Activities

Write each child's name slowly on his/her artwork or paper. Say each letter as you write it and ask the child if he/she can name any of the letters.

Sing the alphabet song with the children in the the traditional way. Sing the song a second time and encourage the children to stand when they sing the first letter of their name.

Give the children three or four characters to act out as they play outside, during outdoor time. Try a pirate, queen, king, firefighter, football player, pet walker or various animals.

Read an interactive book, such as Head to Toe by Eric Carle, and encourage the children to participate. Ask the children to touch a body part or imitate a movement according to the story.

During large group create paper costumes and have the children act out the story The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle. Take pictures of the children to create sequencing cards to place in the math center.

Make prop boxes and encourage children to act out classic stories such as "Jack in the Beanstalk.

Make a picture book by taking pictures of infants doing different activities in the classroom and label the pictures with simple text.

Create a set of transition action cards for the children to use as they move from one activity to another. Include things such as ice skate, row your boat, monster walk, tippy toe and dance. Try different ones throughout the day.

Sing or play songs that require the children to move to the words, for example, “The Hokey Pokey,” “Animal Action,” “Do Your Ears Hang Low,” and “A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea.

During large group, have a few of the children act out simple songs, such as, “Teddy Bear,” or “Down on Grandpa's Farm.” Use simple props and pieces of fabric or hats for costumes.

Create an activity cube with a different movement on each side. During group play have a child roll the cube and have all the children perform the movement. Include movements, such as bunny hops, froggy jumps or jumping jacks.

Use a cube-shaped box to create an activity cube during large group. On each face of the cube, write a different movement, such as flap your arms, jump five times or turn in a circle.

Buy a second copy of the book Actual Size by Steve Jenkins. Carefully remove the pages, tape them together and laminate them.

Read the book Actual Size by Steve Jenkins. After reading the book use a large piece of chart paper and have the children come up and trace their hand. Then compare the actual size of all the hands.

Add an address book to the writing center for the children to record their addresses.

Have a selection of soft toy animals in a basket. Have the children pick an animal to adopt for the day. Try to include animals similar to pets the children might have at home.

Discuss with the children what the word “affection” means. Ask them to draw pictures and dictate how their families show affection such

as hugging, rubbing noses, butterfly kisses or holding hands.
This can be done in small group.

Place a hula-hoop on the floor and give the children beanbags. Encourage them to throw the beanbags inside the hoop. See how many they can get.

Turn on some music. Ask the children to lie on their backs. Have the children move their legs, arms and bodies to the beat. You can say, “Bend your knees up and down” or “Freeze!” This could be done in large group.

Create a restaurant prop box with menus, food, trays, order pads, aprons and money. During outdoor time, let the children set up a restaurant and have someone be the cook, waiter/waitress and diners.