The Wheels on the Bus for the Felt Board

The Wheels on the Bus is such a classic song, that young children, particularly toddlers, always enjoy. For caregivers, the song is a great one for it can change in its length, by adding or subtracting the verses. In daycare situations, sometimes every verse is sung and maybe sung again to keep the children seated and entertained! And, the felt pieces for the felt board is an additional bonus:)

When I am using these felts and singing the song, I start with the outside of the bus, and then go to the inside of the bus, and place the bus over the seats to finish the song. The children love it!

Felt Advent Calendars

Several years ago, I participated in a Christmas fair with my felt board product. I created these Christmas Advent Calendars and they were a big hit. I am not a sewer, glue is my friend. But, simply browsing through Pinterest and one can find AMAZING Advent Calendars made from felt. I have provided a few at the end of this blog. So whether making them with the sewing machine or not, they are a nice addition for the holidays. I particularly like the hanging felt trees, which children would love to interact with:)



From CraftWhatever Blog with Tutorial



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Polar Bear Felt Board and Penguin Felt Board Ideas



 

 

Polar Bears and Penguins are animals that fit well into a preschool winter curriculum. The following blog entry provides some felt story ideas and links to include into any early childhood setting.

Templates for Polar Bear, Polar Bear by Eric Carle

There Was a Little Penguin by Storytime ABC's

By A Bad Case of Books

Five Little Penguins

By Crafty Chic Mommy

Bear Felt Board Stories

There are so many felt stories that include bears. The following entry provides a handle of suggestions, correlating well if carrying out a Bear theme with children.

Bear Story #1  

To begin with the classic, Brown Bear Brown Bear by Eric Carle. A great book for toddlers to encourage language development and to allow them opportunities to demonstrate which animals they can label. In addition, this story encourages color recognition.

Bear Felt Story # 2   

The Mitten by Jann Brett is such a fun story to include into a winter curriculum or a mitten theme. One great idea I once observed with a library visit was the story told with stuffed animals and a large woolen mitten!

Bear Felt Story #3   

Down By the Bay is a fun song/book which introduces rhyming with children. A great extension is to see whether children can create their own verses.

Further reading: Polar Bears and Penguins

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Jack-o-Lantern Preschool Songs for Halloween

The following felt pieces were created for the classic, Five Little Pumpkins, but I always extend the use of pumpkin felts with the following songs. To begin, turn one or all of the pumpkins around so the face is not showing.


Song #1
To the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

I am a pumpkin, orange and round.
You will find me on the ground.
Sometimes big, and sometimes small,
You will find me when it's fall.
I am a pumpkin, orange and round.
You will find me on the ground.



Song#2
To the tune of Sing a Song of Six Pence

First you take a pumpkin, big and round and fat
Then carve the top off, and that will make the hat
Then you carve the nose out, the mouth and the eyes
Show to the children for a Halloween surprise!

Then of course, turn the felt pumpkin around to finish the song, and finally you could sing

To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a Jack-o-lantern, look at me
I'm as happy as I can be
Put a candle in, and light the light
Don't be frightened, it's Halloween night.


Sometimes, it doesn't take alot of felt pieces to entertain children :)

All About Turtles! Turtle Felt Board Poem and Turtle Preschool Song

Turtles are always a fun topic for young children anytime of the year! The following blog entry provides a poem, song and links for a turtle theme.

Felt Poem: 5 Little Turtles

One turtle with nothing to do
Called for his friend, then there were two.
Two turtles strolling by a tree,
Saw their buddy, now there are three.
Three turtles, a log for their floor,
Made room for a pal, now there are four.
Four turtles warming in the sun,
Saw a fifth friend, and said, "what fun!"

Preschool Song: I Had a Little Turtle

After running circle time with two and three year old children just recently, I have been reminded how much they like the song, "I Had a Little Turtle".

Lyrics:
 
I had a little turtle, his name was Tiny Tim

I put him in the bathtub, to see if he could swim

He drank up all the water,

He ate up all the soap

And now my tiny turtle has a bubble in his throat



Sign for Turtle

I use to sing the song when I taught Baby Signs as I could incorporate the sign for turtle, water, bath and bubbles. With the felt pieces, the signs and the song itself, it keeps the children's interest. I sing it a couple of times, and the older children quickly learn the words.

For further ideas:

Turtle Preschool Theme


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Fall Leaves for the Felt Board

These felt leaves for the felt board can be used as props for singing songs about fall as well as activities to learn concepts about sorting.  Each child can be given a leaf to bring to the board to place into the appropriate category or row at circle time. Afterwards, the children can then be asked to come back to the flannel board to remove a leaf according to the teacher's request, such as "please hand me the biggest red leaf on the board". This latter activity works well as a transition out of circle time. When the leaves are coming onto the board, the teacher can remind the children of the words used for sorting size: big, bigger and biggest as well as small, smaller and smallest. A further step is to ask the children to repeat these words to encourage language development.

Fall Leave Poem:

Five little leaves so bright and gay
Were dancing about a tree one day
The wind came blowing through the town
And one little leave came tumbling down...

Fall Leave Song (To London Bridge:)

Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are falling down, red, yellow, orange and brown

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