Materials
- props (puppets or small stuffed animals) for songs "I Know an Old Lady"
- and "Old MacDonald" (optional)
What to do
1. To facilitate the end of circle in an orderly fashion, sing a song that will give each child a turn. At the end of her turn, the child leaves the group to wash hands and line up. This cuts down on the crowd at the sink!
Author's Note: This will work if there is only one teacher in the class, but is even better if there is another adult to facilitate progress.
2. With "I Know an Old Lady" use a puppet or a paper bag puppet of the "Old Lady." As each animal is sung about, place the puppets in the Old Lady's tummy. You can sing the song more than once, or the child putting the animal in the "Old Lady" can pick a friend to go with them. Different animals and verses of the song can be created to increase the number of turns so everyone gets a chance.
3. With "Old MacDonald" fill a bag with farm animals. Each child has a turn naming the farm animal they want the class to sing about, or they draw an animal from the bag. After their verse, the child goes to wash hands and line up.
-Tracie O'Hara, Charlotte, NC
Instructions
1. Use this activity to transition from outside to small group. Have the children
meet at a designated outdoor place, such as a picnic table.
2. Send the children into the classroom in groups of five to six at a time.
3. One teacher escorts the group into the room for a self-directed activity, such
as coloring, journals, or playdough. If they are coloring, give each child a
piece of paper; if they are journaling, have them carry their journals into the
room.
4. Then send in a group to work with that teacher, also carrying something that
represents what they are to do (a piece of a puzzle, a bingo game card, or
small copies of a book they are to read with the teacher inside).
5. The last group will go to the classroom with you, usually doing a gross motor
skill. You can sing, "Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to work we go!"
