I am really enjoying the weekly #PLAYfulpreschool posts with my fellow preschool parents and teachers! There have been so many great ideas for themes related to apples, family, farm, and harvest. This week the theme is fall colors, and I’m sharing a simple (but very meaningful) modeled writing activity.
Materials
White chart paper
Markers in fall colors
Crayons in fall colors
Directions
This can be done in a whole group setting or in small groups. I chose to call the children over to me in groups of 4 or 5 at a time. Either way, grab the supplies and the kiddos and get started! 🙂
Talk about the fall season and what that means in your area. Where I live, it means cooler temperatures, leaves changing colors and falling off the trees. Ask what colors are seen in nature during the fall. Tell the children that you’re going to work together to create charts all about fall colors!
Choose one color to start with, then craft a simple sentence to write. I went with the sentence frame “I see (color).” Write the sentence, and encourage the children to say the words with you. I usually say, “I don’t want to forget any words so you need to help me!” If your child is learning Spanish, add a simple Spanish translation, “Veo (color).”
Once the words are written, brainstorm things that are the color you’ve written about. Using the appropriately colored crayon, have each child draw at least one item on the chart paper. Some children might prefer to just observe, and that’s okay too.
Be sure to think aloud throughout the entire modeled writing process. This way, the children are exposed to the thought processes involved in writing. It feels silly at first, I know, but it teaches so very much!
The Learning
This basic modeled writing activity helped teach:
- Colors (in English and Spanish)
- High frequency words
- We read left to right, top to bottom
- A period ends a sentence, telling us to stop reading
- Words have meaning
- A word goes from space to space (and spaces are needed between words)
- Letter-sound correspondence
- Pictures need to match written words
Have you tried shared or modeled writing with your children/students recently? How did it go? As always, I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
More from the #PLAYfulpreschool team
For More FALL COLOR Themed Preschool Activities from the PLAYful Preschool Education Team:
Fall Colors Water Mixing by Still Playing School
Exploring Fall Colors With Gourds by Little Bins For Little Hands
Why Leaves Change Colors by The Preschool Toolbox Blog
Learning With Preschool Songs: The Leaves of the Trees by Growing Book by Book
DIY Fall Color Word Book by The Educators’ Spin On It
Learning Number Words with Fall Colored Leaves by Tiny Tots Adventures
Fall Tree Number Matching by Mom Inspired Life
Colors of Fall Sensory Bin by Life Over C’s
Foot Painting The Fall Colours by Learning to Walk
Exploring Fall Colors in Paint by Powerful Mothering
Autumn Colours Plant Science at Rainy Day Mum
Make Your Own Fall Potpourri at Capri + 3
Join us tonight at 9:00 EST for a live Google Hangout where we share what activities we are doing for the fall color theme in our homes and classrooms.
Amanda says
October 1, 2014 at 6:53 amI love how you used a giant sheet and encouraged her to write in her own way! I should be doing this with my preschooler a couple times a week!
Sarah says
October 1, 2014 at 7:58 amI love how simple and thoughtful this activity is! I bet my son would love it since he really likes to talk out ideas and brainstorm possible ideas!
Jodie @ Growing Book by Book says
October 1, 2014 at 8:18 amModeled writing and shared writing were some of my favorite times when I was in the classroom. Now, I get to experience these great learning experiences with my own children at home. I love working on Spanish at the same time!
Danielle says
October 1, 2014 at 8:22 amI really like this activity and I know my son would too! We are definitely doing this!
Theresa says
October 1, 2014 at 8:57 amI like that this activity promotes literacy and allows children to see that their own pictures can be described in sentences. It gives them a sense of pride in their own contributions to the chart.
Cerys from Rainy Day Mum says
October 1, 2014 at 2:55 pmWhat a fantastic activity I will have to give this a go with T this week, loving the Spanish input as well (I wish they would start a language earlier in school they wait till the children are 8 or 9) but luckily I speak Spanish so feel some Spanish learning coming on as well.
Nicolette Roux says
October 3, 2014 at 6:50 amLove the added spanish!
The Preschool Toolbox says
October 3, 2014 at 9:03 pmI love this activity! It encourages kids to think and relate to things they already know.:) I love that you added that some kids may just want to observe. Some of our own children like to observe for quite awhile before they are comfortable DOING. Great activity for the COLORS THEME.
Kim says
October 3, 2014 at 10:59 pmI love how you incorporated both languages into the writing practice. Great exposure to both alphabets!
Alecia says
October 4, 2014 at 12:13 pmI love how simple and effective this activity is. I would probably do German as opposed to Spanish with J. I cannot wait until her fine motor skills improve some more. Thanks for sharing this.