The Fall of Freddy the Leaf or other books make nice introduction to the subject of fall leaves and why they come off the trees. There are also a variety of art activities that can be extenders on this subject. I have my movement kids practice making shapes with their bodies and talk about how some leaves are wide, some skinny, some with rounded lobes, … Continue reading the story "Leaves"
Monthly Archives for September, 2012
Bugs
I wish I could remember which vendor supplied the wonderful finger puppet bugs we’re using in this workshop, but I have seen sacks of bugs in just about any variety store and Dollar stores. I have the kids use the bugs for a variety of activities including directions that focus on positions – over, under, around, through. “Put your bug on your knee, hold the … Continue reading the story "Bugs"
Spider Web
Arrange children in a standing circle and, starting with one child, help him put the yarn around his waist and then he throws the ball to someone across the circle from him; that person puts the yarn around her waist and throws the ball to someone else. Continue in like manner until all participants have had the yarn and only one is left. The result … Continue reading the story "Spider Web"
Planets — the Solar System I
It’s fun to show children the relative sizes of the planets; book illustrations are good, but this can be enhanced by obtaining different size balls – as small as a marble and as large as a Pilates ball and all sizes in between… Based on the sizes of the planets in picture books, see if the children can pick out which one would be Saturn, … Continue reading the story "Planets — the Solar System I"
Waiting in Line and Transitioning
- Check out Jean Stangl’s Paper Stories. It is a great way to “tell a story” with a visual but not use actual pictures.
- Getting into a line can be much more fun if you make it a challenge; “By the time Miss Darlene taps the drum 8 times, we will all be lined up between our leader Cathy and our caboose Gerald.” (“No pushing or shoving allowed”)
- Frank … Continue reading the story "Waiting in Line and Transitioning"
Let’s Go OUT For Lunch Today!
This is a wonderful idea a teacher shared with me a few years ago. Sometimes, what’s on the lunch menu is not the children’s favorite thing to eat. So on those days, the teacher says “Well, let’s go out to eat”. The children sit down at their lunch places and pretend to drive to their favorite place to eat. McDonalds usually wins! When they get … Continue reading the story "Let’s Go OUT For Lunch Today!"
Wheels on the Bus
After reading any version of this wonderful children’s book, ask the children “Who would like to be the wheels?” Set a few chairs out on the floor so that the “bus” has some dimension; then let the children decide where the wheels are going to be positioned and how they are going to move. “Who wants to be the doors?” and then let the children … Continue reading the story "Wheels on the Bus"
“Movement” Bar Graphs
This is a great activity for practicing counting, observing "less, more and equal", and matching shapes/colors.
Prep: Collect 2-3 sets of animal-shaped paper plates available at most discount stores.
Before you start: Place one plate of each kind of animal on the floor in a straight line.
Spread the rest out on the floor, face down.
Play: Turn on some fun music and when the music stops, ask the … Continue reading the story "“Movement” Bar Graphs"