Activities

Create a language experience chart to discuss a particular topic of interest. This can be something the children ask a lot of questions about or something they are interested in learning about.

Have the children describe landmarks they see on their way to school. Compare which children see the same things. This can be done in small group.

Take the time to show the children their choices for play during outdoor time. Have the children take some of their favorite materials from inside to play with outside.

During outdoor time, take the time to show the children their choices for play when they go outside. Have the children take some of their favorite materials from inside to play with outside.

To show the children how to sort for recycling, attach a picture of the materials to each container; old boxes, baskets or buckets work well for this.

During large group, read Jump, Frog, Jump! and emphasize the cause and effect relationships throughout the story.

Place small items in the science center, such as cotton balls or marbles, into a paper bag or box. Encourage the children to put one hand in the bag and describe to a partner what they feel.

Take blankets outside for the children to lie on. Have children close their eyes and describe things that they hear.

Provide a playground ball and a few props, such as a hoop, a target drawn on the pavement with sidewalk chalk or a large laundry basket. Divide the children into two teams and play a game where each child listens and follows your directions.

Read Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Rod Campbell. It invites children to guess which animal might be hiding behind the flap. Encourage the children to respond on each page.

Cut out pictures of animals, people or vehicles from magazines. Laminate or cover with clear contact paper for durability. Show a picture to the child and ask him/her to tell you what he/she sees.

While reading Peter Brown's The Curious Garden, pause to talk about the pictures. Encourage the children to describe what they see in the pictures.

During outdoor time, give the children binoculars made out of two toilet paper rolls taped together. Take them outside and ask the children to look around and talk about what they see.

During outdoor time, place a plastic hoop on the ground and provide children with magnifying glasses, tongs or tweezers, paper and clipboards. Encourage the children to closely observe what's inside the hoop and draw it on their clipboards.

During outdoor time, discuss the smells of the outside play area.

Encourage children to create shapes from clay, making sure that at least one shape is a ball. Next, have them create shapes that are shaped like boats. Provide an opportunity for children to test their shapes at the water table.

Gather an assortment of interesting pictures from books or magazines depicting the outcome of a specific action; for example, someone sitting at the bottom of a slide. Ask the children to dictate or draw what happened first.

Use language as a cue to help the children predict what happens next. Say, "All of my friends have finished eating.

Use a story starter and have the children recall activities they did over the weekend. Record their responses.

Plan morning activities based on what the children really enjoy playing with. For example, welcome the child as he/she arrives and say, “I've been waiting for you! Here is a basket of books about puppies and your favorite stuffed dog.