Activities

Have family members of the children or have community volunteers visit the class and share information about their culture. This could be done in large group.

Have family members of the children or have community volunteers visit the class and share information about their culture.  This could be done in large group.

Create a line with chalk or tape on the floor, and place a picture of two choices (red or green apples, milk or juice). Have the children stand next to their choice. Say, "I see more friends chose red apples than green apples.

Take a book bag stocked with a variety of books for the children to read and use during outdoor time.

Use ten bowling pins or ten plastic two liter bottles set up as bowling pins. Have children roll a ball and knock down the pins. Once the child knocks down the pins have him count how many pins he knocked down or count how many pins are left.

Encourage children to collect a variety of items from outside, such as pinecones, sticks, rocks and leaves, to make bridges in the sand area, during outdoor time.

Make up a class chant and have the children recite it to review the classroom rules when lining up for outdoor time.

Encourage the children to bring an outdoor natural item from home. During outdoor time, have the children try to find an item on the playground that is similar in size or weight.

Encourage the children to make up stories about things they see, such as the milk truck leaving the school's cafeteria. Ask questions to spark their thinking.

Invite the children to select an instrument. Explore “outdoor sounds and indoor sounds.” Have the children play loudly during outdoor time and quietly indoors.

During outside play, provide a radio or a CD player with music for the infants to listen to.

During outdoor time, using rhythm sticks, have students make music by tapping on different objects outside. Have them compare differences in sounds. Tapping on a fence makes a “clinking” sound. Tapping on a big tree makes a “thunking” sound.

During outdoor time, create an obstacle course for the children to practice following directions and moving about in various ways.

Take a variety of paintbrushes outside. Provide water for the children to “paint” with. The children can paint on any available surface because the water will evaporate.

During outdoor time, provide a number of floor puzzles for the children to work on while outside.

Provide a number of floor puzzles for the children to work on during outdoor time.

Encourage children to rest outdoors during nap time. Encourage children to use their senses by asking questions about what they hear, see, feel and smell, during outdoor time.

During outdoor time, visit different areas with the children. Ask them to come up with two or three outdoor rules. Discuss the importance of following the rules to stay safe and keep from being hurt. Post the rules outside with picture cues.

During outdoor time, visit different areas with the children. Ask them to come up with two or three outdoor rules. Discuss the importance of following the rules to stay safe and keep from being hurt. Post the rules outside with pictures cues.

On a windy day provide children with scarves and invite them to move like the wind during outdoor time.