The following are descriptions and printables for some of the activities used within the Joyful Learning themed lessons...

Bible Memory Charts

Monthly Playdough Recipes

Monthly Sensory Tub Ideas

Bible Memory Charts

Scripture memory is a key element in all of the Joyful Heart preschool curriculum. For two year olds, one to two verses have been chosen as the focus for each month.  The Bible memory verses coordinate with the monthly Bible concept and theme. You will notice that many of them are very applicable to day to day situations in the life of a two year old! Each Joyful Heart Tune Chart (Bible Memory Chart) has a picture and a song tune associated with it in order to aid comprehension and memorization for the visual and auditory learners. Most have simple sign language to be used for kinesthetic learners as well.

August: Genesis 1:1
September:  Colossians 3:20, Philippians 2:14
October: Psalm 119:105
November: Proverbs 17:22, Psalm 136:1a
December: Luke 2:11, Acts 9:20b
January: 1 Thessalonians 5:17
February: 1 John 4:19, Luke 6:31
March: Matthew 6:33
April: John 3:16
May: Daniel 9:9, Ephesians 4:2b
June: Psalm 56:3, Proverbs 18:10
July: Proverbs 15:1,  Hebrews 3:13b

(Additional charts can also be found at the Bible Memorization page.)

Monthly Playdough Recipes

Some of these recipes were collected from the internet (and altered slightly).  Others were shared with me by friends. All are non edible. Add plastic cookie cutters in various shapes, small rolling pins, and items with interesting textures and patterns -such as the end of thread spools and golf balls!   Enjoy!

September
Green Apple

1 cup white flour
1/2 cup salt
2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup warm water
1 package Green Apple X-Treme JELL-O Brand Gelatin

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan.
  2. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly!
  3. Knead.
  4. Store in an airtight container.

August
Yellow Pineapple

1 cup white flour
1/2 cup salt
2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup warm water
1 package Pineapple JELL-O Brand Gelatin
Few drops yellow food coloring
Gold glitter

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan.
  2. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly!
  3. Knead.
  4. Store in an airtight container. 
 

November
Chocolate
(From: prekinders.com)

1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup salt
1/2 Tablespoon cream of tarter

1 1/2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup water (boiling)

  1. Mix the dry ingredients together.
  2. Mix the liquid ingredients together.
  3. Combine the dry and liquid ingredients together and quickly stir.
  4. Cook over low heat until the dough forms a ball.
  5. Knead until smooth.
  6. Cool and store in an airtight container. 

October
Pumpkin Pie
(From: recipegoldmine.com)

5 1/2 cups flour
2 cups salt
8 teaspoons cream of tarter
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 ounces pumpkin pie spice (1 container)
Food Coloring - red and yellow to make orange (or use as is with just the spices to tint)
4 cups water

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan.
  2. Cook over medium heat until lumps disappear. Be sure to stir constantly!
  3. Knead until smooth.
  4. Store in an airtight container. 
 

January
Gingerbread

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tarter
Spices - Cinnamon, Allspice, Ginger, Nutmeg

1 cup water
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Food Coloring - green and red to form brown

  1. Mix the dry ingredients together.
  2. Mix the liquid ingredients together.
  3. Stir together the dry and liquid ingredients.
  4. Cook the mixture on low to medium heat for 3-5 minutes.  Stir constantly!
  5. Knead the dough until it is soft and smooth.
  6. Cool and store in an airtight container.

Makes enough for 2 balls of playdough, each fitting into a small butter tub.

December
Peppermint

3 cups flour
1 1/2 cup salt
6 tsp. cream of tarter
3 cups water
3 TBS oil
1 ounce peppermint extract (same as 3 1/2 TBS)
Drops of food coloring - red or green

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan.
  2. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly!
  3. Knead.
  4. Store in an airtight container. 

Makes enough for 6 balls of playdough, each fitting into a small butter tub.

 

March
Grape

1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 envelope grape Kool-Aid unsweetened drink mix
1 cup water
1 tablepspoon cooking oil

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan.
  2. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly!
  3. Knead.
  4. Store in an airtight container.

