L.C.
Hi, K H,
I have never used a pre-packaged curriculum but I have written probably a thousand lesson plans (no joke). I have found that the best thing to do is really key into what the kids are interested in. For instance we are coming up on September which is apple season and the leaves will be starting to turn. I would go to my library and start looking at activity books, craft books, and lesson plan books. Carmen DeLosa makes great books with theme related activities from art to math. They also have books for folder games (games of matching - could be words, colors, numbers - that all fit inside a file folder). There you can get books about whatever the theme is.
Here is an example: Let's say you take them outside and they notice the leaves are turning. Head down to the library and get some good books about fall and leaves. One book is called Red Leaf Yellow Leaf. Then they can gather leaves and make a collage. They can play a folder game where they match colors of leaves. They can count and sort leaves by color shape and size. They can go outside and rake leaves and jump in them. They can guess how many laundry baskets it would take to carry all the leaves in their pile. They can paint large cutouts of leaves using leaves they have found as the brushes. They can do leaf rubbings by sticking a leaf between two pieces of paper and using a crayon to color on the top page. You can talk about the L sound and talk about other things that make the L sound.
You can find all of these ideas and more at your local library in their homeschool or preschool book sections. If you see them interested in something one week, go to the library over the weekend and make it the next week's theme. The great thing about not having a pre-packaged curriculum is that if they are really into what you are doing you can extend it for a few days and if they aren't interested at all you can move on to something else.
If you would like any ideas just private message me and I'll be happy to help.
L.
