Set a schedule based on the age and attention spans of the children. For toddlers, 15 to 20 minutes may be long enough. Keep the time predictable. Do the same type of activities in the same order each day.
Prepare for circle time the night before. Read through activities and practice songs or rhymes. Gather the books that you will read. Write down instructions for activities.
Alternate quiet and active activities. Include games, music, movement, stories, and puppets or finger plays. Activities can correspond to the time of the year, holidays, or topics that you are teaching. Watch the children's reactions and if it seems that they are bored, wrap it up and move on to the next activity.
Set up an area for circle time ahead of time. Use an open circle of chairs or seat them on floor cushions or a large rug.
Plan a round robin exercise. Go around the room and give each child a chance to speak. Have an item they can hold when it is their turn. Use themes like what they like and dislike, favorite things like colors and food, and feelings. Let the children lead the discussion occasionally.
Visit websites and read books to get ideas for circle time activities. It is not expensive to get started, since you can download lesson plans or purchase used books.