A CALENDAR OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES - SEPTEMBER 2020-AUGUST 2021 - Carlisle United Way
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Getting Ready for Kindergarten
A CALENDAR OF
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
SEPTEMBER 2020–AUGUST 2021
One of the most exciting days for you and your child is the first We know that children have their own time clock for growing and
day of kindergarten. This calendar of activities was developed learning which means some children will be ready to learn more
by Success By 6, United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland quickly than others. Your child does not need to master
County, Cumberland County’s public school districts and the every item on this list to be ready for kindergarten. In fact,
Cumberland County Library System to help you and your child get some children will do better in some areas than in others.
ready for that special day.
Create a Keepsake Diary
The School Readiness Calendar is filled with a year’s A “Memories of Our Year” section follows the calendar pages.
worth of ideas and activities. Use this space to make notes about special activities you and your
As a parent, child do together each month. Make this memories section of the
• focus on spending special time with your child. calendar a keepsake to be shared with your child.
• do these activities together at home or in the community. The “Books We Have Read” page allows parents to fill in the
• give your child the skills needed for kindergarten. titles of books read together with their child over the year.
• use materials found in your home that cost little or no money.
Kindergarten Registration Information
How to Use the School Readiness Calendar General information needed to register your child for kindergarten,
The School Readiness Calendar runs from September through as well as, a list of the Cumberland County School Districts and
August. Each month focuses on a different learning topic with elementary schools can be found on the last pages of the
suggested daily activities you and your child can do together. This calendar.
calendar is for 4 and 5 year olds preparing to enter
kindergarten. Each month also includes additional ideas, a list of
children’s books and web sites you can visit. Add your own Have a wonderful year
creative ideas to those presented in the calendar.
together as you and your
It is important to be flexible while using this calendar. If your child is
not interested in a suggested activity, move on to something else. child get ready for the
Since children learn through repetition, allow - even encourage -
your child to repeat activities.
Big Day – Going To
Kindergarten!
A Special Report Card to Track Your Child’s Progress
School readiness is not just knowing the alphabet, numbers and
identifying colors or shapes. It is a complex combination of age,
individual growth and experience. Children who are ready for
kindergarten also have good social, self-help and physical skills and
are developing a love for learning.
At the end of the calendar you will find a Kindergarten
Readiness Checklist that has been specifically
designed for 4 and 5 year olds. This checklist will help
you prepare your child for school by helping you track your
child’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.
Programs and reading recommendations:
Parents: www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org/Parents
Children: www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org/Children
Bosler Memorial Library New Cumberland Public Library
158 West High Street 1 Benjamin Plaza
Carlisle, PA 17013-2988 New Cumberland, PA 17070-1597
Phone: (717) 243-4642 Phone: (717) 774-7820
www.boslerlibrary.org www.newcumberlandlibrary.org
Cleve J. Fredricksen Library Shippensburg Public Library
100 North 19th Street 73 West King Street
Camp Hill, PA 17011-2998 Shippensburg, PA 17257-1224
Phone: (717) 761-3900 Phone: (717) 532-4508
www.shippensburglibrary.org
Cumberland County Library www.fredricksenlibrary.org
System Administrative Office
158 W. High Street East Pennsboro Branch
Carlisle, PA 17013 98 South Enola Drive
Phone: (717) 240-6175 Enola, PA 17025-2796
Phone: (717) 732-4274
(888) 532-7286, Ext. 6175 www.eastpennsborobranch.org
(Shippensburg)
John Graham Public Library
(888) 697-0371, Ext. 6175
(West Shore) 9 Parsonage Street
Newville, PA 17241-1313
www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org Phone: (717) 776-5900
www.johngrahamlibrary.org
Amelia S. Givin Library Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
114 North Baltimore Avenue 16 North Walnut Street
Mount Holly Springs, PA 17065-1236 Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-3362
Phone: (717) 486-3688 Phone: (717) 766-0171
www.ameliagivinlibrary.org www.simpsonlibrary.org
Create a reading area for your child. Let your child participate in book reading.
♥ Store your child’s books in a special place that’s easy to reach ♥ While reading a book with your child, talk about the illustrations
such as a basket, drawer or on a low shelf. and information on the cover of the book: for example the title,
author (person who wrote the story) and illustrator (person who
♥ Place a small rug or pillow in the area to create a cozy and drew the pictures).
comfortable place for reading.
♥ Ask your child to look at the picture on the cover of the book
♥ Join your child and read together in this special place. and predict what he or she thinks the book is about.
♥ Talk to your child about how to care for books, including how to ♥ Show your child how to start at the beginning of the book and
return books to their storage place. how to turn the pages.
♥ Ask your child to retell the story in his or her own words.
Give your child a variety of books for reading. ADDITIONAL IDEAS
♥ Get a library card for you and your child. The card is free and
easy to get. Take along a book bag
♥ Visit your llibrary. Let your child look at the picture books in the containing some of your
children’s section of the library and select several books to take child’s favorite books when
home. you leave home. Your child
can read in the car, on the
♥ Look for other places to find books: bus, at the laundromat or at
the doctor’s office. You can
• Garage or yard sales • Thrift shops read with your child as you
• Friends or relatives • Public library sales wait together.
Set aside a special time each day to read with Web Site
your child. www.scholastic.com/parents
♥ Read with your child in a special place such as a comfortable
chair away from distractions.
♥ Hold your child close to you when you read to help develop a
positive attitude toward reading.
♥ Read your child’s favorite books over and over.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Labor Day
1 2
3 4 5
T alk with your child Make a sock puppet Ask your child to tell Create a special place
o outside with your
G about how to care for with a marker for eyes, a story. for your child to read.
child and kick a ball books. nose, and mouth.
back and forth.
