Week 26 - Valentine's Day - 3rd Week of February

Items Needed: Bible
Sandpaper Number: 8
Sandpaper Letter: s
Books: My "S" Book, Big Thoughts for Little People, God Gave Us Love, Zuzu's Wishing Cake, My Eight Book, The Jesus Book
CD-Rom: Charlie Church Mouse Preschool

Worksheets: s, 8, First and Last Name, Dot-to-Dot, 1 1/2" tracing paper, Snake Characters
Activities: Valentines, soft ball, Play Dough, Block Activity, items to cook, play dough or pipe cleaners, Valentine's Day ideas (see below)
Letter S Activity, Number 8 Poster

Character Trait: Love
Definition: Taking care of others, kindness, patience, and forgiveness
Opposite: Not liking, selfishness
Big Thoughts for Little People: Letter S

Bible Story: God sending Jesus – Christ’s birth
Scripture: Luke 2
The Beginner's Bible: pg 271
My Story Bible: pg 62-63
Through the Bible Felt: pg 153-158

Verse: John 3:16a - For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.

Bible Song: God Loves Kids
Tune: “Three Blind Mice”
God loves kids (repeat 4x)
He loves me more than I can know (cross arms over chest, point to self, point to head)
I don’t know why He loves me so (shake head and shrug)
I guess I’ll never, ever know (cross hands in front)
Why God loves kids (point up for God, cross arms over chest, point to self)

Information: Write first and last name on tracing paper

Math: Sequencing – simple directions

Number: 8
Make an ‘S’ but do not wait. Go back up and close the gate.

Letter: s
s - snake around

Ideas:
• Matching – using inexpensive or Valentine cards that you received, cut the Valentines in half using different cutting patterns. Have your child correctly match the Valentines.

• Letter & Number Ideas:
Weeks 25-26 focus on the snake characters. Start by creating the characters using play dough snakes or pipe cleaners and move to writing the characters on 1 1/2" tracing paper with yellow lines and green and red dots as a guide. Use the Snake Characters worksheet to show the progression of the letters and numbers. Be sure to say the Letter Formation Chant or Number Rhyme as the child creates each character.

- Wait to attempt writing an "8" after the child is secure in writing an "S." Use the Number Rhymes to help write the "8."

• ABCJLM Valentine's Day Activities
Discuss the meaning of Valentine’s Day

• Sequencing – Simple Directions
- Make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, cupcakes, pizza, etc. and talk about order. Afterwards, have your child recall the steps in correct order.
- Do a number Dot-to-Dot Worksheet 1-20 (sequencing numbers)

• Work on your child writing their first and last name using a capital letter on the first letter only. If needed, create worksheets using downloadable font or customized worksheets along with the 1 1/2" tracing paper.

• Act out the Bible story using the My Story Bible (pg 62-63). Have the child be the innkeeper.

• Play the "Wise Men" adventure and use the coloring sheet on the Charlie Church Mouse Preschool Cd-Rom. Read more...

• Read
   God Gave Us Love by Lisa Tawn Bergren - Little Cub questions why we must love others, even the seemingly unlovable. Available at ChristianBook.com or Amazon
Zuzu's Wishing Cake by Linda Michelin - This book gives examples of how your child can reach out to other children and show love - even children of a different nationality. Also, the book shows sequential direction on how to make a few of crafts.
The Jesus Book - Read the following pages to help your child better understand the birth of Christ.
      pages 10-13 Who is Jesus?
      page 55 - When was Jesus born? (turn back to pages 50-53 to view a Bible time line)
      page 68 - Where was Jesus born?
      page 78 - Why did Mary name her baby Jesus?

• Fine Motor Skills:
Using play dough, make a snake to form an “S” and then make an "8."