Note! As I was typing these it dawned on me
how many of the activities align with CC Standards, 21st Century
Skills, and the Executive Function.
“Oh, well!” can help children with impulse control. The writing song is perfect for
R.F.K.1.a, Silly Simon Rhymes reinforces R.F.K.2.b, “Horizontal, Vertical” for
geometry, etcetera, etcetera!
Above all, they are FUN!
Oh, Well! (Anne Rye)
Teach children this
self-soothing routine to help them cope when they lose a game or something
doesn’t go their way. Say, “Oh,
well!” as you open up your palms and shrug your shoulders. You can also teach them to ask for “a
minute” when they feel like pitching a fit.
*Anne said they practice
this as a group and role-play how to handle different situations. I thought this was a brilliant idea
because we assume children have these skills. Also, by practicing as a group the children can learn to
“prompt” each other.
Writing Song (Dawna Hunter)
(Tune: “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”)
Top to bottom,
Left to right.
Top to bottom,
Left to right.
My mind knows that writing
always goes
Top to bottom,
Left to right.
Silly Simon Rhyme Time (Charleen Cahill)
Silly Simon says touch your fair.
But what he really means is hair. (Children touch hair.)
Silly Simon says touch your tree.
But what he really means is knee. (Children touch knees.)
*Adapt to colors, things in
the classroom, etc.
Horizontal, Vertical (Carrie O’Bara and Terri Miller)
This song goes to the tune
of “Where Is Thumbkin?” Carrie and
Terri said they wanted the children to know the academic terms for different writing
strokes, and by adding the movements it “puts it in the brain.”
Horizontal,
horizontal, (Forearms held up
horizontally in front of chest.)
Vertical, vertical. (Forearms bent at elbows to form right
angles.)
Horizontal, horizontal,
Vertical, vertical.
Then diagonal, then
diagonal. (Right arm slants in
front and then left.)
Add a curve. Add a curve. (Make a “c” with right hand and then left.)
Then diagonal, then
diagonal.
Add a curve. Add a curve.
Eye Winker (Megan Mitchell)
Eye winker (Point to eyes.)
Tom thinker (Point to
brain/head.)
Nose smeller (Point to
nose.)
Mouth eater (Point to
mouth.)
Chin Chomper (Point to
chin.)
Gully, gully, gully,
gully (Tickle under the chin.)
P.S. Megan said her grandmother, Betty Jean
Ramsay, would play that with her grandchildren just to hear them laugh. It’s been in her family for three
generations.
Broken Books
(Magadalena Valdes)
When a book tears, put the
pages in clear sheet protectors in a pocket folder. Children can play with it and use it to show beginning,
middle, and end.
*You can also cut up old
books and use the pictures for flannel boards, stick puppets, or games.
Color Song
If you have on red, stand up
now.
If you have on red, stand up
now.
If you have on red, stand up
now
And take a bow.
Pass out shapes and sing,
“If you have a square…”
Pass out letters and sing, “If you have a B…”
Pass out letters and sing, “If you have a B…”
Pass out numerals and sing,
“If you have a 5…”
I’m a Little
Kindergartener (Brenda Hall)
(Tune: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little kindergartener
(first grader, preschooler, etc.)
Short and smart.
Here is my hand.
Here is my heart.
When I get excited I want to
shout -
All my joys come tumbling
out!