UNIT OVERVIEW

SUBJECT AREA: Colors and Shapes

OVERALL OBJECTIVES: The children will be able to
recognize their colors and shapes when shown to them.
They will also be able to recognize that everything is
made out of colors and shapes.
LESSONS INCLUDED:
1. LIST TITLES (AT LEAST 4-5)

Color Run
Shape Art
Fruit Loop Color
Color Blocks
Fruit Loop Rainbow
Shapes in Board

2. NUMBER OF TIMES PRESENTED:

I presented each

activity at least two times some three or four

times.
3. HOW PRESENTED:

I introduced each activity and

told the children why we are learning our

colors and shapes and why we need to.

When we

first started I sent home a letter to the

parents and then talked to the children about
learning our colors.
OVERALL EVALUATION: We had a very successful two weeks,
while learning our shapes and colors the children had a
lot of fun in the process.

I only have a concern on a

couple of the children and I talked to the teacher

about it.

The children are three and four years old so

they are really doing pretty well.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING A UNIT PLAN

1.

Theme or Unit for one week, two weeks, or one month.

Choose a theme that you want to discuss with the children over one of the
above periods of time. You may also choose to subdivide this into daily
concept plans. For ex. Unit plan is Ways We Travel and Mondays concept
plan is Air Travel, Wednesday is Water Travel, etc. Examples of topics
are:
All About Me
Nutrition
My Family
Community Helpers
My Friends
Animals
My Body
Plants
My Community
Children Around the World
My Five Senses
Holidays
Fall
Feelings and Emotions
Winter
My Home
Spring
Space
Summer
Machines
Indians
Dinosaurs
Colors and Shapes
Transportation
Water

2.

Major Goals and Behavioral Objectives

State goals and objectives in relation to the theme you have chosen. Be
specific. Consider the age level of the child and the length of time (for ex.
One week) theme will be discussed in choosing the goals and objectives.

3.

Weekly Unit Plan

Art Plan one or two art activities each day. May or may not directly relate
to your theme.
Science Plan one activity each day. May or may not directly relate to your
theme.
Math Plan one activity daily. May or may not relate to theme.
Dramatic Play Plan 1 or 2 dramatic plays per week, these may carry
throughout the week. Relate this to your theme as much as possible.
Examples: set-up vets office for theme on Animal doctor; set up firemen
equipment for theme on fireman; set up grocery store theme on foods, etc.

Small Manipulative and Language Arts Games These are small table activities put
out during the whole day. Examples are: lotto games, puzzles, stringing beads, lego,
games (Candy land, teacher/made games such as Alphabet Games, etc.) etc. Check

with lab teacher about titles of these manipulative games. These may or may not
relate to your theme. Plan 3 or 4 manipulative games daily.
Block Area Plan 1 or 2 block activities per week. This may or may not relate
specifically to your theme. Block activities and constructions may carry over several
days.
Music Plan for one music activity daily during free playtime as well as planning for a
Music and Movement group time. Examples for free play are using instruments,
introduction of a new song or incorporating a song into dramatic play. As much as
possible relate this to theme.
Group times You will plan for a small group (10 12 children) and a large group (all
children 22-24). Content of these groups varies somewhat from Head Teacher to
Head Teacher. Please consult with your assigned teacher before planning.
Activities during these times will include finger plays, poems, songs, stories, flannel
board stories, movement activities, filmstrips, and discussions. Write down the
titles of finger plays, poems, songs, stories or filmstrips in each space. Please
indicate if it is a song, story, finger play, etc. In the back of your unit plan is a
space for writing out the whole finger play, songs, poem, etc. Relate the activities
at group time to your daily theme as much as possible.
Outdoor Activities Please plan 2 new outdoor activities besides what is set up in
the yard. Examples would be having the easel outside if weather permits, water
play, painting big boxes, woodworking, music, dramatic play, etc. This may or may
not relate to daily theme.
Special Events Plan a field trip or a visitor during the week related to your theme.
A visitor may come and talk to the children
4.

Special Considerations
Check your activities for the day. Avoid too many new activities. Remember
children like and need repetition. Be flexible if you need to omit activities or plan
new ones. Always, however, alert teachers the day before.
In planning consider:
Number of children
Age of children
Number of adults per child very important!
Weather conditions
Arrangement of physical facility
Individual needs of children and families
If a teacher needs to be out you may need to rearrange activities and omit some.
A good rule of thumb only plan (1) activity per day that must be directed by the
teacher. Examples: Cooking, finger-painting, woodworking, etc. You need to

5.

consider that in a normal classroom, there will be only two teachers and one must be
free to move throughout the room.
Daily Schedule
Refer to the schedule in each room. These should be posted and make sure that
your activity plans fit this schedule.
3-Day AM Nursery Schedule
8:30 9:20
Arrival, Self-Selected Activities
9:20 9:30
Clean-up and Bathroom
9:30 9:45
Large Group
9:45 10:00 Snack
10:00 10:45 Outdoor Play
10:45 11:00 Clean-up and Bathroom
11:00 11:20
Small Group
11:20 11:30
Rest and Departure

6.

Letter to Parents
Write a letter to the parents informing them about the theme for the week. Begin
the letter with a creative introduction relating to the theme that will stimulate
them to read on. In your letter let the parents know about your goals, activities,
words to finger plays, poems and songs, snacks, recipes, special events and
suggestions for things they can do at home to reinforce the theme for the week.
Also include important reminders and dates. Sign your name.

7.

List of resources used with the children

Write down:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Childrens books author, title

Filmstrips author, title, distributor
Records author, title, distributor, singer
Flannel board stories title, description
Recipes

8.

References
List what specific resource books you used to find ideas. Author, title, publisher

9.

Bulletin Boards
1.
You will plan a theme related board in the classroom for the children. The
more you involve the children in this activity the better!
2.
A Parent Bulletin Board is also planned located in the hallway by the door
This should include a copy of the newsletter information for parents and the
theme title. Make both boards attractive. In your unit plan, sketch out the
plans for these boards.