6 7 8 9 Library Day
10 11 12
Talk about your family Yellow week, look for Help
your child write W
rite a note together to Together, look for words Play
a board game or
tree. things that are yellow his/her name using a special older person. Visit a playground and beginning with the same a card game with your
this week. sidewalk chalk. help your child with first letter. child.
climbing activities.
13 14 Show your child 15
how to read from
16 17 Rosh Hashanah
begins at
18 Rosh Hashanah 19
Grandparent’s Day Go for a walk with your left to right, how to T ogether, find pictures ead to your child every
R sundown Pick a new book and
child and play follow the turn pages when of animals that begin day! Visit your local Look at pictures of you encourage your child to
Tell a favorite story with leader (skipping, reading, and how to with the same letter. library today! or grandparents as guess what the story will
family members. hopping, running, etc.) read a book from front children. Point out be about by looking at
to back. changes in clothes. the cover.
20 21 First Day of Fall
22 23 Library Day
24 25
26
Read your child a story Collect some leaves and reate a special place
C Count the different Make a book bag out of
and have him/her act it count them together. Celebrate Fall! for your child to read. C
elebrate with a walk trees around your an old tote bag.
out using a sock puppet. outside. neighborhood.
Yom Kippur
begins 27 28 29
30
at sundown. Buy a set of magnetic Take your child to the
numbers and letters for public library and get a
Together, look at the Select a shelf or basket your child. library card for each of
pictures in a book before to keep library books. you.
reading it.
BOOKS FOR FOUR & FIVE YEAR OLDS
The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Santat If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff
Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin Roar! A Noisy Counting Book by Pamela Edwards
Corduroy by Don Freeman Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star by Jane Cabrera
Gather and organize materials for drawing, Let your child see
writing and cutting. that written words
♥ Help your child select a storage container for drawing and are a part of daily life.
writing materials. Help decorate and label it - for example,
“Alyson’s Drawing and Writing Box.” ♥ Make a grocery shopping list together.
♥ Clearly label your child’s belongings with his or her name.
♥ Decide on some simple rules for your child for using the drawing
and writing materials - for example, “Markers may be used at ♥ Encourage your child to use the materials in the drawing and
the kitchen table or outdoors.” or “Scissors are for cutting writing box if he or she is interested in writing.
paper.”
Support your child as he or she practices using scissors.
Encourage your child to explore with ♥ Designate appropriate places for your child to use scissors and
discuss safety rules.
drawing materials.
♥ Have your child draw pictures in different places such as: ♥ Be sure that your child knows how to hold the scissors, how to
open and close the blades, and how to hold the paper.
• in the kitchen while you prepare dinner. ♥ Provide strips of construction paper and cards from junk mail for
your child to cut up.
• in the park while you enjoy the bright fall days.
♥ Draw pictures with your
child about family events
and experiences. ADDITIONAL IDEAS
♥ Talk with your child about
the pictures and decide Outdoors, allow your child to draw and write with chalk on the sidewalk.
on a place to display your Draw in dirt or sand with a stick. Use small brushes to draw with water on
favorites. Choose a the sidewalk.
picture to attach to the Make large play dough pancakes. Encourage your child to write or draw
“Memories” page. on the pancakes with pencils or with craft sticks.
Web Site
www.crayola.com
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3
Help your child cut Give your child a Help your child find food
pictures from a household job like items or animals that
magazine to make a setting the table or begin with the same
collage. helping prepare a meal. letter as your child’s
first name.
Fire Prevention
Week
4 5 6 7 Library Day
8 9 10
Together, look at the Take your child to buy Read your child a story Together, plan and Show your child how
Orange week, look for pictures in a book writing and drawing and act it out using a Have your child practice follow through with a to write his/her name
things that are orange before reading it to supplies for the shoe box. sock puppet. zipping his/her coat or simple craft project. using upper and lower
this week. your child. jacket before going to case letters.
the library.
11 Columbus Day 12 13 14 15 16 17
Together, cut shapes Make a grocery With your child sort Read or tell a Read your favorite Talk about fall and have Together, look at the
out of paper to make shopping list together. coins into groups by story to your child children’s book to your your child draw a picture pictures in a book
a picture. color or size. about real people who child. of a tree. before reading it to your
show imagination and child.
creativity.
18 19 20 Look at a 21 22 23 24
magazine together Library Day
Tell a favorite story. Together, sort or count Say a word to your child that has pictures of List all the books you are Help your child make
things like socks, canned and ask him/her to say people. Talk about what Let your child play on reading on the “Books his/her name with
soups or buttons. words that rhyme. they look like and how his/her own with We Have Read” page. magnetic letters on the
they are similar and/or puppets or stuffed refrigerator.
different from you. animals.
25 26 27 28 29 30 Halloween 31
With your child write Take your child for a Play dress up together. Teach your child how to With your child write the Read your child’s
a note to a relative or walk and collect fall cut strips of paper. names of family favorite book to him/her.
friend. leaves. members and help your
child find the names.
BOOKS FOR FOUR & FIVE YEAR OLDS
A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jack Keats Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
Animalia by Graeme Base Journey by Aaron Becker
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin Dr. Seuss’s ABC by Dr. Seuss
Collect safe toys and equipment to help your Give your child opportunities to use large
child develop large muscles. muscles indoors.
♥ Empty plastic water bottles to use as bowling pins. ♥ Invite your child to toss bean bags or rolled up socks into a
basket, or a masking tape circle on the floor.
♥ Make bean bags by partially filling a sock with beans and tying a
knot in the sock. ♥ Put rolled up socks in a small basket. Let your child try balancing
the basket on his or her head while walking.
♥ Steer and pedal a tricycle.
♥ Create an obstacle course in a room with space for moving. Include
♥ Throw, catch and bounce balls (9 to 12 inch rubber balls). a taped line to walk on, a table to crawl under, chairs to crawl
through, a book to jump over and a large box to crawl through.
