opportunities for children to manipulate calendar components, such as moving the date cards or circling special events.

Cross-Curricular Reinforcement:

• Math and Literacy Integration: Incorporate both math and literacy activities into calendar time to reinforce learning across multiple areas. For example, ask children to write the date on a mini whiteboard or piece of paper after counting the days of the month aloud.

Key Elements of Preschool Calendar Time

During calendar time, preschoolers typically engage with various components such as days of the week, months, seasons, and weather. These elements serve as building blocks for developing a sense of routine and organization. It's crucial to make calendar time interactive by incorporating visual aids, songs, and movement to keep young learners actively engaged.

As preschool teachers, we know that introducing young learners to the concept of time can be both exciting and challenging. When it comes to calendar time, it's essential to break down this abstract concept in a way that our preschoolers understand.

Utilize visual aids such as large, colorful calendars with clear, easy-to-read numbers, days of the week, months, and seasonal illustrations. Depending on your preschool class you can use a monthly or a weekly calendar.

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Teaching Days of the Week

Teaching preschool students about the days of the week can be both fun and educational. Here are some engaging strategies and activities to help preschoolers learn the days of the week:

An attractive visual calendar that can be used hands-on is ideal for preschoolers

1. Introduce Each Day Through Song: Start by teaching a simple song or chant that includes the days of the week. Use a catchy tune and repeat the song daily to reinforce learning. Encourage children to sing along and participate in movements or gestures for each day.
2. Create a Visual Calendar: Set up a visual calendar in the classroom where each day of the week is clearly labeled and displayed. Use colorful images or symbols to represent activities or events happening on specific days. Encourage children to interact with the calendar daily, pointing out and identifying each day.
3. Discuss the Days of the Week every day : Incorporate the days of the week into your routine. Begin each day by discussing the current day of the week, yesterday, and tomorrow. Use interactive activities such as a weather chart or a daily routine chart to reinforce the concept of time and sequencing.
4. Storytelling and Books: Use storybooks that feature the days of the week as part of the story-line. After reading the book, engage children in discussions about the events or activities that occur on each day. Encourage children to retell the story and identify the days mentioned.
5. Calendar Activities: Use a large wall calendar to teach the days of the week. Have children take turns placing the correct day on the calendar each morning. Use different colors or stickers to highlight special days such as birthdays, holidays, or field trips.
6. Finger plays and Rhymes: Incorporate songs, rhymes, and fingerplays that focus on the days of the week into your daily routine. Use actions or props to make the songs more interactive and memorable for young learners.
7. Repetition and Review: Continuously reinforce the days of the week through repetition and review. Incorporate the concept into various activities throughout the day, such as transitioning between activities or during snack time discussions.
8. Games and Activities: Engage children in games and activities that involve sequencing the days of the week. For example, have children arrange cards with the days of the week in the correct order or play a memory matching game with cards featuring activities corresponding to each day.
9. Real-Life Connections: Help children make real-life connections to the days of the week by discussing their own weekly routines and activities. Encourage them to share what they do on specific days, such as going to preschool, visiting grandparents, or attending extracurricular activities.

Teaching Months & Special Observations

Teaching preschool students about months can be an exciting and interactive experience. Here's a structured approach to help young children grasp the concept of months:

1. Introduce the Concept: Begin by introducing the concept of months in a simple and relatable way. Explain that months are like big boxes of time that help us organize the year.
2. Use Visual Aids: Visual aids such as a calendar or a large wall chart displaying all twelve months can be incredibly helpful. Point to each month, saying its name aloud, and encourage children to repeat after you.
   
