Grown-Up Goals. Kid-Sized Joy.
Learning in disguise.
"Great Green G" Gardens, Grass, and Goats.
Day 1: G is for Garden
Focus: Introducing the letter shape and the hard /g/ sound.
Lesson: Introduce the letter G. Explain that uppercase G looks like a "C" with a little shelf. Practice the "g-g-g" sound in the back of your throat.
Craft: Garden Collage. Use seed packets, brown paper for "dirt," and green paper strips for stems to build a paper garden.
Activity: Planting Goldilocks Seeds. Give each child a small pot to plant a quick-growing seed (like grass or beans). Talk about what a Garden needs: Ground, sun, and water.
Books to Read:
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle.
Song: "The Garden Song."
Tune: Original / Inch by Inch
Inch by inch, row by row,
Gonna make this garden grow. (Pretend to dig with a small shovel)
All it takes is a rake and a hoe, And a piece of fertile ground.
Inch by inch, row by row, Someone bless these seeds I sow. (Pretend to drop seeds in a line)
Someone warm them from below, 'Til the rain comes tumbling down. (Wiggle fingers downward like rain)
Snack: Green Grapes and Goldfish crackers.
Day 2: G is for Goat
Focus: Animal sounds and balance.
Lesson: Discuss goats and how they love to climb and "G-G-Guzzle" their food.
Craft: Paper Cup Goats. Turn a white paper cup upside down. Add construction paper horns and a cotton ball "goatee" under the chin.
Activity: Goat Balance. Use your backyard's outdoor equipment or a low beam. Have the children practice "climbing" and balancing like mountain goats.
Books to Read:
The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Song: "The Gray Goat" (Tune: The Gray Squirrel).
This adaptation turns the popular "Gray Squirrel" song into a fun, active movement for your Goat Day. It’s especially great for practicing the hard /g/ sound and developing gross motor coordination as the kids mimic a goat's movements.
Gray goat, gray goat, Shake your bushy beard! (Put your hand under your chin and wiggle it like a goatee)
Gray goat, gray goat, Shake your bushy beard! (Wiggle your hand under your chin again)
Climb up on the bumpy rocks, (March in place with high knees as if climbing)
Nibble on some garden phlox! (Make a "chomping" motion with your hands or mouth)
Gray goat, gray goat, Shake your bushy beard! (Wiggle your chin "beard" one last time)
Classroom Connection
Since you are focusing on the Letter G, you can use this song to lead into your outdoor Goat Balance activity in the backyard.
G-G-Goat: Emphasize the hard "G" every time you sing "Goat."
G-G-Garden: Discuss how goats love to eat things in the Garden (even if they aren't supposed to!).
G-G-Gray: Use this as a color-matching moment—can the children find anything Gray in the classroom or outside to match the goat?
Teaching Tip: If you want to vary the song, you can change the color to match the children's outfits for the day. For example: "White goat, white goat, shake your bushy beard!" or "Brown goat, brown goat..."
Snack: Graham crackers with "Goat cheese" (or cream cheese) and Green apple slices.
Day 3: G is for Grass & Green
Focus: Color recognition and sensory textures.
Lesson: Go outside and look at the Green Grass. Talk about how the spring rain makes everything grow.
Craft: Grass Hair Pots. Draw a face on a plastic cup. Fill with dirt and rye grass seeds. As the "hair" grows, the kids can give their cup-person a haircut.
Activity: Grass Rubbings. Place a piece of paper over long blades of grass or leaves and rub with a Green crayon to see the textures.
Books to Read:
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.
Song: "The Green Grass Grows All Around."
Tune: Traditional
And in that hole, there was some dirt.
The prettiest dirt that you ever did see!
And the dirt in the hole, and the hole in the ground...
And the green grass grows all around, all around, (Twirl around in a circle)
And the green grass grows all around!
And in that dirt, there was a seed...
The prettiest seed that you ever did see!
And the seed in the dirt, and the dirt in the hole, and the hole in the ground...
And the green grass grows all around, all around, And the green grass grows all around!
Continue with: There was a Root, There was a Tree, There was a Branch, .....Leaf, .....Bird)
Snack: Gacamole with Green pepper strips.
Day 4: G is for Grunting Giants
Focus: Size comparison and loud/soft sounds.
Lesson: Contrast the tiny "G-G-Gnat" with a "G-G-Giant." Practice making deep "G-G-Grunt" sounds.
Craft: Giant Feet. Cut two large foot shapes out of cardboard. Let children decorate them and then tape them over their shoes to walk like giants.
Activity: Giant Steps. Play "Mother May I," but the children must ask to take "Giant Steps" or "Gnat Steps" to reach the finish line.
Books to Read:
Jack and the Beanstalk.
Song: "The Giant Stomp."
Tune: Original / Heavy Beat
I am a giant, G-G-G! (Point to self and stand tall)
I'm as tall as a giant tree! (Reach high)
With a grunt and a stomp, I walk around, (Make a low "G-G-G" grunting sound)
And make a thud upon the ground! (Stomp your foot once loudly)
G-G-Giant, G-G-Great! I'm opening up my giant gate! (Swing arms wide)
G-G-G-Go! G-G-G-Go! (March in place) We’re going to have a grand old time, A gorgeous, golden day!
Snack: Giant pretzels and Garlic hummus.
Day 5: G is for Gift of Giving
Focus: Social-emotional learning and review.
Lesson: Review all "G" words: Garden, Goat, Grass, Giant. Discuss how a Gift is something we Give to be a Good friend.
Craft: Gift Jars. Decorate small jars with Glitter and Glue. Fill them with a few flowers from the garden to give to their parents.
Activity: Go, Go, Stop! A variation of Red Light, Green Light. When you say "G-G-Go!", they run. When you say "G-G-Grounded!", they must sit on the grass.
Books to Read:
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
Song: "Gilly Gilly Good Morning."
Tune: Original / Simple Folk Tune
Gilly, gilly, gilly, good morning! (Wave hello with both hands)
Gilly, gilly, gilly, good day! The sun is up, the grass is green,
(Reach arms up like the sun, then point to the ground) It's time to go and play!
Snack: Granola bars and Guava juice.