"Vibrant, Very-Good V--Vegetables, Volcanoes, and Valentines

Day 1: V is for Vegetable

Focus: Introducing the letter shape and the vibrating /v/ sound (make your lips buzz!)

• Lesson: Introduce the letter V. It’s two slanted lines that meet at a sharp point at the bottom! Practice the /v/ sound—put your top teeth on your bottom lip and "vroom" like a motor.

• Craft: Veggie Prints. Use sliced Vegetables (like bell peppers or broccoli) as stamps. Dip them in paint and press them onto paper to see the different shapes.

• Activity: The Veggie Garden. Use your backyard space to pretend to plant a Vegetable patch. Talk about Vines and how some plants climb up!

• Books to Read: Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert.

• Song: "The Vegetable Song."

  • Tune: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

  • Carrots, peas, and broccoli,

  • Vegetables are good for me.

  • (Rub your tummy)

  • On a vine or in the ground,

  • Healthy snacks are all around.

  • Carrots, peas, and broccoli,

  • Vegetables are good for me!

• Snack: Veggie sticks (carrots, celery, and peppers) with hummus.

Day 2: V is for Volcano

Focus: Science and "big" reactions.

• Lesson: Discuss Volcanoes. When they get "excited," they erupt with hot lava!

• Craft: Sand Volcanoes. Use the sand in your backyard play area to build a mountain. Place a small cup in the middle with baking soda and Vinegar (add red food coloring!) to watch a "Very" cool eruption.

• Activity: Volcano Jump. Use a red hula hoop or circle on the grass as the "lava." Children must jump Very far to get over it without touching the red.

• Books to Read:

  • Vacation Under the Volcano (Magic Tree House Research Guide version)

  • My Mouth is a Volcano.

• Song: "The Volcano Eruption."

  • Tune: I'm a Little Teapot

  • I’m a sleepy volcano, tall and still,

  • Stand very still with hands together over your head)

  • Waiting on the top of the big brown hill.

  • When I get all shaky, hear me shout...

  • I ERUPT and the lava comes out!

  • (Jump up and spread arms wide)

• Snack: Volcano Bowls (Red berries over yogurt or cottage cheese).

Day 3: V is for Vet & Voices

Focus: Community helpers and volume.

• Lesson: Talk about a Vet (Veterinarian). They are the doctors for our animal friends. Practice using quiet and loud Voices.

• Craft: Pet Check-up. Give the children "V" shaped stethoscopes made of pipe cleaners to use while they "treat" their stuffed animals.

• Activity: Follow the Voice. Blindfold one child (or have them close their eyes) and have them follow the Voice of a friend calling them from across the yard.

• Books to Read: Say Hello to the Vet by Felicity Brooks.

• Song: "I Want to be a Vet."

  • Version 1: I’m a Helpful Vet

    Tune: I'm a Little Teapot This version is great because it has built-in movements that help the kids practice their coordination.

  • I’m a helpful Vet, as you can see,

  • (Point to yourself)

  • Bring your furry pets to me.

  • (Pretend to cradle an animal in your arms)

  • I’ll check their ears and I’ll check their paws,

  • (Touch your ears, then your feet)

  • And fix whatever is the cause!

  • (Give a big thumbs up)

    Version 2: The Vet's Office

  • Tune: The Wheels on the Bus This version allows you to swap out different animals, which keeps the children engaged.

  • The Vet in the office says, "How do you do?"

  • "How do you do?

  • How do you do?"

  • The Vet in the office says,

  • "How do you do?" Bring your pets inside.

  • Continue with....

  • The kitten in the basket goes "Meow, meow, meow..."

  • The puppy on the table goes "Woof, woof, woof..."

  • The bunny in the cage goes "Hop, hop, hop..."

    Playtime Activity: The Joyful Vet Clinic

    To go along with the song, you can set up a "Vet Clinic" station in your backyard or classroom:

    • The Tools: Provide old stethoscopes, bandages (toilet paper works great!), and "check-up" forms with the letter V on them.

    • The Patients: Have the children bring their favorite stuffed animals from home or use the ones in your daycare.

    • The Lesson: Ask the children, "What Voice should we use at the Vet?" to practice being quiet and gentle.

• Snack: Vanilla wafers or Vanilla yogurt.

See our Veterinarian Center ideas.

Day 4: V is for Valentine & Visit

Focus: Kindness and social skills.

• Lesson: We don't need February to show love! Discuss how we Visit our friends and show them we care.

• Craft: V-is-for-Valentine. Cut out two "V" shapes and join them to make a heart. Decorate with glitter and stickers.

• Activity: The Visiting Game. Have the children "visit" different stations in the backyard (the slide, the sandbox, the swings) and leave a small "V" heart at each one.

• Books to Read: The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting.

• Song: "Skinnamarink."

  • Tune: Traditional

  • Skinnamarinkidinkidink, skinnamarinkidoo, I love you!

  • (Put right elbow in left hand and wave, then swap)

  • I love you in the morning and in the afternoon,

  • I love you in the evening and underneath the moon!

  • Skinnamarinkidinkidink, skinnamarinkidoo, I love you!

• Snack: Very berry smoothie.

Day 5: V is for Vacuum & Vroom

Focus: Review and movement.

• Lesson: Review all "V" words. Discuss how a Vacuum sucks up dust and how cars go Vroom!

• Craft: Vroom-Vroom Tracks. Use toy cars with paint on the wheels to drive "V" patterns across a large piece of paper.

• Activity: Vacuum Tag. One child is the "Vacuum" and tries to "suck up" (tag) the "Dust Bunnies" (the other children) as they run around the yard.

• Books to Read:

  • Vroom! by McClintock.

• Song: "The Vroom Vroom Song."

  • Tune: The Wheels on the Bus

  • The wheels on the van go vroom, vroom, vroom,

  • Vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom.

  • (Move hands like you are steering a car)

  • The wheels on the van go vroom, vroom, vroom,

  • All around the town!

• Snack: Vienna sausages or Vegetable soup.