Best Umbrella Lesson Plan Ideas for Pre-K Teachers
Are you looking for a way to increase the excitement level during your Pre-K letter “U” lesson plan? If so, I happen to have several ideas that you may find favor with. Each one focuses on umbrellas. Here they are:
History and Geography
Why not open up your umbrella lesson plan with a bit of history? The best way to do that is to discuss the various theories related to where umbrellas were first invented. As you are doing so, be sure to point out those various locations onto a map of the world. Briefly talk about which environmental factors connected to those areas may have spurred people to create and use umbrellas (i.e. intense sun and lots of rain).
Science and Math
Continue the lesson by discussing which materials were used in the construction of umbrellas over the years (i.e. leaves, paper and fabrics). Ask the children which materials they think worked best and why. Tally their answers and record them in a graph format onto your classroom’s white board.
Next, talk about the science behind how umbrellas work. One way to do that is to conduct the waterproof hanky experiment. It is partially designed to show the children how air influences rainfall. The experiment will also give you an opportunity to talk about wind and how it may turn umbrellas inside out.
Keep going by talking about waterproofing. One super way to demonstrate the concept of waterproofing is to purchase a package of paper drink parasols. Spray 1/3 of the paper umbrellas with water repellant and let the children coat 1/3 of the umbrellas with petroleum jelly or crayon wax. Leave the remaining umbrellas untreated. Proceed by asking the children to guess which ones will remain dry the longest. Afterward, set an egg timer and drop all of the umbrellas into a water filled wash basin. Then let the children prove or disprove their theories.
Once the children have finished with their science experiments, lead them over to your classroom’s art area. Give each student a child size, white umbrella. Craft and party supply stores often sell the umbrellas for $32 a dozen. Once the children have the umbrellas, let them decorate the fabric with various craft supplies. When they are done, pop a rain sounds CD into your school’s audio system and hold an umbrella parade. Afterward, read Shirin Bridges’ book “The Umbrella Queen” aloud. Its storyline focuses on the Thai custom of decorating umbrellas and using them in a parade.
Music
Later, teach the children a few umbrella songs, rhymes and finger plays. Works to consider utilizing are “Rain, Rain, Go Away”, “Falling Raindrops” and “Five Umbrellas.” You may also want to consider reading another story. Books to consider utilizing are M. Christine Butler’s “One Rainy Day” and Nancy Evans Cooney’s “The Umbrella Day.
Finally, close out the lesson plan with a handful of umbrella worksheets. The Education website has several that I would recommend. They are titled “Learning the Letter U”, “Trace and Write the Letter U”, “Connect the Dots: Mushroom Umbrella” and the “Amazing Umbrella Maze.
Source: Personal Experience
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