“Colors” theme week

The theme of colors is used to explore different areas of child development. Each day is assigned a color (days can be interchanged as needed) and activities are suggested for children aged 2 and under, and for children aged 3 to 5. A book related to the theme of colors and challenging gender stereotypes is also suggested for each day. Children can also be encouraged to wear clothes of the color of the day throughout the week!

Monday – orange

Cognitive domain : Counting and classification 

0-2 years old

Place several different objects in a large transparent container. Children must find and remove the orange objects from the container. Give each child one orange object as a model. Together with the children, count the total number of orange objects (approximately 5). Then take two objects at a time and ask the children which one is bigger and which one is smaller.

3-5 years old

Place several different objects in a large transparent container. Children must find and remove the orange objects from the container. Once all the orange objects have been removed from the container, the children must first count the number of objects (approximately 10). Next, the children must determine which of two objects is larger or smaller, or, for older children, place them in ascending order of size.

Language domain : early literacy

Early literacy | 0-2 years old

Book : ALPHA – Isabelle Arsenault 

This book with an orange cover presents the NATO phonetic alphabet illustrated by the author. You can choose the letters of the children’s first names in the group, the first five letters, images that are orange in color, etc. Here are some ideas for activities to do with reading:

• Book cover: What color is the book? The title is “Alpha”; what is the image? An airplane!
• A: Point to the orange balls! What color are the other balls?
• B: Bravo! Clap your hands too!
• C: Here is Charlie’s hat (Chaplin). Put the hat on too!
• P: Papa’s wallet with a photo of you inside! Can you say “papa”?
• T: Beautiful orange shoes for dancing tango.

Early literacy | 3-5 years old

Book : Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress – Christine Baldacchino

This book can be borrowed freely in the 5-7 years old book kit through the Réseau Biblio GÎM.

Here are a few questions to guide you while you read the book with the kids :

• Have you ever been told you could not do something because you were a boy or a girl? How do we feel when this happens? Is it fair? 
• How was Morris able to be happy in the end? 
• Do you know boys like Morris who like orange? And who like to wear dresses? 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 of each year is National Truth and Reconciliation Day, also known as “Orange Shirt Day.” The purpose of this day is to commemorate residential schools, and especially the children who lost their lives or suffered trauma there, by reiterating that “every child matters.” If this date falls during your color week, make it Orange Day and use this book on the subject: Phyllis’s Orange Shirt.

Tuesday – pink

Cognitive domain: patterns reproduction

Children must reproduce the same arrangement of toys as in the pictures. Depending on the materials available, take a picture of different arrangements of objects, for example, two pink blocks for ages 0-2, a doll with a pink sweater that children must put on the doll, etc. Print the photos before the activity

Language domain: early literacy

Early literacy | 0-2 years old

Book: I Like Myself! – Karen Beaumont

A beautiful pink book for Pink Day! Invite children to find pink in the picture on each page… and to share things they like about themselves!

Early literacy | 3-5 years old

Book: Pink is for Everybody – Ella Russell 

If possible, prepare a box of pink costumes and accessories, just like in the book’s story, and invite children to get dressed after reading the book.

Questions to support your reading:

• Do you like to wear pink like today?
• Is pink only for a part of us? Or is everyone allowed to wear pink?
• Which costume do you like to wear when we take out the costume box?
• Can you name some pink objects or things?

Wednesday – green

On this day dedicated to green, we invite children to spend a day in nature or in the forest, if possible. Schedule this day during the week depending on the weather and notify parents so that children have appropriate clothing for the activity. By basing our activities in nature, far from commercial materials that are often gendered (intended for girls or boys), we ensure that we stay away from gender stereotypes

Physical and motor domain: gross and fine motor skills

During the forest walk, encourage the children to climb or step over fallen tree trunks or large rocks, paying particular attention to the girls in your group. The aim of this is not to differentiate between the genders, but to take into account the fact that girls are less likely to develop this aspect of their motor skills.

Next, encourage the children to build “fires” (without lighting them, of course), i.e., to find twigs and small branches to arrange in a wigwam shape. The idea is to start with twigs, then add another layer with slightly larger branches, and so on. This develops both fine motor skills and classification (cognitive domain). Pay particular attention to boys when handling small twigs, as they are less likely to engage in fine motor activities (drawing, crafts, handling small objects, etc.).

Emotional domain: self-confidence and using sound space

From a very young age, boys tend to monopolize physical and auditory space, particularly by speaking loudly in front of the group, shouting, and interrupting others. It should be noted that this trait is the result of socialization; they develop it because they are allowed to occupy this space, because that is what is expected from them. As a result, girls develop less confidence in speaking in public.

