Weekly Theme  (Start Monday, continue with the theme all week)

This week's theme is COWS.  ~Cow Pictures/Printouts~

The vocabulary word is calf - a calf is a baby cow.

Books to read aloud that support the theme:
(You can choose one book to read all week, or a new book for each day.  These are just suggestions, you may find others related to the theme in your library.)

Helper Cow by Sue MacVeety
And the Cow said Moo! by Mildred Phillips
The Little Calf That Couldn't Moo by Iris Hiskey
(Chunky Farm) Cow by Emily Bolam
The Cow That Went Oink by Bernard Most
Two Cool Cows by Toby Speed
The Cow Who Wouldn't Come Down by Paul Brett Johnson
Cow by Malachy Doyle
Calico Cows by Arlene Dubanevich
No Moon, No Milk by Chris Babcock
Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin
Little Calf by Kim Lewis

Poems that support the theme:

Little Calf
by Katrina Lybbert

"Good morning, little calf," gentle mother cow said,
"It's time to get up from your sweet hay filled bed."
Little calf jumped, stamped his feet, swished his tail,
And followed his mother past a shiny milk pail.

Out into the barnyard, holding his head high,
Little calf looked up to the blue, blue sky,
Birds flying past chirped a joyful song,
Little calf smiled, and felt happy all day long.

(This poem can be acted out at the appropriate places.)

The Purple Cow
by Gelett Burgess

I never saw a purple cow,
I never hope to see one,
But I can tell you anyhow,
I'd rather see than be one!

Songs that support the theme:

Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Sing this traditional song with three verses.
The first verse can be about a bull... and on his farm he had a bull.... with a moo, moo here.. (make the sound deep and loud)
The second verse can be about a cow... and on his farm he had a cow... with a moo, moo here.. (make the sound high and loud)
The third verse can be about a calf... and on his farm he had a calf... with a moo, moo here... (make the sound little and soft)

The Cow
by Katrina Lybbert

(Tune: The Farmer in the Dell)

The cow wakes up at dawn,
The cow wakes up at dawn,
Moo, moo, a great big yawn,
The cow wakes up at dawn.

The farmer milks the cow,
The farmer milks the cow,
Moo, moo, be careful now,
The farmer milks the cow.

The cow eats up her hay,
The cow eats up her hay,
Moo, moo, O happy day,
The cow eats up her hay.

The cow plays with her calf,
The cow plays with her calf,
Moo, moo, they sing and laugh,
The cow plays with her calf.

The cow and calf now sleep,
The cow and calf now sleep,
Quiet please, don't make a peep,
The cow and calf now sleep.

Gross Motor Skills Activity:  (Monday)

Put on some music and move around your home like a cow... don't forget to make sound effects.

Fine Motor Skills Activity:  (Friday)

Build a cow with squares.  You will need some white and black paper.  Cut out one 4" square of white for the body, one 2" square of white for the head, about nine 1" squares of white to make the legs and tail, three or four 1" squares of black for the cows spots, and three or more 1/2" squares for the eye, ears, etc. in black.  Help your child glue the cow together on another sheet of paper (of a different color).

Shape/Color  (Tuesday)

This week you will teach the shape of a square.

• Collect 3 - 5 everyday objects in the shape of a square... i.e.:  blocks, pot holder, CD jewel case, etc... to share with your child and discuss.
• Walk through your home looking for squares.
• Cut squares out of playdough or cookie dough... bake the cookies!
• Put a drawing of a square on your learning poster.

The letter this week is the letter A.

• Give your child a printout of the (capital) letter A to color.  ~Letter Printouts~
• Teach your child to trace the shape of the letter A using his finger.  You can trace in pudding, finger paint, a shallow tray (cookie sheet) filled with rice or beans, etc.
• Point out the letter A in signs, cereal boxes, etc.
• Post the letter A on your learning poster.

The number this week is the number 1.

• Show your child 1 object to count, or eat 1 cracker, 1 cheerio, etc.
• Show your child the written symbol (numeral) for 1 and put on your learning poster.
• Add 1 sticker to your counting book.
• Show your matching index cards for the number 1 to your child.
• Draw 1 square on a piece of paper and count it with your child.
• Walk around your home counting 1 of many different objects.

The nursery rhyme this week is Hey Diddle Diddle.  Recite often!

Hey Diddle Diddle!
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.