Activities

Cut different facial features from magazines in the writing center. Laminate and place magnets on the back. Give the children a metal cookie sheet, and encourage them to make different faces.

Place paper clips in a bowl. Provide scrap paper and pencils in the math center. Encourage the children to use a hand magnet to attach the paper clips and see how many will connect.

Using the writing center area provide magnetic letters and a cookie sheet for the children to create words and break down the sounds.

Put a large glass of water on the table, and drop a paper clip into the glass.

Provide magnets and items in the science center that are attracted to and not attracted to them. Encourage the children to guess which items will stick to the magnet and which ones will not.

Use laminated pictures of family members and the children. Glue magnets to the back. Provide a cookie sheet and have the children place the pictures on the cookie sheet.

Glue magnets onto colored craft sticks and foam or felt shapes. Encourage the children in the math center to build pictures using them on a cookie sheet, refrigerator or other magnetic surfaces.

Hot-glue a large metal washer inside a bath sponge. Place white paper in the bottom of a shallow cardboard box. Secure and prop up the box on blocks so that the children can guide the sponge with a hand magnet from underneath the box.

While the children are examining objects in the science center with magnifying glasses, encourage them to describe what they see. Ask open-ended questions to prompt for more details and descriptive words.

Have the children use a magnifying glass to look for print they can read in magazines.

Create a mailbox in the classroom and encourage the children to write and receive letters from teachers and parents. For example, the family can write a letter to their child and leave it in the mailbox for him/her.

Provide large boxes for the children to transform into a mail truck in the block center. Have them deliver mail to friends throughout the room.

Consider adding to or transforming your writing center into a mail room for a week. Add a mail box, a mail carrier uniform, envelopes, stamps, junk mail, postcards and a scale.

Provide large boxes in the block center for the children to transform into a mail truck. Have them deliver mail to friends throughout the room.

Consider adding to or transforming your writing center into a mail room for a week. Add a mail box, a mail carrier uniform, envelopes, stamps, junk mail, postcards and a scale.

Provide envelopes and stationary in the writing center. Encourage the children to write notes that can be mailed to a family member or set up Pre-K mailboxes so they can write notes or draw pictures for their classmates.

You will need a basket and a variety of squeeze stress balls. Have this basket with the stress balls located where the children can easily reach them.

After reading the book Maisy Goes on Vacation by Lucy Cousins, add a suitcase, sun hat, camera and other props to the dramatic play area. Have the children recreate the story using the props.

Place a collection of greeting cards with envelopes at the writing center table for children to write notes to each other or family members. Include cards for birthdays and get-well-soon occasions.

Add PVC pipe and connectors to the block center. The children can connect them in different ways and notice the effects.