Dinosaurs Week 1 Lesson Plan - 1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Dinosaurs
Week 1
Lesson Plan
(Infant – Preschool)
This section has the lesson plan for your “Dinosaurs” theme.
(Week 1).
Pre-planned lesson plans are done using a specific book.
Books are taken off the “Dinosaurs” book list and can easily
be found in your local library or store.
All sheets are in order and labeled for each day the sheets
are to be used. Print up the number of sheets you need
each day. Worksheets are theme related and also include
the letter D, number 10, shape triangle, and color brown.
Print up sheets on regular copy paper, for better durability,
use card stock. Don’t be limited by your imagination.
Use markers, colored pencils, paint, paint daubers, etc.
Don’t stick to just crayons.
Copyright, 1 – 2 – 3 Learn Curriculum, 2010
"Annie Lang images included with permission www.anniethingspossible.com"

Dinosaurs
Letter: A
Number: 4
Shape: Rectangle
Color: Orange
1 – 2 – 3 Learn Curriculum Graphics Used: Graphics Factory

~Where playing is learning~
If Dinosaurs is your first themed curriculum
you are using from 1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum,
please print up the following letter to hand out
to parents.
This will let them know of the new curriculum
you’re using in your child care / preschool.

~Where playing is learning~
Dear Parents,
We are using a new preschool program this year
called 1 – 2 – 3 Learn Curriculum. Each week will be
weekly, bi-weekly or monthly theme.
Themes that your children will enjoy like: Bears
Everywhere, School Daze, Camping Fun and the
current theme we’re working on now, Dinosaurs.
Some of these projects will be taken home to share
with you and others will be group activities that you can
ask about. I think that both you and your child will enjoy
this new program as much as I will.
Please make sure you spend time looking at what
your children do each week. They are so proud of what
they do!
Thank you
1 – 2 – 3 Learn Curriculum Graphic used: Graphics Factory

~Where playing is learning~
What is 1 – 2 – 3 Learn Curriculum? 1 – 2 – 3 Learn
Curriculum is a professionally planned preschool
curriculum designed to be used in both family child care
homes and centers. This program offers the ease of
printing up each day what you need, and saving on waste.
Money saving, this curriculum can be used over year after
year.
What are the goals of 1 – 2 – 3 Learn Curriculum?
1 – 2 – 3 Learn Curriculum was developed by a child care
provider of since 1985. The activities included are age
appropriate and designed to help the whole child grow,
and develop socially, physically and intellectually. Our
program will help prepare each child for kindergarten,
while opening the door for the children to be creative and
express their artistic abilities.
Numbers, letters, shapes and colors are introduced with
each disk or download.
For more information visit www.123learncurriculum.com
Jean
1 – 2 – 3 Learn Curriculum

Teacher(s):
Group:
Week of:
Group Planning Form
Changes to Environment:
Theme:
Changes to Routines and Schedule:
Family / Home Connection:
Indoor
Activities
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Book
Outdoor
Activities
Music, Movement, Story Time:
Moving to Music:
Baby Sign:
TO DO LIST:
Buy:
Gather:
Other:
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Teacher(s):
Group: Infant
Week of:
Theme: Dinosaurs
Group Planning Form
Changes to Environment: Locate "dinosaur" items to
place in infant area. Make sure any dinosaurs you find
are soft and large enough for infants to grasp.
Changes to Routines and Schedule: Place infant dinosaurs into a small container and place
on a shelf for the infants. One that they are able to reach into and pull down themselves.
Family / Home Connection: Send home themed letter Friday before "Dinosaur" theme begins.
Post on bulletin board cover sheets so parents have a visual what the theme is for next week.
Indoor
Activities
Book
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Rock the Baby Poking Holes Reading Where is the Bubbles
Books
Toy?
Goals
Goals Read assorted
Goals
Dramatic play Small Muscles books
Goals Five Senses
throughout the Music
day
Goals
Dinosaur's
Language
Binkie by
development.
Sandra Boynton
Early preliteracy
skills
Outdoor
Activities
Sound off
Find items you
can also use
outside to play
this game.
Sunshine
Sparkle
(Directions
follow)
Sound off
Find items you
can also use
outside to play
this game.
Story Time: Read the book "Dinosaur's Binkit by Sandra Boynton.
Moving to Music: Sing "Hiding Dinosaurs"
Sign Language: Shoes The thumb sides of the fist tap together, representing someone
clicking the heels of their shoes together.
TO DO LIST:
Buy: Additional items needed for infant area. Look for soft dinosaurs.
Gather: Ask parents if they have any dinosaur themed items for the infant area to use
during this theme.
Other: Go to your local library and ask library to help you find more books about dinosaur
board books for infants.
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Infant Book Choice
Dinosaurs

