Smiley Face Game (Mary Johnston)
Make seasonal shapes with letters on them. Put smiley faces on a few of them. Place these face down on a table or on the floor. One child at a time chooses a shape. If there is a letter they give a word that starts with that sound. If there is a smiley face the music comes on and everybody dances.
Shower Boards (Donna Martin)
Have shower board cut into individual dry erase boards.
Comp Book (Elizabeth Cannady)
Have composition books cut in half at Lowe’s or Home Depot. Use these for journals or other writing activities.
*”Drawing lessons” (step by step) can be found on YouTube. This is great for following directions and fine motor skills. Children “realize” they can draw and are encouraged to write about their drawings.
Table Shapes (Michelle McCall)
Use contact paper or dry erase paper cut into shapes. Apply to tables for small groups. Students can write on them with dry erase markers and wipe off.
*At my tables I don’t use chairs. I made small chairs with milk crates. I had boards cut to fit them and covered them with foam and cloth.
Nursery Rhyme Picture Cards (Missy Agee)
Make key word/picture cards for various rhymes. When students are familiar with the rhymes pass them out. When reciting the rhyme the student holds up the key word or picture when they hear it said. This keeps them engaged.
Weather Song (Katelyn Volta)
During calendar one child goes to the window as we sing this song to “Shortnin’ Bread.”
What’s the weather,
What’s the weather,
What’s the weather like outside?
Can you tell me,
Can you tell me,
Can you tell me
What’s the weather outside?
Oscar the Grouch (Cindy Timpani and Laura Jones)
Use an Oscar the Grouch puppet and let Oscar eat items that begin with the letter of the week. Oscar will spit out anything that does not begin with that sound. You can also use Oscar for rhyming words.
Alien Cheer (Cindy Timpani and Laura Jones)
Put your spaceship (finger) in the air.
(Move your spaceship in a circle as you say)
Woooo, wooo, woooo – out of this world!
Triangle Appreciation Notes (Vivian Jones-Schmidt)
Divide the class into groups of 4 or 5 so every day you can focus on a particular group of students. Find something about each child in the group to appreciate and write a note to the parents on a triangular sheet of paper.
*You really only have to do this periodically through the year, but parents and children love them!
Sample Laminate Counter Chips (Wanda Constable)
Ask for samples of laminate counter chips. These have holes so you can put them on a chain. Write letters or words on these with a permanent marker.
*Ask builders for tongue and groove floor scraps. Cut the “tongue” off so that the board stands up. Children can stand up the laminate letters in the groove to make words. (These will last forever.)
Money Song (Sharon Moreland)
Tune: “Shortnin’ Bread”
Money, money, money
To buy things at the store.
Money, money, money
I always want more.
A penny is worth one cent.
A nickel is worth five.
A dime is worth ten cents.
A quarter is twenty-five.
Counting Cowgirl Kate (Cindy and Laura)
Cowgirl Kate puppet leads the number of the day and goes home with a different child each night. She takes counting games that they can play together.
Brown Bear (Susan Walton)
Use the Brown Bear chant with each child’s picture to make a book.
Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?
I see (child’s name) looking at me.
Use the Brown Bear chant with each child’s picture to make a book.
Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?
I see (child’s name) looking at me.