Activities

Provide the children with pictures of different items that are similar but not exact, such as different types of fish, dogs, flowers, cats and people. Encourage the children to match the pictures.

Use old calendar pictures with animals, bright scenery or other engaging pictures. Look at them with the children, talking about what they like and what makes them laugh or smile.

Give the children a big book with large pictures and simple words such as Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan.

Show the children a variety of pictures. Have them complete a statement for each one using the word “because.” “He is holding an umbrella because....” “She is laughing because....This could be done in large group.

Use a picture schedule on the wall for the children to follow events. To make it fun, use pictures of the children and a clip or magnet that moves to each segment of the day.

Let the children use a digital camera to take pictures of different things around the center or school. Download the pictures and let the children tell about the pictures they took.

Prior to reading a book, provide an opportunity for the children to look at the front cover of the book and predict what they think it might be about.

Choose a book and guide a discussion about the pictures before reading the story. Introduce new vocabulary as appropriate.

Display pictures of famous buildings and structures from around the world in the block center.

While in the writing center use construction paper and stampers, have children create a border/frame with their stampers on the paper. Then have them draw a picture inside the frame. Be sure to discuss how the picture and the border do not touch.

During large group, read Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems. Discuss how the pigeon feels. Show pictures of the pigeon and label them with words such as frustrated or perplexed. Invite children to copy pigeon's expressions.

Read The Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo Willems. Ask questions about the story. “Look at this picture of Pigeon. Do you think he needs a bath? Why do you think that?” or “Pigeon doesn't want to take a bath.

Add plastic containers with lids that the children can decorate to make their own penny banks in the art center.

Read I'm A Pill Bug by Yukihisa Tokuda. During outdoor time, have the children look for pill bugs (roly pollies) under rocks or next to the foundation of the school.

Place an object in an empty pillow case. Have a child feel inside the case to guess the object. Encourage them to use descriptive words such as hard, soft, furry or bumpy.

Place an object in an empty pillow case and have the children feel inside the case to guess the object. Encourage them to use descriptive words such as “hard,” “soft,” “furry” or “bumpy.” After the children have guessed, show them the object.

During outdoor time, designate a leader and a timekeeper and determine a finish line. The leader secretly hides pennies while the other players have their backs turned. The timekeeper waits at the finish line to judge which player is first.

Pass a pineapple around large group and give the children the opportunity to feel its texture. Create a word splash to capture some of the descriptive words children generate such as prickly, hard, rough and rigid.This could be done in large group.

During outdoor time, encourage the children to launch ping-pong balls with a class-made lever. Use a yard stick, a coffee can to support and prop up the yard stick and a clear container of ping-pong balls. Tape a bowl to one end of the yard stick.

Take pipe cleaners and twist them into shapes that resemble fish. Take additional pipe cleaners and make a hook on the end of each one. Place the fish in a plastic container and have the children use their hooks to catch fish.