FREE Preschool Curriculum, Week 28 – Nutrition
It is crazy to think that we are winding down our preschool year with just three weeks left! This week, the focus will be on nutrition. In fact, it’s the main focus for science where your preschooler will be introduced to the concept of nutrition and end this week with a basic understanding of what the body needs to maintain good health.
At this point, we have introduced our preschoolers to each letter of the alphabet. So, we will be reviewing the alphabet, and introducing vowels going forward. In math we will practice counting to 100, and review odd and even numbers!
Let’s get started on week 28…
Pre-K Homeschool Week 28 Free Resources
Here are some of the free resources I gathered from across the web to pull together our week 28 nutrition theme:
Math Activities for Preschoolers
Practice Counting to 100 by 1’s every day this week
Work on number sequencing and recognition for numbers 1 -20, with this free download from Jenny Thip over on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Build a 3D Shape with playdough (or marshmellows) and toothpicks! We’ve done this activity a few time throughout the year. It’s always been one that Sadie looked forward to.
Review Odd + Even Numbers with this online game from Topmarks Co UK!
Deck of Cards Addition/Subtraction/More or Less Game – remove all face cards, shuffle the deck, each player pulls a card, and work on those addition and subtraction skills. You can even practice more/less. I’d spend 15 minutes max on this activity (all three).
Fine/Gross Motor Skills
Here are some activities to develop your preschoolers fine and gross motor skills this week:
Head to the playground – make sure your preschooler can climb the ladders, pump and maintain momentum on a swing
Jump Rope
Kick a soccer ball back and forth
Work on fine motor skills with this 2 day activity (color, cut and paste) from No Place Like Kindergarten on Teachers Pay Teachers
Language Arts
Each day this week review all letters of the alphabet – name, sound + phonics.
You can do this by laying out a stack of ABC cards, and asking your preschooler to point to the letter, then say the sound and provide a word for that letter.
Review the difference between vowels and consonants – lay out your stack of ABC cards, ask your preschooler to pull out the vowels – A, E, I, O, U – introduce that these letters have two sounds. And, that each word has a vowel in it. Activity Alert: Now its time to play vowel detective. Copy a page from your preschoolers favorite story book, hand them a highlighter, and ask them to find the vowels on the page. You might want to hand your preschooler a magnifying glass to make this activity more fun.
The sight words this week are “up” and “we”. Kindergarten Mom has a great free printable to introduce this sight word to your preschooler.
**Remember to read 1 level B book with your child each dayC
Read Aloud Books:
Good Enough to Eat, Lizzy Rockwell
Dragons Love Tacos, Adam Rubin
Bread + Jam for Frances, Russell Hoban
Oliver’s Vegetables, Vivian French
Gregory the Terrible Eater, Mitchell Sharmat
Nutrition Science/Sensory Activities
The main goal of science this week is for your preschooler to be introduced to the concept of nutrition and leave with a basic understanding of what the body needs to maintain good health – a balanced diet, good sleep, exercise, and a time for rest.
A great place to start talking about nutrition with your preschooler is by reviewing the 5 food groups, and MyPlate has loads of resources for you to start out with.
Start by printing out the five food groups poster, and Five Food groups hand out (this one is for you). Discuss with your little one the different food groups. Then, have your child draw a picture of their favorite meal. Just make sure they have an element from each section of the five food groups. You might consider adding your preschoolers favorite meal to your weekly shopping list, and preparing it together too!
Show your child how to build a snack using all of the five food groups. Here’s an example:
Head: Tortilla (carbs)
Face: Peanut Butter (protein)
Eyes: Sunflower Seeds (fats)
Nose and Mouth: Apple Slices (vitamins and minerals)
Print out the food cards on MyPlate, and build an imaginary meal from three ingredients – protein, fruit/vegetable, and grains/carbohydrates.
Have your preschooler help you make a salad one night for dinner!
If you are looking to introduce your preschooler to a more holistic approach to nutrition, please feel free to reach out to me by commenting below! As a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, I can tell you with certainty that whole body nutrition is about more than the food on our plate.
Music
Nutrition Inspired Crafts and Games!
Going on a picnic ball toss – Toss the ball between players, the person throwing the ball says “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing – apples!”, the next person says, “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing bread!”. Continue to work your way through the alphabet.
Egg and Spoon Race
Field Trip
Have a pretend picnic or work together to plan a real one!
