Week 1 - 4th Week of August
Items Needed: Bible
Sandpaper Number: 1
Sandpaper Letters: l, i, T, t, I, Letters in First Name
Colors: Black, White, Blue, Brown, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple
Books: The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners
Worksheets: l, i, T, t, I, 1 (see below), Line Characters, Visual Perception Worksheets, 1 1/2" tracing paper, Building with Colors Template
Games: Colorama
Videos: Boz Colors and Shapes, Boz: B-O-Z's and 1-2-3's
Activities: Water in a bucket, sponge, sidewalk chalk, foods to represent many colors, make homemade ice cream (see below), piece of paper, short and long popsicle sticks
Letter T Activity, Letter I Activity, Number 1 Poster
Character Trait: Respect
Definition: Being kind; treating other people the way you want to be treated
Opposite: Not polite, rude
Big Thoughts for Little People: Letter U
Bible Story: Paul & Silas in Jail – respect towards the jailer
Scripture: Acts 16:22-34
The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes
The Beginner's Bible
Through the Bible Felt: pg 251
Verse: I Peter 2:17 - Show proper respect to everyone.
Tune: “Old McDonald”
1st Peter 2:17, show proper respect
Show proper respect to everyone
1st Peter 2:17
With a thank you here, and a please there
Excuse me, Excuse me, yes ma'am, yes sir
Show proper respect to everyone
1st Peter 2:17
Bible Song: B-I-B-L-E (Traditional)
The B-I-B-L-E (make book with hands)
Yes, that’s the book for me (nod “yes”)
I stand alone on the Word of God (pretend to stand firm)
The B-I-B-L-E
Bible! (shout)
Information: First name - tracing with sandpaper letters
Colors: Black, White, Blue, Brown, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple
Number: 1
Straight down and then you’re done. That’s the way to make a one!
Letters: l, i, T, t, I
l - line
i - down and dot
T - body and roof
t - down and cross
I - body, roof, floor
Ideas:
• Respect
- Discuss how to show respect:
Using good manners – saying please, thank you, excuse me.
Not hitting or hurting others.
Talking about your problems instead of just reacting.
Treat others as you want to be treated.
• The "Who and How" Chart - This would be a great family activity to help the children focus on respect. From Value Parenting (reprinted with permission)
Set up a chart like the one illustrated below. Using the left-hand column, ask children to list the categories of people and things that deserve respect. As you list them one at a time, discuss how respect for that person or thing can be effectively given. (E.g., for "Mother": by "answering respectfully," "by obeying her," "showing appreciation for what she does," "opening door," "holding her chair," etc. For "Nature": by "preserving and protecting," "clearing and cultivating," etc. For "Self": by "avoiding self-criticism," "thinking about positive attributes," etc.) Keep the list building as long as you can keep children's interest.
Respect Chart
WHO HOW
Mommy Obey Her
Talk Respectfully
Nature
Self
• Letter & Number Ideas:
If your child finished the 3 Year Curriculum, they learned to trace each letter and number with their finger using the correct formation as well as write their first name using capital letters. The 4 Year Curriculum focuses on writing all characters using a logical formation progression.
If you are new to ABCJLM, please read Learning to Write to understand how to help your child learn to write their letters and numbers. Here are the five levels of learning handwriting skills.
1 - Trace each letter or number on sandpaper. Say the Letter Formation Chant or Number Rhyme as the child traces each character.
2 - Work on Pre-writing Worksheets to help the child learn control and the basic formations of all letters and numbers.
3 - Create 3" characters using yellow lines and green and red dots.
4 - Place the letters and numbers on tracing paper using yellow lines and green and red dots. Start with lines 1 1/2" wide.
5 - Work on keeping the letters uniform by using the Tracing Worksheets.
In the 4 Year Lesson Plans, the character formation is reviewed with sandpaper letters and numbers. Then the characters are created using popsicle sticks, play dough, or pipe cleaners before being placed on tracing paper. If this is not an appropriate level for your child, begin where he/she can be successful. If in doubt, start a level below where you think.
Weeks 1-4 focus on "straight-line letters" - characters made with straight lines only. Start by creating the characters using short and long popsicle sticks 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 Line 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.
• Name:
In the 4 Year Curriculum, the child will learn how to write their first and last name using a capital letter for the first letter only. This week starts the child learning (reviewing) the formation of each letter using sandpaper letters. Lay the letters in order so the child begins to think of the letters as a "word" instead of individual letters. If letters are doubled, you may need to make extra sandpaper letters.
-Silly Lilly Remembers Her Manners
-Gilbert the Goat Learns Respect
-Gilbert Goes Visiting
• Calendar Activity - This is an activity that would be a great start to each day to reinforce numbers, days of the week, and months of the year.
• Phonics - Remember to focus on the phonetic sound of each letter as your child is writing the characters. Read more...
• Colors:
-Eat and discuss foods that represent many colors (green beans, bananas, carrots, chocolate chip cookies, etc.)
-Play Colorama
• Building with Colors
• Family Fun - Create a new family tradition of making homemade ice cream. Correlate with the "Building with Colors" activity.
- Ice Cream in a Bag - Video Directions, Directions
- Ice Cream in a Coffee Can - Directions
• Read and View: 
Big Thoughts for Little People: ABC's to Help You Grow - This is a book that I highly suggest that you use throughout the curriculum to learn about Jesus and character traits, as well as work on the ABC's and phonetic sounds. This is one of the few books that I have given a 5 rating.
The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners
• Fine Motor Skill:
Write "My Family" on the bottom of a blank piece of paper. Demonstrate how to draw your family. Use simple shapes and explain what you are doing as you draw. Let your child tell you what to draw. Your child will be drawing their family periodically throughout the curriculum. This demonstration helps prepare them for this activity. Later in the week, give your child a chance to draw his/her family.
• Gross Motor Skill:
Play "Put the Fire Out" - an activity that involves sidewalk chalk, water in a bucket, and a sponge
• Visual Perception Skill:
Worksheets
• Be sure to look over the Development Guide Between Ages 4 & 5 and Development Guide Between Ages 5 & 6 so that you are familiar with developmental milestones for your child's age.
