Three activities are described that would be appropriate for classrooms wit h students between the ages of five and seven. The first activity includes a reading of the book Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert. Students will then collect their own autumn leaves to create pictures. The second activity can be incorporated into the morning meeting. Students use a chant to tell about their weekend plans. In the final activity, students estimate the number of objects in a jar to help develop number sense.
Early Childhood Activities
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CE230 Creative Activities for Young Children Final Project
Activity #
Creating a Leaf Character
Ehlert, L. (2003). Leaf man. New York: Harcourt Children's Books.
Age(s):
wks-1 yr ages 2-4
ages 5 -- 7
ages 8 -- 10
ages 10-12
Time Required:
minutes
After completing this activity, students will be able to sort leaves by attributes (shape, color, size) and assemble them to create an original art project which they can then use as a story prompt for a subsequent writing lesson.
Materials/Equipment:
Brown paper lunch bags, assorted autumn leaves, collected outdoors by students, 9X12 sheets of construction paper, white school glue, plastic "google" eyes
Highlight (all) Related Developmental Area(s):
Drama
Creative Play
Art
Music
Movement
Individual
Small Group
Large Group
Cognitive
Linguistic
Physical
Sensorimotor
Social-emotional
Procedure: Explain in detailed narrative form using complete sentences how this activity is accomplished. Include the skills that are required and learned and what will be necessary for the instructor to successfully accomplish this task with his/her students.
The teacher will read aloud to the whole class Leaf Man, by Lois Ehlert. The teacher will guide the students in noticing the different sizes, shapes and colors of the leaves. The teacher will then give each student a lunch bag and take them outdoors to collect leaves to make their own leaf man pictures. Allow 10-15 minutes for this activity. Children should take only as many leaves as will fit comfortably in their bags. Upon return to the classroom, children will go to their seats. The teacher and/or student helpers will pass out paper. Children will be encouraged to arrange their leaves in various ways before glue is passed out. When a child is pleased with his/her design, the leaves can be glued on the paper. The google eyes will be added last.
To be successful with this activity, children should be able to follow the teacher's instructions. They should understand how to use white glue in bottles, which requires a bit more skill than using glue sticks, with which most children of this age group typically use for projects.
CE230 Creative Activities for Young Children Final Project
Activity # 2:
Chant and pantomime: The Weekend is Near
Source:
"Responsive Classroom morning meeting activities." (2008). Northeast Foundation for Children. Retrieved April 15, 2013 from http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/sites/default/files/pdf_files/videos/mmactivities_directions.pdf
Age(s):
6 wks-1 yr ages 2-4
ages 5 -- 7
ages 8 -- 10
ages 10-12
Time Required:
10-15 minutes of the morning meeting
Objectives:
After completing this activity students will be able to identify action verbs and create an appropriate pantomime to demonstrate the action.
Materials/Equipment:
None.
Highlight (all) Related Developmental Area(s):
Drama
Creative Play
Art
Music
Movement
Individual
Small Group
Large Group
Cognitive
Linguistic
Physical
Sensorimotor
Social-emotional
Procedure: Explain in detailed narrative form using complete sentences how this activity is accomplished. Include the skills that are required and learned and what will be necessary for the instructor to successfully accomplish this task with his/her students.
Everyone says the chant together. The teacher may want to copy the chant on the board of chart paper the first time the activity is used. The children sit in a circle. In turn, each student answers the question "Whatcha gonna do when it really gets here?" The answer must be an action verb and an appropriate pantomime.
Group: Hey there, (student's first name)! / The weekend is near. / Whatcha gonna do when it really gets here?
Student: I'm gonna ____, ____, ____ (action verb and movement).
Group: S/he's gonna ____, ____, ____ (repeat action verb and movement).
Example:
Group: Hey there, Rachel! / The weekend is near. / Whatcha gonna do when it really gets here?
Rachel: I'm gonna swim, swim, swim. (Pantomimes swimming)
Group: She's gonna swim, swim, swim. (Mimics Rachel's swimming)
To be successful in this activity, children should be able to sit in a circle and attend to the group. Students must listen to and watch each other. They must be able to come up with their own ideas so there are a variety of action verbs and pantomimes. The activity builds classroom community and gives students an opportunity to participate in a group activity as both listeners and speakers.
CE230 Creative Activities for Young Children Final Project
Activity #3:
Estimation Station
Source:
"Estimation & mental computation 1986 yearbook." National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Retrieved April 15, 2013 from http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/curriculum/mathgoal/Resources/Developing_Estimation.pdf
Age(s):
6 wks-1 yr ages 2-4
ages 5 -- 7
ages 8 -- 10
ages 10-12
Time Required:
20 minutes
Objectives:
After completing this activity students will have additional practice making an estimate to help them gain experience and further develop number sense.
Materials/Equipment:
Small clear jar (preferably plastic) with lid, between 20-30 identical objects to put in the jar (e.g., marbles, Legos, M&Ms)
Highlight (all) Related Developmental Area(s):
Drama
Creative Play
Art
Music
Movement
Individual
Small Group
Large Group
Cognitive
Linguistic
Physical
Sensorimotor
Social-emotional
Procedure: Explain in detailed narrative form using complete sentences how this activity is accomplished. Include the skills that are required and learned and what will be necessary for the instructor to successfully accomplish this task with his/her students.
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