Thinking Theme: My Birthday

This is a special week to celebrate your child and the blessing that they are!  Have a BLAST!!!

Letter of the Week: Cc

Number of the Week: Child's Age (Sawyer is turning 3!)

Bible Verse of the Week: "Glorify the Lord with me, let us exalt His Name together." Psalm 34:3

Books:

_________________________________________ Lesson 1: Birthday Cake Candles File Folder Game
Objectives:
* To understand that a person has a specific number of candles on their birthday cake that corresponds to their age
* To count 1-10 and recognize the written numbers 1-10
* To match the correct number of candles to each birthday cake according to the written number on each

Materials:
* Birthday Cake Candles Game printout
* file folder
* scissors
* glue/tape
* small ziploc bag

Procedure:
1. Print out the file folder game pieces, cut them out, and glue them onto a file folder like this:

2. Place the candles in a ziploc bag.

3. Have your child point to each number on the cakes and say what it is.

4. Then have your child put the correct number of candles on each cake.

5. Sawyer really enjoyed this game.  He even tried to blow the candles out!

Lesson 2: Ice Cream Cone Matching Game
Objectives:
* To recognize written letters, as well as the sounds of the letters
* To match specific words to the letters that they start with based on the sounds and the written version of the word

Materials:
* brown construction paper
* other brightly colored construction paper
* scissors and circle punch (if you have one)
* black marker
* small ziploc bag



Procedure:
1.  Cut out 9 triangles from the brown construction paper.  These will represent the ice cream cones.

2. Cut out multiple circles from different colors of construction paper.  I did 36 (enough for each cone to have 4 "scoops")

3. Write the 9 uppercase letters that we have studied so far onto the cones.  The letter are A, B, C, F, H, L, O, S, and T.

4. Write words onto the circles that start with these letters.  Do enough for each letter to have 3-4 corresponding words.  Remember to include words that start with lowercase letters, as well as proper nouns with uppercase letters.  These words need to be relevant to your child...words that have been in the lesson vocabulary, words you use around the house daily, or words from the Bible verses we have been learning.

5. Spread the "cones" out on the floor.  Have your child match the words to the letter they start with.  Say the words for them before they look at the written version so that they are hearing the sounds of the letters.

6.  Here are all of our matches:

7.  Once you are finished, place the triangles and circles in a ziploc bag and save the game to play throughout the week!

Lesson 3: Balloon Patterns and Painting
Objectives:
* To create patterns using different colored balloons, the patterns will vary (ABAB, AABAAB, ABCABC, etc)
* To understand the concept of patterning and recognize what colored balloon comes next in the sequence
* To create a painting using balloons and recognize the artistic effect balloons can make on paper

Materials:
* bag of multi-colored balloons
* white construction paper
* 3-5 different colors of paint
* paper plates
* drop cloth

* something to cover your child's clothes

Procedure:

1.  Pick 2 colors of balloons and demonstrate how to make an ABAB pattern. (pink, yellow, pink, yellow)  Ask your child what color they think is supposed to come next.

2.  Keep demonstrating until they understand the concept of an ABAB pattern.  Have them create one themselves.

3. Continue making different types of patterns using other colors. ( red, red, blue, red, red, blue, etc.) 

4. Next, pour a little bit of paint onto a paper plate.  Blow up a balloon to a size that your child can easily hold in their hand.  Have them dip the balloon into the paint and then onto the white construction paper.  The balloon makes a cool print on the paper.  Do this with multiple colors.  You can also use the circle end of the balloon (where you blow it up) and make circle prints on the paper.

* Fun artwork to display!  You could even do balloon print patterns if you want to! :)

Lesson 4: Bake Birthday Cake or Cupcakes
Objectives:
* To bake a cake and/or cupcakes using a recipe
* To understand what a recipe is and how to follow the directions in a specific order
* To use measuring skills to determine how much of an ingredient to put into the mixture
* To use the motor skills involved with pouring, stirring, and scooping
* To make your child feel special on their big day! :)

Materials:
* whatever you need to bake your favorite cake or cupcakes

Procedure:
1.  Bake a birthday cake or cupcakes using your favorite recipe.  Sawyer wanted a chocolate rocket cake and vanilla cupcakes for his party, so that's what we did!  Since we had a lot of people coming to the party and not very much time, we just used box mixes.  We both still had a great time cooking together!

* Of course, he had to enjoy a little bit of batter!  I did, too! :)

* Here are a few pictures of how the cake and cupcakes turned out:

* We used different candies to outline the rocket cake.  The colors matched the party decorations.

* We added sprinkles and cupcake toppers to the cupcakes.

Lesson 5: Pinata
I got this idea here at Enchanted Learning but changed it just a little.

Objectives:
* To learn what a pinata is
* To create a pinata using a paper bag
* To celebrate your child's birthday by "opening" the pinata :)

Materials:
* paper bag
* markers, crayons, stickers, tissue paper, etc. (anything your child wants to decorate the bag with)
* candy
* string
* tape or stapler
* scissors

Procedure:

1. Let your child decorate a paper bag however they want to.  Sawyer used markers, stickers, and tissue paper.

2. Let your child place some candy inside the bag.  We had leftovers from the party.

3.  Seal the bag with tape or by using a stapler.

4.  Hang the bag outside from a tree using some string.

5.  Let your child go! :) (Just a little tip, you will probably need to start a small hole for them because the paper bag was really strong!)

* Oh Boy!!!

Extra Thinking

* Letter Cc - glue cotton balls on the letter Cc

* Memory Box from Enchanted Learning - make a box full of memories from that year of your child's life.  You can include a special award, report card, pictures from a trip, or anything to help you remember the fun things that happened that year. 

* Birthday Party! - Here are a few more pics of Sawyer's Rocket Party: