[Display the letter B card and the letter C card.]

• What are the names of these letters?
• Pop up if you have the letter B in your name!
• Pop up if you have the letter C in your name!

Now let’s read a book!

[See Week 3, Day 1 of Language/Literacy for a description and examples of how to approach today’s book reading. Key aspects are summarized below:

• Display book cover and encourage children to discuss what the book might be about.
• Explain that reading a book is a good way to learn new words. We will talk about some words each time we read the book this week. Remind children of the Words We Understand chart. 
• Read title of book as you point to each word. Point to and say the names of the author and illustrator. 
• Introduce and provide child-friendly descriptions of two novel words included in today’s book. Write words on the chart as you point to and say each again. 
• Point to the first text word and explain this is where we begin reading the book. Read the book verbatim. Pause to discuss words, events, or characters that seem confusing to children. Point to and describe illustrations directly related to book text. 
• After reading the book, engage children in recalling main parts of the book and novel words emphasized today: 
  • What is our book about? 
  • Who were the main characters?
  • What happened first? What happened next? 
• Engage children in a brief discussion of novel words emphasized today. Display and discuss book pictures that pertain to each word.
  • What does each word mean? 
  • How was each word used in today’s book?]

Today we will begin by learning a new song. The song is called “Ten Butterflies.” I will sing it first, and then we can sing it together.

[Sing the adjacent words to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Hold up one finger for each butterfly. Then encourage children to sing with you, using their fingers as butterflies.]

[Display card with stars.]

Let’s find out how many stars are on this card. I am going to count the stars on this card. Please watch and listen as I count. The last number I count will tell us how many stars are on this card.

[Point to each star as you count.]

There are ___ stars on the card. The last number counted tells us how many we have.

Now we are going to count together in groups. I will choose a card and then invite four children to count the stars together. I will point to the stars as you count.

• [Continue this activity by naming groups of four children to count together the stars on a different card. Point to the stars as children count from their seated position. Example: “Let’s have Amy, Darius, Damaris, and Caleb count the next group of stars.” 
• Once children have counted the stars correctly, ask, “How many stars are on your card? How do you know?” 
• Continue until all children have had a chance to count stars in a group.]

Today we counted stars on cards to see how many stars there were. When we count, how do we know how many we have? (the last number we count tells us how many we have)

Today we will do another activity to help calm our minds and relax our bodies. Remember, when our bodies are relaxed our muscles are not tight. Our thoughts are quiet when our mind is calm. A relaxed body and calm mind can help us use good self-control.

Today we will learn about yoga. Yoga is a way for us to concentrate on our breathing while stretching our bodies into different poses. Remember, a pose is a way of holding our body. There are many different poses in yoga. Yoga helps calm our mind and relax our body. We will learn about yoga today by reading two pages of a book called The ABC’s of Yoga for Kids. The book was written by Teresa Power.

[Choose two poses from the book to demonstrate to children. Read sections of the book that focus on the two poses. Discuss how the child’s body is posed in each picture. Example: “This is called the airplane pose. How does her body look like an airplane?”]

When we do yoga, we will concentrate on our breathing while stretching our bodies in poses. We will take three deep breaths with each yoga pose. Let’s learn two poses today. Each of our poses may look different because our bodies are different and that’s okay.

[Show children the picture of the first chosen pose from the book. Demonstrate the pose and then invite children to try it. Remind children to take three deep breaths as they hold the pose. Repeat the pose with three deep breaths. Then show children the picture from the book of the second chosen pose and use the same approach for children. Repeat the pose with three deep breaths.]

Today we learned about yoga. Yoga helps us concentrate on our breathing while stretching our bodies. Did the yoga poses we tried help your body to feel relaxed? Did the poses help your mind to be calm?

We know that dance is one of the ways we can be creative. We move our bodies when we dance. Today we will learn about movements we can use when we dance. Remember, moving our body from one place to another is called a movement.

Moving forward is a movement that is used in dance. Remember, the word forward means to move toward what is in front of us.

[Demonstrate a forward movement by taking 2–3 steps forward.]

Let’s all stand and show how we can do a forward movement.

[Help children move apart so each has some personal space. Children should continue to face in the same direction. Encourage children to take several steps forward. Then invite them to remain standing.]

Moving backward is another movement that is used in dance. Remember, the word backward means to move toward what is behind us.

[Demonstrate a backward movement by taking 2–3 steps backward.]

Let’s show how we can do a backward movement.

[Encourage children to take several steps backward. Invite children to remain standing.]

Now let’s practice moving forward and then moving backward. First we need to spread out a little so we do not bump into each other.

Next, we need to listen carefully for different words I will say. The words are: forward movement, backward movement, and stop.

• What do we do when I say “forward movement”? (move forward)
• What do we do when I say “backward movement”? (move backward)
• What do we do when I say “stop”? (stop moving, stand still)

We need to walk slowly when I say “forward movement” or “backward movement.” We do not want to walk fast. We do not want to run. We walk slowly.

[Demonstrate slowly walking forward (3–4 steps). Say “stop” and stop walking. Then demonstrate slowly walking backward (2–3 steps). Say “stop” and stop walking.]

Let’s do our movements! Listen carefully to what I say.

[Offer requests in the following order. After children become familiar with the movements and process, you may wish to change the order and/or vary the amount of time for a movement. Remind children to walk slowly and to use their listening ears.]

• Forward movement
• Stop
• Forward movement
• Stop
• Backward movement
• Stop
• Forward movement
• Stop

Today we practiced a forward movement and a backward movement. We also practiced how to stop a movement. Movements are part of dancing.