Preschool Healthy Me Lesson Planning Ideas
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This Weeks Theme incorporates Feelings, Senses, Nutrition, as well as Parts of the Face, Hands, and Feet.
This week we are! This theme is all about celebrating:
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art, crafts, music, and movement
*Creating Face Collages
Use this roll & play activity as a fun way to create a face collage.
These materials are included in the Healthy Me Inside & Out activity pack from PKPF.
These materials are included in the Healthy Me Inside & Out activity pack from PKPF.
Cotton Swab Painting
Invite your preschoolers to use cotton swabs to create art.
Painting with cotton swabs is fun and also great for fine motor development.
This is a process art invitation and simple to set up. Simply provide something to paint on, cotton swabs, and paint!
Consider supplying white school glue so children can glue the cotton swabs on the paper as well!
Painting with cotton swabs is fun and also great for fine motor development.
This is a process art invitation and simple to set up. Simply provide something to paint on, cotton swabs, and paint!
Consider supplying white school glue so children can glue the cotton swabs on the paper as well!
Skeleton Craft
Invite your preschooler to create a skeleton craft after reading the fun book Dem Bones by Bob Barner. See the tutorial and get a free printable for this activity here.
More Art & Creativity Ideas
Play Dough People from Picklebums
*Body Awareness Art from Growing Play
Picasso Cubism by Wendy Janelle
Fingerprint Exploration from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
X-Ray Art from Totally Tots
Sticky Easel Faces from No Time For Flashcards
*Body Awareness Art from Growing Play
Picasso Cubism by Wendy Janelle
Fingerprint Exploration from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
X-Ray Art from Totally Tots
Sticky Easel Faces from No Time For Flashcards
*Doctor Dramatic Play
This is a great week to transform your Dramatic Play Space into a Doctors Office. Add a variety of Doctor Forms, Lab Coats, Pretend Play Doctor toys. Create a waiting area with chairs, and magazines and a reception area.
Pre-K Printables Club Members: Log-in to your account to access a member exclusive Doctor Dramatic Play pack.
Pre-K Printables Club Members: Log-in to your account to access a member exclusive Doctor Dramatic Play pack.
Community Member Jamie Lynn with Play to Learn Childcare contributed this photo of her Doctor Dramatic Play invitation.
Community Member Christine Grygar created this dramatic play invitation for her group.
*Ordering Number Words
This puzzle incorporates math, literacy, and fine motor all in one!
This is an engaging activity for young children working on problem-solving and/or learning number sight words. This activity is included in the Healthy Me Inside & Out activity pack from PKPF.
This is an engaging activity for young children working on problem-solving and/or learning number sight words. This activity is included in the Healthy Me Inside & Out activity pack from PKPF.
All About Me Book
Invite children to create a book all about themselves!
For each book you will need a piece of colored paper and several sheets of white paper, fold them all in half with the colored paper on the outside of the fold, then staple at the folded edge to hold them together. Alternatively you can purchase blank books.
For this book children can use a combination of drawings and photos.
Encourage children to write about their favorite toys, people in their family, favorite colors, foods, friends, and activities.
Include a space for children to write their name (even if they are in the scribbling stage) for reference at the end of the year. Children not yet writing can dictate to an adult to add descriptions to the images.
During group time invite children to share a few pages from their book.
For each book you will need a piece of colored paper and several sheets of white paper, fold them all in half with the colored paper on the outside of the fold, then staple at the folded edge to hold them together. Alternatively you can purchase blank books.
For this book children can use a combination of drawings and photos.
Encourage children to write about their favorite toys, people in their family, favorite colors, foods, friends, and activities.
Include a space for children to write their name (even if they are in the scribbling stage) for reference at the end of the year. Children not yet writing can dictate to an adult to add descriptions to the images.
During group time invite children to share a few pages from their book.
At the Doctor Seek & Find
There are so many fascinating things to see when visiting the doctor.
Use these cards as a flip and find activity or hide the pieces around the room for even more engagement, then mark on the doctor's office mat when they are found. This activity is included in the Healthy Me Inside & Out Activity Pack.
Use these cards as a flip and find activity or hide the pieces around the room for even more engagement, then mark on the doctor's office mat when they are found. This activity is included in the Healthy Me Inside & Out Activity Pack.
What I Like About Me!
Marvelous Me: Inside and Out (All about Me)
Eyes, Nose, Fingers, and Toes: A First Book All About You
My Five Senses
Feelings
science, sensory, and stem
*X-Ray Matching Activity
This activity included in the Healthy Me Inside & Out Activity Pack is a fun way for preschoolers to learn about the bones in their bodies.
