Preschool Express by Jean Warren

X PAINTINGS
	Give your children a large piece of paper with a Painter’s tape X on it.
	Then, have your children paint across the entire paper.
	When the paper is dry, help children remove the tape to reveal a large white X shape in the middle of the paper.
Variation: Let your children place their own small x’s all over their papers before painting. Note: Be sure to use the blue painter’s tape for this activity. Normal tape will tear the paper.

X BUTTERFLY

	Cut out a butterfly shape for each of your children. You will find a pattern at the Pattern Station.
	Set out the butterflies and some marking pens.
	Have your children draw a large X shape across the butterfly.
	Then have children color the different sections of the butterfly each a different color.
	Sing the X BUTTERFLY song found in the Music section.

SEWING X’s You will need pieces of 8” x 8” burlap squares, 6 or 7” crochet hoops and some 12” yarn sections for this activity. You will also need some large plastic sewing needles.
	Place a burlap square on a crochet hoop.
	Draw a large X in the middle of the burlap.
	Show your children how to thread a yarn section onto a plastic needle.
	Finally, show your child how to make simple stitches along the lines of their X.
Note: This project is best for children four or older. Be sure to supervise this project at all times. Even though the needles are dull, injuries could accure.

DECORATING X’s

	Cut out X shapes from light cardboard. Use the large X pattern.
	Set out the shapes along with one of the following materials for your children to decorate their X.
	Glue on squares of old x-ray film.
	Glue X shapes on their X using toothpicks.
	Draw on X’s and O’s with marking pens.

X GAMES

WORK SHEET GAMES
Here are a couple of simple paper games your children can do that concentrate on the letter X.
WHICH ONE DOESN’T BELONG?

	Divide a piece of paper in four parts.
	Draw a picture in each box.
	Make three of the pictures go together in some way.
	Make the fourth picture some thing that does not belong.
	Have children mark the picture that doesn’t belong with a large X.

CIRCLE THE X’s
	Cover a sheet of paper with 20 or more letters.
	Be sure to include at least two X’s.
	Give a paper to a child and have them circle the X’s.

MUSICAL CHAIRS
Play musical chairs with your children. Use a xylophone for your music.

X PUZZLE
	Cut a large X shape out of heavy paper.
	Then divide it into six to eight puzzle pieces.
	Set it out for your children to put back together.

X MOVEMENT FUN
	Mark off a giant X on the floor. Have your children walk back and forth on the lines of the X without bumping into each other at the intersection.
	Have two children lie on the floor, one crossing over the other to form an X. Or have 4 children form a giant X.

X LANGUAGE

EXCITING X
Read the following rhyme story to your children. Have them look for words that start with EX.

X was very lonely. He had few words of his own.
Then along came E and together they would roam.

Wherever E would go, X would tag along.
Then one day, they married. Now X is very strong.

You can hear his sound, whenever they go out.
Extra, Extra, Extra! Now the news stands shout.

I get so excited, when I see them together.
They’re always exercising and X is feeling better.

So when you see a sign that says EXIT this way.
You know that E and X are together to this day!

Jean Warren

X LISTS
	Have your children help you find words that begin with the letter X. Such as; x-ray and xylophone.
	Or make a list of words that end with an X and have an S sound. Such as; fox, box, six, mix and ox.

WRITING X

WRITING PRACTICE Here are some ways to help your children practice writing the letter X in a fun way.
	Write X’s on a white sheet of paper with a white crayon, then paint a black wash across the paper revealing the white X’s.
	Play Tic-Tac-Toe with your child with paper and a black crayon.

X SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES

DISCOVERIES
Here are a few quick ideas of things you might explore with your children while working on the letter X.

	Find out about X-rays. Draw bones on plain animal shapes.
	Make your own water xylophone.

OCCUPATIONS

	Be sure to investigate X-ray Technicians.
	Perhaps set up a pretend Doctor’s office with X-ray equipment.

X SNACKS

Here are some suggestions for X snacks:

	Hot crossed buns.
	Toast with food coloring X’s on them.
	X icing pattern on graham crackers.
	Mayonnaise/Mustard sauce squirted on crackers in the form of an X.

V MUSIC AND RHYMES

XYLOPHONES

	Bring in one or two xylophones for your children to practice playing.
	Teach them how to play up and down the scales.

X BUTTERFLY
Tune: “Jingle Bells”

One bright day, out at play,
I saw a butterfly.
It had an X on it’s back
And that was no lie!

It flew up, it flew down.
It flew here and there.
What an extra special sight.
To see flying in the air.

Jean Warren

I LOVE TO PLAY THE XYLOPHONE
Tune: “My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean”

I love to play the xylophone.
I love to tap on the keys.
I love to play from Do
All the way past Tee.

Do-Ra-Me-Fa, So-La-Tee-Do.
Do-Ra-Me-Fa, So-La-Tee-Do.

Jean Warren

EXTRA, EXTRA
Extra, extra
Read all about it!
Some pirates found treasure
But some people doubt it.

They found a map
With a great big X.
And when they got there
They found a ship wreck.

They dove to the wreck
And looked all around,
Until at last,
They finally found

A treasure filled with
Gold and more,
A treasure buried
On the ocean’s floor

Extra, Extra
The X marks the spot.
If you look there
You might find a lot.

Jean Warren

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