How To Plan a Popcorn Theme Unit

There are lots of ways to incorporate popcorn to help teach a kindergarten class. Teaching the popcorn theme is appropriate to do around Thanksgiving, since popcorn is said to have been a special treat for the Pilgrims, prepared by their Indian friends.

Things You'll Need

• Clear, tall jar or container
• Popcorn kernals
• popped popcorn
• "The Popcorn Book" by Tomie de Paola
• Construction paper
• Liquid glue

Instructions

How To Plan A Popcorn Theme Unit

1. Create a journal. While teaching the facts about popcorn, have the kindergarten students draw a picture depicting each new fact that has been learned about popcorn. Compile all journal entries to create a "Popcorn Book" for each child.

2. Read the book, "The Popcorn Book" by Tomie de Paola. Following the story, fill a large jar with popped popcorn, and instruct the children to guess the amount of popcorn inside of the jar. Give a sticker to the student(s) who gets the closest.

3. Write names. Give each child a piece of construction paper and a small container of popcorn kernels. Write each child's name in the center of the piece of paper using liquid glue. Instruct the children to cover the glue with the popcorn kernals. The result will be their name written in popcorn kernels.

4. Draw large popcorn on yellow or white construction paper. Write the capital letter on one popcorn and the matching lower case letter on the other popcorn. Allow children to play a matching game with the popcorn letters.

5. Exercise. Let the children pretend to be popcorn while sitting in the circle-time area. Assign colors, numbers or words to the children. When you call out the word that the child is holding, they should stand up and sit down quickly, just like popping popcorn.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow children to taste different flavors of popcorn.

• Always supervise young children when they are eating popcorn, as it may be considered a choking hazard.