Materials
- Old catalogs and magazines
- Camera and film, optional
- Scissors
- 3" x 5" or 4" x 6" cards
- Wide tape, clear contact paper, or glue
- Chart paper
- Markers
- Clothespin
What to do
1. Make a "Transition Schedule" showing photos and symbols of the day's activities. To include the children in the process, ask them to look through catalogs and magazines to find pictures or symbols of different activities they do throughout the day.
2. Cut out the pictures together. If you have a camera, take pictures of the children doing various activities, such as washing hands, listening to a story, sitting at the table, eating snack, and so on.
3. Use contact paper, wide clear tape, or glue to attach each picture to a card.
4. Make a chart using the photos or symbols of the day's activities. Attach each picture to the chart sequentially.
5. Clip a clothespin to the photo that shows what is happening now.
6. Five minutes before the transition, say, "In five minutes we will be stopping ___________________ and it will be time to___________.
7. When it is time to stop and transition, go to the schedule and state, "It's time to stop . It is now time to ." As you state this, unclip the clothespin and clip it to the new picture.
8. If desired, draw an arrow on the clothespin so that it points directly to the card depicting what is presently occurring on the day's schedule.
9. This gives the children a visual schedule of what will happen next. Providing the sequence of the day often assists children who may have difficulty with transitions.
10. For children having difficulty with transitions, include them more in the process. For example, show them the picture before you announce the change to the group; ask the child to move the clothespin to the new picture; or before the day starts, preview the day's schedule with the child using the chart.
More to do
If you do not have a chart, use a clothesline with clothespins.
- Literacy: Display the photos or symbols of the day's activities on the chart left to right. This can help with pre-reading skills.
-Sandra Nagel, White Lake, MI
