Activities

Create puzzles by cutting up snack and cereal boxes. Store the puzzles in gallon-size plastic bags. Ask the family to bring the child's favorite food box from home.

On a dry erase board draw a picture such as grass, sky, tree, flower and sun. Do this before the children arrive so they don't have to wait while you draw. Say a word such as “tower” and have a child erase the drawing that rhymes.

After reading Eric Carle's ABC by Eric Carle, introduce the children to the technique of tissue collage. Provide large letters cut from white construction paper or poster board and various colors of tissue paper cut into squares.

Use two or three clear plastic containers of the same size. Empty peanut butter jars work well, or ask the cafeteria for some mayo or pickle jars. Fill jars with scoops of sand. Label two jars with the amount of sand inside (two scoops, four scoops).

During outdoor time, engage the children in brainstorming a list of distances to measure on the playground.

Engage the children in brainstorming a list of distances to measure during outdoor time.

Put about 20 seashells or other objects in a jar bowl or pile. During large group, encourage the children to observe how full the jar or bowl is or how big the pile is. Remove 10 items from the group.

Make estimating a part of your morning routine. Place small items in a clear plastic jar. The number should not be larger than most of the children can comfortably count.

Place several small objects in a clear plastic container. The number should be within the children's ability to count, usually 10 or less, but possibly up to 20 as the year progresses.

Place several small items such as bottle caps in a jar. This will be your mystery jar. Using the same item, provide an opportunity for the children to watch you place 10 bottle caps in a matching jar.

Establish an estimation station in your math center/ manipulatives area. Gather a number of small plastic jars and fill each jar with different things. For example, cotton balls, marbles, buttons, toy cars and bottle caps.

Establish an estimation station in your math center using manipulatives. Gather a number of small plastic jars and fill each jar with different things. For example, cotton balls, marbles, buttons, toy cars and bottle caps.

Tune: “Frere Jacques” Estoy esperando 
Estoy esperando 
Que mis amigos 
Que mis amigos 
Entren a la rueda 
Entren a la rueda 
Sientense Sientense Translation:
I am waiting
I am waiting

During large group, read I Can Save the Earth! One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle by Alison Inches. Talk with the children about the amount of paper they use each day in the classroom.

During outdoor time, put a shallow pan of salt water in direct sunlight on a warm day. After talking about the water cycle, discuss with the children what they think will happen to the water.

Read the book, Everybody Cooks Rice by Nora Dooley. Have the children dictate ways that they cook or eat rice, then chart them on paper. This can be done in small group.

Tune: “Shortnin' Bread”
Everybody have a seat,

have a seat, have a seat

Everybody have a seat on the floor

Not on the ceiling, *not on the door

Everybody have a seat on the floor
*Alternate: not on the stair

During outdoor time, engage the children in exercises the same way as characters from familiar stories might exercise.

Go on a trip around the school or center to look for EXIT signs. Have the children call out or point when they see one.

Provide children with an opportunity to examine and touch a bar of Ivory® soap. Place the soap on a microwave-safe plate and microwave it for approximately 11/2 minutes. The soap will expand.