Sign Language Resources:
Below are some links to purchase videos, dvd’s
and books for sign. Children love to watch, and
helps with the repetition.
www.signingtime.com
Wonderful series of sign language videos and
dvd’s
http://www.sign2me.com/
(Excellent Book / CD with music to sign to. “Pick
me up”. Look on the left side of home page under
products)
www.overstock.com
Type in sign language in search
(Talking Hands is a great choice)
www.Amazon.com
Type in sign language in search

Rock the Baby
Have baby sit with a baby doll. Show her how to cradle the
baby in her arms and rock it. Help her rock the baby and
chant or sing a little rocking song.
Sing "Rock a Bye Baby".
Rock-a-bye, baby
In the treetop
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock
When the bough breaks
The cradle will fall
And down will come baby
Cradle and all.
After singing, see if she can rock the baby all by herself. A fun
way to enjoy her special way of copying what you do.
Poking Holes
Give baby toys with holes in them to poke and to feel with his
fingers. Use toy telephones, busy boxes, peg boards or make
some of your own by cutting holes in sturdy cardboard lids or
boxes. make sure the holes are large enough so that baby's
fingers won't get stuck. Be sure there are no sharp edges.
"Look Jeffrey, you can turn the telephone dial by putting your
finger in the hole. It has a round hole".

Where's the Toy
Place infant on a rug or soft play area. Sit in front of her
where she can watch you. Place a toy in front of her and
cover a part of it with a small cloth. Sing to the tune of "Where
is Thumbkin."
Where is the rattle?
Where is the rattle? (Or other toy you cover. Ball, car, etc).
If baby uncovers the toy, sing There it is!
If not, finish the song and uncover it yourself singing There it
is. I found it.
Do this activity if baby can:
Hear sounds
Look at things around her
Bubbles
Sit with infant in an open area. Gently blow a soap bubble in
front of him where he can easily watch it float through the air.
Look at the bubbles.
Watch it float in the air.
After baby follows a bubble right in front of him, blow a bubble
a little harder so that the infant can watch it float away.
Do this activity if baby can:
Watch moving things

Sound Off
As infant gets older, new sounds from unexpected places
engage her attention. In addition, at this age she's starting to
understand that a movement made here results in a sound
made there. Coming up with novel ways to produce sound is
as easy as rummaging through your kitchen cabinets.
Appropriate for: 4 to 8 months
Skills developed: Auditory
What you'll need: Various kitchen implements
Give raspberry blowing a new twist by filling a glass or a clear
plastic cup with water and blowing bubbles into it with a straw.
Your baby will not only like the sight of the bubbles, but she'll
also find the noise most intriguing. (Don't let her handle the
glass or straw herself.)
Swirl a metal spatula or spoon around inside a metal bowl for
another captivating sound. Crinkle some tinfoil or wax paper,
set off the kitchen timer, or open and shut the trash can. As
long as the infant is supervised, there's no reason the sounds
of the kitchen shouldn't entertain her safely.

Sunshine Sparkles
Cover some cardboard shapes with aluminum
foil. Hang them from a dowel or hanger in a
sunny window where they will shine in the
sunlight.
Place or hold infant so that she can watch.
Open the window to let a breeze gently move
the shiny shapes. Put baby in an infant seat,
exercise saucer, etc. near enough to watch the
sunshine sparkles.
To do this activity outside, hand the items from
a chain link fence, in the sun and hold the
infant to see the sparkles.

