Activities

Provide containers labeled with large photographs or with a real item such as a LEGO® DUPLO® block. As the children are cleaning up, point out the labels and assist in finding the right place for toys to be put away.

Encourage the children to complete a more difficult puzzle.

Provide a variety of puzzles for the children to complete in the math center. Encourage them to talk about their process for fitting the pieces together.

Draw a large picture of an object, such as a bear, boat or duck. Cut the item in parts for each child to have a piece. Outline the picture to use as a puzzle frame. Place the puzzle outline on the floor.

Encourage the children to work cooperatively to complete a floor puzzle. The children will collaboratively complete the puzzle.

Collect a variety of old x-rays. Many hospitals or medical care facilities will be happy to give them to you. Cut them into various shapes.

Create homemade puzzles by cutting a placemat. Cut in as few or as many pieces as needed for your class. Encourage the children to work together to complete the puzzle of their choice.

Place different size PVC piping in the block center.  Observe the children using these items for building and constructing unique toys and tools.

Give the children PVC pipe that is at least 3" in diameter and some ping-pong balls.  Encourage them to connect the tubes and slide the balls inside them.

Collect a variety of PVC pipes and connectors. Encourage the children to figure out how to put the connectors on the ends of the pipes to connect them together.

Q is for Duck: An Alphabet Guessing Game by Mary Elting is a wacky alphabet book that gets children thinking and talking. It's perfect for small group reading and discussion.

Provide non-traditional tools for the children to use while at the art center. Instead of paintbrushes, encourage the children to use Q-tips®, their fingers, stamps, pieces of sponge or other materials as they work.

Create a question of the day.  The question should have a yes/no answer and lead to some type of conversation, reaction, interest, curiosity or simply make you laugh.

Have the children dictate answers to a questionnaire, such as a special book made for Mother's Day. Model as you write what the child says.

Use a cookie sheet or magnet board and up to five plain magnetic shapes – nothing fancy.

Use a cookie sheet or magnet board and up to five plain magnetic shapes – nothing fancy.

Tune: "London Bridge"
Let us quiet down again

down again

down again

Let us quiet down again

That's much better

Tune: "If You're Happy and You Know it"
Put your finger over your lip like this

Put your finger over your lip like this

Close your mouth with a zip

Put your finger over your lip

Put your finger over your lip like this  

Create a “feed me” puppet that resembles a robot. Gather a variety of different objects and have them at the table for the children to see. Introduce Rob to the children, talking in a robot voice.

Create a rabbit hole using a hula-hoop balanced on top of four cones during outdoor time. The children can pretend to be foxes and rabbits. The fox chases the rabbits and they must jump into their rabbit hole to keep safe.