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Pre-Kindergarten
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How to Use the LEARNING STYLES Hints on the Charts
You will notice that the game charts have a column labeled LEARNING STYLES. If you have Discover Your Child’s Learning Style, you will understand what the notes mean. If not, here is a brief key:
Modalities:
Print means that most content is in print.
Picture means there are a lot of pictures or other graphics.
Visual means that both print and pictures are used in the game.
Verbal means there is some to quite a bit of talking involved.
Listening means that listening is involved.
Auditory means that both Verbal and Listening skills are used in the game.
Hands-on means that there is significant hand movement of cards, pieces, etc.
Whole Body means that the whole body is moving.
Writing means that writing is involved.
Dispositions:
Move means that there is significant physical activity. These games are great for the very active child who hates to sit still.
Produce means that there is a clear (to the student) and quantifiable learning objective. These children like to have a game labeled “educational” whereas that adjective is the kiss of death to most of the other dispositions.
Invent or Discovery means that there is discovery and/or experimentation involved.
Interact means that there is significant social interaction. This learning style enjoys most games so it is only listed it when the group interaction is above average.
Create means that the game requires significant thought and/or creativity.
There is another vital element of learning that is important in regard to physical movement or what schools like to call Physical Education. This is explained in depth in Smart Moves by Carla Hannaford. Therefore, we have included the notations Vestibular and Proprioceptive to help you pick out P.E. games and activities that give your child reinforcement in these sensory areas.
Vestibular refers to awareness of body balance and movement.
Proprioceptive refers to the relative position of different parts of the body and the strength of effort used in movement.
Most games combine multiple elements, so we listed only the salient ones. Likewise, any one child’s learning style is far more complex than these simple definitions and each child’s personality includes a combination of several modalities and dispositions. Watch for the elements in games that your child likes and look for those or similar elements in other games
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PERCEPTUAL SKILLS
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GAME IDEAS FOR PERCEPTUAL SKILLS
GAME | PLAYERS | AGE RANGE | TIME OF PLAY | EMPHASIS | LEARNING STYLE |
Blocks & Stacking Toys | 1 + | 2 and older | Varies | Visual & Motor Skills
Planning
| Visual,
Hands On,
Discover,
Create |
Balls and Ball Games | 2 or more | 2 and older | Varies | Hand-Eye coordination, Large Muscle skills | Hands On,
Whole Body, Move, Discover, Interact |
1 - 2 | 3 - 7 | Varies | Creativity, Hand - Eye Coordination, Large Muscle Skills | Visual, Hands On, Move, Create | |
2 - 4 | 4 and older | 10 Minutes | Matching, Visual Recognition | Visual, Hands On, Move, Discover, Interact | |
2 - 6 | 4 and older | 10 - 15 Minutes | Matching, Visual Recognition | Verbal, Hands On, Move, Interact, Discover | |
1 - 6 | 3 and older | 10 Minutes | Balance, Manual Dexterity, Risk Management | Handa On, Move, Discover, Interact | |
2 - 4 | 4 and older | 10 - 15 Minutes | Memory, Color, Fine Motor Skills, Strategy | Whole Body, Picture, Move, Discover, Interact | |
1 | 2 and older | 5 - 10 Minutes | Visual Skills, Shape Recognition, Patience | Visual, Hands On, Discover, Create | |
2 - 3 | 4 and older | 5 minutes | Matching Attributes | Verbal, Hand On, Move, Discover, Interact | |
2 - 4 | 3 - 8 | 20 minutes | Visual Discrimination Measuring Numbers | Visual, Hands On, Move, Discover, Interact | |
2 - 4 | 4 and older | 10 - 15 Minutes | Memory, Color Recognition, Fine Motor Skills, Strategy | Visual, Hands On, Move | |
1 - 4 | 3 and older | 10 minutes or more | Visual, Large Motor Skills, Depth and Distance perception | Hands On, Move, Interact |
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LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
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NAME OF GAME | PLAYERS | AGE RANGE | TIME OF PLAY | EMPHASIS & NOTES | LEARNING STYLE |
2 -4 | 3 and up | 20 Minutes | Counting to 15, Addition, Subtraction, Life of a Lady Bug | Visual, Verbal, Discover, Interact | |
2 | 3 - 5 | 5 - 10 Minutes | Memory, Naming, Counting, Adding | Picture, Discover, Interact | |
2 - 4 | 3-6 | 20 Minutes | Matching, Counting, Strategy | Picture, Discover, Interact | |
1 - 4 | 3 and up | 5 - 10 Minutes | Counting, Manual Dexterity, Balance | Hands On, Move, Interact, Discover | |
2 - 4 | 4 - 8 | 25 Minutes | Number Recognition, Counting | Visual, Interact, Discover | |
3 - 8 | 4 - Adult | 5 - 10 Minutes | Shape Recognition, Matching | Picture, Discover Interact |
Below are some suggested books that are popular with homeschool families.
- Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes by Blanche Fisher Wright
- Richard Scarry’s Best Mother Goose Eve
- Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose by Scott Gustafson
- Richard Scarry’s Best Nursery Tales Ever
- Classic Fairy Tales by Scott Gustafson
RECOMMENDED READING LIST FOR PRE-SCHOOL ABILITY CHILDREN
- Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes by Blanche Fisher Wright
- Richard Scarry’s Best Mother Goose Ever
- Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose by Scott Gustafson
- Richard Scarry’s Best Nursery Tales Ever
- Classic Fairy Tales by Scott Gustafson
If you prefer individual books that your child can easily hold and muse over, Child’s Play publishes a beautiful collection:
- There was an Old Lady
- Goldilocks
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- Three Little Pigs
- Little Red Riding Hood
- Three Billy Goats Gruff
- Hansel and Gretel
- Cinderella
- Little Red Hen
- Emperor’s New Clothes
- Stone Soup
- Ugly Duckling
- Snow White
- Elves and the Shoemaker
- Frog Prince
- Gingerbread Man
- Rapunzel
- Sleeping Beauty
- Little Mermaid
- Princess and the Pea
- Chicken Licken
- Boy Who Cried Wolf
- Tin Soldier
- Town Mouse, Country Mouse
- Pied Piper
- Pinocchio
- The Brave Little Tailor
- Thumbelina
If you are looking for charming stories with good values, these are some of our family favorites:
These stories about three little Swedish girls (triplets) will warm your heart and teach important lessons:
- Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Little Dog, by Maj Lindman
- Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the New Dotted Dresses, by Maj Lindman
- Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Strawberries, by Maj Lindman
- Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Three Kittens, by Maj Lindman
- Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and their New Friend, by Maj Lindman
- Flicka, Ricka, Dicka Bake a Cake, by Maj Lindman
- Flika, Ricka, Dicka and the Big Red Hen
Stories about three little Swedish boys (triplets) that highlight good moral values are also available:
- Snip, Snap, Snurr and the Yellow Sled
- Snip, Snap, Snurr and the Gingerbread
- Snip, Snap, Snurr and the Big Surprise
- Snip, Snap, Snurr and the Buttered Bread
- Snip, Snap, Snurr and the Red Shoes
- Snip, Snap, Snurr Learn to Swim
We can’t emphasize enough the importance of reading to your children every day!
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COUNTING AND NUMBER CONCEPTS
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NAME OF GAME | NUMBER OF PLAYERS | AGE RANGE | TIME OF PLAY | EMPHASIS AND NOTES | LEARNING SKILLS |
2 - 4 | 3 AND UP | 20 mINUTES | Counting to 15, Addition, Subtraction, Life of Lady Bug and Aphjids | Visual, Verbal, Discover, Interact | |
2 | 3 - 5 | 5 - 10 Minutes | Memory, Naming, Counting, Adding | Picture, Discover, Interact | |
2-4 | 3 - 6 | 20 Minutes | Matching, Counting, Strategy | Picture, Discover, Interact | |
1 - 4 | 3 and up | 5 - 10 Minutes | Counting, Manual Dexterity, Balance | Hands On, Move, Interact, Discover | |
2- 4 | 4 - 8 | 25 Minutes | Number Recognition, Counting | Visual, Interact, Discover | |
3 - 8 | 4 - Adult | 5 - 10 MINUTES | Shape Recognition, Matching | Picture, Discover, Interact |
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SOCIAL STUDIES
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NAME OF GAME | NUMBER OF PLAYERS | AGE RANGE | TIME OF PLAY | EMPHASIS AND NOTES | LEARNING STYLE |
2 - 6 | 3 and up | 20 Minutes | Match images of historical people, monuments, maps, artifacts and symbols. | Picture,
Hands-On,
Discover,
Relate | |
2 - 8 | 3 and up | 20 Minutes | Animals and their continents | Picture,
Listening,
Discover,
Relate | |
1 - 4 | 3 AND UP | 20 + Minutes | Learn about 112 animals placed on a world map. Three levels of play. | Picture,
Listening,
Discover,
Relate |
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SCIENCE
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NAME OF GAME | NUMBER OF PLAYERS | AGE RANGE | TIME OF PLAY | EMPHASIS AND NOTES | LEARNING STYLE |
2 - 6 | 3 - 7 | 15 Minutes | Active game about animals and counting to 6 | Picture,
Verbal,
Move Create | |
2 - 4 | 3 - 7 | 20 Minutes | Animals, matching shapes. | Picture,
Discover,
Relate | |
2 - 4 | 3 and up | 20 Minutes | Counting to 15
Addition Subtraction
Life of ladybugs | Picture
Discover
Relate | |
2 - 6 | 4 and up | 20 Minutes | Use of 18 pairs of animal cards to play "go fish" and "memory" | Picture,
Discover,
Relate |
BIBLE
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NAME OF GAME | NUMBER OF PLAYERS | AGE RANGE | TIME OF PLAY | EMPHASIS AND NOTES | LEARNING STYLE |
2 - 6 | 3 and older | 10 Minutes | Bible themes, Listening and matching | Picture,
Listening,
Discover,
Relate | |
2 - 6 | 4 and older | 20 Minutes | Story of Noah,
Matching,
Strategy | Picture,
Auditory,
Discover,
Relate |
- My Take-Along Bible
- My Creation Bible
- The Rhyme Bible Storybook
These Bible storybooks have very short stories for short attention spans. The stories in verse help children begin to hear and recognize rhymes, an important auditory skill for reading readiness.