Hiding Dinosaurs
Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Where can you be?
Hiding behind me, (hands behind back)
Where you cannot see.
Now you see one. (Bring out one hand)
It's waiting for you.
Here comes another. (bring out other hand)
And now you see two!
Graphic used: iclipart.com

Teacher(s):
Group:
Week of:
Group Planning Form
Changes to Environment:
Theme:
Changes to Routines and Schedule:
Family / Home Connection:
Indoor
Activities
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Book
Outdoor
Activities
Music, Movement, Story Time:
Moving to Music:
Baby Sign:
TO DO LIST:
Buy:
Gather:
Other:
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Teacher(s):
Group: Toddler
Week of:
Theme: Dinosaurs
Group Planning Form
Changes to Environment: Locate "dinosaur" items.
Check local dollar stores, or child supple store such as
Lakeshore Learning, Discount School Supple, etc.
Changes to Routines and Schedule: Place dinosaurs into a small container and place on a
shelf for toddlers. One that they are able to reach into and pull down themselves.
Family / Home Connection: Send home themed letter Friday before "Dinosaur" theme begins.
Post on bulletin board cover sheets so parents have a visual what the theme is for next week.
Indoor
Activities
Book
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Pretend Play Blocks / Toys Reading Ring Stack Play Dough
Books
Goals
Goals Read assorted Goals
Goals
Dramatic play Small Muscles books
Numbers
Art
throughout the
day
Oh My Oh My
Goals
Oh Dinosaur by
Language
Sandra Boynton
development.
Early preliteracy
skills
Outdoor
Activities
Water Play
(Directions
follow)
Ring around
the Rosie
(Directions
follow)
Water Play
(Directions
follow)
Story Time: Read the book "Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaur by Sandra Boynton.
Moving to Music: Sing "Tyrannosaur Rex"
Sign Language: Shoes The thumb sides of the fist tap together, representing someone
clicking the heels of their shoes together.
TO DO LIST:
Buy: Additional items needed for dinosaur area. Look for large dinosaurs that toddlers can
grasp
Gather: Ask parents if they have any dinosaur themed items for the dinosaur area to use
during this theme.
Other: Go to your local library and ask library to help you find more books about dinosaur
board books for toddlers.
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Toddler Book Choice
Dinosaurs

Pretend Play
Appropriate for: 13 months and above
Skills developed: Dramatic Play
What you'll need: Baby dolls
Put assorted cuddly, baby dolls in the housekeeping area
instead of dolls. Pretend with the toddlers to put the toys to
bed, rock them, feed then, and take them for a walk. See if
the little ones will pretend with you. Talk about each thing you
do.
Blocks / Toys People
Put several toy people on the low shelf with the blocks. When
the toddlers are playing with the blocks, show them the
people and help them to use them as they play.
Build little houses using the blocks, and place the toy people
inside. See if the toddlers help to build new houses and place
toy people in the houses that they help build.

Ring Stack
Appropriate for: 13 months and above
Skills developed: Numbers
What you'll need: Stacking ring toy
Place stacking rings on a low shelf for the toddler to play with.
Sit with him for a few minutes while he plays. Count the rings
as he puts them on and takes them off.
Keep the stacking ring toys in a dishpan or box so that you
can clean up all the pieces without having to stack them
yourself.
Play Dough
Have the toddler sit at a table. Give her a little bit of nontoxic
play dough in a plastic cup. Let her pinch, poke, squeeze, pat
and break up the play dough. Talk about what she is doing.
She will probably try to taste the play dough. Let her know
that it's not food. It's for playing, not eating. If she continues to
try and eat the play dough, gently put the play dough away
and find her another fun thing to do. Try the play dough again
when she is a bit older.
Graphic Used: Thistlegirl Graphics

