Activities

Show the children a variety of timers, such as a sand timer, a stopwatch and a kitchen timer, and explain that these things let us know when time has gone by.

Provide pre-cut tin foil pieces in various lengths, sizes and shapes. You will also need markers and masking tape. Have the children create 2-D or 3-D designs with the materials.

Fill boxes with items such as nuts and bolts, screws, old phone parts, calculators, springs, tubes and pvc pipes. During outdoor time, encourage the children to build their own devices.

Have golf pencils and smaller pieces of paper available at the writing center. Encourage the children to write tiny letters and draw tiny pictures for their friends.

Set up your dramatic play area to be a school. Give the children props such as notebooks and pencils or chalkboards with chalk. Encourage one child to be the teacher and the other children to be the students.

Help the children visualize 3-D shapes by taking apart some cardboard boxes and putting them back together again. A cube-shaped tissue box is a good place to start. Gather enough boxes so each child in small group can have one.

After reading In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming, create a set of small stick puppets for retelling. Glue pictures of each of the animals on the ends of craft sticks.

Give each child a tissue and have them place it on their head. Play music of different tempos and have the children dance in their own way. The only rule is to not let their tissue fall to the ground. This could be done in large group.

You will need sheets of tissue paper or newspaper and empty water bottles. Have the children tear the tissue paper into pieces, then roll it into balls small enough to fit into the water bottle. Continue to tear and fill the bottle.

Before you read a book, such as Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox, introduce the terms title, author and illustrator to the children.

Before going outside, ask the children to pretend that the playground is actually someplace completely different, such as the moon. Ask the children questions about what that would mean. Continue prompting to get more details.

Read the book, Toast to Family by Sandra Gross. Give prompts and ask the children to tell you about who lives in their house.

Gather paper doll cutouts and white paper for each child. At the top of the paper write, “Today I Am….” Read My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss. Have the children glue their paper dolls onto their paper.

When a special event happens, such as when a visitor comes to the class, prepare the children by talking about the change in the schedule.

Create a newsroom set in your classroom.  Include a video camera and other props such as, play microphones, press passes, and dress up clothes.  Encourage children to take turns  to be interviewee, the reporter and the camera operator.

Create a song “die” cube out of a square tissue box. Place song titles and picture cues on each side of the box. Ask a child to roll the die and lead the group in singing the song that results. Encourage the other children to join in.

Provide a variety of paint colors and tools such

as brushes of different sizes, paper towel rolls, sponges, rollers and paper. Encourage the children to explore and use the paints and tools to create their own unique masterpieces.

Have the children practice yoga poses such as Downward Dog, Child's Pose, Cat and Cow. These are great stretches that often help relax the body for nap or wake the body up after nap. You can look up how to do these poses online.

Tune: "Frere Jacques" 
Tops and bottoms, tops and bottoms 
(rub top and bottom of hands) 

In between, in between, 
(rub fingers inside on both hands) 

All around your hands, all around your hands, 

Use kitchen tongs to pick up objects such as large pom-poms, cotton balls or Unifix® cubes and put them in a container.