♥ Suggest that your child move like different animals: hop like a
Let your child spend time outdoors and have rabbit, slither like a snake, crawl like a bug and fly like a bird.
space and freedom to use large muscles.
ADDITIONAL IDEAS
♥ Have a safe outdoor place for your child to run and play.
♥ Let your child pedal a tricycle outdoors. Invite your child to move or dance to your favorite music. Try different
children’s songs to find your child’s favorite. Join your child in moving and
♥ Hang a basketball hoop low enough so your child can dancing to the music.
successfully “make a basket.”
Web Site
Join your child in active play. www.pbskids.org
♥ Play toss and catch with your child using 9 to 12 inch rubber
balls.
♥ Set up an obstacle course and encourage your child to steer a
tricycle through it.
♥ Draw a hopscotch pattern on your sidewalk or driveway. Show
your child how to hop the pattern. Let your child hop according
to his or her ability.
♥ Recall singing games from your childhood such as the “Hokey
Pokey” and involve your child and other family members in
playing the game.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Daylight Saving 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Time Ends Library Day
Have your child lie on Provide uninterrupted Together, find pictures of Help your child begin to Have your child invite a
Together, look for things his/her stomach as you time for your child to animals that begin with Have your child tell a learn his/her address grandparent over or call
that are similar but look at books together. play. the same letter. story to a family and phone number. them on the phone.
different (red apples and member.
green apples).
8 9 10 Veterans’ Day 11 12 Have your child
draw a picture or
13 14
Brown week, look for Put on some music and Exercise with your child. Ask your child to help Read a story and ask write a note to a family Ask your child “what if”
things that are brown dance with your child Count the number of set the table and count your child what his/her member about questions while playing
this week. and other family arm circles or hops. the items. favorite part was and something for which or reading a story.
members. why. he/she is thankful.
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Library Day
Take your child to the Do small jumping jacks Together, move like an Make a chart together to With your child recite/
Remember to add new grocery store and have inside. animal such as a snake Teach your child the record the weather each sing the days of the
titles to your book list! him/her help pick items and wiggle on tummies “ABC” song. day next month. week.
for Thanksgiving. on the floor.
22 23 24 25 Thanksgiving
Day
26 Talk with your
child about what
27 28
Play hopscotch with Say a word to your child Have your child use the Help your child make a you are going to do Teach your child to
your child. and ask him/her to say pictures in a book to tell picture or decoration for today and as you go wash hands while
words that rhyme with it. or retell a story in Thanksgiving. through the day ask singing the ABC song.
his/her own words. your child what comes
next.
29 30 PLAY DOUGH
COO KI E
1 cup of flour ½ cup of water
¼ cup of salt 3 to 5 drops of natural food coloring
Enjoy the day together. Have your child invite a Instructions
friend over to play. 1. Mix together the flour and the salt.
2. Mix together ½ cup of warm water with a few drops of food coloring.
3. Slowly pour the water into the flour mixture, stirring as you pour. Stir until combined, then knead with
your hands until the flour is completely absorbed. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour until it
doesn’t stick at all.
BOOKS FOR FOUR & FIVE YEAR OLDS
Duck on a Bike by David Shannon It Looked like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw
Croaky Pokey! by Ethan Long Wiggle by Doreen Cronin
Katie’s Too Big Coat by Jane Stephens Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig
Help your child recognize his or her own first name in print. ♥ Read alphabet books with your child and allow him or her to
name the letters he or she recognizes.
♥ Whenever a picture your child has created hangs on the
refrigerator or bulletin board, print the child’s first name and ask ♥ Read a book and encourage your child to go back and look for a
for assistance spelling the name. certain letter of the alphabet, such as the “b’s” found in the story.
♥ Make a sign for your child’s room with your child’s name in big ♥ Place the alphabet letter magnets in order. Have your child
letters on the door. touch each letter as you slowly sing the alphabet song.
♥ Invite your child to watch you write his or her name as you label ADDITIONAL IDEAS
personal belongings such as coat, sweater and backpack.
Make a set of cards with the names of family members. Use upper and lower
Help your child recognize the letters in his or her first name. case letters as you did when writing your child’s name. Mix up the family
name cards and encourage your child to find the name of each family
♥ Have your child play with alphabet letter magnets in your child’s member. These cards can also be used as place cards at the dining table.
name using a cookie sheet or the refrigerator.
♥ Encourage your child to arrange the letters in the correct order Web Site
using his or her name card as a guide. www.pbskids.org/lions/
♥ Place the alphabet letter magnets in a sack or bag. Encourage
your child to pull out the letters one at a time and name them.
Encourage your child to “read” familiar signs.
♥ Invite your child to read:
• Road signs
• Billboards
• Store names
Give your child opportunities to recognize and name
letters of the alphabet.
♥ Encourage your child to find letters in his or her own name in
signs that you see.Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5
Library Day
Using a book cover, help Organize a toy shelf or Help your child trace Together, play stopping
your child find letters in toy box together. Together, review your and cut circles to make and starting games like
her/his first name. weather chart. How a snowman. Freeze Tag or Red Light -
many sunny days? Green Light.
Rainy days?
6 7 8 9 Hanukkah begins
10 11 12
Help your child make Blue week, look for Have your child practice Have your child write at sundown Have your child name Together, make cookies
a letter out of Play things that are blue tying his/her shoes or his/her name on a card five things that rhyme to share with your
Dough™. this week. the shoes of someone and display it on the Sing a favorite song with “cat.” family or friends.
else. bedroom door. together.
13 14 Take your child to
the bank and talk
15 16 Library Day
17 Hanukkah ends
18 19
Create a writing center Together, point out the about saving money. Help your child make Give your child two
for your child with letter “B” in print. Look Make a piggy bank an animal out of Look at baby pictures Help your child build simple directions to
notepaper, pens, for things that begin together out of a coffee Play Dough™. together and talk about his/her name using follow; put your book on
markers, and pencils. with the letter “B”. can and start saving how your child has magnetic letters. the table and then brush
coins. changed. your teeth.