Ring-Around-the-Rosy
Appropriate for: 19 months and older, but younger children
might enjoy participating
Skills developed: Gross motor skills, teamwork, love of
music and interactive play
What you'll need: Yourself and little ones
Clear a space so that you and the child/ren have enough
room to hold hands, walk in a circle, and sit down without
hitting anything. As you walk around in a circle sing:
Ring-around-the-rosy
A pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes
We all fall down!
On "fall down," quickly sit on the floor.
Graphic Used: Thistlegirl Graphics

Water Play
Put a dishpan of water outside on a warm day.
Give each one-year-old a cup, spoon, funnel,
bowls and small pitcher to play with.
(Please note: Lakeshorelearning.com has small child
size pitchers. SJ212 $19.95 - Set of 6)

Tyrannosaurus Rex
(Sung to: "Mary Had a Little Lamb")
Dinosaurs walked on this earth,
On this earth, on this earth.
Dinosaurs walked on this earth,
A long, long time ago.
Tyrannosaurus Rex was the king,
Was the king, was the king.
Tyrannosaurus Rex was the King,
A long, long time ago.
1 – 2 – 3 Learn Curriculum Graphics used: iclipart.com

Lesson plan for preschoolers is done using the
book - How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? by
Jane Yolen & Mark Teague.
You can use the same concept and ideas with
a different book. You can locate the above
book on Amazon.com or check your local
library.
Thanks
Jean

Lesson Plan
How Do Dinosaurs Eat
Their Food?
Written by
Jane Yolen & Mark Teague

Circle Time
Circle time is done usually in the morning, first thing before
you start your preschool day. Circle time is also called
morning meeting or community circle.
The purpose of circle time is to introduce children to pre-k
concepts using hands-on teaching methods, songs,
movement, fingerplays, and flannel board figures and stories.
In addition to a daily concept, you can also discuss the
weather, calendar and name shapes.
Create Ground Rules
Generally pupils love circle time and the opportunities it
gives them to talk about themselves and one another, but it is
still essential to establish some basic rules for all to follow.
The rules that you apply when facilitating circle time in your
classroom should certainly be understood by all involved and
ideally they should be agreed by everyone too, although this
will depend to some extent on the age of the children. The
reality of a well run circle is such that very few rules are
actually needed. You may like to work to the following as a
minimum:
Only one person is to speak at any one time.
It's perfectly acceptable to 'pass' on anything you don't
want to talk about.
All circle members will show respect for one another at
all times.
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Preschool Lesson Plan - Dinosaurs - Letter of the Week - A
Circle Time
Vocabulary
Dinosaur, food, burp, cereal, spaghetti, broccoli, bubble, beans, nose, oranges, please,
thank you, smiles, bite, noises, floor, more
Circle Time
Greeting
Daily Message
Read Aloud
Interactive Writing
Shared Reading
Music
Hands Up High
Good morning boys and girls. Today is ________. Today we're going to learn about Dinosaurs.
How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? by Jane Yolen & Mark Teague
Practice writing the letter A on a small maga doodle. (You can also practice writing the letter on the floor or
in the air).
On Friday let one of the children read the book to the group
Dinosaurs
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Preschool Lesson Plan - Dinosaurs - Letter of the Week - A
Circle Time
Vocabulary
Circle Time
Greeting
Daily Message
Read Aloud
Interactive Writing
Shared Reading
Music
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Hands Up High
Hands up high.
Hands down low.
Hide those hand,
now where did they go?
One hand up,
the other one too
Clap them, fold them,
now we're through.
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum "Annie Lang images included with permission www.anniethingspossible.com"

Dinosaurs
(Sung to: "3 Blind Mice?")
Dinosaurs, dinosaurs,
Where did you go?
Where did you go?
We wish you were here.
There are things we should know.
Did you eat all your veggies?
Did that help you grow?
But you lived on this earth,
Such a long time ago.
Dinosaurs.... Dinosaurs....
1 – 2 – 3 Learn Curriculum Graphics used: iclipart.com

