Presentation

  1. 1

    At the calendar, point to the days of the week across the top and read them in order.

  2. 2

    Lay out the day cards; the child puts them in order.

  3. 3

    Find yesterday's date card and place today's card after it: 'Today is Tuesday, the fourteenth.'

  4. 4

    Count how many days have passed this month.

  5. 5

    Lay out the month cards in order and find the current month.

  6. 6

    The child writes the date on a blank calendar sheet.

Extensions, easiest to hardest

  1. Fill in a blank monthly calendar with the numerals 1 to the last day.
  2. Mark birthdays and class events, and count the days until one.
  3. Say the day before and the day after today.

Control of error

Each date card must follow the previous day's card; a printed year calendar serves as the control.

Ready to move on when the child…

  • Says the days of the week in order without help
  • Finds and reads today's date
  • Fills in a blank month correctly

Guide note

The group calendar routine at circle time can start in the first year. This individual work is for children who can read numbers to 31.

Try “pink tower”, “tummy”, “diaper”, “grace and courtesy”, or “October”.