Changing leaves, cooling weather, and a new school year. Welcome fall with these fun activities for preschool, daycare and elementary grades.
For our young children, writing serves as a window into their language and literacy development. We want them to feel comfortable and confident in expressing themselves through writing, so we provide a forum for them to take risks and explore written language. Handwriting and letter formation is an important dimension of children's early writing process.
Once children are starting to get comfortable with the global contours of written letters (straight lines, curves, and circles), begin to put these together to form letters. If you have a handwriting curriculum already in place, you can use that. If not, and you are looking for some guidance, get some ideas in Playful Activities for Reading Readiness: Laying a Foundation for Literacy like this activity that allows children to practice forming shapes and letters in "goopy bags".
Literacy Cooking LanguageProvoking Curiosity: Student-Led STEAM Learning for Pre-K to Third Grade offers a variety of STEAM provocations that can be used during less-structured classroom time. In this book, author Angela Eckhoff, PhD offers some much needed insight into the world of childhood engineering. Through the use of every-day classroom materials such as paper and glue, you can learn how to engage your students with the creative engineering processes like never before!
Math Science TechnologyThe word responsible can be a “big” word for children to understand. However, when adults help children to see what responsible behaviors look like, they soon learn to understand what the word means and, more important, how to carry out such behaviors themselves. By providing children with a visual, this activity from Socially Strong, Emotionally Secure helps children to see how their responsible behaviors can create growth in themselves, friends, family, and even a tree!
Social EmotionalSummer is a perfect time to experiment with open-ended outdoor activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Open-ended art projects that emphasize process over product help young children develop crucial skills as they interact with others and think creatively. Grab some sidewalk chalk, and try these DIY sidewalk chalk activities to get your preschoolers outside and immersed in play today.
Summer Learning Outdoor Learning ArtIn this activity from The GIANT Encyclopedia of Kindergarten Activities, children will use their creativity and imagination to create hats for all occasions. Take this activity a step further by adding the finished hats to your dramatic play center for children to use in their pretend play. Using props and engaging in dramatic play helps children develop confidence, communication, language, and social-emotional skills. Hats off to creativity and pretend play!
printable Music Art Individual ChildLet the kids you care for have some messy fun with this July Fourth Fingerpainting activity! Children will engage their fine-motor skills and creativity with this open-ended art project.
printable Art Sensory Large GroupCheck out these alternative block play ideas from The Thrifty Teacher’s Guide to Creative Learning Centers, and watch as children develop creative expression, problem solving, social interactions, language use, and more!
Movement and Play MathMother's love receiving hand-made gifts from their children! Try this fun, 3D Mother's Day boquet craft with the kids you teach. When children take the time to make their own special gift or card, it fosters a sense of pride and encourages creativity and empathy. Get more monthly and holiday activities like this in the book, The GIANT Encyclopedia of Monthly Activities For Children 3 to 6.
printable Art Individual ChildThis activity will help children develop a sense of his or her family unit—who the members are and how your child is related to them. Children will also use sorting skills as he or she organizes the album, and will learn vocabulary for the relations, word names, family names, and nicknames.
This activity, as well as all the activities in Kick-Start Kindergarten Readiness, is designed to help early childhood teachers involve families in supporting the rich learning that takes place in your preschool classroom. Many parents want to help their little ones in preparing for and getting the most out of kindergarten, and this book provides teachers with the resources to help them do just that.
Literacy Social EmotionalHelp children visualize the four stages of the life cycle of a butterfly! This activity, and all the activities from the book Partnering With Parents, are designed to promote family involvement through group meetings with parents and children. After getting acquainted in an informal setting, families can overcome initial social anxiety and become actively involved in activities.
Program Administration ScienceFun fall activities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Easy enough to do at home and at school!
Browse through lists, author interviews, excerpts, and articles that connect theory and best practice in early childhood education.
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