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

This week's theme is LIGHTHOUSES.  ~Lighthouse Coloring Pages~

The vocabulary word is beacon - a beacon is a signal, a light to guide and warn.

Books to read aloud that support the theme:

Lighthouse Lullaby by Kelly Paul Briggs
The Lighthouse Children by Syd Hoff
Beacons of Light: Lighthouses by Gail Gibbons
Who Sees the Lighthouse? by Ann Fearrington
The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde H. Swift

Poems that support the theme:

Lighthouse View
by Katrina Lybbert

The Lighthouse towered above me,
As I walked along the sand,
Shining forth it's beacon,
Across the sea and land.

I saw the lighthouse keeper,
And he invited me,
To climb up to the very top,
To see what I could see.

Round and round and up we went,
Till finally we were there,
I ran over to the window,
All I could do was stare and stare.

The waves were crashing on the rocks,
Their spray of water dancing high,
A sandy beach stretched out for miles,
And birds were soaring in the sky.

I thanked the lighthouse keeper,
For such a lovely day,
Then slowly down, round and round,
Till out the door, on my way.

The lighthouse towered above me,
As I walked along the sand,
Shining forth it's beacon,
Across the sea and land.

Songs that support the theme:

Dear Lighthouse, Shine Over the Ocean
by Katrina Lybbert

(Tune: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean)

Dear lighthouse, shine over the ocean,
Your beacon guides sailors to shore,
Dear lighthouse, shine over the ocean,
Keep shining your light ever more.

Shine on, shine on,
Keep shining your light, all day, all night,
Shine on, shine on,
Your beacon's a guiding light.

Dear lighthouse, shine over the ocean,
Your beacon guides sailors to shore,
Dear lighthouse, shine over the ocean,
Keep shining your light ever more.

Gross Motor Skills Activity:  (Monday)

Make a spiral "staircase" with books, stools, cushions, chairs, etc.  Create it so that as it moves around it gets higher.  Then imagine you are climbing to the top of a lighthouse.  (Hold your child's hand if needed.)  Let your child hold a flashlight at the top and shine around the room.

Fine Motor Skills Activity:  (Friday)

Build a lighthouse with a tower of blocks, duplo, or other building toy.

Shape/Color  (Tuesday)

This week you will teach the shape of an octagon.

• Collect 3 - 5 everyday objects in the shape of an octagon... ie: mirror, clock, toy stop sign, make one out of felt, etc... to share with your child and discuss.
• Walk through your home looking for octagons.  (If this is difficult, look in magazines and books.)
• Cut octagons out of playdough or cookie dough... bake the cookies!
• Put a drawing of an octagon on your learning poster.

The letter this week is the letter E.

• Give your child a printout of the (capital) letter E to color.  ~Letter Printouts~
• Teach your child to trace the shape of the letter E 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 E in signs, cereal boxes, etc.
• Post the letter E on your learning poster.

The number this week is the number 5.

• Show your child 5 objects to count, or eat 5 crackers, 5 cheerios, etc.
• Show your child the written symbol (numeral) for 5 and put on your learning poster.
• Add 5 stickers to your counting book.
• Show your matching index cards for the number 5 to your child.
• Draw 5 octagons on a piece of paper and count them with your child.
• Walk around your home counting 5 of many different objects.

The nursery rhyme this week is Bobby Shaftoe.  Recite often!

Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea,
Silver buckles at his knee;
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Bobby Shaftoe!

Bobby Shaftoe's tall and fair,
Combing down his yellow hair;
He'll be mine for ever more,
Bonny Bobby Shaftoe!