Activities

Play “Teacher Says” with the children by giving them directions to go to places in the room. Say, “Ms. Nancy says, ‘Walk or point to the reading area,' or Ms. Nancy says, ‘Walk or point to where we eat lunch'.

Lie next to the infant during tummy time. While the infant is exploring the area, use parallel talk to describe what the infant is doing. For example, say, “Rachel, I see you stretching your legs. Now you're looking at your hands.

Encourage the children to build a block structure as a team without talking. Provide picture cards for building ideas in the block center.

Give each child a piece of PVC pipe. Have him/her add to the structure you are building to make a large group structure. Take it apart and start again.

Have the children build structures from milk jugs, large cartons and boxes in the block center. The children will need to work together to build something that stands up and balances.

Read the book Teamwork Isn't My Thing, and I Don't Like to Share! By Julia Cook. Have the children talk about how they can work together during class activities. They can draw pictures and use them to make a class book.

Create a sensory center tub that the children can visit when they get angry or frustrated. Place old magazines for them to tear and shred into the tub. This helps the children relieve some of their frustrations.

Give the children newspaper or tissue paper. Encourage them to tear the paper into pieces.

Add a keyboard, an old laptop or an adding machine to the dramatic play area and encourage the children to use it as part of play.

Graph technological devices that are used by the children and their families. For example, a cell phone, computer, iPod and iPad. Explain the purpose of each. This could be done in large group.

Sing “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around” and encourage the children to turn and move.

Give each child a stuffed bear. Ask him/her to hold one “hand” of the stuffed animal and one hand with another child as they all walk around in a circle singing this song:
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around.

Plan a large group by Inviting the children to bring in their favorite stuffed bear. Have some extras on hand for those who forget.

Sing the following song with the children and encourage them to do the movements: Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around!
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground!
Teddy bear, teddy bear, jump up high!

Teddy bear, teddy bear turn around, 
(children turn in circle)

Teddy bear, teddy bear touch the ground,
(children touch the floor)

Teddy bear, teddy bear go upstairs
(children pretend to walk up stairs

Several days before the lesson, send home empty, tiny containers, such as film canisters, with the children along with directions to fill them with things that are “tiny.” Give some examples: pennies, grains of rice and a Barbie shoe.

Give the children old cell phones and tell them a topic of conversation. Encourage them to talk to each other using the phones as props. Remind them to take turns and to listen to the other person as they are speaking.

Provide a variety of play telephones to use in the classroom. Have the children use the phones to express how they feel. Encourage the children to call a friend and tell the friend about it.

During outdoor time, poke a hole in the bottom of two plastic cups, place a piece of string in the bottom of one cup and tie knots at the end of the string to keep the string from coming out.

Poke a hole in the bottom of two plastic cups, place a piece of string in the bottom of one cup and tie knots at the end of the string to keep the string from coming out. Thread the string through the bottom of the other cup and tie a knot.