20 First Day of
21 22 23 Christmas Eve
24 Christmas Day
25 Kwanzaa begins
26
Winter With your child practice Together, write your
Bake cookies together. the “ABC” song. child’s full name using Help your child practice
Count the number on Read a favorite winter upper and lower case writing the letters of his/
each tray. book to your child. letters. her first name.
27 28 29 30 Library Day
31
Help your child practice Play a matching game Talk together and ask Have your child practice
zipping his/her coat and with your child. “why” questions about his/her phone number Help your child find the
take an outdoor walk potentially dangerous and address. first letter of his/her
with a family member. situations in your home. name on billboards.
BOOKS FOR FOUR & FIVE YEAR OLDS
I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
1 2 3 vs. A B C by Mike Boldt Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
Apple Pie A B C by Alison Murray Alpha Ooops! by Alethea KontisPARENT
SURVEY
Collect materials your child may use for counting and ♥ At play:
• “ See how many scoops of sand it takes to fill a
learning about numbers. plastic cup.”
♥ Items found around the house: • “ Can you put 4 stuffed animals in a row?”
• Blocks
• Egg cartons Involve your child in number and counting activities.
• Coffee cans or k-cups
♥ Play “Simon says.” Say to your child “Simon says clap your
hands 5 times.” “Simon says take 3 steps forward.” Let your
Use number words and point out written numerals as child have a turn being Simon.
you and your child do things together. ♥ Make number cards. Write on index cards the numerals 1, 2, 3,
♥ In the kitchen: 4, 5, one numeral per card. Ask your child to place the correct
number of bottle caps on each card.
• “On this package of rice it says to add 2 cups of water.”
• “I need you to put 3 forks and 3 plates on the table.”
Read, tell stories, sing songs and say nursery rhymes
♥ Grocery shopping:
• “That sign says bananas are 49¢ a pound.”
about numbers and counting with your child.
• “Pick out 4 apples and put them in this bag.” ♥ Read or tell stories to your child such as The Three Bears.
♥ Say nursery rhymes such as “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” and
“Baa Baa Black Sheep” with your child.
♥ Sing songs you remember such as “This Old Man.”
ADDITIONAL IDEAS
Ask your child to look for numbers in your home. Your child may see an
apartment number, time on a microwave, phone, or laptop.
Play “I Spy Numbers” as you and your child go places by car or take a walk
in your neighborhood. Your child may see numbers on auto license plates,
mailboxes, house numbers, and signs with gasoline prices.
Web Site
www.readyrosie.comSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
New Year’s Day
1 2
Make a schedule of
activities for the day and
discuss them together.
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Ask your child to make Help your child choose Using junk mail or Read your child’s Have your child practice Help your child write Play counting games
a castle with his/her two or three play newspaper, have your favorite book to him/her. counting to 10 and letters with their fingers with your child like
building blocks. activities to do today child circle numbers higher. in shaving cream on a “How many windows
and encourage asking between 1 and 5. tray or plate. are in this room?”
for help if needed.
10 11 12 13 Library Day
14 15 16
Have your child pick a Cut the tops off whole Continue teaching your Recite nursery rhymes Together, string Fruity Help your child make
favorite topic and make carrots and help your child his/her home with your child. With your child, read Cheerios™ on yarn to his/her favorite
a list of words that child put them into water address and parent two books today. make a colorful necklace sandwich.
describe the topic. and watch them grow. phone number. with a pattern.
17 Martin Luther
18 19 20 21 22 23
Read a book about King, Jr. Day Play “I Spy Numbers” Using junk mail or Together, point out the Have your child count all Play “dress-up” and
winter with your child. with your child. newspaper, have your letter “C” in print. Look the doors and windows “make believe” with
Ask your child to tell you child circle numbers for things that begin with in your house. your child.
a story. between 6 and 10. the letter “C”.
Have your child
turn the pages as
24 25 26 27 Library Day
28 29 30
you read a story. With your child sing Reminder… Book List!! Take your child to visit Together, count groups Act out a favorite part of
some of your child’s How many titles do you a friend at work and talk Together, match plastic of ten pennies. How a story using puppets,
Count backward 31 favorite songs like have now? about what they do. containers and lids. many groups? dolls or animals with
from 10. “This Old Man.” Read books about what your child.
people do at work.
BOOKS FOR FOUR & FIVE YEAR OLDS
Fish Eyes- A Book You Can Count On by Lois Ehlert Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! by Todd Tarpley
Your Hand in My Hand by Mark Sperring & Britta Teckentrup Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh Count by Denise FlemingTake time each day to listen to and talk with your child. Use pictures to encourage your child to express ideas.
♥ While traveling together: ♥ Collect pictures which show action: pictures of children playing
• Turn off the music in your car as you and your child are together, a family in a car or a team playing a sport, for example.
going places together. Let your child look at the pictures one at a time. Ask your child
• Encourage your child to talk with you about where you are to tell you what he or she thinks is happening in each picture.
going and what might happen when you get there.
• Invite your child to tell you something he or she enjoyed
doing that day. Read or tell stories which have characters
♥ At home together: of different sizes.
• Turn off the TV and music and spend a few minutes talking ♥ Read or tell the story The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
with your child about things which interest him or her.
♥ Have your child show you the pictures of the little Billy Goat,
• Talk with your child about some things each of you did that the middle Billy Goat and the big Billy Goat.
day.
♥ Suggest that your child draw pictures of
the three Billy Goats Gruff. Notice if he
or she draws three sizes of goats.
Involve your child in activities which require
listening and following directions.
♥ Give your child directions that involve two steps. Here are some ADDITIONAL IDEAS
examples:
• Take off your shoes and put them in the closet. Go through your pictures with your child.
