Activities

During large group, play some lively music and have the children move around freely in an open space. When the music stops, the children freeze and listen for you to call out a number “Four!” Then they quickly get into groups of four.

Play some lively music and have the children move around freely in an open space. When the music stops, the children freeze and listen for you to call out a number “Four!” Then they quickly get into groups of four.

Provide a small basket or box with a variety of graspable objects. Items can include rattles and hand toys. Encourage the infant to explore the objects from the basket or box as you demonstrate how to grasp, shake or squeeze the objects.

Play the song "Animal Actions" by Greg & Steve from the Kids in Motion CD. Act out the movements as directed in the song.

Place a blanket on the floor with a toy duck in the middle. Sit on the floor in front of the blanket with the infant in your lap. Pointing to the duck say, "Would you like to hold the duck? Let's get the duck. We can grab the blanket and pull.

During large group, read Move! By Robin Page. Give the children the opportunity to move like the animals in the book. Write the different characteristics of each animal on chart paper to contrast and compare.

Two little feet go: tap, tap, tap

Two little hands go: clap, clap , clap

Two little arms go: up in the air

Two little eyes go: blink, blink, blink

One little body turns around

One little child sits quietly down

Create a memory game with human body part cards. During small group, as the children find a match, have them demonstrate how they use the body part.

Provide mats and relaxing music for yoga in dramatic play center. Demonstrate for the the children “earth-like” poses such as the rock pose or tree pose. Have the children think of things they notice in the environment to create their own pose.

Magnets repel one another when like poles are aligned. Provide each student with two magnetic wands or other magnets. Demonstrate how the magnets will stick together one way but not the other.

Engage the children with music and movement by participating in the “Cha Cha Slide” or the “Electric Slide" during large group.

Engage the children with music and movement by participating in the “Cha Cha Slide” or the “Electric Slide. This could be done in large group.

Encourage the children to talk about illustrations as you take a picture walk through Dr. Seuss' Mr.

Create puppets to teach counting skills.  These characters will regularly make mistakes that the children will delight in correcting.  Give you puppet a silly name such as Mr. Mix Up.

During large group sing this chant with the children: I have a hungry friend. His name is Mr. Munch. And what he likes to do all day Is gobble up his lunch. He likes the letter ____.

Cut flannelboard pieces to resemble a large Mr. Potato Head. Have the children add parts to Mr. Potato Head and name them.

Read Mrs. Muddle's Holidays by Laura F. Nielsen. Create a chart of the children's responses to the question, “if you could invent a new holiday, what holiday would you invent?” This could be done in large group.

Read Mrs. Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley. Collect flannel board pieces for cow, duck, three mud puddles and three tin tubs. Retell the story by placing each animal in the tub and then in the mud puddle.

Provide large plastic animals and a tub of dirt. Let the children place the animals in the dirt and observe how they move. Add water to the dirt.

Give children dirt, water and ice cube trays.  Encourage them to mix together the dirt and water to a firm consistency.  Add to ice cube trays to  "set."  Allow to dry some.  Have the children carefully remove the bricks from the trays.