It's Mhine4ever!

 Age Group: 3–5 years old

Duration: 1 week
Theme Focus: Discovering apples — their colors, taste, parts, and uses.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the week, children will be able to:

• Identify an apple and its basic parts (skin, flesh, seeds, stem).

• Recognize apple colors (red, green, yellow).

• Develop fine motor skills through apple-related crafts and activities.

• Explore sensory experiences (taste, touch, smell).

• Engage in songs, stories, and counting activities related to apples.

Weekly Overview

Learning Centers (Open Throughout the Week)

• Dramatic Play: Apple stand or “farmer’s market.”

• Sensory Bin: Dried apple slices, apple-scented playdough, apple toys.

• Block Area: Build an apple orchard using trees and red blocks.

• Writing Center: Apple tracing sheets and alphabet “A” activities.

• Library Corner: Apple-themed books (fiction and nonfiction).

Songs and Rhymes

1. 🍏 “Way Up High in the Apple Tree”

2. 🍎 “Apples and Bananas”

3. 🍏 “A Is for Apple” Alphabet Song

4. 🍎 “Five Red Apples” Counting Song

Materials Needed

• Real apples (red, green, yellow)

• Paint, paper plates, tissue paper

• Construction paper, glue, scissors

• Apple charts and counting cards

• Bowls, spoons (for taste test and applesauce)

• Storybooks: “Ten Apples Up on Top,” “The Apple Pie Tree,” “Apple Trouble.”

🎯 Educational Goals / Objectifs éducatifs

EN:

• Develop sensory and fine motor skills

• Introduce color, texture, and shape recognition

• Encourage sorting, counting, and creativity

• Foster environmental awareness and care

FR :

• Développer les habiletés sensorielles et la motricité fine

• Introduire la reconnaissance des couleurs, textures et formes

• Encourager le tri, le comptage et la créativité

• Favoriser la sensibilisation et le respect de l’environnement

🧑‍🎓 Ages 4–5 years / Âges 4 à 5 ans

EN:
Monday: Introduce recycling symbols and make a collage with bottle caps and cardboard.
Tuesday: Discuss how paper is made and recycled; make a paper mosaic.
Wednesday: Create a “can drum set” and explore rhythm.
Thursday: Learn why reusable bags help the planet and design a logo for “Our Eco Team.”
Friday: Role-play as “Recycling Heroes” collecting items around the room.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FR :

Lundi : Présenter les symboles du recyclage et créer un collage avec des bouchons et du carton.
Mardi : Discuter de la fabrication et du recyclage du papier; créer une mosaïque en papier.
Mercredi : Créer une « batterie de boîtes » et explorer le rythme.
Jeudi : Apprendre pourquoi les sacs réutilisables aident la planète et créer un logo pour « Notre équipe écolo ».
Vendredi : Jeu de rôle en « Héros du recyclage » ramassant des objets dans la pièce.

Explorer les cinq sens : Un plan de leçon hebdomadaire pour les tout-petits

By / Par: Maribel Janohan

1. Infants (6–18 Months) / Nourrissons (6 à 18 mois)

2. Toddlers (18 Months–2 Years) / Tout-petits (18 mois à 2 ans)

3. Preschoolers (4–5 Years Old) / Préscolaires (4 à 5 ans)

Why This Matters / Pourquoi c’est important

Explorer les cinq sens : Un plan de leçon hebdomadaire pour les tout-petits

By / Par: Maribel Janohan

English	Français
Children learn about their world through their senses. From the moment they are born, they begin exploring sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. As educators, parents, and caregivers, we can nurture this natural curiosity by creating activities that stimulate each sense while promoting social, emotional, and cognitive growth.	Les enfants découvrent le monde grâce à leurs sens. Dès leur naissance, ils commencent à explorer les images, les sons, les odeurs, les goûts et les textures. En tant qu’éducateurs, parents et aidants, nous pouvons encourager cette curiosité naturelle en créant des activités qui stimulent chaque sens tout en favorisant le développement social, émotionnel et cognitif.
This week’s theme — Exploring the Five Senses — is designed for three different age groups: Infants (6–18 months), Toddlers (18 months–2 years), and Preschoolers (4–5 years old). Each daily activity is developmentally appropriate and focuses on one of the five senses.	Le thème de cette semaine — Explorer les cinq sens — est conçu pour trois groupes d’âge : Nourrissons (6 à 18 mois), Tout-petits (18 mois à 2 ans) et Préscolaires (4 à 5 ans). Chaque activité quotidienne est adaptée au développement de l’enfant et met l’accent sur l’un des cinq sens.

