Lesson Ideas: Calendar

I've been learning a lot over the last couple weeks and have seen some great and creative ways to teach concepts such as the calendar. My kinders make calendar each month that they get to share with their families. On this calendar they mark important dates and are encouraged to mark off the days each morning. This helps to teach time concepts that are hard for many to grasp.

Each month they are given a sheet of construction paper, folded in half. On the bottom half a calendar is attached and on the top half they create a picture, following directions given by the teacher. They learn some art concepts, how to follow directions, and time concepts. In September, when the calendar is sent home for the first time, a simple letter to the parents is attached to it, explaining what it is. Below is the note my cooperating teacher sent home with her students:

Dear Parents:

Each month students will make a calendar for home. Our first one, of course, is arriving later in the month, but others will come home at the beginning of each month. This is a wonderful tool for home use. The abstract concepts of yesterday, today, and tomorrow are developmentally difficult for children to grasp. We discuss these terms daily at calendar tome, and your reinforcement at home is helpful. Corssing off each day is very helpful for students to grasp the passing of time. You may wish to put special family events on this calendar, practice days of the week, count by ones, and work with the concept "how many days until".

Now, you would want to put it in your own words, as using your own words makes it sound more natural and parents are more likely to respond (I think), but I really like the idea. Attached is a picture of the sample I made. Notice that the dates are colored differently. Pink is days that there is a special event (Back to School Night and Back to School Picnic). Orange is early dismissal and yellow is no school (conferences).