• Pick up your plate and put it in the sink. Find pictures of recent events such as a
• Hop to the door and open it. block party, Halloween parade or family
trip. Encourage your child to talk about the
♥ Give your child an object such as a small ball or a bean bag. Ask
your child to do certain things with the object. Here are some people who were there and the things
examples: that happened at the event.
• Put the ball under your chin.
• Put the ball up in the air and then down on the floor.
• Let your child tell you some things to do with the ball.
Web Site
www.kidsource.com/
Encourage him or her to use words such as under, over,
behind, in front of, beside, on top of, etc.Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 Groundhog Day
2 3 4 5 6
Black History Month Together, point out the Tell a favorite winter With your child make Help your child zip up Stack paper cups or
letter “D” in print. Look Together, read a book story. and send homemade his/her jacket, put on blocks together
Dental Health Month for things that begin about animals. Valentine’s Day cards. boots and take a walk matching each other’s
with the letter “D”. together. towers.
7 8 9 10 Library Day
11 Lincoln’s
12 13
Trace and cut heart Put a puzzle together Red week, look for Birthday When driving or
shapes together. with your child. things that are red this Pick out books about walking, talk with
Play “Simon Says” with week. Presidents. Reminder… Book List!! your child about taking
your child. How many titles do you turns left and right.
have now?
Valentine’s Day
14 President’s Day
15 16 17 18 19 20
Washington’s Play a board game or Role-play a pretend Do finger plays together Help your child locate With your child string
Make a special Birthday card game with your argument with your like “Where is pictures of objects in beads together to make
breakfast together. child. child and discuss ways Thumbkin?” and two sizes. a necklace.
Together, sing the to solve it. “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
“ABC” song.
21 22 23 24 Library Day
25 26 Arrange a play
date with one of
27
Give your child two-step Have your child count Read a story to your Together, go outside Read a story and ask your child’s friends.
chores: take off your the number of steps child and then let your and look for shadows. With your child make a your child what his/her Let them play together
coat and hang it on the from his/her bedroom child “read” it to you. paper bag puppet of a favorite part was and and be available to help
hook. to the kitchen. character from a book. why. work out problems or
conflicts if needed.
28
Read a book to your
child. Have your child
retell the story.
BOOKS FOR FOUR & FIVE YEAR OLDS
Big Dog, Little Dog by P.D. Eastman The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown The Winter Visitors by Karel Hayes
A Splendid Friend Indeed by Suzanne BloomPARENT
SURVEY
Collect materials which focus on rhyming Play with rhyming sounds.
and beginning sounds. ♥ Use a collection of objects or pictures of objects such as sock,
rock, hat, cat, soap, rope, spoon and moon. Invite your child to
♥ Collect objects or pictures of things that rhyme. Some examples choose the two objects or pictures that rhyme and name them.
are cat, hat, rock, sock, soap, rope, spoon and moon.
♥ Use objects found around the house - such as a sock, ball, and
♥ Collect magazines and/or catalogs so your child can cut out pictures. hat. Encourage your child to say a word that rhymes with the
chosen object. Accept nonsense words that rhyme as well.
Read rhymes with your child.
Help your child match letters to objects or pictures.
♥ Read Mother Goose Rhymes with your child. Encourage your
child to complete the rhymes with the correct rhyming word, ♥ Using alphabet letter magnets, select one of the objects or
such as “Hickory, Dickory, Dock, The mouse ran up the______ pictures you have collected: a banana, for example, and have
(clock).” your child say the name of the object so he or she can hear the
beginning sound of the word.
♥ Invite your child to say with you his or her favorite rhymes over
and over again. Your child will soon be able to say the rhymes ♥ Ask your child to find the alphabet letter that matches the
alone. beginning sound of the word.
♥ Read simple poems with your child. Encourage your child to ♥ Provide five alphabet letter magnets and let your child choose a
complete the poem with the correct rhyming word. picture from your collection and match it with the beginning
letter sound of the word.
ADDITIONAL IDEAS
Involve your child in creating an alphabet book over several weeks.
Write one letter in upper and lower case at the top of a piece of paper - for
example, write Pp. Provide a magazine or catalog for your child to cut out one
or more pictures that begin with that letter: example, a picture of pizza and
a pig.
Begin with the letters that your child recognizes. When your child has glued
and completed as many pages as he or she can, put the pages in alphabetical
order. Staple or tie the pages together. Encourage your child to name the
pictures representing the letters on each page.
Web Site
www.readyrosie.comSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
National Let your child
1 Read Across
2 3 Talk about how
4 5 6
Nutrition Month paint or draw a picture. America Day Practice saying phone we get from one Together, point out the Together, begin to make
Talk about the lines, (Dr. Seuss Day) number and address place to another. Look letter “F” in print. Look an alphabet book.
Women’s History colors, shapes, patterns, with your child. at a map together and for things that begin
Month and designs your child Read a Dr. Seuss book make a map of the with the letter “F”.
included. with your child inside of your house.
7 Daylight Savings
8 9 Give your child a
measuring cup,
10 Library Day
11 12 13
Using letters, have your Time Begins Play a game with at turkey baster, egg Before completing a Together, point out the
child find items around least 3 family members beater and clean sponge Listen to a story on your story, ask your child “G” in print. Look for
the house beginning with Talk about clocks, time, or friends. Talk about and have water play phone or tablet with what he/she thinks will things beginning with
these letters. and changing the time. taking turns and waiting time in the tub or in the your child. happen. the letter “G”.
for your turn. sink.
14 15 16 St. Patrick’s Day
17 18 19 First Day of
20
Give your child dried Green week, look for Continue teaching your Give your child props to Let your child solve a Spring
beans to pour with things that are green child his/her phone Read two books today. pretend to play “grocery problem independently
measuring cups and this week. number and address. Have your child tell you store” or “restaurant” today when possible Take a walk with your
containers. which is his/her favorite with a friend. and safe. child and look for signs
and why. of spring.
