September 2012 - August 2013

Fireflies® Kit Contents

Look below for a detailed description of every item in your monthly Fireflies® Kit.


Starter Pack

Calendar Display Base

Calendar activities are part of the section titled Start Your Day that begins each lesson. Display the calendar base where children can easily see it when they gather for this routine. Laminated, full color, 18" X 12".

Color Display Base

This appealing ocean scene provides an attractive space to display a boat of a new color each month. You can refer to the display not only during the Daily Basics portion of the lesson, but anytime children need a quick reference for colors. Laminated, full-color, 9" X 12".

Shape Display Base

This sailing ship provides a space to display a new shape each month. You can refer to it during the Daily Basics portion of each day, but the display is also useful whenever children are exploring the monthly shape. Laminated, full-color, 9" X 12".

Number Display Base

This underwater scene is the perfect background for the colorful numbered fish that are part of each monthly Teacher Pack. You will find it invaluable during the Daily Basics portion of each day, but it is also useful as a reference anytime children are working with numbers. Laminated, full-color, 12" X 18".

Weather Display with Button Marker

Build observation skills with this photographic display. During the Start the Day portion of each lesson, children can describe the day’s weather and attach the button to the photo that best illustrates it. Laminated, full-color, 9" x 12".

Helper Chart

Children develop feelings of competence and a sense of responsibility when they carry out jobs in the classroom. Use this chart during the Start the Day portion of each lesson to show job assignments for the day. Laminated, full-color, 9" x 12" chart. Helper pieces - pre-printed jobs, blanks for names or additional jobs.

Music and Movement CD

The Curriculum Guide offers specific suggestions for using the playful songs on this CD. You can also use the music anytime you like for transitions, rainy-day fun, and more. 36 original FunShine Express songs to complement the curriculum. $8.00 or Free with prepayment or automatic shipping orders of 3 months or more.

Monthly Teacher Pack

Curriculum Guide

The daily lesson format makes this guide easy to use and sequences learning so that new skills build on previous knowledge. Each lesson begins with daily routines in the section titled Start Your Day. A section called Daily Basics offers ideas to promote understanding of the alphabet as well as numbers, colors, or shapes. The Discuss/Do section provides guidance for promoting exploration and understanding of monthly themes. There is a daily song or rhyme and a daily movement activity. Each day also includes activities that integrate learning across different learning domains. Materials are listed for each activity to help you stay organized. Learning objectives clearly indicate the educational value and purpose of each part of the day. You can choose the activities that work best for your group and adapt them or add to them as you like. Adaptations and extensions offered. 250+ activity ideas.

Children's Book

Watch your library grow as you receive a new book every month! Use the books to promote early literacy through shared reading and keep them available for children to explore independently.

Calendar Heading

Expose children to print in a meaningful context as you add the name of the current month to the calendar display base. Take time to help children notice and name the letters.

Calendar Days

Adding these eye-catching perforated cards to the calendar offers many benefits. The pictures form a pattern and children will learn to anticipate and predict what comes next. The printed numerals provide daily exposure to numbers.

Two-Sided Photo Puzzle with Key

Photos of real-life people, places and things are particularly interesting to children. The theme-related photos on these puzzles can stimulate conversation and inspire children to learn more about each theme. Assembling these puzzles helps children develop an understanding of part/whole relationships and improve fine motor skills. 9" x 12".

Alphabet/Sign Language Cards

Alphabetic knowledge is strongly associated with success in learning to read. The Curriculum Guide suggests ways to use these cards to help children name and sign letters and associate the letters with their sounds. You may want to store these in a file box, in a photo album, or on a ring so you can bring them out often for review. 8" x 5", punch-outs.

Alphabet Word Cards

Use these word cards to help children recognize letters and the sounds they make at the beginning of words. Full-color punch-out cards, 4 per letter, 3.5" x 4" each.

Alphabet Scope

Children can use this playful tool for an I Spy game in which they look for objects in the room with names that begin with particular letters. You may think of even more fun games to play with the scope.

8 Topic Cards

These picture cards are great for starting two-way conversations about topics related to the monthly themes. You can also draw attention to the words on the cards and use them to help children recognize letters and sounds. Full-color 5.5" x 4.25".

Math Game

Playing games is a great way to build foundational math skills. Each month you receive a different game. The lesson plans include suggestions for using the games, but keep them available so children can play again and again. The children may even think of new ways to play the games. Laminated, full-color, 12" x 18" game board and full-color punch-out pieces.

2 - 4 Set of Learning Center Materials

Rotating materials in learning centers keeps interest high. Each month you receive new materials to add to your centers. These materials relate to monthly themes and help children develop a variety of skills. Includes two full-color 8.5" x 14" sheets as well as two full-color 8.5" x 11" sheets. Some punch-outs included. Use for the development of physical, mathematical, and language skills.

Color Display Piece

Each month’s curriculum gives special emphasis to a different color. You can add a boat with the color of the month to the Color Display Base that arrived with your Starter Pack. This provides a helpful reference you can use anytime children are engaged in activities related to the color. Even children who already know their colors can benefit from the large printed words on the boats, which help them connect printed words to familiar concepts. Punch-out shape (3" x 5")

Shape Display Piece

The curriculum focuses on a different shape each month. You can add shape of the month piece to the Shape Display Base each month. Refer to the display during the Daily Basics portion of the day and at other times when children are exploring the shape. Clearly printed words on the shape pieces add environmental print to your room and promote early literacy. Punch-out shape (3" x 5").

Number Display Pieces

As you add the fish to the Number Display Base, you can help children begin to recognize numerals and practice counting. Children can look at the display for help when they write numerals or whenever they need a quick number review. Punch-out fish (3" x 5".

Shape Manipulatives

The Curriculum Guide provides ideas for ways to use the sturdy shape manipulatives, but you and the children will no doubt think of even more ways to use these helpful pieces. Save them to use for review as the year continues.

4 Spanish Word Cards

These cards are great for helping Spanish-speaking children learn new words in English or for exposing English-speaking children to a new language. Full-color double-sided cards with English on front and Spanish on back.

Counting Cards

Use these bilingual cards to promote counting and numeral recognition. Full-color patterning grids also help children work on number concepts and problem-solving.

Monthly Children's Resources

Newsletter

Communicating with families is of utmost importance. These colorful notes provide valuable information to families and build bridges between home and school. Full-color, 8.5" x 11", printed front and back. One per child.

16-Page Personal Journal

These journals not only provide hands-on practice with monthly concepts, but are also a powerful communication tool. Children will be so proud to use these journals to show their families what they are learning. Booklet (8.5" x 11") with perforated pages used to reinforce color, shape, letters, and numbers. Additional theme-related enrichment activities included. One per child each month. Counting items included. (The Zaner-Bloser font style in these journals is licensed from vLetter, Inc. www.schoolhousefonts.com)

12 Creative Art or Prop Activities with supplies per child

Children and parents alike love these engaging projects. Use them to help children develop fine motor skills, express creativity, practice following directions, and more. A variety of projects are offered in order to accomplish different purposes. In some cases, children create puppets or props they can incorporate into dramatic play. In other cases, they create gifts they can proudly give or artwork to display in your setting or at home. Supplies are included to save you time and money. Some punch-outs to simplify preparation.