Activities

Retell this familiar book by Bill Martin, Jr. with a variety of new animals. Gather enough stuffed animals or puppets for the entire class. During large group arrange the children in a circle, each with an animal, and begin the familiar pattern.

Brown bun, brown bun, what do you see?

"I see a green pickle looking at me”.
Green pickle, green pickle, what do you see?

"I see a red tomato looking at me".

Tune: “Row Your Boat”
Brush, brush, brush your teeth

Brush them twice a day

See the dentist twice a year

And keep the sweets away

During large group, sing to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”:
Brush, brush, brush your teeth

Gently round your gums.

Sing to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”: Brush, brush, brush your teeth Gently round your gums. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Brushing is such fun!! Brush, brush, brush your teeth Brush them every day.

Brush teeth daily after your lunch meal. Ensure you teach the children to brush correctly and have the families provide a toothbrush and toothpaste.  This could be done in large group.

Give the children bubble wands that are easy to use. Encourage them to find a partner and designate a blower and a popper. Switch roles when ready.

Look at different recipes to create three or four different bubble solutions. Pour each solution into a plastic bottle. Review the ingredients for each solution and have the children experiment with which container of bubble juice works the best.

Blow bubbles near the infant and encourage him/her to reach, grasp or gesture for them. Use prompts such as, "One, two, three..." Wait for the infant to respond using eye contact, smiles or by squealing. Then say, "Blow bubbles. Blow bubbles.

After the children have experienced regular bubble blowing, try this wacky variation. Cut the bottom off of a sturdy plastic bottle such as juice or water bottle.

During outdoor time, set up an area on the playground where the children can blow colored bubbles over a long sheet of white butcher paper. Assist the children with finding the right distance for the bubbles to reach the paper.

Tape a sheet of bubble wrap to a table and invite the children to fingerpaint on it. Talk about the bumpy texture as the children work. Have each child press a piece of paper over his/her bubble art painting to make a print. Display the prints.

You will need butcher paper, paint on paper plates and bubble wrap. During outdoor time, ask children to remove their shoes, wrap their feet in bubble wrap and tape until secured in place.

Secure a large section of bubble wrap to the floor or rug. Have the children take off their shoes, and play upbeat music such as, “Shake My Sillies Out” by Raffi.

Put bubble solution and a little bit of water in the sensory bin/table. Stir the water around to make bubbles. Encourage the children to pop the bubbles with their hands.

During outdoor time, sing or play a silly song. Have the children blow bubbles while you are singing or while the song is playing. Once the song stops, the children should stop blowing bubbles.

Create gumballs using pom-poms or small balls with alphabet letters on them. Place them in a bowl or “gumball machine.” Sing this chant to practice recognizing letters:
Bubblegum, bubblegum, a sight to see.

During outdoor time, blow lots of bubbles for the children to pop. Stop to explain about controlling impulses. Now blow more bubbles and ask the children to catch them before they pop.

Make your own bubble solution using 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons light Karo® corn syrup or 2 tablespoons glycerin and 4 tablespoons dishwashing liquid. Have the children create wands out of pipe cleaners.

Provide a variety of buckets and/or other containers that are labeled with numerals. Encourage the children to throw tennis balls to match the bucket of their choice.