21 22 23 24 Library Day
25 26 Passover begins
at sundown
27
Together, make a Gym Day. Together, Make an obstacle course With your child cut out With your child make a
miniature kite or draw practice jumping, out of chairs to crawl shapes and play a Collect some small items bunny out of paper bags, Practice opposites with
a picture of a kite. hopping on one foot over, under, around. matching game. and ask your child to cotton balls, and other your child (up/down,
and throwing and tell you which group has things you have around in/out, over/under).
catching a ball. more/less. the house.
28 29 30 31
Have your child count Go outdoors and let your Together, point out the Together, practice
the titles on your book child draw on the letter “H” in print. Look throwing and catching
list. sidewalk with chalk. for things that begin a ball.
with the letter “H”.
BOOKS FOR FOUR & FIVE YEAR OLDS
Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming Napping House by Audrey Wood
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie Number One Sam by Greg PizzoliAdd to the materials you began collecting in Include addition and subtraction words as
January - materials that can help your child you talk with your child.
learn more about math. ♥ “You have 5 crackers and I have 3. Do you have more crackers
or less crackers than I do?”
♥ Items found at home:
• Plastic berry baskets that can become cages and caves ♥ “You put 4 crayons in the box. Now add 2 more. How many
• Small boxes that can become garages and barns crayons are in the box?”
♥ Purchased items:
• Small toy cars Tell stories and read books that include math
• Small toy animals ideas, books in which characters are added
or subtracted as the story progresses.
Use the materials you have collected to involve ♥ Read a book such as Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.
As a monkey falls off the bed, ask your child to say how many
your child in addition and subtraction and monkeys are left on the bed.
“more” or “less” activities.
ADDITIONAL IDEAS
♥ Pretend you are a zoo keeper. Put 3 animals in one cage (berry
basket) and 5 animals in another. Say to your child “Show me
the cage that has more animals.” Help your child prepare a
“math-on-the-go” bag or
♥ Add variety to the math games. Use berry baskets as caves for shoe box for travel. Let your
the counting bears and small boxes as garages for cars. child choose which materials
to put in the bag; for
♥ Play domino dots with your child. Place dominoes face down. example, the berry baskets
Each person turns over a domino and counts the dots. Decide and animals one time and
which domino has more dots. Some dominoes will have the the small boxes and cars the
same number of dots. You may need to help your child count next. Your child can play with
the dots on the dominoes. Continue this activity as long as your
the materials in the car, on
child remains interested.
the bus or as you wait in the
♥ Let your child play with the materials on his or her own. You will dentist’s office.
see your child’s creativity and imagination at work.
Web Site
www.ed.gov/pubs/
EarlyMath/activities1.htmlSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 Good Friday
2 3
With your child clap to Give your child three
the rhyme of some Have your child name simple directions to
favorite nursery rhymes. things that go together follow.
(cup/saucer, hammer/
nail).
Passover ends 4 National
Library Week
5 6 7 Library Day 8 Spring Cleaning!
9 10
Easter Reminder…. Book List!! Read a story to your Take your child and a Together, pack away Go to the grocery store.
Pink week, look for Have your child count child and then have your friend to visit a “kid winter clothes. Arrange Pick out fruits and
things that are pink this the titles on your child “read” the same friendly” museum. your child’s closet so vegetables and have
week. booklist. story to you. he/she can reach items your child name the
and put them away.. colors.
11 Week of the
12 13 14 15 16 17
Read a book about Young Child Have your child pick a Together, point out the Work with your child on Help your child learn Have your child zip up
Spring with your child. favorite topic and make letter “L” in print. Look two puzzles. Have your to do a forward roll or his/her jacket. Take your
Look for special a list of words that for things beginning with child tell you which is somersault. child for a walk and look
children’s events at the describe the topic. the letter “L”. his/her favorite and why. for spring flowers.
library this week.
18 19 20 T alk about ways
21 Library Day 22 23 24
Together, sing Five Little Encourage your child to Play a card game we use the earth (water Earth Day Have your child draw Re-pot a house plant
Monkeys. steer a bicycle through a together like War, for drinking, soil for a picture of spring. together or plant seeds
simple obstacle course. Go Fish, or Uno. planting food and trees). Together, take a walk for a new plant.
Have your child draw a and look for signs of
picture of the outdoors. spring.
25 26 27 28 29 Arbor Day
30
Have your child practice Have your child pick a Have your child count Together, point out the Sing a song with your
his/her phone number book about a farm. the trees in your yard letter “M” in print. Look child (BINGO, This Old Tell your child a story
and address. or on your street. for things that begin Man). about trees.
with the letter “M”.
BOOKS FOR FOUR & FIVE YEAR OLDS
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow I Went Walking by Pat Hutchins
Have You Seen My Dragon by Steve Light The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Bear Counts by Karma WilsonPARENT
SURVEY
Collect materials for learning games. Play “shapes” and “sizes” games with your child.
♥ Materials to make: ♥ Find the shapes:
• Cut out 2 circles, 2 squares and 2 triangles, all the same •S
how your child the shapes you have cut out. Help your
color and about the same size. child name each shape: circle, square and triangle.
• Make matching pairs of cards with stickers or pictures of •H
ide one set of shapes somewhere in the room - each
animals. For example; cut cardboard in 3” x 3” squares, shape in a different place.
place a sticker or picture on a card. Make a second card •G
ive your child one shape at a time and have him or her find
exactly like the first one. the matching shape and name it.
♥ Materials to purchase: ♥ Sorting coins by size:
• “Old Maid” and “Go Fish” cards • Memory/matching cards •S how your child a collection of coins: quarters, nickels and dimes.