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1. Infants (6–18 Months) / Nourrissons (6 à 18 mois)

English	Français
Learning Goals: Introduce sensory experiences through safe exploration, encourage bonding and interaction, support early motor skills and curiosity.	Objectifs d’apprentissage : Introduire des expériences sensorielles sûres, favoriser les liens et les interactions, soutenir le développement moteur précoce et la curiosité.
Monday – Touch: Texture Basket Exploration – Soft cloth, rubber ball, and fuzzy toy for tactile play while the caregiver describes each texture.	Lundi – Le toucher : Panier de textures – Tissu doux, balle en caoutchouc, jouet en peluche, avec description des textures par l’adulte.
Tuesday – Sight: Light & Shadow Play – Shine a flashlight on the wall, letting babies watch moving shadows.	Mardi – La vue : Jeu de lumière et d’ombres – Utiliser une lampe de poche pour projeter des ombres en mouvement sur le mur.
Wednesday – Hearing: Rattle & Music Time – Offer different rattles and gentle music, encouraging clapping or shaking.	Mercredi – L’ouïe : Hochets et musique – Proposer différents hochets et de la musique douce ; encourager à taper des mains ou agiter.
Thursday – Smell: Scent Discovery – Present mild scents like vanilla or orange peel for gentle sniffing.	Jeudi – L’odorat : Découverte des odeurs – Présenter des odeurs légères comme la vanille ou l’écorce d’orange.
Friday – Taste: Fruit Purée Sampling – Safe fruit purées such as banana or pear, describing each flavor.	Vendredi – Le goût : Dégustation de purées de fruits – Purées de banane ou de poire, avec description des saveurs.

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2. Toddlers (18 Months–2 Years) / Tout-petits (18 mois à 2 ans)

English	Français
Learning Goals: Build vocabulary related to the senses, encourage choice-making and simple problem-solving, enhance coordination and social skills.	Objectifs d’apprentissage : Enrichir le vocabulaire lié aux sens, encourager la prise de décision et la résolution simple de problèmes, améliorer la coordination et les interactions sociales.
Monday – Touch: Texture Art – Stick fabric, sandpaper, and foil onto cardboard for feeling and naming.	Lundi – Le toucher : Art des textures – Coller du tissu, du papier sablé et du papier aluminium sur un carton pour les sentir et les nommer.
Tuesday – Sight: Color Hunt – Look for red, blue, and yellow objects in the classroom.	Mardi – La vue : Chasse aux couleurs – Rechercher des objets rouges, bleus et jaunes dans la classe.
Wednesday – Hearing: Animal Sound Guess – Play animal sounds and let children match them to pictures.	Mercredi – L’ouïe : Deviner les sons d’animaux – Faire écouter des sons et associer à l’image correspondante.
Thursday – Smell: Herb & Spice Jars – Smell cinnamon, basil, and lemon peel; talk about favorites.	Jeudi – L’odorat : Pots d’herbes et d’épices – Sentir la cannelle, le basilic et l’écorce de citron ; parler des préférences.
Friday – Taste: Mini Snack Chef – Taste safe snacks like crackers, apple slices, and cheese, talking about “sweet,” “salty,” and “crunchy.”	Vendredi – Le goût : Mini chef cuisinier – Goûter des aliments sécuritaires comme des craquelins, des tranches de pomme et du fromage ; discuter du “sucré”, “salé” et “croquant”.

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3. Preschoolers (4–5 Years Old) / Préscolaires (4 à 5 ans)

English	Français
Learning Goals: Identify and name all five senses, make connections between senses and experiences, strengthen descriptive language and observation skills.	Objectifs d’apprentissage : Identifier et nommer les cinq sens, faire des liens entre les sens et les expériences vécues, renforcer le langage descriptif et les compétences d’observation.
Monday – Touch: Mystery Box Challenge – Guess hidden objects using only touch.	Lundi – Le toucher : Boîte mystère – Deviner les objets cachés en utilisant uniquement le toucher.
Tuesday – Sight: I Spy Nature Walk – Spot shapes, colors, and patterns outside.	Mardi – La vue : Promenade “Je vois” – Observer les formes, les couleurs et les motifs à l’extérieur.
Wednesday – Hearing: Sound Sorting Game – Sort sounds into “indoor” and “outdoor” categories.	Mercredi – L’ouïe : Jeu de tri des sons – Classer les sons en “intérieur” et “extérieur”.
Thursday – Smell: Smell Lab – Explore scents like coffee beans, lemon, and mint, then draw or describe favorites.	Jeudi – L’odorat : Laboratoire des odeurs – Explorer des senteurs comme les grains de café, le citron et la menthe, puis dessiner ou décrire les préférées.
Friday – Taste: Taste Test Experiment – Try sweet, sour, salty, and bitter foods (safe for children) and chart results together.	Vendredi – Le goût : Expérience de dégustation – Essayer des saveurs sucrées, acides, salées et amères (versions sûres pour enfants) et créer un tableau de résultats.

