Technology for preschoolers may sound like another way to disengage and sit in front of a screen. I mean, don’t kids have too much screen time already? Do we really want to add technology to the preschool classroom?
This post will show you my favorite ways to maintain the “Play to Learn” philosophy and embrace a bit of technology too!
Technology for Preschoolers During Circle Time
I’m lucky enough to have a Smartboard in my classroom. Over the years, I have learned to use my Smartboard for a lot of my daily routines. During circle time I use my Smartboard for daily weather. For instance, when we talk about the day’s weather, I like to use the site kidsweatherreport.com. This site uses your zip code and shows the daily weather by what the kids are wearing, not just the temperature. This is fantastic for Preschool and Pre-K kids who sometimes don’t recognize numbers, and cannot read yet. You don’t have to have a Smartboard, you can use your class computer, laptop, or even a tablet.
Another great resource for your computer or Smartboard is BOOM Cards from boom learning.com. I created a Letters and Sounds Boom deck that is the same as a printable Letters and Sounds Book I use for circle time. This BOOM deck gives me the flexibility to use the Letters and Sounds Book as a technology literacy center, or on the Smartboard for a whole-group experience. In addition to giving me some flexibility, if I need to go to distance learning later in the Fall, the kids will already be familiar with this activity and will be able to do it at home. You can find this resource on the Boom Learning site, or in my TPT store under Boom Cards Digital Circle Time: Letters & Sounds.
Technology for Preschoolers: Math
When it comes to bringing technology and math concepts together, I once again turn to BOOM Cards. Of course, I am all about using manipulatives and hands-on learning for math 90% of the time, but let’s face it…we are in the digital age! Some kids learn best by being active, some need music. Then there are those who like messy experiences to really understand a concept. Some…well some like the independence and autonomy of playing a game on a screen.
When Covid-19 took us out of the classroom, I scrambled to find ways to keep math hands-on for my kiddos. Boom cards got rave reviews from parents and kids alike! The kids learned under the guise of playing a “game”, and the parents got a break from instruction and entertainment. The best part is, that you can use boom cards on your Smartboard for whole-group instruction and activities. Then, you also have the opportunity to bring them into math center time!
One of my favorite interactive math games on BOOM Cards is “Feed the _____ Animals”. I created the above game for my rainforest theme. For this counting 1-10 game, the kids listen to the red-eyed tree frog tell them how many pieces of sushi to feed his friends. The kids then drag and drop the adorable sushi to feed the sloth, jaguar, and tiger.
The best part of the whole thing? It is a self-correcting game! Too much sushi and the kids hear an “oops” while the surplus sushi is whisked away. Too little? The game won’t let you advance until you get it right. Also, if you pay for a membership, you have access to the results data for every game assigned!
Technology for Preschoolers: Literacy
I love to use a variety of technology resources to enhance my literacy curriculum. The above pictures are from BOOM Cards I created for my class. Just like with Math and circle Time, they give me another way to reach and teach every student, plus they offer the flexibility of whole-group, Centers, and independent learning. But, my all-time favorite literacy resource using technology is the ABCMouse Letter Songs! If you aren’t incorporating these into your weekly routine…start now! I wouldn’t last a day without them! My kids LOVE the songs! And, since I am the one preschool teacher on the planet that hates to sing…they save me! Just look them up on YouTube! You won’t regret it!
Bringing Science and Technology for Preschoolers Together
There are a LOT of fantastic science videos available on YouTube for your preschoolers. Just about every theme and subject will have a wide variety of fantastic resources to enhance your science curriculum. What Was missing for me were age-appropriate lessons and activities for either whole-group or small group centers.
Once again, Covid-19 forced me to create my own BOOM Cards lessons for my classes. Since I couldn’t be in front of my kiddos teaching, I recorded facts about planets, animals, and whatever we were learning. Then I asked questions they could answer on an iPad, phone or computer. Now I have a library of “Facts and Quiz” BOOM Cards decks on just about every theme! Not only do the kids love them, but during distance learning, I felt like I had a way to teach my kiddos without a torturous Zoom meeting!
Google Classroom is a godsend to a lot of my teacher friends, as is flip grid, seesaw, and Zoom. I am relaying what has worked for me and for that special population of 3-5 year-olds who have a short attention span, but a love for learning and an insatiable curiosity. However you use technology in your preschool classroom or even if you don’t, I hope you can see that it is yet another tool in our toolbox to teach our littlest learners and give them a great start!
