Activities

Line the children up with a partner. They can hold hands or hold onto a walking rope. Sing this variation of “The Ants Go Marching”:
The children are marching two by two,

hurray, hurrah.

Sing “Two Little Birds” with the infants. Use hands in a thumbs-up gesture as a prop to represent birds.
Two little birds sat on a hill,

one named Jack. (Hold up one thumb.)
And the other named Jill.

Two little feet go tap, tap, tap

Two little hands go clap, clap, clap

Two little arms go up in the air

Two little eyes go blink, blink, blink

Read Huggapotamus by Steve Metzger. This story is about a hippo who is very large and even when he tries to do nice things, sometimes they don't come out that way. Talk to the children about times when they feel the same way.

Read Follow Your Nose Make uncooked play dough with the children.

Place nontoxic water beads in a plastic dish pan, using enough to hide small toys.  The children will take turns reaching in the tub and feeling the toys.  They can ask questions and try to guess what they feel.

Use Unifix® cubes to measure the length of objects in the classroom. This may include the children's feet, a table leg, a puzzle frame or a window. Encourage vocabulary such as “longer,” “shorter,” “bigger” and “smaller.

Inside the dramatic play area provide unique kitchen utensils for cooking such as potato mashers, whisks, sifters, turkey basters, basting brushes, and juicers.

Find pictures of unsafe acts, such as running down the hallway or climbing up the slide. Ask the children if it is okay to engage in the activity. Encourage the children to say "No" and show or explain the safe way to play.

Arrange colored craft sticks in unusual patterns and take pictures. Print these cards. While in the math center give the children cards and sticks to see if they can recreate what they see on the card.

Wrap a toy in colorful paper. Give the wrapped item to the child and have him/her remove the paper. Use different types of paper each time you play this game.

Before beginning large group, do this fun movement activity to practice counting. Begin with one through 10, and go up to 20 when ready. Say, “We are going to go down to the floor. I will count to 10, and you will take all 10 counts to get down.

Up to the ceiling

Down to the floor

Left to the window

Right to the door

This is my right hand

Raise it up high

This is my left hand

Reach for the sky

Right hand, left hand

Twirl them around

At the beginning of story time, talk with the children about holding a book right-side up. Begin by holding the book upside down and acting surprised that the pictures don't look right or that you can't read the words properly.

At the beginning of large group story time talk with the children about placing a book right side up. Begin by putting the book upside down and acting surprised that the pictures don't look right or that you can't read the words properly.

Introduce basic recycling by encouraging the children to “use it again.” For example, if they are using paper to draw on, remind them to use both sides of the paper.

During small group, give each child an orange slice. Have him/her smell it. After all the children smell the slices, they can eat them. Use prompts: “Tell me how it smells or how it tastes.

Have the infant use two hands to pick up or grab a ball, then roll the ball across the floor.

On a tray in front of the child, place a bowl and a few other items such as a plastic LEGO,® a large bottle cap, a rock, a shell or a clothespin. Give him/ her a pair of kitchen tongs and demonstrate how they work.

Encourage the children to make believe that they are on a beach vacation. Ask the children to pose for vacation pictures.