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Why This Matters / Pourquoi c’est important

English	Français
Introducing the five senses in playful, hands-on ways helps children develop awareness of their bodies and surroundings. It boosts language skills, builds problem-solving abilities, and supports emotional expression. Whether at home or in the classroom, these activities create joyful learning moments that last a lifetime.	Introduire les cinq sens de manière ludique et interactive aide les enfants à mieux connaître leur corps et leur environnement. Cela développe le langage, la capacité à résoudre des problèmes et l’expression émotionnelle. Que ce soit à la maison ou à l’école, ces activités créent des moments d’apprentissage joyeux qui laissent de beaux souvenirs.

Children learn about their world through their senses. From the moment they are born, they begin exploring sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. As educators, parents, and caregivers, we can nurture this natural curiosity by creating activities that stimulate each sense while promoting social, emotional, and cognitive growth.

Each daily activity is developmentally appropriate and focuses on one of the five senses.

Learning Goals:

• Introduce sensory experiences through safe exploration.

• Encourage bonding and social interaction.

• Develop early motor skills and curiosity.

Theme: It’s All About Me – Day 5

Ideal For: Preschoolers (Ages 4–5)
Focus: Self-expression, confidence building, early literacy

💡 Why This Activity Matters

After spending a week exploring their names, bodies, emotions, and families, preschoolers end the “It’s All About Me” theme by celebrating their favorites and dreams. This reflective activity encourages children to express what they love and imagine who they might become—with a colorful and personal All About Me Booklet they create and share.

It’s a wonderful keepsake and a joyful way to close the week with connection, laughter, and confidence.

📘 Activity: All About Me Booklet

Objective:
Children will identify and communicate their likes, interests, and goals through a personalized booklet.

✏️ Materials You’ll Need:

• Printable “All About Me” worksheet pages or folded/stapled blank paper

• Crayons, markers, pencils

• Optional: glue, family photos, or stickers

• A mirror for self-portrait page (optional)

• A circle-time sharing space

📄 Suggested Pages to Include

Each child completes a booklet with prompts like:

• My name is...

• I am ___ years old.

• My favorite color is...

• I love to eat...

• My favorite animal is...

• When I grow up, I want to be...

• This is me! (Draw a self-portrait)

You can print ready-made templates or let kids write/draw on blank pages.

🧠 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Circle Time Warm-Up

Start with fun questions:

“What’s your favorite color?”
“Do you have a favorite food or toy?”
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Let kids take turns answering aloud. This warms them up for the booklet activity.

2. Booklet Creation

Pass out the pages or folded paper booklets. Go through each page one at a time:

• Assist with writing if needed (especially for emerging writers).

• Let children illustrate their answers.

• Encourage creative responses! (E.g., “My favorite animal is a dragon.”)

Tip: Use mirrors to help them draw their self-portrait on the final page.

3. Sharing in Circle Time

Once finished, invite children to share one or two pages from their booklets with the class:

“My name is Marco. I love pizza. When I grow up, I want to be a firefighter.”

Celebrate each child’s work with applause and positive comments.

📚 Book Pairings

• I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont

• All About Me! by Dr. Seuss (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library)

• Marvelous Me: Inside and Out by Lisa Bullard

✅ What Children Learn

• Self-awareness and expression

• Confidence in speaking

• Pre-writing and drawing skills

• Appreciation for what makes them unique

This lesson is also a gentle introduction to goal-setting and dreaming big!

🎉 Bonus Ideas

• Display booklets on a classroom bulletin board called “Our Favorites!”

• Create a digital version to email to parents or include in learning portfolios

• Host a mini celebration with certificates like “Most Creative” or “Biggest Dreamer”

🧺 Clean-Up Tip

Use this as a teachable moment:

“Just like we care for our favorite things, we care for our space too!”
Assign simple jobs like stacking booklets or collecting crayons.

💬 Final Thoughts

The All About Me Booklet is more than just a fun craft—it’s a reflection of each child’s identity, curiosity, and dreams. It gives them a voice, builds their confidence, and shows them that their likes and choices matter.

By the end of this week, children walk away knowing:
🎉 I am unique.
🎨 I am creative.
👧 And I matter.