*Healthy Food Sorting
Young children are learning to make healthy food choices, support their development with this food sorting activity included in the Healthy Me Inside & Out Activity Pack.
5 Senses Sensory Bin
Fill your sensory bin with a variety of items that children can explore with their senses. Provide 5 baskets for sorting items by how they explored each object. Here are some ideas for each:
- Sound: Bells and small music instruments
- Sight: Shiny paper and photographs, provide magnifying glasses for closely examining objects
- Touch: Sandpaper, rice, pine cones, coffee grounds
- Smell: Cotton balls with essential oil dabbed on them, cinnamon sticks, scratch & sniff paper
- Taste: Photos of different food items (explain to children that tasting the items in the bin isn't safe but they can imagine how each would taste) or if you are homeschooling you can consider placing wrapped food items in the bin.
Healthcare Instruments
Provide a variety of real instruments that health professionals may use in their practice for children to explore.
Some ideas: stethoscope, tongue depressor, thermometers, guaze/bandages, and an eye chart. Some off the materials may be suited for free exploration, others will require supervised exploration for safety depending on age & development.
Some ideas: stethoscope, tongue depressor, thermometers, guaze/bandages, and an eye chart. Some off the materials may be suited for free exploration, others will require supervised exploration for safety depending on age & development.
X-Ray Counting Cards
These counting cards are so much fun for this theme!
Pair these counting mats with your favorite math manipulatives for added engagement. You can find these mats included in the Healthy Me Inside & Out Activity Pack.
Pair these counting mats with your favorite math manipulatives for added engagement. You can find these mats included in the Healthy Me Inside & Out Activity Pack.
*Counting Fingers Count & Clip Cards
Counting fingers is nothing new for preschoolers, they are sure to love counting up the fingers on these cards. Count up all the fingers to find the total, then identify the correct number on the bottom and clip with a clothespin.
Construction, blocks and small world play
Healthy Bodies in the block Center
Add a variety of human play figures to your construction/small world play space this week.
Encourage children to build people using blocks or a wellness center for the play figurines.
Encourage children to build people using blocks or a wellness center for the play figurines.
Body Tracing with Blocks
Challenge children to use blocks to trace one another. One child will lay on the ground, then the others build around them to create an outline of their body.
More Construction & Small World Play Ideas
Fine motor and Gross motor development
Weights Shape Clip Cards
Lifting weights is great for building big muscles and these clip cards are great for developing smaller muscles and finger dexterity!
Work on these skills while also practicing shape recognition and matching included in the PKPF Healthy Me Activity Pack
Work on these skills while also practicing shape recognition and matching included in the PKPF Healthy Me Activity Pack
*The Tissue Dance
Your preschoolers are going to love this music & movement activity.
Simply invite the children to balance a tissue on their head. Then play some fun music and challenge children to dance around...without dropping their tissue!
Simply invite the children to balance a tissue on their head. Then play some fun music and challenge children to dance around...without dropping their tissue!
Mr. Potato Head
Constructing Potato Heads is fun for fine motor and a fun way to explore body parts. See inspiration in these posts:
Mr. Potato Head Matching from The Princess and the Tot
Mr. Potato Following Directions from Rockabye Butterfly
Mr. Potato Following Directions from Rockabye Butterfly
Letter Sound Yoga
Try this letter sound yoga activity this week to work on literacy and physical development.
Use this yoga idea as a weekly or daily part of your routine adding in all the letters over time.
Roll & Create Emotions
Add this Roll & Create Emotions set to your play dough center this week to encourage children to explore emotions while working on fine motor development.
Adaptive Equipment
Take some time to learn about adaptive equipment this week. The activities and conversation cards included in the PKPF Adaptive Equipment Activities gives young children a chance to talk about and learn more about why people use adaptive equipment.
I can Help Fight Germs
Help children learn to be a good citizen by learning to fight germs!
Children easily spread germs constantly. Help children begin to understand how they can help keep themselves and others healthy using the printables in the I Can Help Fight Germs activity pack.
Children easily spread germs constantly. Help children begin to understand how they can help keep themselves and others healthy using the printables in the I Can Help Fight Germs activity pack.
Field Trip
There are so many ways to conduct a field trip!
Depending on your program structure you can go on an outing, do a virtual field trip, or invite a professional to your program!
Depending on your program structure you can go on an outing, do a virtual field trip, or invite a professional to your program!
