Activities

In the science center, provide small, clear cups of primary-colored water for the children to pour, observing the liquids mixing together.

Sit in front of a mirror as you read My First Body Board Book by DK Publishing. Hold the infantin your lap and show him/her the pictures. Encourage the infant to touch his/her body parts as you read.

Provide a selection of familiar books including The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, The Snowman by Raymond Briggs and From Head to Toe by Eric Carle. Have the children select a book to “read” to a stuffed animal or to a classmate.

Using pictures of the community, have the children identify and describe businesses and activities in the photos. Write their responses on chart paper and post them with the pictures. This could be done in large group.

For the children who struggle with transitions, have a file folder with an individual daily schedule each child can follow. Take pictures of the children ahead of time, at each time of the day, so it is an actual pictures of them.

Send home fire evacuation plans, and have families help their children complete the plan for their home. Ask the families to return the plan to class.

Using a picture or an album of the infant's family, ask, “Where is Mommy? Where is Daddy?” The infant may respond by pointing, looking or babbling.

Have families bring in an assortment of family photos. Point to specific family members in the photos and have the children identify the family member. Talk to the children about their relationships to each family member.

Lead the group in the song “My Family” to the tune of “The Muffin Man.” Include a child's name and what he/she likes to do with his/her family.
Tell me what you like to do,

like to do, like to do.

Lead the group in the song “My Family.” Sing to the tune of “The Muffin Man.” Include a child's name and what he/she likes to do with his/her family. Tell me what you like to do, like to do, like to do. Tell me what you like to do with your family.

Have the children bring in a picture of their favorite food. As a small or large group activity, sort the pictures into foods that are healthy and foods that are not healthy.

Place a variety of objects, such as blocks, soft books, rattles and stuffed animals, within reach of the infant. Provide time and support as the infant chooses the toy he/she wants to pick up and play with. Say, "You chose the rattle, Jacob.

Have the children remove their shoes and trace their feet. Then have them cut out their foot tracings to compare with the rest of the group.

After reading Steve Jenkins's My First Day, provide the children with art materials and encourage them to draw and dictate to you their experience from the first day of school.

Read My Five Senses by Aliki. This book teaches children what the five senses are and how they can experience the world with their eyes, ears, nose, hands and tongue.This could be done in large group.

Read aloud a repetitive book such as My Friends by Taro Gomi. Afterwards, encourage the children to respond to the book by completing the sentence, “I learned to ______ from my friend, the ______.”  This could be done in small group.

Invite visitors to the classroom on a regular basis. For example, on Grandparent's Day, invite grandparents or other older adults in the children's lives to visit.

My hands upon my head I'll place. 

Upon my shoulders, on my face,

At my waist, and by my side 

Then behind me they will hide.

Recite this chant and encourage the children to copy you and do the motions.
My hands are for clapping,
My arms can hug tight.
My fingers can snap
or turn out the light.

Send home a note with a poster board to the family about one week before you plan to share posters.