Learning Fables

It’s August! The new theme for this month is Fables and Folktales. This week has been fun learning Aesop fables. One of our favorites so far was the Lion and the Mouse. I love the morals at the end of each of the stories. We talk about what they mean and how it can apply to us. In “The Lion and the Mouse” the moral of the story is that no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. We talked about some kind acts that we could do this year as the new school year starts. My girls decided that saying ‘hi’ and inviting the other kids to play with them could be kind. They were hoping that by doing this, they would make lots of new friends.

This week was full of math games and reading games. We practiced counting our numbers by using a number spinner sent from Mother Goose Time. We spun the spinner, identified that number, then counted that many sticks. We used the sticks to make shapes, letters, and designs. We held the sticks together with play dough.

We explored different ways to write our letters. The girls spread shaving cream on tinfoil. Using tinfoil was an awesome suggestion from Mother Goose Time. The shaving cream cleaned up a lot easier and a lot faster. The girls practiced writing letters, drawing shapes, and just writing straight/curvy lines. It was also a good texture activity.

We used finger paint to make ants on the letter “A”. Having the students make ants on the letter ‘a’ will hopefully help them make the connection that the word ‘ant’ starts with the letter ‘a’. They used the paint to practice writing the letter ‘A’ all over the sides of the paper.

Watching the students play and learn at the same time gives me such joy. I often find students trying to play learning games during their free time. They will practice counting, making shapes, and even sorting colors without being asked because they think the “game” is fun. I personally feel that learning through play gives the kids more opportunity to learn and practice those skills they have already learned.

Next week, we will learn a whole new set of Aesop Fables. I can’t wait to see what ideas the kids will come up with for how to apply the morals to their own life. It should be fun!

** I receive curriculum from Mother Goose Time for honest and authentic stories resulting from my daily experiences using the curriculum. This is my 3rd year using Mother Goose Time, and I am pleased to promote quality educational learning experiences through play with Mother Goose Time!