Activities

Have the children repeat this chant after you:
Oonguy (Oonguy), Moonguy (Moonguy)

Chicka, Chicka Choonguy (Chicka, Chicka Choonguy).

(Snap your fingers as you repeat the chant)

Miss Sue, Miss Sue,

Miss Sue from Alabama, 

Sitting in her rocker

Eating Betty CRocker

Watching the clock go

Tick, tock, tick, tock

Banana rock,

Oosha mama, o

Provide several clean plastic containers with lids that are hinged so they open and close easily. Containers that wipes come in work well for this purpose. Show the children how to open and close the lid. Encourage them to repeat the action.

Read Open the Barn Door by Christopher Santoro. This is a board book with sturdy flaps. Encourage the children to turn the pages and lift the flaps. The hidden pictures keep it interesting.

Open, shut them,
open, shut them
(open and close fingers)
Open, shut them,
open, shut them
(open and close fingers)
Give a litte clap
(clap hands together)
Put them in your lap

Give the children the game “Operation” to play in the math center. Teach the children how careful you have to be not to touch the edges or the buzzer will sound.

Gather several textured items such as a soft block, a wooden block, a sensory ball, smooth paper and a soft blanket. Model descriptive language, such as “This is a squishy block. It's soft.

Give the children order pads in the dramatic play area. Have the children sit at the table and order food. Encourage the children to write down the orders.

Create a book with photos of the children in the classroom. When discussing who is present that day ask, “Who is not here today? That's right. Jason is not at school today.” Show the children Jason's picture. Say, “He's at home.

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.

Engage the children in growing a vegetable or flower garden. Taking care of and maintaining the plants in the garden will provide many opportunities for rich, meaningful conversations throughout the year.

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.

During outdoor time, set up a sensory table for the children to make a “car wash.” They can bring a toy car or truck to the car wash. Provide pretend money to use for paying.

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.

Engage the children in creating a digital story about your school or center's outdoor play rules. During outdoor time, involve the children in taking photographs with a digital camera.