Imagination Station

I was a preschool teacher for about 25 years, and in that time I learned so much about preschoolers.  I think one of my most valuable lessons is that children learn best through play.  They are most motivated to stay engaged with something that they have chosen themselves, and that they are interested in; something that they get to start and end when they are ready to do so.

  

I'm a member of several preschool Facebook groups, and I see a lot of questions about how to teach children colors, shapes, numbers, and letters.  As with most things, my answer is "through play".  I could go on and on about this, but instead I'll share this felt set!  

Plugging my shop!  This set and many more are available there :)

Using a set like this is a perfect way for children to learn colors, shapes, and sizes.  It lends itself to building imagination; fine motor skills; and math concepts like sorting and patterning.  But the best part about it is that's it's open-ended fun! 

"Teach" about colors and shapes and sizes as you read awesome books like Lemons are Not Red or Round is a Mooncake, and as you do chants like This is Big --and of course as you interact naturally but intentionally with the children in your care as they play!

 

Amy is hosting the roundup this week.  You can also find tons of ideas at Flannel Friday's Pinterest Pages, the Flannel Friday Blog, and Flannel Friday's Facebook page.

Big, Bigger, Biggest

 

Hmmm...  Where did I originally see this?  I can't remember!  But it's super simple, and can be adapted many different ways:

• A big bug, a bigger bug, the biggest bug I see--now help me count them!  One...two...three!
• A small bug, a medium bug, a big bug I see--now help me count them... One, two, three!
• A yellow star, a blue star, an orange star I see--now help me count them...one, two, three!

See how you can change it up?!  And this is SO simple to make--especially with clip art if you want to go that route.  You could do animals, shapes, same colors, different colors, seasonal items, foods--this one really is endless in it's possibilities.

Flannel Friday is being hosted this week by Kate at Felt Board Magic.  You can also find tons of ideas at Flannel Friday's Pinterest Pages, the Flannel Friday Blog, and Flannel Friday's Facebook page.

Mitten Match

The first place I saw this was on Storytime Katie-- I absolutely love her use of the clothesline, and intend to use one myself some day soon.  I have it, and the clothespins, so what am I waiting for??

What is is about mittens that is so appealing to children?!  They're just so darn snuggly and warm, and when they don't have to actually wear them, they're even better! (I write this having just spent most of the time on the playground this morning picking up discarded mittens as the children frolicked about happily with freezing fingers...)  That said, when they get to come put a mitten on the board to make a pair, they are so proud of themselves.  And when they see all those colors and shapes matched up and lined up, they know something is just right in their world.

Flannel Friday is being hosted this week by Anne at So Tomorrow!  You can also find more fantastic ideas at Flannel Friday's Pinterest pages, or Flannel Friday's Facebook Page --check them out!

This is a Square

I was inspired by Shawn at Read, Rhyme and Sing, who did this activity using letters.  I decided to copy the concept using shapes and colors, which I thought my Two-Year-Olds might be a bit more in tune with.  I was right--they love this simple but fun activity.  Below I have a picture of the shapes (which I cut out free hand while binge watching some show or another on Netflix...), as well as the instruction card that's kept along with it in the storage bag.  There are lots more ideas that I didn't put on the card (handing out shapes and having children bring up a matching shape or color; having children come up and find a color that matches something they're wearing, or something the same color as ___________; the list goes on...)

This particular set isn't for sale, but please check out my shop with many of my other sets:

Flannel Board Fun Shop

This week you'll find the Flannel Friday roundup at Catch the Possibilities and of course you'll find lots of other ideas at Flannel Friday's blog or Pinterest page.