Sheena of Building Blocks Family Childcare invited the Community Health Nurse to her program to talk about the importance of hand washing. She read the children a book, did an activity, and assisted with teaching proper handwashing.
Invite your children to engage in a virtual field trip like this one from KidVision to a Doctor's Office.
The children at Building Blocks Family Child Care took a field trip to the local community college to check out a skeleton model from the nursing department.
More Social Studies Ideas
Using the 5 Senses to Make Applesauce-from Creative with Kids
Graphing Hair Color-from Mrs. Drake's Room
My Five Senses-Playful Learning
Face Magnets-The Iowa Farmer's Wife
Boy or Girl Sorting-Sorting Sprinkles
Feeling Board-Megan Crary
Graphing Hair Color-from Mrs. Drake's Room
My Five Senses-Playful Learning
Face Magnets-The Iowa Farmer's Wife
Boy or Girl Sorting-Sorting Sprinkles
Feeling Board-Megan Crary
Taking Care of My Body Match-Up
People use many products to keep them healthy. Invite your preschooler to match-up the materials needed for each of the self-care scenarios in this matching game from the PKPF Healthy Me Inside & Out Activity Pack
Explore Feelings & Emotions
Learning to identify and handle feelings & emotions is essential to having a healthy body!
Explore feelings and emotions with this set of Feelings & Emotions Conversation Cards & Posters from PKPF
Explore feelings and emotions with this set of Feelings & Emotions Conversation Cards & Posters from PKPF
Healthcare Displays
Hang a variety of posters and photographs in your learning space that highlight healthcare professionals. Include a variety of professionals such as doctors, nurses, therapists, ophthalmologists, dentists, paramedics, and school nurses.
Include books in the classroom that highlight these important community workers.
Include books in the classroom that highlight these important community workers.
EDUCATOR RESOURCES : GROUP ACTIVITIES, CIRCLE TIME, & PARENT ENGAGEMENT
Self-Care
Learning self-care is important for both educators and the children they teach.
Download these Free Self-Care Journal Forms designed for all ages from PKPF.
Share this link with your families as well to encourage self-care at home.
Download these Free Self-Care Journal Forms designed for all ages from PKPF.
Share this link with your families as well to encourage self-care at home.
Avoid Burnout
Teaching and taking care of others can quickly lead to burnout. Read the Avoiding Burnout post to hear advice from seasoned childcare providers and educators about this issue.
Taking care of others first means taking care of yourself!
Taking care of others first means taking care of yourself!
*Roll a Face Activity
Invite preschoolers to play this Roll a Face game together!
Children can collaborate to create a face together or take turn rolling to create a face on their own mats. Find this activity in the Healthy Me Inside & Out activity pack.
Children can collaborate to create a face together or take turn rolling to create a face on their own mats. Find this activity in the Healthy Me Inside & Out activity pack.
Read Aloud Activity
5 Senses
The book My Five Senses by Aliki is a wonderful exploration of the 5 Senses!
Pair this read aloud with a fun 5 Senses sorting activity to strengthen understanding.
Pair this read aloud with a fun 5 Senses sorting activity to strengthen understanding.
After reading a favorite book about the senses invite your preschoolers to engage in a sorting activity to show what they know!
To use this activity with a small group hang the sorting mat near your group space or place on the floor in the middle. Place the pieces in a small basket, then either pull one card out at a time or invite the students to pull out the cards and sort them on the mat.
To use this activity with a small group hang the sorting mat near your group space or place on the floor in the middle. Place the pieces in a small basket, then either pull one card out at a time or invite the students to pull out the cards and sort them on the mat.
My Body Outline
Split children into pairs or small groups. Each group will need a piece of chalk and space on a sidewalk or large piece of paper and markers. Groups will work to draw an outline around the body of each child in the group. After the outline is done invite each child to fill in their outline. They might like to draw in body parts like this child from Building Blocks Family Childcare that drew a heart on their chest. They could also add in facial features, hair, or clothing.
While children are engaging in this activity and conversation be sure to visit each group and talk about what they are doing.
While children are engaging in this activity and conversation be sure to visit each group and talk about what they are doing.
Fun Songs & Fingerplays
- If You're Happy & You Know It
- Family Finger
- Hokey Pokey
- Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes
- My Hands
- Open Shut Them
- Shake My Sillies Out
Teacher Tip: Keep a class book of songs and fingerplays in your space so children can help choose songs each day and help remind you of the words.
