Activities

Hollow out half of a grapefruit or an orange and place it in a bowl of water.  Ask the children to guess how many counters, such as beans or paper clips, the fruit boat might hold before it sinks.

Encourage the children in the math center to put together a more difficult floor puzzle. Ask others to join in if needed to accomplish this task.

Set up a clear space on the floor for the children to engage with each other using floor puzzles.

Sit with the children on the floor and give them a floor puzzle. Talk about the different pieces as they pick them up. Say, "That piece has a lot of yellow on it. What do you think that is?" Encourage the children if they look puzzled or unsure.

Read Zinnia's Flower Garden by Monica Wellington. Provide several types of flower seeds for planting in flower pots. Provide magnifying glasses so the children can see different flower parts up close.

Place a piece of fruit, such as an orange, inside a large mason jar and do not seal. Place the jar outdoors in the middle of a table. During outdoor time, have the children observe and draw what they see.

Have the children color a brown paper bag and use yarn to make a kite. You can add streamers or ribbon if desired. Take the kites outside to fly. Explain that many children fly kites to celebrate special days.

Put aluminum foil on the classroom easel and let the children paint on the foil. This is similar to Metal Tooling done in Central and South America for holiday celebrations.

Provide paper and paints in squeeze containers. Fold each child's paper in half. Ask him/her to squeeze or drip a small amount of paint on one side of the paper. Add several colors if desired.

Give the children each a piece of paper.

Carry the infant or crawl alongside the infant as you guide him/her on a tour of the room. Point out things as you tour, such as the outlet, and say, “No, no.” Or point to the door and say, “Closed.

Have one child go in the middle of your group and create dance moves. Have the remainder of the group follow the leader. This could be done in large group.

Make cards of different movements (marching, walking, jumping jacks or windmill) for the music center. One child will hold up the card and the other children will do what the card says.

Ask the children to do a specific motion to get to various locations on the playground during outdoor time.
Suggest, “Run to a spot next to the slide. Crawl under the

picnic table. Skip to the door.

Walk around the room with the children behind you. Encourage the children to imitate your actions as you walk. For example, wave your arms over your head or do marching steps. Older children may want to take turns being the leader as well.

During outdoor time, choose a child to be the leader. The child will choose motions and the other children will copy as they follow the leader.

Model how to play “Follow the Leader.” Walk around the room and encourage the children to follow you in a line. Say, “Watch me and go where I go.” Make it harder by adding actions. Clap your hands, wave or extend your arms to the sides.

Sing a song with the children, encouraging them to follow your hand motions.

Before outdoor time, provide an opportunity for children to draw pictures on cards, sequencing the steps to completing an outdoor activity.

Add train tracks and trains to the block center. Have the children put the tracks in sequence for the train to follow.