Materials
Easily recognized items, such as a feather, spoon, crayon, ball, paintbrush,
block, or sock
Box
Paper bag
Blindfold, optional
Instructions
1. Add "boy" clothes to the dress-up area.
2. When children are resting but not sleeping, allow two children to work quietly
together with Legos, puzzles, drawing materials, and so on. Match two children
who do not normally play with each other. This works really well with
shy children who usually play alone (match the shy child with a more outgoing
child).
3. For "Child of the Week," trace a child's body onto butcher paper. Ask each
child in the class to say something positive about the "child of the week."
Write the comments on the body tracing. Hang it up along with photos and
artwork that the child has done for everyone to see. Each week, change the
"child of the week" (starting with the children who need it most). The child
also might want to bring in a favorite snack and favorite book.
4. Keep plenty of books in the Book Area along with comfortable places to sit.
Rotate books and add new ones every few weeks.
5. Give each child a blank book with their name in it so they can "write" or
draw in it anytime. The children can use them as journals during free play or
choice time. If desired, they can dictate stories to you as you write down the
words.