Take a hike outside
Hiking is great exercise! Take a hike around the backyard, or around your neighborhood. Sing this song to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"
I like to take a hike.
I like to take a hike
(up he hills and down the hills)
I like to take a hike
variations:
Hiking here and there
Stepping in the mud
tromping through grass
I like to take a hike.
I like to take a hike
(up he hills and down the hills)
I like to take a hike
variations:
Hiking here and there
Stepping in the mud
tromping through grass
Circle Time Props: Feelings
Create, or invite your children to help create, feelings puppets for circle time activities or your calm down space.
One simple idea is to use paper plates attached to craft sticks or use paper bags.
You can create simple faces that portray emotions or make them fancy with added hair and features.
Another method is to print out stock photos or the emotion cards included in the Healthy Me activity pack and attach to craft sticks.
use these puppets during circle time activities or in your calm down center for children to explore emotions.
One simple idea is to use paper plates attached to craft sticks or use paper bags.
You can create simple faces that portray emotions or make them fancy with added hair and features.
Another method is to print out stock photos or the emotion cards included in the Healthy Me activity pack and attach to craft sticks.
use these puppets during circle time activities or in your calm down center for children to explore emotions.
All About Me Poster
Ask families to work with their children to create and All About Me poster.
This can be a large poster or something small. Encourage families to make the poster however they like! They can include family photos, each family can contribute an illustration about the child and/or a favorite memory. Display the posters around the classroom all month, give each child an opportunity to share about their poster. When sharing encourage children to talk about the experience of creating of the poster.
This can be a large poster or something small. Encourage families to make the poster however they like! They can include family photos, each family can contribute an illustration about the child and/or a favorite memory. Display the posters around the classroom all month, give each child an opportunity to share about their poster. When sharing encourage children to talk about the experience of creating of the poster.
Share a Favorite Book
Consider inviting parents and family members to be guest readers in the classroom!
This can be done all throughout the year to encourage as many guest readers as possible.
Children can ask their parents, grandparents, or older siblings to come in and read their favorite book with the class.
This can be done all throughout the year to encourage as many guest readers as possible.
Children can ask their parents, grandparents, or older siblings to come in and read their favorite book with the class.
Bike Rodeo
Host a Bike Safety Rodeo!
This is a time for children to be able to practice their riding skills with their parents and learn about safety. If your program does not have space for this consider hosting on a community lot such as a school or church (be sure to ask ahead of time).
Ask parents to supply bikes and safety equipment, but be prepared with extras if possible.
Set up cones for riding paths.
Ask a local police or safety officer to attend the event to help teach about safety. Local bike shops may also be willing to help out.
This is a time for children to be able to practice their riding skills with their parents and learn about safety. If your program does not have space for this consider hosting on a community lot such as a school or church (be sure to ask ahead of time).
Ask parents to supply bikes and safety equipment, but be prepared with extras if possible.
Set up cones for riding paths.
Ask a local police or safety officer to attend the event to help teach about safety. Local bike shops may also be willing to help out.
Healthy Eating
Talk with your children about food choices. Invite your children to cook with you this week!
Offer a few options children can make for snack on their own or with little support. Also invite them to help cook family dinner. This can help them understand why you choose certain dishes for dinner.
Offer a few options children can make for snack on their own or with little support. Also invite them to help cook family dinner. This can help them understand why you choose certain dishes for dinner.
My Healthy Choices Collage
Provide local grocery ads, scissors, glue and 2 large sheets of paper to each child. Label one paper Healthy Choices and the other Sometimes Choices. Next, encourage your children to cut out their favorite foods. Challenge your children to sort the food into the two categories and glue on the page they think each food item belongs.
Encourage your children to talk about what makes one food a healthy choice or a sometimes food.
Encourage your children to talk about what makes one food a healthy choice or a sometimes food.
Family Memory Book
Creating resiliency in children is important for their mental health.
One way to help children develop resiliency is by showing them how loved they are by family and sharing special memories with them.
Reach out to family members that have known your children at different stages in their lives from birth to present day. Ask for them to share photographs and special memories that can be added to a book for each child. Encourage family members to write out these memories and communicate them with your children either by phone, in-person, or a video call.
One way to help children develop resiliency is by showing them how loved they are by family and sharing special memories with them.
Reach out to family members that have known your children at different stages in their lives from birth to present day. Ask for them to share photographs and special memories that can be added to a book for each child. Encourage family members to write out these memories and communicate them with your children either by phone, in-person, or a video call.
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