Grown-Up Goals. Kid-Sized Joy.
Learning in disguise.
Wonderful, Watery W —Water, Whales, Wagons, and Worms.
Day 1: W is for Water & Weather
Focus: Introducing the letter shape and the /w/ sound made by rounding your lips into a small "o".
Lesson: Introduce the letter W. It looks like two "V"s holding hands! Practice the /w/ sound—it’s a "windy" sound.
Craft: Watercolor Wash. Give the children a white crayon to draw "secret" Ws on white paper. Then, have them paint over it with blue Watercolors to reveal the letters.
Activity: Water Station. Set up a bin in the backyard with cups, funnels, and Wheels. Talk about how the Water moves and feels (Wet!).
Books to Read:
Water by Frank Asch.
Song: "The Water Song."
Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
The water goes splash-splash,
The water goes splash-splash.
(Pretend to splash water)
Heigh-ho, the derry-o,
The water goes splash-splash.
Continue with....
The wind goes swish-swish...
The whale goes gulp-gulp...
The worm goes wiggle-wiggle!
Snack: Watermelon or Waffles.
Day 2: W is for Whale
Focus: Size and aquatic life.
Lesson: Discuss the Whale—the biggest animal in the world. They live in the Water and breathe through a blowhole.
Craft: Paper Plate Whale. Paint a plate blue. Cut a small "V" out of the side for a tail and glue it to the back. Add a "spout" made of white yarn or pipe cleaners.
Activity: Whale Spout. Use a spray bottle in the backyard. Let the children take turns being the "Whale" and spraying a "spout" of water into the air.
Books to Read:
The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson.
Song: "Baby Beluga."
Tune: Raffi
Baby beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you swim so free.
(Wiggle your hand like a swimming fish)
Heaven above and the sea below,
And a little white whale on the go!
Baby beluga, baby beluga, Is the water warm?
Is your spirit home?
With your light so bright and your heart so warm,
Goodnight, little whale, goodnight.
Snack: Whales (the cheese crackers) or blue yogurt.
Day 3: W is for Worm & Wiggle
Focus: Nature and movement.
Lesson: Look for Wiggles in the soil! Talk about how Worms help our garden grow.
Craft: Wiggle Worms. Dip pieces of yarn into brown paint and "wiggle" them across a piece of paper to create worm tracks.
Activity: The Worm Race. Have the children lie on their tummies and Wiggle across a blanket or the grass without using their arms or legs.
Books to Read:
Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin.
Song: "Wiggly Woo."
Tune: Traditional
There's a worm at the bottom of my garden,
And his name is Wiggly Woo.
(Wiggle your finger)
There's a worm at the bottom of my garden,
And all that he can do...
Is wiggle all night and wiggle all day!
(Wiggle your whole body)
The people in the garden they all say,
"He's a Wiggly, Wiggly Woo!"
Snack: Worms in Dirt (Chocolate pudding with gummy worms).
Day 4: W is for Wagon & Wheels
Focus: Transportation and work.
Lesson: Discuss how Wagons use Wheels to carry heavy things.
Activity: The Wagon Wash. Bring your daycare Wagons out to the driveway. Give the children buckets of soapy Water and sponges to give the wagons a "car wash."
Craft: Wheel Prints. Dip the wheels of toy cars or small wagons in paint and roll them across a long strip of paper.
Books to Read:
The Red Wagon by Renata Liwska.
Song: "The Wheels on the Bus" (focusing on the Wheels).
Snack: Wheel-shaped pasta or round crackers.
Day 5: W is for Wind & Waves
Focus: Review and sensory play.
Lesson: Review all "W" words. Talk about how the Wind moves the Waves on the water.
Craft: Wind Socks. Decorate a paper cylinder with long streamers. Hang them outside to see which way the Wind is blowing.
Activity: Making Waves. Fill a shallow tray with water. Have the children blow through straws to create Waves on the surface.
Books to Read:
When the Wind Blows by Linda Ashman.
Song: The Waves in the Water
Tune: The Wheels on the Bus
The waves in the water go up and down,
Up and down, up and down.
(Children start in a crouch and stand up tall,
moving their arms like rising waves)
The waves in the water go up and down,
All day long.
The whales in the water go splash, splash, splash,
Splash, splash, splash, splash, splash, splash.
(Slap palms against thighs or clap hands for the splashing sound)
The whales in the water go splash, splash, splash, All day long.
The fish in the water go wiggle, waggle, wiggle,
Wiggle, waggle, wiggle, wiggle, waggle, wiggle.
(Wiggle whole bodies or just hands like little fish)
The fish in the water go wiggle, waggle, wiggle,
All day long.
The wind on the water goes swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish.
(Move arms back and forth like a breeze)
The wind on the water goes swish, swish, swish, All day long.
Song: The Wind Blows High and Low
Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
The wind blows high,
(Reach arms way up to the sky and wiggle fingers)
The wind blows low.
(Crouch down and touch the grass)
Heigh-ho, the derry-o,
The wind begins to blow!
It blows the leaves around...
(Spin in a circle like a falling leaf)
It blows the grass so green...
(Sway side to side like blades of grass)
It blows the hair upon our heads...
(Gently ruffle your own hair)
Until we’re all blown home!
(Everyone "blows" back to their seats or a central rug)
A "Windy" Activity for the Backyard
If you have that great outdoor space, you can give the children Wand ribbons (long strips of crepe paper or fabric tied to a stick).
High Wind: Have them run fast so the ribbons fly straight out behind them.
Low Wind: Have them walk slowly so the ribbons just dangle and drag.
No Wind: Have them freeze like statues!
Outside Fun: If you have a sprinkler or a water table out, the kids can do the "splash" part with real water for a great sensory experience.
Snack: Wavy potato chips or Whipped cream on fruit.