• Invite your child to put together all the coins that are the
same size.
Involve your child in matching activities. •T ell your child the names of the coins.
♥ Matching game: •A sk your child to show you the coins that are the biggest,
• Start with six pairs of matching cards. Use either the cards middle size and smallest.
you have made or the cards you have purchased.
• Shuffle the cards and lay them face up on the table or on ADDITIONAL IDEAS
the floor.
• Invite your child to find the two cards that match. Cut out a larger circle, square and
triangle from paper grocery bags. Help
• Add additional pairs of cards as your child becomes more
skilled at finding the pairs.
your child cut out smaller
circles, squares and triangles from
construction paper. Suggest that your
Have fun as you play color games with your child. child paste all the small circles on the
large circle, the small squares on the
♥ Play “I Spy Colors” game indoors and outdoors. large square and the small triangles on
• Play the game by spying different colored objects in your the large triangle. Your child may want
home or outdoors. to add drawings to the creation.
• Begin with one color such as red. Say “I spy something
red. Its round and you can throw it. What is it?” (red ball)
• Add another color such as yellow. Say “I spy something Web Site
yellow. You peel it and eat it. What is it?” (banana) www.funbrain.com/kidscenter.html
• Continue playing the game by adding other colors of
objects such as blue, green and orange.Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Take your child
1
outside and play “Simon
Says.” Focus on
exercise activities
(hopping, bending over,
and touching toes).
With your child
2 Teacher
Appreciation
3 Teacher
Appreciation
4 Compare what
5 Library Day
6 7 8
change the words to a Week Day happened yesterday Read with your child Have your child find
familiar song and make and today and discuss With your child create “Brown Bear, Brown things around the house
up a new one; write it Using Rainbow Play school with your things that are the same and deliver a thank you Bear, What Do You that are square, circular
down and sing it again Goldfish™ help your child as the teacher. and different about the card for a teacher or See?” and rectangular.
and again. child create patterns. two days. friend.
Mother’s Day
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Give your child a ball and Have your child name Sing a favorite song Check out puzzles. Together, look through Go outside and help
Together, point out the practice directions such words that rhyme with or do a finger play old magazines and cut your child write his/her
letter “N” in print. Look as “put the ball under “can.” together. out circles, squares and name using sidewalk
for things that begin your chin.” rectangles. chalk.
with the letter “N”.
16 17 18 19 Library Day
20 21 22
Have your child count Black week, look for Talk about things you Reminder… Book List!! After listening to a story, Use this calendar to
from 1 to 10 or as high things that are black can do outdoors in How many titles do you Let your child solve a have your child tell you talk about what will
as he/she can count. this week. spring and have your have now? problem independently what happened first, happen tomorrow or
child tell you what today when possible next and last. later this week.
his/her favorite is. and safe.
Practice drawing
squares, triangles,
23 Visit a playground
and climb
24 25 26 27 28 29
and circles. together. Play a game together Go outside with your With your child read Have your child use their Together, point out the
such as “Memory” or child and kick a ball and act out a story fingers to count small letter “P” in print. Look
Practice the “ABC” 30 Memorial Day 31 “Go Fish.” back and forth. like Five Little Monkeys items – like sunflower for things that begin
song with your Talk with your child Jumping On the Bed. seeds. with the letter “P”.
child. about Memorial Day.
BOOKS FOR FOUR & FIVE YEAR OLDS
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt Mouse Paint by Ellen Stohl Walsh
You Are Not Small by Anna Kang Friendshape by Amy Rosenthal
Spectacular Spots by Susan Stockdale Circle, Square, Moose by Kelly BinghamCollect materials which encourage thinking Play pattern games with your child.
and problem-solving. ♥ Create a movement pattern and ask your child to repeat it. For
example:
♥ Cut out pictures of things that go together and paste each
picture on a separate card. Examples of pictures to collect include: •s
tep, step, jump – step, step, jump (take 2 steps forward,
• shoe and sock • cup and saucer then jump)
• flowers and vase • hammer and nail •c
lap, clap, pat – clap, clap, pat (clap your hands twice,
pat your knees once)
♥ Collect real objects that go together, Examples of things to collect:
• baseball and bat • comb and brush
♥ Start a pattern using objects and ask your child to “Make a
♥ Cut out pictures that your child can put in order and paste each pattern just like this one.”
picture on a separate card. Have sets of 3 picture cards. Here •w
ith eating utensils: fork, spoon, fork, spoon
are examples:
• baby, boy and man •w
ith small colored blocks: red, yellow, red, yellow
• planting flower seeds, flowers growing and picking flowers
Involve your child in putting pictures in order.
Involve your child in discovering things that go together. ♥ Give your child 3 photos of himself or herself at different ages:
baby, toddler and now.
♥ Begin with real objects:
♥ Ask your child to put the pictures in order, starting with the
• Place the real objects you have collected on a table or on picture when he or she was the youngest.
the floor.
• Make sure the objects that go together are separated ♥ Invite your child to put in order a set of the picture cards you
from each other. have made; for example, a baby, girl and woman.
• Ask your child to find the two objects that ♥ Continue this activity with photos or pictures. You might use 3
go together. photos of other family members at different ages.
♥ Invite your child to tell you why
the two objects go together. ADDITIONAL IDEAS
♥ Use pictures next.
Make and purchase puzzles for your child to complete. Cut up greeting cards
♥ Lay the picture cards of things
or the front of a cereal box in puzzle-like shapes. Give your child the cut-up
that go together face up on the pieces to fit back together.
table or floor. Make sure pictures
that go together are separated.
• Ask your child to find the two
pictures that go together and Web Site
tell you why they do. www.freejigsawpuzzles.comSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 Library Day
3 4 5
Celebrate something Sing a favorite song or Go outside and have With your child plant
your child has recently do a finger play Have your child talk your child practice a flower seeds in a pot or
accomplished – make together. with grandparents about step-step-jump and a in the ground.
it fun! what it was like when clap-clap-pat pattern.
they were young.
