Activities

Place a tunnel in the room or on the playground. Encourage the children to crawl through the tunnel one at a time.

Sing this fun song with the children to the tune of “I Wish I Had a Little Red Box”:
I wish I had a little red box

to carry my ____(child's name) in.

After reading a new book, such as Pete the Cat: Rock On Mom and Dad by James Dean, ask for a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down.” Explain making a fist with your thumb pointing up means you agree or that your answer is “yes.” Thumbs down means “no.

Create picture cards showing appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. Show the cards in a large group. Ask the children to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down if the behavior is acceptable or unacceptable using the classroom rules as a reference.

Provide opportunities for the children to express how they feel about activities, books, songs and meals using thumbs up/thumbs down. Ask, “Did you like that book? If yes, give me a thumbs up. If no, give me a thumbs down.

Encourage the children to give gestures of approval, such as a thumbs-up or a pat on the back, when they see someone do well.

Draw a colorful picture of a tree on butcher paper. Cut the picture in three or four pieces and tape the pieces to individual soft blocks. The children should be able to put the tree together by stacking the blocks in order.

Tune: "Frere Jacques"
Time for centers, time for centers

Choose one now, boys and girls

Science, math or play dough

Writing, blocks or puzzles

Choose one now, boys and girls

(use books, games…)

Tune: "Oh, My Darling, Clementine" Time for circle, time for circle
Oh, it's circle time again
Time to gather on the carpet
As we sit beside our friends
Time for circle, time for circle
Oh, it's circle time again

As you prepare to go outside, go to one cubby at a time and take a jacket. Ask, "Whose jacket is this?" Pause to give the children time to identify their jackets and respond.

Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" 
Twinkle, twinkle little star

Time to clean up where you are

Put each toy back in its place

Keep a smile upon your face

Twinkle, twinkle little star

Time to clean up where you

Tune: "Mary Had a Little Lamb"
Now it's time to read a book, 

read a book, read a book

Now it's time to read a book

Let's gather with our friends
(sing some songs, exercise, play a game…)

Hold the infant in your lap and read Time to Get Dressed! by Elivia Savadier. This book offers a great opportunity to point to and talk about the different items we put on to get dressed.

Tune: "Mary Had a Little Lamb" 
Now it's time to go outside, 

go outside, go outside

Now it's time to go outside

What will you do today?
Will you ride a trike today, 

trike today, trike today

Will you ride

Tune: "Frere Jacques" 
Hello, Jessica

Hello, Jessica

How are you, how are you

Time to go outside, time to go outside

please line up, please line up

Songs are great ways to help children access prior knowledge. Teach this song in large group and practice on the playground, during outdoor time. Children will have a handy way to remember what to do when it's time to come inside.

Tune: "London Bridge" 
Time to put our work away, 

work away, work away,

Time to put our work away, 

so we can play outside.

Bring in a typewriter and demonstrate how to use it in the writing center.  Encourage the children to type some words from word cards.

When you want the children to come to the rug for story time or other large group activity, sing this transition song to the tune of “Sing a Song of Sixpence”: It's time to watch and listen;
We're going to read a book

Involve several small groups of children in playing in separate areas on the playground such as swings, the slide or the jungle gym.  Encourage working together so all have play opportunities within a given time frame.