3. Sing Songs or Chants: Use catchy songs or rhymes to help children memorize the order of the months. Incorporate actions or movements to make it more engaging. For example, "January, February, March, and April, May and June, and July, August, September, October, November, December."
4. Highlight Special Events: Associate each month with special events or holidays. For example, January can be linked to New Year's Day, February to Valentine's Day, March to St. Patrick's Day, and so on. Discuss the significance of these events and why they occur during specific months.
5. Explore Seasonal Changes: Help children understand the connection between months and the seasons. Talk about the weather and activities associated with each season. For instance, December is associated with winter and snow, while June is associated with summer and outdoor activities.
6. Hands-On Activities: Incorporate hands-on activities to reinforce learning. For example:
   • Create a simple craft project for each month, such as a collage featuring seasonal elements or a themed drawing.
   • Use props like seasonal fruits or vegetables to teach about harvest months.
   • Sort pictures or objects into categories based on the month they represent.
7. Repetition and Reinforcement: Practice naming the months regularly to reinforce learning. Review the months frequently during circle time or as part of daily routines.
8. Encourage Exploration: Encourage children to explore the concept of months through play. Provide opportunities for them to pretend-play different months, such as setting up a pretend birthday party for a specific month or planting seeds in the garden for a designated harvest month.
9. Make Connections: Help children make connections between the months and their own lives. Ask them about their birthdays or other significant events and relate them to the corresponding month on the calendar.
10. Celebrate Progress: Celebrate milestones and achievements as children learn about the months. Offer praise and positive reinforcement to build confidence and enthusiasm for learning.

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Teaching Seasons

Teaching preschool students about seasons can be a fun and interactive experience. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you effectively teach preschoolers about the four seasons:
1. Introduce the Concept of Seasons:

• Begin by explaining what seasons are and how they change throughout the year.
• Use simple language and visuals, such as pictures or props, to illustrate the concept of spring, summer, fall (autumn), and winter.
  

2. Explore Characteristics of Each Season:

• Discuss the unique characteristics of each season, including weather patterns, temperature changes, and changes in nature (e.g., leaves changing color in fall).
• Encourage children to use their senses to describe what they see, feel, hear, and even smell during each season.
  

3. Use Visual Aids:

• Display visual aids, such as posters, flashcards, or pictures, depicting scenes from each season.
• Incorporate multimedia resources like videos or interactive apps that showcase seasonal changes in a child-friendly manner.

4. Engage in Seasonal Activities:

• Plan hands-on activities related to each season. For example:
  • Spring: Plant seeds, go on nature walks to observe budding flowers and chirping birds.
  • Summer: Have water play days, explore the beach, or create sun-themed crafts.
  • Fall (Autumn): Collect leaves for art projects, go apple picking, or make pumpkin decorations.
  • Winter: Build snowmen (if weather permits), make snowflake crafts, or have indoor picnics with winter-themed snacks.
• Encourage children to participate in seasonal activities that are culturally relevant to their community.

5. Read Seasonal Books and Stories:

• Incorporate age-appropriate books and stories about each season into your curriculum.
• Engage children in discussions about the characters, settings, and events depicted in the stories, relating them to real-life experiences.

6. Sing Seasonal Songs and Rhymes:

• Teach children seasonal songs and rhymes that celebrate each season.
• Encourage movement and actions that correspond to the themes of the songs, such as pretending to be falling leaves in autumn or fluttering butterflies in spring.

7. Observe and Document Seasonal Changes:

• Set up a seasonal observation station where children can document changes in nature throughout the year.
• Keep a seasonal journal or calendar where children can draw pictures or write about their observations and experiences related to each season.

8. Connect Seasons to Daily Life:

• Help children make connections between the seasons and their daily lives. For example, discussing how they dress differently in summer than in winter or how certain foods are more abundant during specific seasons.
• Encourage children to share their own experiences and traditions related to each season, fostering a sense of cultural appreciation and community.

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Teaching abut Weather 

Teaching preschool students about weather using a calendar and observation is a fantastic way to introduce them to meteorological concepts while also incorporating elements of numeracy, literacy, and scientific inquiry. Here's are some tips for teaching weather to preschoolers effectively:

