Lesson # 1: cows, calf, square, A, 1, Hey Diddle Diddle

Lesson # 1:

Suggested Schedule for the Week:

MONDAY: Introduce the Weekly Theme

• Introduce the weekly theme with pictures and post one or two on your learning poster.

This week's theme is COWS.

~Cow Facts~

Cow/Calf Picture

Cow Coloring Page

• Choose one story to read based on the theme.

See the booklist.

• Share a poem based on the theme with your child.

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!

• Sing a song based on the theme.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm Video of "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)

• Do the gross motor skills activity with your child.

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

Video of Real Cows for inspiration!

• Introduce the vocabulary word & post a picture for it on your learning poster.

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

Cow/Calf Picture


TUESDAY: Introduce the Shape/Color

This week you will teach the shape of a square.

• Collect 3 - 5 everyday objects in the shape of the week to share with your child and discuss.


• Walk through your home looking for the shape.


• Cut the shape out of playdough or cookie dough... bake the cookies!


• Put a drawing of the shape on your learning poster.

Weekly Theme

• Choose one story to read based on the theme.


• Share a poem based on the theme with your child.


• Sing the song based on the theme that you chose on Monday.


• Review the vocabulary word and use it as you talk to your child about the theme.

WEDNESDAY: Introduce the Letter for the Week

• Give your child a printout of the (capital) letter to color.

The letter this week is the letter A.

Starfall animated clip about the Letter A

Starfall "A" worksheets to printout

Tracing the Letter A Printable.

• Teach your child to trace the shape of the letter using their finger. You can trace in pudding, finger paint, a shallow tray (cookie sheet) filled with rice or beans, etc.


• Point out the letter in signs, cereal boxes, etc.


• Post the letter on your learning poster.

Review the Weekly Theme

• Choose one story to read based on the theme.


• Share a poem based on the theme with your child.


• Sing the song based on the theme that you chose on Monday.


• Review the vocabulary word and use it as you talk to your child about the theme.

Review the Shape/Color

• Point out the shape and/or color on your learning poster and discuss with your child.

THURSDAY: Introduce the Number for the Week
The number this week is the number 1.

Printable for the number 1.

Video on Counting 1-10

• Show your child the appropriate number of objects to count, or eat the appropriate number of snacks of crackers, cheerios, etc..


• Show your child the written symbol (numeral) for the number and put on your learning poster.


• Add the correct number of stickers to your counting book.


• Show your matching index cards for the number of the week to your child.


• Draw the appropriate number of shapes (using the shape of the week) and count them.


• Walk around the house counting objects up to the number of the week.

Review the Weekly Theme

• Choose one story to read based on the theme.


• Share a poem based on the theme with your child.


• Sing the song based on the theme that you chose on Monday.


• Review the vocabulary word and use it as you talk to your child about the theme.

Review the Shape/Color

• Point out the shape and/or color on your learning poster and discuss with your child

Review the Letter

• Point out the letter on your learning poster and discuss with your child.

FRIDAY: Introduce the Nursery Rhyme for the Week
***Continue to recite this rhyme daily till the next Friday***
HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE
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.

Video on "Hey Diddle Diddle"

• Post the words to the rhyme on your learning poster.


• Sing and/or recite the nursery rhyme for your child.


• If possible, read a book based on this nursery rhyme.

Review the Weekly Theme
**Do the Fine Motor Skills Activity for the Weekly Theme on 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).

• Choose one story to read based on the theme.


• Share a poem based on the theme with your child.


• Sing the song based on the theme that you chose on Monday.


• Review the vocabulary word and use it as you talk to your child about the theme.

Review all Shapes, Colors, Letters, Numbers

• Review all the shapes, colors, letters, and numbers previously learned.


• Point out the current ones on the learning poster.


• Use the matching index cards of all the previously learned numbers and play a matching game.


• Create a small booklet that has a page for each week in the program. Each page of the booklet will have the shape/color, letter, and number for one lesson(week). Add to the booklet as you work through the program and look through this booklet every Friday.