Kindergarten students can play a game to celebrate their growth from babies to school-aged children. Ask the students to bring in a baby photo of themselves for a classroom guessing game. During group time, present the photos and invite the children to identify students based on their baby pictures. This game will build social skills by allowing the students to get to know each other better. Following the activity, the children can collage their baby and current pictures onto a class bio-board.
Kindergarten students learn more about nature by studying animal babies. Classroom games provide a way for children to study animal baby names, methods of birth and ways to care for them. During group time, ask the children to mimic animals using sounds and movements and let the group call out the name of that animal's babies. They can also match animal babies with their parents on a game board. For an outdoor game, set up a penguin race. The children will race while trying to balance an object on their feet representing the way father penguins carry eggs.
To learn about the proper caring of babies, students can play games involving babies' many needs. Prepare a tray with various baby related items, such as a bottle, pacifier, diaper, food jar, rattle and spoon. Allow the students to view the tray for 15 seconds, cover the items and ask the children to recall what they saw. This game will develop their memory skills and give them insight to baby care. After the game, children can use loofahs to wash and dry plastic baby dolls in tubs with soapy water.
Kindergarten students build language skills by rhyming and sounding out words. Playing word games related to the topic of babies will help these emergent readers to find patterns in words. The children will enjoy singing the "name game" song using the words baby, bottle and bonnet. As they sing, "banana fanna fo faby," students will explore the concept of rhyme. Teachers can also ask students to create small words by mixing the letters of several larger words associated with babies.