Explore meteorology in your Dramatic Play center to reinforce weather concepts

1. Introduce Basic Weather Concepts: Begin by discussing basic weather concepts such as sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, and snowy. Use simple language and visual aids like pictures or props to help children understand these concepts.
2. Create a Weather Chart: Set up a weather chart in your classroom where children can track and record the daily weather. This could be a simple chart with sections for each type of weather (sunny, cloudy, rainy, etc.) and space to mark each day of the week.
3. Daily Weather Observation: Incorporate a daily weather observation routine into your classroom schedule. Choose a designated time each day for children to observe and discuss the weather outside. Encourage them to use their senses to make observations (e.g., feeling the temperature, listening for wind, looking at the sky).
4. Record Weather Observations: After observing the weather, have the children record their observations on the weather chart. They can use symbols, pictures, or simple words to represent the weather for that day. This helps reinforce their understanding of weather concepts and develops their literacy skills.
5. Review and Discuss: At the end of each week, review the weather chart with the children. Discuss any patterns or trends they notice, such as recurring weather patterns or changes throughout the week. This encourages critical thinking and scientific inquiry.
6. Extend Learning Through Activities: Integrate weather-themed activities into your curriculum to reinforce learning. This could include:
   • Weather-themed art projects (e.g., creating sun catchers, making cloud shapes with cotton balls).
   • Reading weather-related books or stories and discussing them as a group.
   • Singing weather songs or rhymes to reinforce vocabulary and concepts.
   • Engaging in dramatic play activities related to different types of weather (e.g., pretending to be raindrops or gusts of wind).
7. Seasonal Observations: Discuss how weather patterns change with the seasons. Encourage children to observe and compare weather patterns throughout the year, noting differences between summer, fall, winter, and spring.
8. Outdoor Exploration: Take advantage of outdoor learning opportunities to observe and experience different types of weather firsthand. Use nature walks or outdoor playtime as opportunities to discuss and observe the weather in real-time.

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Make sure your activities are developmentally appropriate

Preschool students are still developing their understanding of abstract concepts like the passing of time. While they may not grasp the concept of time in the same way adults do, engaging them in calendar activities can provide valuable scaffolding for their comprehension. Through daily interactions with calendars, discussions about days of the week, months, and seasons, and participation in related activities, preschoolers gradually begin to build a sense of time's passage. Calendar activities offer tangible visual representations and structured routines that help children establish connections between daily events and the broader concept of time. Over time, these experiences help preschoolers develop a basic understanding of sequential order, patterns, and the cyclical nature of time, laying a foundation for more complex temporal concepts as they continue to grow and learn.

Top Tips for Calendar Time

1. Keep it Consistent: Establish a daily routine for calendar time to provide structure and predictability for preschoolers. Consistency helps children feel secure and aids in their understanding of time concepts.
2. Make it Interactive: Engage children actively during calendar time by involving them in activities such as moving the date, weather observation, and singing songs related to days of the week or months.
3. Use Visual Aids: Utilize visual aids such as large calendars, weather charts, and seasonal pictures to make abstract concepts like days, months, and seasons more concrete and accessible to young learners.
4. Encourage Participation: Encourage all children to participate in calendar time activities by asking questions, allowing them to take turns, and providing opportunities for hands-on involvement, regardless of their developmental level.
   
5. Keep it developmentally appropriate
   

Adaptations for Developing Learners:

• Simplify Concepts: Break down time concepts into smaller, more digestible chunks for children who may struggle with abstract thinking. Focus on one aspect at a time, gradually building their understanding.
• Provide Visual Support: Offer visual cues or prompts to support comprehension, such as color-coding days of the week or using pictures to represent different activities or events.
• Offer Repetition and Reinforcement: Repeat calendar time activities regularly to reinforce learning and provide multiple opportunities for children to practice and internalize concepts.

Extension Ideas:

• Themed Calendar Activities: Incorporate monthly themes or seasonal events into calendar time, such as discussing holidays, cultural celebrations, or changes in weather.
• Math Integration: Integrate math concepts into calendar time by counting the days of the week, identifying numerical patterns, or exploring concepts like yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
• Literacy Connections: Make connections to literacy by reading books related to time, days of the week, or seasons, and discussing them during calendar time.
• Outdoor Exploration: Take calendar time activities outside by incorporating nature walks or outdoor observations of seasonal changes into the routine.
• Celebrate Progress: Recognize and celebrate children's progress and participation during calendar time. Provide positive reinforcement and praise to boost their confidence and motivation to engage with time concepts.

Preschool calendar time is a large aspect of the daily routine, providing young learners with valuable opportunities to explore time concepts, develop language and math skills, and foster social-emotional growth.

​Through engaging activities, interactive discussions, and hands-on experiences, preschoolers not only gain a better understanding of days, months, and seasons but also learn the importance of routine, structure, and community.

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