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
White week, look for Have your child talk Cut up an old greeting Make a picnic lunch Together, “read” a Have your child help fold Start a nursery rhyme
things that are white about the steps in the card in puzzle-like with your child and eat picture book by making clothes and count how and have your child
this week. flower seeds planting shapes. Ask your child it outside. up a story to go along many he/she folded. finish it.
project. to fit the pieces back with the pictures.
together.
13 Flag Day
14 15 16 Library Day
17 18 19
Read a story to your Go to the store and Have your child practice Sign up for your library’s Together, point out the Together, make a
child, pointing to each name the fruits and his/her phone number summer reading Have your child practice letter “R” in print. Look collage of summer
word as you read. vegetables. Have your and address. program. Teach your counting from 1 to 15. for things that begin pictures.
child name the colors, child how to ask for help with the letter “R”.
too. to find a book.
Father’s Day
20 First Day of
Summer
21 22 23 24 25 26
Have your child say Make a new recipe/food Go outside and “paint” Play one of your favorite Go outside and repeat
Have a cook out or Have your child draw a words that rhyme with together and encourage with water on the songs and dance a pattern activity like
picnic dinner. picture of fun things “stop.” your child to try it. sidewalk using a brush together to the beat! step-step-jump.
to do in the summer. or sponge.
27 28 29 30
Arrange a play date Go out to a restaurant, Read with your child Together, count groups
with one of your child’s read over the children’s each day. of ten using cereal like
friends. menu and let your child Cheerios™.
order what he/she would
like to eat.
BOOKS FOR FOUR & FIVE YEAR OLDS
Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura NumeroffCreate with your child an “All About Me and ♥ Include all of the family members living in your home as well as
other family members your child would like to add.
My Family” book. ♥ Ask your child to draw all of the members of his or her family on
♥ Help your child make a book by stapling or tying together with one page of the family section. Write their names under each
yarn blank sheets of paper. figure as your child tells you who each one is.
♥ Help your child create the cover of the book. Use a photo of
your child or a picture he or she draws for the cover page.
Create with your child a section of the book
♥ Let your child decide on the title of the book and write that on
the cover. about your family’s favorite things.
♥ Add your child’s name to the cover as the author of the book. ♥ Go through photos with your child of family events such as
Write or have your child write his or her own name on the cover reunions, outings, and trips. Select some that are favorites. Add
of the book. Include both the first and last name. these to the book. With each photo write what your child has to
say about the event.
♥ Make “Family Favorites” lists. Some examples to include:
Involve your child in adding personal favorite songs, movies, TV shows, places to visit, restaurants,
information to the book. foods, sports.
♥ Let your child use washable markers or crayons to draw
♥ Begin writing a sentence and ask your child to complete it. Add pictures of his or her favorite things. Write on the picture what
to the sentence what your child says; helping as needed, with your child tells you about the drawing.
items such as height and weight. The information should be
correct and complete.
ADDITIONAL IDEAS
♥ Here are some examples of what to include:
• My name is_______________ (include child’s first and last name).
Let your child share the “All
• Sometimes my family calls me__________________ (nickname). About Me and My Family”
• I am a __________ (girl or boy). book and the family tree with
• I was born on_________________and I am___________years old. other family members and with
• My eyes are____________ (color) and my hair is _______(color). neighbors. Suggest that he or
• I am_________inches tall and weigh____________pounds. she “read” what is written in
the book and on the family tree.
Your child may not be able to
Help your child add a family section to the book. actually read all of the words.
With your help he or she can
♥ Add family photos and help your child decide what to write about
each family member in the photo. Here are some examples: recall what is written.
• This is my mother. Her name is____________ (first and last
name) She makes good spaghetti. Web Site
• This is my grandfather. He lives with us. His name is www.behindthename.com
____________.Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Library Day
1 2 3
Ask your child what With your child take
Have your child draw a might happen if it rains a walk and count the
picture using red, white today. stars.
and blue.
Independence
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Day Go outside and play Together, write a story Have your child find Together, point out the Together, note the Have your child use your
hopscotch with your about the flower you things that are his/her letter “S” in print. Look different types of flowers shoes to measure a
Have your child draw a child. planted last month. favorite color. for things that begin in your garden or park. room. How many shoes
picture using red, white with the letter “S”. across?
and blue.
11 12 13 14 Library Day
15 16 17
Together, act out a Create a list of four Have your child draw a Have your child describe With your child pick two Have your child retell a
familiar story and use/ tasks for your child to picture of your family her/his hair and eye Play a card game books to read today. story or event in order
make simple props complete today. and have your child say color. together like War, (first, middle, last).
to go with the story. the first and last names Go Fish, or Uno.
of each person.
18 Work together on
19 20 21 22 23 Talk about how
24
Together, add to your a project or household Have your child describe Have your child count Have your child practice Encourage your child to many family members
“All About Me” book. job. Talk about how your hair and eye color. pennies…count as high writing his/her first and dress himself/herself. you have – how many
working together helps as he/she can. last name. boys, how many girls,
get things done faster who is the oldest, and
and is more fun. who is the youngest.
Parent’s Day
25 26 27 28 Library Day
29 30 31
Have your child name Have your child count Visit a playground Together, point out the Together, sort a handful
Do a favorite activity things that rhyme with the number of steps and climb together. With your child practice letter “T” in print. Look of various coins.
with your child. “pig.” from his/her bed to the identifying opposites for things that begin
bathroom. (in-out, up-down, etc.). with the letter “T”.
BOOKS FOR FOUR & FIVE YEAR OLDS
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant
Happy in Our Skin by Fran Manushkin Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang and Max LangYou can also read
