Activities

Tune: “Frere Jacques”
Grab a tissue, grab a tissue

If you sneeze, if you sneeze

Do not use your finger, 

Do not use your finger

Or your sleeve, or your sleeve

Sing "Down on Grandpa's Farm." Give the children headbands or small props of different farm animals.
We're on the way, we're on the way;

On the way to Grandpa's farm.

Here are Grandpa's glasses

Here is Grandpa's hat

Here's the way he folded his arms

And here's the way he sat
Here are Grandma's glasses

Here is Grandma's cap

Here is the way she folds her hands

And lays them

After reading a book with unique names for grandmothers such as Jan Brett's The Mitten; Our Granny by Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas or Abuela by Arthur Doros, talk about children's names for their grandmothers.

Have the children participate in a daily graph. Pose a simple question that the children can answer when they enter the classroom in the morning such as, “Do you have a sibling?” or “Do you have a pet?” In large group, discuss the data.

Create a graphing mat out of a shower curtain with two columns. When presenting a question have the children stand on the mat on either the yes or no column.

Create graphs to compare personal characteristics among children in the class. Consider the following topics: number of siblings, hair color, eye color, emotions, gender or favorite food.

Have the children identify which category they belong in: having sister(s) only, brother(s) only or sister(s) and brother(s). Graph the results.

Place graphing sheets and manipulatives in the math center area so the children can create a variety of graphs.

Provide objects of different shapes, such as a circle, square, triangle and rectangle, for infants to hold and mouth.

Provide garden soil, grass seed and tube socks. Have the children assist as you fill four or five tube socks with garden soil and grass seed. Knot off the tops of the socks, and have the children dunk the socks in water.

After reciting “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” add this variation, using big motions. Use your whole hand for the spider, not just your fingertips. Encourage the children to use a “big” voice (loud and deep).

Provide a variety of green foods for the children to try. Include foods such as broccoli, honeydew, celery, green apples and artichokes. Chart the children's preferences as to which food they like best and which one they like least.

Read Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox.

Model greeting family members at departure time. Greet the family member, and help or encourage the child to smile, wave or hug as is developmentally appropriate.

Establish a morning ritual with your class to show affection. Ask the children how they would like to be greeted. Examples include a high five, hug, foot tap, smile, air kiss or hip wiggle. Display visual pictures for each greeting.

Play the song “Greetings in Many Languages” by Ella Jenkins, and have the children repeat some of the greetings in the song.

Gather newspaper grocery ads and provide each child with a page. Give them Bingo markers and ask them to put a dot on all the numerals they see. Encourage them to name some of the numerals.

Provide empty food boxes and grocery carts in dramatic play. Encourage the children to grocery shop for dinner. Talk to them about what they would like to eat and what they need to buy to fix their meal. Provide cash register and money for checkout.

Gather empty food containers and boxes such as from cereal, rice, chips and canned foods. Have the children sort containers into “GO” (healthy) and “NO” (unhealthy) foods. Discuss why they picked the “GO” or “NO” group.