For this lesson you will need:
Speaker Bear
Sticker Basket
Picture (see # of day)
Sealed letters to each child (see lett. Of day)
Dollar Bill
Quarter
Dime
Nickel
Penny
(Additional coins optional)
Pre-made memory game (construction paper, glue)
Story Book: You can’t Buy a Dinosaur with a Dime by Harriet Ziefert
Magazines or store catalogues for collage
Several toys and items to act as merchandise
Cup
Welcome Song: (To tune of Old MacDonald):
Welcome, welcome everyone
So glad that you are here.
Today we’re gonna have some fun
So let’s give out a cheer
Woo hoo!!
Clap clap clap clap
Slap(legs) slap slap slap
Clap clap clap let’s go! (when you shout “let’s go!”, do a group high five in the center)
Question of the Day: What is one thing you’ve done that you are very proud of? (You may need to explain that proud means being very happy with, or excited about what you did) Pass around speaker bear and allow each child to share their answer. Share your answer with the children as well.
Number of the Day ‘4’: Before Preschool draw a picture of anything you want (or you may copy the example into word and print out before class). Draw several #4s all over the picture. The 4s should be different sizes, but some should be small enough to make them really look. Have children take turns looking through a magnifying glass to find one of the #4s. Allow them to choose any color from their crayon box, and tell them to circle the #4 (or,if you want to work on shapes simultaneously, assign them each a different shape to draw around the #4.) If you’re working with a small group, allow each child 3-4 turns. Allow them to choose 4 stickers each from the sticker basket and place them on the sticker chart.
Letter of the Day ‘D’: Before preschool, write out the following letter to each child and seal it in an envelope. Address the envelopes to each of the children, making them look as official as possible. Place these letters outside your front door.
When it’s time for the letter of the day, pretend like you hear a knock. “Did you hear that knock? I wonder who it could be!” Have children help you open the door slowly to see who it is. Let children find the letters,(it must have been the mail man!) and bring them back to the circle to open them. Read them aloud
Dear Darlings,
Dazzling Day Don’t you think? I had a Delightful Dream about Daffodils, Daisies and Dragonflies Dancing in the Dark. I had Dinner with Dinosaurs. We Dined on Dumplings and Dressing and Devoured Donuts for Dessert…. Then played Dominoes until Dusk. Doesn’t that sound Dandy?
Your Dear Friend,
Doctor Dee
Ask children if they noticed anything interesting about the letter. What sound did you hear the most? What letter makes that sound?
Demonstrate how the capital and lower case forms of D are written and allow them to practice in their writing notebooks. If they’re already well practiced in letter writing, have them write two words that begin with the letter D.
Teach ASL sign for the letter D as well as the signs for Dog, Dirty, and Dollar
Introduction of Topic: Have children look at the clothes they are wearing and ask where they got them. (Possible answers: Mom, Dad, Store) How did your mom or dad get them? Point out that although moms and dads do get clothes from a store, they can’t just take the things they want. They must pay for them first.
Discuss the need for money to pay for our basic necessities such as our food, home, transportation etc. Ask each child what it would be like to not have these things. How would we get around? Where would we go to keep warm? Discuss how your family brings in money and emphasize the importance of working hard to obtain it.
Activity: Introduce each coin and paper bill one at a time (you’ll need a real penny, nickel, dime, quarter and dollar bill). Have children describe the color of each one and feel the edges for ridges. Describe the pictures on the front and back of the coins. (If child is ready you may discuss the value of each)
After coins have been introduced, set up a money memory game (print coins below, cut and paste each one to a square of construction paper). On their turn, each child will flip two pictures over in an attempt to find a match. When a match is found, have the child say the name of the coin/dollar bill and allow them to keep the match.
(courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery)
Story: You Can’t Buy a Dinosaur with a Dime by Harriet Ziefert
Allow children to make comments or ask questions about the story.
Activity: Take children to a room where you have set out a variety of toys, food and other items for them to “purchase.” Give each child one of each coin and 1 dollar bill. Have them choose 3 or 4 items and bring them to your checkout counter where you will tell them the cost of each item (use terms like “one penny” as opposed to “1 cent”). Bag up the items, give the money back and send them out to do more shopping. Switch roles and have the children take turns sitting at the checkout counter while you do the shopping.
Art: Lead a brainstorm session about what the children would buy if they had as much money as they wanted. Have them draw one of these items OR have them look through magazines/catalogs, and create a collage of the things they would like to save up to buy some day.
And/or
Make coin rubbings, by placing a coin underneath a piece of white paper, and rubbing a crayon over the top of it.
Additional Activity: Perform a super cool magic trick. You'll need a cup, a coin, and a dish towel.
Show the children your coin, and tell them you're all going to make it disappear.
Put the coin on the table. Cover the coin with an upside down cup. Cover the Cup with the dishtowel. Place your hand on the covered cup and have the children put their hands on top of yours. Move the cup in several circles. During one of the circles, slide the cup slightly over the edge of the table so the coin falls onto your lap. After a minute, lift the cup and congratulate them for their successful disappearing act. Now tell one of the children you see something in his ear... and pull out the coin. TA DA!! So tricky.
Service: To demonstrate that money can be used to help others, make a small donation to a local charity or fundraiser and have the children deliver it or package it up to be sent. Discuss purpose/mission of selected charity. (Often times stores are raising funds for specific charities, so it may be as easy as dropping some coins into a jar at the checkout counter)
Snack: Have children “purchase” one healthy item from the play store and serve it up for snack!
Goodbye song: To the tune of “If You’re Happy and you Know it”
If you’ve learned a lot today, clap your hands (clap clap)
Here’s the letter of the day (sign the letter D), clap your hands (clap clap)
Oh, we’ve had a lot of fun,
Now our preschool time is done (tap index finger to wrist)
See you next time (wave) and we’ll do it all again! (Clap clap.)