To counteract this socialization, when you return from your walk in the forest, pretend that you are being chased by an animal and that you want to scare it away by running and shouting loudly. One by one (very important), the children are invited to run, taking up as much space as possible and shouting to scare the animals away. Encourage girls in particular who may not be used to taking up physical and vocal space.

Language domain: early literacy

Early literacy | 0-2 years old

Book: My forest is green – Darren Lebeuf

A kid invites us to discover the many different faces of his forest through his artistic practice. If you read the book in the forest, invite kids to find rocks, leaves, etc. similar to the ones in thebook, or tall and short things, etc. 

Early literacy | 3-5 years old

Book: Nutshimit – Melissa Mollen Dupuis and Élise Gravel 

There is an activity book based on the book.

Questions to support the reading of the book:

• What do YOU like to do in the forest?
• What helps you to calm down when you feel anxious or angry?
• Where are the places you feel good?
• Have you ever took part in some of the activities Melissa is talking about in the book?

Thursday – red

Cognitive domain: planning

Activity | 0-2 years old

Encourage children to develop their ability to imitate simple actions by asking them to imitate a gesture you make with red objects. For example:

• The firefighter is going to put out a fire, let’s put on our firefighter hats!
• The firefighter is going to put out a fire, let’s drive the truck!
• Brrr, it’s cold outside, the educator puts on his nice red scarf before going out with his friends! Put on your red scarf too!
• The nurse has to warm up his patient, so he puts a nice red blanket on him. Put the blanket on your friend!
• Etc.

Occupations activity | 3-5 years old

Through an activity that involves children in planning a task, explore different occupations traditionally held by men or women, but reverse the gender reference to show children that anyone can do any job. Exposure to diverse role models helps break down stereotypes from an early age.

In a large bin, prepare “equipment” that a firefighter, hockey player, nurse, or daycare educator might need for their work. Choose red objects if possible.

• I am a female firefighter. What do I need to put out fires?
  • Examples: truck, ladder, watering can, hose, etc.
  • Possible activity: pretend to put out a fire.
• I am a female hockey player. What do I need
  • Puck, stick, helmet, Canadiens or Victoire uniform.
  • Possible activity: pretend to play hockey, learn how to hold the stick properly (pay attention to girls who may be less familiar with it), etc.
• I am a male nurse. What do I need to treat people?
  • Stethoscope, bandages, etc
  • Possible activity: children play the role of nurses and gently and compassionately apply bandages to another friend.
• I am a daycare educator. What do I need to do my job?
  • Toys, crayons, baby bottles, diapers, baby/doll, etc.

Language domain: early literacy

Early literacy | 0-2 years old

Book: Firefighter Flo! – Andrea Zimmerman

Invite children to do the sounds with you. Ask them if they know firefighters like Flo.

Early literacy | 3-5 years

Livre : Simone de Beauvoir – Isabel Sanchez Vegara 

A beautiful book with a red cover introducing Simone de Beauvoir to children. Here are some questions to ask children during or after reading:

• Can you find something red on each page?
• Who does the housework in your home?
• Who do you think should do which tasks?
• Simone chose to pursue a career that few women had pursued. Do you think there are jobs that are only for boys or only for girls?

Friday – rainbow

Cognitive domain: sort by color

For all ages, invite children to sort blocks (or other objects) by color.

For younger children, invite them to name the colors.

For older children, you can add a painting activity where they explore mixtures that make different colors. Once again, pay specific attention to boys (without saying it) in terms of fine motor skills.

Children can also be invited to draw a picture using only one color, their favorite, and then give a presentation to the rest of the group about their favorite color. Costumes and props can be included in the presentation. Pay special attention to girls, who are less likely to speak up in front of a group.

Remind children that all colors are important, beautiful, and for everyone!

Language domain: early literacy

Early literacy | 0-2 years old

Book: The Crayons’ Book of Colors – Drew Daywalt

This book can be borrowed freely in the 0-5 years old Kaleidoscope book kit through the Réseau Biblio GÎM.

Throughout the reading, you can ask the children to name the colors on each page. At the end, you can ask, “What color is this drawing?” and thus reinforce their learning of colors and their pronunciation.

Questions to ask children during or after reading:

• What is your favorite color?
• What color would you like to draw a truck?
• What color would you like to draw a flower?

Early literacy | 3-5 years old

Book: The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions – Anna Llenas 

This book can be used on a daily basis to help children embrace their emotions, particularly boys, who tend to be less emotionally mature when they start kindergarten in our region. While reading, we can explore strategies for dealing with difficult emotions, paying particular attention to the boys in our group while ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to speak.

Some questions to ask:

• What makes you feel happy?
• What can we do when we are afraid to feel better? What are your tips? Can anyone feel afraid?
• What can we do when we are angry to feel better? What are your tips? Can anyone feel angry?
• What makes you feel calm?