Small Groups
Purpose of small groups:
• To work and learn with a small number of children facilitated by a teacher.
• To allow teachers an opportunity to observe and assess where every child is on
the road to learning to read and write.
• To allow teachers a time to use assessment results in intentionally work with
specific children
• To learn the art of conversation including listening, taking turns and talking.
• To provide participation opportunities for each child.
When are small groups appropriate in the daily schedule? Small group time may
be scheduled any time during the day. Set a specific time with specific groups. Small
group activities are planned in advance and may continue with the daily lesson, teach
a new concept, or allow children to practice skills, such as rhyming or alliteration.
How many children are in the ideal small group? Group size will vary according to
the activity, but a group of 2 – 6 is an ideal size for learning and participation.

Preschool Lesson Plan - Dinosaurs - Letter of the Week A
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Small Group
Read - "My
Colorful
Dinosaur's".
Writing - Have the
children practice
writing words in
the "My Colorful
Dinosaur's" book.
Game - Introduce
the "Letter A Word
Match" file folder
game.
Read - "My
Colorful
Dinosaur's".
Writing - Have the
children practice
writing words from
the "My Colorful
Dinosaur's" book
on paper.
Game - Play
"Color Dinosaurs"
file folder game.
Read - "My
Colorful
Dinosaur's".
Writing - Have the
children practice
writing words in
the "My Colorful
Dinosaur's" book.
Game - Play "The
Letter A Word
Match" file folder
game.
Read - "My
Colorful
Dinosaur's".
Writing - Have the
children practice
writing words from
the "Color
Dinosaur's" file
folder game.
Game - Play
"Color Dinosaurs"
file folder game.
Read - "My
Colorful
Dinosaur's". Send
book home.
Writing - Have the
children practice
writing words in
the "My Colorful
Dinosaur's" book.
Game - Play the
"Letter A Word
Match" file folder
game".
Regroup to
Revisit Focus
Have kids share
something they
did/read/made in
AL
Have kids share
something they
did/read/made in
AL
Have kids share
something they
did/read/made in
AL
Have kids share
something they
did/read/made in
AL
Have kids share
something they
did/read/made in
AL
AL = Active Learning
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Preschool Lesson Plan - Dinosaurs - Letter of the Week A
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
.
Small Group
Regroup to
Revisit Focus
AL = Active Learning
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Vocabulary Words
Print up on white card stock.
Trim
Laminate
Have children use with dry eraser
boards and dry eraser markers. Have
children practice writing the word on
the laminated card and practice writing
on dry eraser board.
Leave available in writing center.

Vocabulary Words

Vocabulary Words

Vocabulary Words

Vocabulary Words

Vocabulary Words

My Colorful Dinosaurs Book
Book comes in 2 formats
• Without dotted words
• With dotted words
Print first 2 sheets back to back. Fold in ½.
Print up next 2 pages back to back. Fold in ½
and place inside the cover.
Please note: Use the book format that works best with
each child. Older children can practice writing the words
without the dots. ☺
Staple if desired. You will need a longer stapler in order to
do this. Can be purchased at Office max or other office
supply store.
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Practice writing the words
shy sad mad happy
My Colorful
Dinosaurs
by
_____________
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

My blue dinosaur is sad.
All my colorful dinosaurs.
blue
dinosaurs

My yellow dinosaur is happy.
My red dinosaur is mad.
yellow
red

My green dinosaur is shy.
My purple dinosaur is scared.
green
purple

My Colorful Dinosaurs Book
with printed word.
(For younger children)
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

Practice writing the words
shy sad mad happy
shy
My Colorful
Dinosaurs
sad
mad
happy
by
_____________
1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum

My blue dinosaur is sad.
All my colorful dinosaurs.
blue
dinosaurs
blue dinosaurs

My yellow dinosaur is happy.
My red dinosaur is mad.
yellow
yellow
red
red

My green dinosaur is shy.
My purple dinosaur is scared.
green
green
purple
purple