Activities to Use with Joyful Heart Learning
Themed Lessons for 2's

The following are descriptions and printables for some of the activities used within the Joyful Heart 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.

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

Month Memory Verse(s) 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

Monthly Playdough Recipes

Some of these recipes were collected from the internet. 
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!

Month Recipe 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 Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly! Knead. Store in an airtight container. Makes enough for 3 balls of playdough, each fitting into a small butter tub. 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 Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly! Knead. 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 Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until lumps disappear. Be sure to stir constantly! Knead until smooth. 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) Mix the dry ingredients together. Mix the liquid ingredients together. Stir together the dry and liquid ingredients - quickly. Cook the mixture on low  heat until the dough forms a ball. Knead. Cool and store in an airtight container. 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 Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly! Knead. Store in an airtight container.  Makes enough for 6 balls of playdough, each fitting into a small butter tub. 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 Mix the dry ingredients together. Mix the liquid ingredients together. Stir together the dry and liquid ingredients. Cook the mixture on low to medium heat for 3-5 minutes.  Stir constantly! Knead the dough until it is soft and smooth. Cool and store in an airtight container. Makes enough for 2 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 Mix the dry ingredients together. Mix the liquid ingredients together, except the vanilla.. Stir together the dry and liquid ingredients. Cook the mixture on low to medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly! Stir in the vanilla. Knead the dough until it is soft and smooth. Cool and store in an airtight container. 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 Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly! Knead. Store in an airtight container. Makes enough for 2-3 balls of playdough, each fitting into a small butter tub. 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 Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly! Knead. Store in an airtight container.  Makes enough for 6 balls of playdough, each fitting into a small butter tub. 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 Mix together the first five ingredients. 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. Knead until smooth, adding additional flour as necessary. Add the tempera paint and approximately 15 drops of lavender flower essential oil Knead again. Add some purple glitter. Knead again. Cool and 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 Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly! Knead. Store in an airtight container.  Makes enough for 2-3 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 Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan. Be sure to stir constantly! Knead. Store in an airtight container.

Monthly Sensory Tub Ideas

Discovery through play and exploration!

Month Sensory Items August   Sand, shells, beach pail, shovel, starfish, rake, 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 November   Field corn - dried corn cobs, measuring spoons and cups, large funnel   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 spoon, discarded food box and food cans with lids, big bowl, medium sized bowl, small bowl   February   Colored sand,  mini teapot and teacups, bottom of a spray bottle (looks like a small jar), small strainer   March   Colored rice, measuring cups, wooden spoons, muffin tins, mixing bowl, funnel, small plastic bottles   April Oatmeal, plastic eggs, confetti, small muffin tins 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   July Different sizes and colors of pom poms, ice cream bowls, scoop, tongs, ice cube tray