Activities

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.

While reading How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long to the class, pause and ask the children to look at the characters' faces on each page and identify the characters' feelings.

Partially fill a sensory tub with water. Provide a variety of pitchers or teapots. Have the children fill them with water and practice pouring it into cups. Be available to help if needed. Provide paper towels for the children to clean up spills.

Create a Pizza Making prop box and place it in the dramatic play area. Using felt or construction paper make various shapes of items used for pizza toppings such as circle pepperoni, triangle cheeses, rectangle ham or circle cherry tomatoes.

Tell the children, “We are going to make a pizza!” Give each child a large piece of play dough. Provide pizza cutters, rolling pins and “toppings.” You can have the children create their own “toppings” with different colors of play dough.

Create a pizza parlor in the dramatic play area. Introduce new vocabulary, such as “cashier,” “server” and “order pad,” as well as the names of different pizza toppings.

Create a placemat with each child's picture on it. Before meals, have the children find their placemat and put it at their spot at the table.

Assist the children in planning a party, such as an “unbirthday” party or “It's finally spring” party. Brainstorm supplies needed. Have children plan games to play. Determine if the party will be in the classroom, outside or at a nearby park.

Read From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons.  Talk to the children about how a plant grows.  Give them the opportunity to select and plant seeds to watch them grow.