Grown-Up Goals. Kid-Sized Joy.
Learning in disguise.
"Outstanding O"
Day 1: O is for Octopus
Focus: Introducing the letter shape and the short "o" sound (/ah/ as in Otter) and the long "O" sound (/oh/ as in Ocean).
Lesson: Introduce the letter O. It’s a perfect circle! Practice the /ah/ sound—open your mouth wide like you're at the doctor.
Craft: Cheerios Octopus. Draw an O shape for a head and eight lines for legs. Have children glue "O-shaped" cereal along the legs for suction cups.
Activity: The Octopus Tangle. Have children stand in a circle and hold hands. Try to "tangle" and "untangle" the octopus legs without letting go.
Books to Read:
An Octopus Is Amazing by Patricia Lauber.
Song: "Slippery Fish" (featuring the Octopus).
Tune: Original Chant
Slippery fish, slippery fish, sliding through the water,
Slippery fish, slippery fish, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
(Join palms and wiggle them like a fish)
Oh no! It’s been eaten by an...
Octopus, octopus, squiggling in the water,
Octopus, octopus, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
(Wiggle eight fingers like tentacles)
Oh no! It’s been eaten by a... Great White Shark!
Great white shark, great white shark,
Lurking in the water, Great white shark,
great white shark, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
(Put your palms together and use them like a shark fin moving through the water, then make a giant "chomping" motion with your arms)
Oh no! It’s been eaten by a... Humongous Whale!
Humongous whale, humongous whale,
Spouting in the water,
Humongous whale, humongous whale,
Gulp, Gulp, Gulp! (Make a giant "O" with your arms over your head)
...Pardon me! (Cover your mouth and pretend to burp!)
The children always get a huge kick out of that last "Pardon me!"—it’s usually the loudest and silliest part of the whole song.
Snack: Orange slices and Oatmeal cookies
Day 2: O is for Ocean
Focus: Long "O" sound and aquatic life.
Lesson: Discuss the big, blue Ocean. Practice the long /oh/ sound (like in "Open").
Craft: Ocean in a Bottle. Fill plastic bottles with water, blue food coloring, and Oil. Add glitter or small plastic fish and watch the waves move.
Activity: Over and Under. Set up an obstacle course in the backyard. The children must go Over the "coral" (pillows) and Under the "waves" (a blue sheet).
Books to Read:
The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen.
Song: "The Waves in the Ocean."
Snack: Oyster crackers and "Ocean" juice (blue Gatorade or water with blueberries).
Day 3: O is for Owl
Focus: Night animals and "Whoo" sounds.
Lesson: Discuss Owls. They are awake at night and have big, round O eyes.
Craft: Paper Plate Owl. Use two small cupcake liners for the big O eyes. Glue bark or brown leaves from the backyard onto the plate for feathers.
Activity: Owl "Whoo" Hunt. Hide "baby owls" (cotton balls) around the room. The children must find them while making a soft "Whoo-whoo" sound.
Books to Read:
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell.
Song: "The Wide-Eyed Owl."
Tune: Chant
There’s a wide-eyed owl with a pointed nose, (Make big circles around your eyes with your fingers)
Two pointed ears and claws for toes. (Point to your ears and wiggle your toes)
He lives up high in the cherry tree, (Point up high)
And when he looks at you, he seldom looks at me!
He flaps his wings and says, "Whoo, whoo!" (Flap your arms)
Snack: Omelets or Olives (if they are adventurous!)
Day 4: O is for Outside & Opposite
Focus: Opposites (On/Off, Open/Shut, Over/Under).
Lesson: Head Outside to the backyard! Practice Opposites: "Stand On the grass, then jump Off."
Craft: Open/Shut Windows. Fold a piece of paper in half. Cut two flaps. On the "Outside," draw a closed window; on the "Inside," draw something happy.
Activity: Opposite Simon Says. If Simon says "Hands Open," the children must keep them shut. It’s a fun brain-teaser!
Books to Read:
Big Dog... Little Dog by P.D. Eastman.
Song: "Open, Shut Them."
Tune: Traditional
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
(Open and close your hands)
Give a little clap!
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Lay them in your lap.
Creep them, crawl them, creep them, crawl them,
Right up to your chin. (Walk your fingers up your chest)
Open wide your little mouth, But do not let them in! (Quickly hide hands behind your back)
Snack: Oatmeal with Orange zest.
Day 5: O is for Orchard & Orbit
Focus: Growth and review.
Lesson: Review all "O" words. Talk about an Orchard (where fruit grows) and how the Earth Orbits the sun.
Craft: Fruit Orchard. Use fingerprints to make red apples and Orange oranges on a drawn tree.
Activity: The Orbit Race. Have one child be the "Sun" in the middle of the yard while the others "Orbit" around them in a circle.
Books to Read:
How Rocket Learned to Read (he learns the letter O first!).
Song: "The O Song."
Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
The O says /ah/, the O says /ah/,
Every letter makes a sound, the O says /ah/.
O is for Octopus, O is for Owl, O is for Ocean, and O is for Orange!
The O says /ah/, the O says /ah/.
Snack: Orange bell pepper strips.