Free Pre-K 3 lesson plan · Unit 2: Friends and feelings
Pre-K 3, week 7: taking turns and color match
This week your learner will practice my turn, your turn, match six colors and learn a slow breath to calm down. Each activity takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Print the pages, or do them with things you already have at home.
Week 7 of 36 · See the Pre-K 3 year map · Not sure of the level? Take the 3-question Pre-K 3 or Pre-K 4 picker
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5-minute parent prep
- Find a toy you can pass back and forth, like a ball or a drum.
- Get crayons in red, blue, yellow, green, orange and purple.
- Print pages 2 to 5, or skip printing and use the no-supplies swaps.
Household supplies only: Paper, 6 crayons, a ball or a drum, colored socks or blocks. No supplies? Every activity has a no-supplies swap.
The week at a glance
| Day | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Talk and listen | My turn, your turn page, Pass the drum card |
| Tuesday | Math | Color match page, Sock colors card |
| Wednesday | Explore | Calm body page, Smell the flower card |
| Thursday | Make and move | Draw a friend page, Animal walk card |
| Friday | Story and review | Song of the week, Parent notes page |
| Every day | Read, sing, play | Read a picture book together, sing the song of the week, play outside and check in on feelings with the free feelings cards. |
Printable pages
My turn, your turn
Say: "Who has the ball? My turn, now your turn." Your learner points to each toy and says "my turn" or "your turn" as you play.
Color match
Say: "Find the crayon that matches this spot." Your learner matches a crayon to each spot and colors it.
Calm body
Say: "When I feel mad, I take a slow breath." Your learner points to each picture and shows the calm way: breathe, hug, rest, read.
Draw a friend
Say: "Draw a friend you like to play with." Your learner draws a friend any way they like and tells you about them.
Activity cards
Pass the drum
- You tap the drum 3 times.
- Pass it and say "Your turn."
- Your learner taps and passes it back.
Easier: Hold the drum together.
Next step: Copy each other's beat.
Say this: "My turn. Now your turn."
No supplies: Clap and pass the clapping.
Social-emotional: taking turns
Sock colors
- Put out the socks.
- Hold up one sock and say its color.
- Your learner finds its partner.
Easier: Use 2 colors.
Next step: Your learner names the color before matching.
Say this: "Blue and blue. A match."
No supplies: Match colors in a picture book.
Math: matching colors
Smell the flower
- Pretend to hold a flower and breathe in slowly through the nose.
- Pretend to blow out a candle slowly.
- Do it 3 times together.
Easier: Do it once.
Next step: Use it when your learner feels upset.
Say this: "Smell the flower. Blow the candle."
No supplies: Needs nothing.
Social-emotional: calming down
Animal walk
- Walk like a bear on hands and feet.
- Hop like a bunny.
- Take turns choosing the animal.
Easier: Walk like a duck, squatting low.
Next step: Add a slow and a fast way.
Say this: "Your turn to choose the animal."
No supplies: Needs nothing but space.
Physical: gross motor
Song of the week: My turn, your turn
My turn, your turn, back and forth,
Like a ball rolling north.
Your turn, my turn, that is fair,
Friends take turns and friends share.
Actions: Pass a ball on each "turn". Try next: Sing it while you build a block tower, one block each.
Parent notes for Friday
Not a test. Notice what your learner does this week, and practice the rest later. Nothing here is sent to UpOnly Learning.
- Waits for a turn with help
- Matches 3 or more colors
- Takes a slow breath when shown
- Copies an animal walk
Want the bigger picture? See developmental milestones by age and the child development guide for ages 3 to 5.
Safety for this week
- Use objects too big to fit in your learner's mouth, and stay close during any counting or sorting with real objects.
- Water play only with an adult within arm's reach the whole time, even in a small tub.
- An adult handles anything hot or sharp, knives, and rocks or heavy objects.
- Dry beans and seeds only with an adult watching closely, and not with a learner who still puts things in their mouth.
- No scissors needed: tear paper instead. If you do use scissors, use child safety scissors with an adult right there.
- Choose crayons, markers and paint labeled for young learners (look for the AP seal).
Questions parents ask
Play short games where turns are quick: passing a drum, rolling a ball, adding blocks to a tower. Say "my turn, your turn" out loud. Waiting is hard at 3, so keep each turn short and praise the waiting.
Teach one calm-down move when everyone is calm, like smelling a flower and blowing out a candle. Then use it together when feelings get big. Stay close, use a quiet voice and name the feeling.
Stop, name the feeling ("You are frustrated"), and take a calm break together. Try the easier step on the card next time. Short, happy tries teach more than long ones.
Short and mostly play: one or two 5 to 10 minute activities, a read-aloud, the song of the week, meals and naps, and lots of time to move and play outside. Pre-K 3 gives you one plan for each day of the week.
Related pages
Recommended for your student
Pre-K 3 Full Year
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