Activities

Read Sun: Jump Into Science by Steve Tomecek. Give the children two sheets of black construction paper and let them choose six small items that can fi t on their paper.

During outdoor time, create an outdoor café that only serves “weatherrelated” meals on the menu. For example, children can sit down and order rainy rice, tornado cookies or cloudy potatoes.

Have a basket with precut shapes of suns and snowflakes. Divide a piece of chart paper into two columns with a sun on one column anda snowflake on the other.

Supply skin-colored paper, bags, markers, paint, yarn and newspaper for the children to create 3-D sculptures of themselves in the art center. Display the sculptures throughout the classroom.

Gather pieces of silky fabric, such as nylon or polyester, and provide them for children to use when playing. These will quickly become superhero capes, boas and tails.This could be done in small group.

Make 2 large dice by using 12" x 12" inch cardboard boxes. Choose two children, one to roll each of the die. Have the children determine which one rolled more, less or the same.

Sit on the floor with the infant. Support the infant in the seated position using your body and legs. Place objects/toys in front of you and the infant, encouraging the infant to reach for and play with the toys.

Tune: "I'm a Little Teapot"
What's in the surprise sack

Who can tell?

Maybe it's a book, or maybe it's a shell

What's in the surprise sack

Who can see?

It's something special for you and me!

Support the children as they create sculptures with clay and play dough. Add interesting textures such as small rocks, pipe cleaners or twigs. Have them describe and tell stories about their creations. This can be done in small group.

Create a survey question posted in the classroom weekly. Keep it simple so that the children can express their opinions with a “yes” or “no” answer.

You will need butcher paper and fly swatters. Place numerals zero through 10 on butcher paper, and hang the paper on the wall. Make sure all the numerals are repeated. Line the children up in two lines.

Play soft music, swaying back and forth with the infant. This can be done sitting on the floor or standing and holding the infant.

Use masking tape to make a square on the tile. Have the children use small brooms to sweep all the dirt into the square. Then assist them by holding the dustpan and sweeping the dirt up.

Cut small slices of lime for the children to taste. Write down the words the children say, such as sour and yucky.

As a sensory activity, have the children taste various fruits that are sweet or sour. Let them pick the fruits they want to taste. As the children taste the fruit, identify whether the fruit is sweet or sour. Say, "You are tasting a lemon.

Place the infant close to you in your arms and swing him/her gently back and forth, then bring the infant close to you for snuggle time. While doing this, sing a song quietly such as "You Are My Sunshine" or "Hush, Little Baby.

Provide newspaper and magazines in the reading area. Encourage the children to cut words into separate syllables and include them in their artwork.

Using picture cards of common items, have the children clap or stomp the syllables with you. For example, “mon-key” gets two claps.

While playing Hopscotch during outdoor time, encourage the children to choose a word, then hop one space for each syllable in the word.

Read Could I Sit On A Cloud? by Kay Barnham. Talk about the characteristics of clouds and then help the children make their own clouds. Cover a table with several towels to absorb any spilled water.