Makes enough for 2-3  balls of playdough, each fitting into a small butter tub

 

 

February
Red Vanilla

1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1 teaspoon cream of tarter

1 cup water
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
Few drops of red food coloring

1 Tablespoon imitation vanilla extract

  1. Mix the dry ingredients together.
  2. Mix the liquid ingredients together, except the vanilla..
  3. Stir together the dry and liquid ingredients.
  4. Cook the mixture on low to medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly!
  5. Stir in the vanilla.
  6. Knead the dough until it is soft and smooth.
  7. Cool and store in an airtight container.
 

May
Lavender Flower
(From: prekinders.com)

3 cups flour
2 cups water
3/4 cup salt
3 Tablespoons oil
3 Tablespoons cream of tarter

1/8 cup violet powdered tempera paint
15 drops of lavender flower essential oil
purple glitter

  1. Mix together the first five ingredients.
  2. Pour into a large pan and cook the mixture on medium heat.  Stir constantly until it pulls away from the sides and forms a ball.
  3. Knead until smooth, adding additional flour as necessary. 
  4. Add the tempera paint and approximately 15 drops of lavender essential oil. 
  5. Knead again.
  6. Add some purple glitter.
  7. Knead again.
  8. Cool and store in an airtight container. 

April
Orange

3 cups flour
1 1/2 cup salt
6 tsp. cream of tarter
3 cups water
3 TBS oil
1 ounce orange extract (same as 3 1/2 TBS)
Drops of food coloring - yellow and red to make orange

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan.
  2. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly!
  3. Knead.
  4. Store in an airtight container. 

Makes enough for 6  balls of playdough, each fitting into a small butter tub.

 

July
Blueberry

1 cup white flour
1/2 cup salt
2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup warm water
1 three ounce package blueberry Jello

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan.
  2. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly!
  3. Knead.
  4. Store in an airtight container. 

 

 

June
Strawberry

1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 envelope strawberry Kool-Aid unsweetened drink mix
1 cup water
1 tablepspoon cooking oil

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan.
  2. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly!
  3. Knead.
  4. Store in an airtight container. 

Makes enough for 2-3  balls of playdough, each fitting into a small butter tub.

 

Monthly Sensory Tub Ideas

Discovery through play and exploration!  Below you can see suggested sensory items to place in the monthly bin.

(Please remember to keep a close watch on little ones while they interact with these materials, especially ones who still tend to place items in their mouths.)

August
sand, shells, beach pail, shovel, starfish, magnifying glass, funnel, etc.

September
shredded paper (to tear)

October
decorative leaves, mini pumpkins, mini gourds, artificial sunflower blossoms, acorns, tongs, small cloth bags, baskets, and containers of varying sizes, muffin tin or other sorting tray, etc.

November
field corn - dried corn cobs, measuring spoons and cups, large funnel, etc.

December
Various types of pasta (such as mostaccicli, rotini, bowties, shells, and ziti) colored with food coloring and rubbing alcohol, small storage containers with lids, measuring scoops, tongs, large serving spoons, pie tins, inexpensive holiday tray, etc.

January
Styrofoam packing peanuts, measuring cups, muffin tins,  large and small spoons, discarded food box and food cans with lids, big bowl, medium sized bowl, small bowl, etc.

February
colored sand,  mini teapot and teacups, bottom of a spray bottle (resembles a small jar), small strainer, etc.

March
colored rice, measuring cups, wooden spoons, muffin tins, mixing bowl, funnel, small plastic bottles, etc.

 

April
oatmeal, plastic eggs, confetti, small muffin tins, etc.

May
seeds of various kinds, flower pot, fake flowers, trowel, planting shovel, etc

June
bubble water, sailboat, plastic ball, plastic water animals, water mill, squeeze bottle, sponge, water can, Noah's Ark and animals, etc.

July
different sizes and colors of pom poms, ice cream bowls, scoop, tongs, ice cube tray, etc.