If You Give A Mouse a Cookie

Gathering Activity: We read stories with our Mommies about mice.


Circle Time: We read the Book Club Selection If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff  and sang songs and did finger plays about mice and cookies.  We acted out the story using props such as a straw, tape, and blanket and tried to place them in the right order. 


Snack:  We started snack time right after circle time today because of our special activity.  We made cookies with our Mommies!  All of the ingredients were pre-measured and placed in containers.  Each child was given an item to place in the bowl.  As the recipe was read aloud, the children took turns placing their items into the mix.  Then they each got to help beat the cookie dough and scoop the cookies onto trays.  When they were ready to eat, we drank milk out of straws with our cookies.

Playtime Activity: While we waited for our cookies to bake, we played Cookie Monster Bingo.  If you don't have this game, you could play any type of bingo game and make small brown circles as cookie bingo markers.

Art Activity: When we finished enjoying our cookies and milk, we laid on the floor and drew pictures of our families on large paper, just like the mouse did in the book!

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

Gathering Activity: We read books together about Bears.

Circle Time: We read The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood.  We did finger plays and sang songs about mice and bears.


Art Activity: Cute as a Button Strawberries
Materials Needed: strawberry shape cut out of poster board , buttons, and green foam piece cut into shape of strawberry topper, glue, foam paint brushes

Directions: Paint the strawberry shapes red.  Glue on buttons and foam topper.  Allow to dry.

Snack: Red Ripe Strawberries and Cinnamon Bread Bears 

Playtime Activity:

Strawberry Scented Playdough (We tripled this recipe, and made ahead of time, for our 7 kids).

We had free exploration with cookie cutters and play dough tools.

The Pout Pout Fish

Gathering Activity: We played with fish puzzles and read fish themed books.

Circle Time: We read The Pout Pout Fish by  Deborah Diesen.  We sang songs about fish, practiced color words with colorful flannel board fish, and played with fish puppets.

Art Activity: Paper Bag Fish

Materials Needed: A paper lunch sack, plain paper bag, crumpled newspaper to stuff the sack, glue, pipe cleaners, and decoration material such as glitter glue, googly eyes, sequins or metallic confetti, markers, colored paper etc...

Directions:
1. Stuff half the sack with crumpled newspaper.
2. Twist on a pipe cleaner above the stuffing to form the body and tail.
3. Glue on a pipe cleaner mouth and eyeball.
4. Decorate the tail and body.


Snack: Goldfish crackers and fish shaped sandwiches (created with a cookie cutter)

Playtime Activity: We played fishing games with magnetic poles and fish.   You can find directions to make these here, but we already had enough between all the families.

Mouse Paint

Special Instructions:  Wear your swimsuit, bring a towel, and dry clothes 
Gathering Activity: We will make mouse ears together and read stories about mice in the living room.

Circle Time:Read Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh. Sing mouse themed songs and finger plays. 
(Please see Circle Time Instructions Tab for complete info)
Art Activity:
Materials Needed: Predrawn simple mouse outlines, watercolor paint boxes for each child, paint brushes, pink pom poms, googly eyes, glue, small cups of water for rinsing brushes.

Directions: Use paint brushes to paint like the mice did in the story.  Allow the children to explore as the mix the water colors together.  Discuss with them what colors they see as they mix together. Allow them to use glue to add a pom pom nose and googly eyes.

Snack: Strawberry Mice and Cheese cubes

Playtime:
Materials Needed: A large sheet of white poster board for each child, 3 disposable13x9 pans each filled with red, yellow, or blue paint, and a swimming pool labeled "CAT."

Directions: Allow the children to step into the paint (WITH ADULT HELP) and then dance on the paper.  This is fun and slippery, and must have a great deal of adult supervision!  When they finish their creations, they can wash down to a nice soft clean in the pool water.

What We Are

I host a Mommy and Me Book Club at my home once a week for an hour and a half, 10am-11:30am. This year our group of little ones are 3 years old. I do not charge for the class or my lesson plans. I love teaching preschool aged children and have fun doing it!

I invite 7 other Mommies and their little ones to join us. I think 5 to 8 pairs is ideal, depending on your space. Some years we have had enough interest to host 3 groups of 6 pairs.

Each class includes a gathering activity, circle time where we introduce the Book of the Week,an art activity (fine motor), a snack, and a game (gross motor). Each of these are related to the Book of the Week. We transition based on the children's interest in the activity, not the clock. We end with our class "Good-bye Poem."

I email out the lesson plans each week to all of the Mommies. They email a response to all with the activity they would like to be responsible for that week. I always do circle time, and try once or twice a month to do one of the other activities as well. We have a fantastic group of Mommies who are always willing to help out, so I don't have to do too much, actually.

I will post individual sections that explain each time period in detail, but below is a loose time frame. I hesitate to even include it, because we really do transition based on children's interest. Some weeks we only get to three of the four activities, some weeks we have enough extra time for free play in the back yard.

Our VERY Flexible Schedule

9:55am-10:10am-Gathering Activity: Families arrive and get settled in. Children participate in the gathering activity while Mommies get supplies they brought with them set up.

10:10am-10:30am-Circle Time: Includes Songs, fingerplays, and BOOK OF THE WEEK

10:35am-10:55am-Art Activity and clean up

10:55am-11:10am-Snack

11:10am-11:25am-Game

11:25am-11:30am-Good-bye circle, gather projects to take home, etc...

Rules for the "Me-s"

Each year during our opening planning meeting we have with the Mommies, we come up with a list of age appropriate, simple rules for the children to follow. We discuss these during Circle Time the first few weeks in a positive, happy way. We give examples of good choices and give thumbs up if the choice is following the rules and thumbs down if it is not following the rules. We review later in the year as needed.

1-I will keep my hands and feet to myself.
2-I will take turns and share the toys and art materials.
3-I will use an inside voice.
4-I will help clean up.

Rules for the Mommies

We have a special planning meeting with just the Mommies each year, before we begin.  It helps to lay out the ground rules and be up front about our expectations before there are any issues.  Because we have done this, there have never really been any issues.  The ground rules have stayed fairly consistent all four years. Here are our rules. Feel free to use them as a jumping off point for your group. Ask yourselves, "What rules do we want to make for ourselves?"

1-We will discipline our own child, and only our own child. 
2-We will maintain a positive attitude and make the class time a happy time.
3-We will not socialize with each other during class time.
4-We will stay child focused.
5-We will BE ON TIME!
6-We will leave our cell phones turned off, unless there is a medical reason to have them on.
7-When we have concerns; we will speak to one another about them at an appropriate place and time, and not allow them to fester.
8-We will contribute to the success of the program, and take turns providing materials.
9-We will keep our contagious children at home.
10-We will make sure that we leave our hostess’ home in better shape than we found it.