Mixing Paint Bags

Paint in a Bag

1.          Write each child’s name on a bag with a permanent marker.

2.          Ask a child to choose the colors to put into her bag.

3.          Allow the child to zip the bag closed (check that the seal is good).

4.          Place the bags on a flat, clean surface where the children can squeeze, squish, squash and mix the paint by manipulating the bags.

5.          At circle time, ask each child to describe the colors in her bag.

More – Mix liquid tempera with liquid dish detergent.  You’ll extend the paint and it will wash out of clothes more easily.

Games

Musical Spots

1.          Make enough shapes of various colors for each child in the class.  They should be large enough for a child to stand on.

2.          At circle time talk about the shapes and colors with the children.

3.          Give one shape to each child.  Ask the children to place their shapes in a circle on the floor.  This circle should be large enough for the children to walk in a circle without touching the next child.  Ask the children to stand on their shapes.

4.          Explain that this game is played like musical chairs.  When the music starts the children begin to walk outside the circle of shapes.  When the music stops the children will step on the shape that is closest to them.  Only one child may stand on a shape.  There is one less shape than children each time the game is played.

5.          The child who does not have a shape to stand on is asked to sit down and hold the shape that is taken away.

6.          The game continues with a shape being removed each time the music stops.

More – The game can be played with shapes of animals, transportation vehicles or with vinyl placemats.

Positional Words

Button, Button, Where Is the Button?

Choose five buttons and put them into a resealable plastic sandwich bag.  Directions:  Use these buttons to help your child learn to follow directions and to learn positional words.  Tell your child where to put the button.  At first, give one direction at a time; then give two or three at a time.  Example: “Put this button under the chair.”  Positional words: under, behind, beside, top, in front of, over, below, around, high, above, up, between, down, low.

Playground Photo Shoot

As the children play outside, take pictures that capture children experiencing different positions such as sliding down the slide, crawling through a tunnel, and jumping over a rope.  Once the pictures have been developed, share them with small groups of youngsters.  As the children enjoy the photos, help them describe what they see by encouraging descriptive words such as between, under, beside, and many more.

Vocabulary

 Pocket Chart Activity: vocabulary

From: The Mailbox

In advance, place a variety of items in a pocket chart. Secretly choose an item and then give a clue to help the class determine what the item is. Say, "I see something that [you eat with]." Then invite a volunteer to guess what the item is. Give additional clues if needed. Once the correct response is given, repeat the process with the remaining items.

Colored Cloud Dough

From: Inner Child Fun

Placemats

From: The Mailbox

Here's a simple way to reinforce skills during snacktime and lunch. Every month have each student make a placemat. Laminate the placemats and then use a permanent marker to program each placemat with letters, numbers, or personal information such as the child's address and phone number. Throughout mealtime, ask youngsters questions about the information on their placemats.

Make several placemats.  On each one, include a different skill: letter, numeral, color, or shape naming, patterning, student's name, sight words, objects of different sizes or lengths etc.  Before giving a student a placemat, instruct him/her to name the letter/numeral/color/shape, what comes next in the pattern, read the sight word, name the biggest/smallest or shortest/longest object etc.

Walking on Water

From: I Can Teach My Child

Sandpaper and Yarn

From: I Can Teach My Child




Use this to make shapes, numbers, or letters.  You can also sort by length or color!

Swimming Balloon Squid

From: Relentless Fun, Deceptively Educational

Spot Books

From Story Stretchers