| Exploring the letters of the alphabet is a great | | | | craft with wings that can open and close. |
| way to incorporate new themes and ideas into | | | | Don't Leave out the Leaves |
| the preschool classroom, while teaching the | | | | Another excellent topic for exploring the letter "L" |
| fundamental building blocks to reading and writing. | | | | are leaves. These crafts also work well during |
| These preschool ideas focus on the letter "L" by | | | | autumn or spring. This fun activity called "Match |
| giving crafts, art projects, and games for | | | | the Leaves" can be performed with real leaves |
| ladybugs and leaves. Feel free to use these | | | | plucked from the ground or pictures of leaves |
| preschool ideas in conjunction with other units on | | | | found in magazines or books. If using real leaves, |
| insects or nature if the alphabet theme doesn't | | | | they can be laminated so that they last longer. |
| suit the teaching curriculum. | | | | Gather pairs of several different types of leaves, |
| Let's Look at Ladybugs | | | | and place all the samples into a box. Children are |
| Most children are very intrigued by tiny insects, | | | | to go through the box and try to identify the |
| especially the colorful ladybug. Ladybugs provide | | | | matching pairs of leaves based on color, size and |
| an excellent opportunity to practice counting skills | | | | shape. |
| by counting the number of spots that appear on | | | | Here's a fun craft that is performed with real |
| the ladybug's back. | | | | leaves gathered on a nature walk. Have children |
| For a fun ladybug craft, try making ladybug | | | | collect as many interesting leaves as they can |
| stamps out of potatoes. Simply cut the potatoes | | | | find. Next, give each child a paper plate with the |
| in half and carefully carve the shape of a ladybug | | | | center cut out and have them assemble the |
| into the white half of the potato. Dip the stamp | | | | leaves in a wreath shape. |
| into paint and press it onto the paper to create | | | | Once they are satisfied with the arrangement, |
| an assortment of ladybug prints. | | | | have them glue the leaves to the plate. Additional |
| Children can also create their own ladybugs by | | | | decorations such as glitter, berries or bows can |
| using paper plates, paint, and a metal fastener. For | | | | be added after the leaves have dried. |
| this craft, each child will need two paper plates. | | | | Finally, here's a messy, fun preschool ideas craft |
| Instruct the children to paint one of the paper | | | | that uses paint to create a tie-dye like effect on |
| plates to look like a regular ladybug. Show pictures | | | | coffee filters cut in the shape of leaves. To begin, |
| or an example for inspiration. | | | | cover the working area with newspaper to |
| After they've finished painting the first ladybug, | | | | prevent any mishaps with the paint. Mix paint of |
| have them cut it in half lengthwise. Next, instruct | | | | various colors and fill eye droppers with the paint. |
| the children to paint the second paper plate to | | | | Have children design their own leaves by using the |
| resemble a ladybug with its wings spread open. | | | | eye droppers full of paint. Since the coffee filters |
| Finally, attach the two halves of the cut apart | | | | absorb water, interesting designs and color |
| ladybug to the second plate with the metal | | | | patterns can be created using just a few drops |
| fastener, and now the children have a ladybug | | | | of paint. |