Anyone have any suggestions of questions/topics for preschool journal writing?

Question

I am a preschool teacher for 4 and 5 year olds. Throughout the year, the children draw pictures and my co-worker and myself will write down whatever they say about about their picture. Anyone have any ideas for possible journal questions my children can draw then write about?

For example, we performed an experiment on sinking and floating, then we did a journal on this topic. I wrote down their definitions of sinking and floating.

I'm just looking for more ideas!

Thanks!

Answer 1

Try topics like...what do you want to be when you grow up? who is in your family? Favorite foods? what did you do this weekend? Have them describe themself, favorite activity, favorite place to visit, favorite sport and why, what kind of animals are on a farm, what do you see at the zoo, what are the step to make a pizza....i could go on and on.  I hope this is a little help

Answer 2

In our pre school class, every morning we do journals.  The subjects are usely what we have discussed in our lesson plan for the week.  Example if we study the letter M then we will write the letter M up at the top of each journal and they will practice upper and lower case M's and then draw us a picture that begins with that letter.  This past week we did our family tree with pictures children brought of their families, so tone day the journal word was Father then Mother, Grandparents, and so on.  Our journal words always tie into the lesson plan for the week

Answer 3

I have used the following and they have worked well:

Use a book as a lead in topic- Ex: Teacher reads about dinosaurs and then the students draw and write about their own dinosaur.

Use books about families, seasons, pets, etc.  The books give them a jump off point.

Also having a box of magazines where the students cut out and paste and then write about something also works very well.

Answer 4

Your child can draw or write in his personal journal within the Writing Center every day. Each day, the teacher introduces a new journaling topic, such as 'Who is your favorite artist?' The children can journal about the topic, or anything else on their minds. By the time children reach preschool, they are beginning to journal on more topics than they did in early preschool. You'll be amazed at how your child's drawings change from the beginning to the end of the school year, as he begins to learn how to communicate through print. Through journaling, your child is working on important learning objectives, such as:

*printing the letters within his name

*drawing pictures with five to six varying details

*suggesting ideas for creative interpretation

*dictating writing to express thoughts

The teachers label and date the journal entries based on what your child said about his drawing - this way both the teacher and you know what your child's intentions were. You are welcome to look through your preschooler's journal as often as you like. Your preschool teacher will take you through the journal during your semi-annual parent-teacher conferences.

Answer 5

You could start out with- What do you think whould happen if.... Talk about an experiment that you will do- talk about what they think will happen- write down their answers, then do the experiment  and write down what really did happen. Example-

What do you think will happen when I pour oil in the colored water?"

The children dictate what they think- " everything will turn that color"

Then pour the oil in. Watch the oil separate- talk about it - then let them dictate what happened.

Answer 6

you could ask them what their favorite animals are. or colors, etc. and then ask why.