Teaching Big and Small to Preschoolers

Join the Kokotree friends for an enlightening adventure in the jungle, where they learn the fascinating differences between big and small.

Understanding “big” and “small” concepts is crucial for preschoolers’ cognitive development and helps them learn preschool math. This blog post provides effective strategies to teach these concepts in a fun and engaging way.

1. Use Everyday Objects: Start with familiar objects like toys, books, or fruits. Ask your child to identify which is big and which is small. This helps them relate the concepts to their daily life.
2. Play Sorting Games: Create a game where children sort objects into two groups: big and small. Use items like blocks, balls, or stuffed animals. This activity enhances their comparison and categorization skills.
3. Incorporate Storytime: Read books that emphasize size differences. Look for stories with characters or objects that are distinctly big or small. Discuss the size differences as you read.
4. Engage in Outdoor Activities: Take learning outside. Point out big and small natural things, like trees, rocks, or leaves. This makes the learning experience more dynamic and memorable.
5. Use Visual Aids: Create flashcards with images of big and small objects. Use these cards to play matching games or as prompts for size discussion.
6. Encourage Art Projects: Have children draw or craft big and small versions of the same object. This allows them to express their understanding creatively.
7. Integrate Technology: Utilize educational apps or videos that focus on size concepts. Interactive media can reinforce learning in a fun way.

What is the Big and Small episode all about?

In this engaging episode, the English teacher, Elizabeth, takes the children through the jungle. She points out various objects and animals, emphasizing their sizes. The children see big and small plants, rocks, trees, and animals, learning to use the words big and small to describe them. The highlight of their adventure is comparing a small baby deer with its much larger mother, illustrating the concept of size difference.

This is the episode where:

• Jungle Exploration with Elizabeth: The episode opens with Elizabeth guiding the children through the jungle, introducing them to various objects and animals. She helps them observe and learn the real-life examples of big and small.
• Learning Size Differences: As they journey through the jungle, the children engage with different elements of nature, learning to identify and describe their sizes. This hands-on approach makes learning about size both fun and educational.
• Engaging Visuals and Interaction: Throughout the episode, vibrant visuals and direct interaction with the viewers effectively teach the concept of size. The immersive visual storytelling keeps the children captivated.
• The Story of Looka and Shoomy: A highlight of the episode is the folktale about Looka the Lion and Shoomy the Mouse. Despite their size differences, Looka learns valuable lessons from the small but wise Shoomy. This story within the episode beautifully illustrates that size does not define one’s abilities or the capacity for friendship and cooperation.

Benefits of the Big and Small video for preschoolers

• Concept of Size: Children learn to recognize and compare the sizes of different objects, enhancing their counting and observational skills.
• Introduction to Synonyms: The episode introduces synonyms, teaching that ‘big’ can mean ‘large’ but also ‘huge’ or ‘giant.’
• Compassion and Friendship: The video teaches compassion and understanding differences through its story.
• Reasoning and Creativity: The episode fosters critical thinking, memory, and creativity, encouraging children to imagine and create.

What did we learn?

• The episode teaches children how to observe and describe objects based on size.
• It shows that size is an essential concept in understanding the world.
• The narrative encourages children to use descriptive language and enhances their cognitive skills.

Big and small storytime with a moral

The episode also includes a story time segment where Elizabeth narrates a tale about Looka the Lion and Shoomy the Mouse. In this story, despite his initial skepticism about their size difference, Looka the Lion learns that even a small mouse like Shoomy can be a great help. This tale beautifully illustrates that no matter how big or small, everyone can make a significant impact.

Moral of the Big and Small story

The story teaches a valuable lesson about kindness, cooperation, and how appearances can be deceiving. It encourages children to appreciate everyone, regardless of their size, and highlights that even the smallest creatures can achieve great things.

Explore & Grow: Fun Size-Based Activities

• Size Sort Game: Using household objects or cut straws, help your child sort items into ‘big’ and ‘small’ categories, gradually introducing synonyms.
• Size Hunt Game: Explore outdoors, comparing objects to parts of the body, enhancing observational skills.
• Coloring Book: Use the Kokotree coloring book to reinforce the lesson visually.
• Five Finger Retell: Engage your child in recalling the story through fun questions about characters, setting, events, and their favorite parts.
• Storytelling: Encourage your child to retell the story in their own words, enhancing oral language skills.
• Story Reenacting: Let your child act out the story, fostering imagination and checking comprehension.

What a big adventure, right?

The episode wraps up with Elizabeth summarizing the important lessons learned about the big and small things in the jungle. She encourages the children to be kind to others, reminding them that kindness can come back in unexpected ways.

Teaching big and small concepts to preschoolers can be a delightful experience. By incorporating these strategies into your teaching routine, you can help children grasp these essential concepts effectively. Remember to keep the learning process fun and interactive to maintain their interest and enthusiasm.