Reading is the most logical pursuit when dealing with children this young. Keep them engaged in the story and make it interactive. Do not just read the story to them, but also ask them questions about it and, if it is a picture book, show them what you are reading. Perhaps pick out some students who might be interested in acting out the characters while the story is being read. If students are not actively engaged during the reading, they will lose interest. Children become restless in a short period of time, so keep them busy.
Coloring is another favorite activity for children to be engaged in during class. In kindergarten, you should be able to keep children busy for quite a while by assigning them coloring books and providing them with crayons for the activity. Give them physical room to work on the assignment so they are not crowding each other. Make the activity challenging enough so that it will keep them busy. Tell the children that the student who can color between the lines the best will win a prize. Make it something small and simple like a pencil, a bookmark, or perhaps a choice of a favorite book. This will give them a goal to strive for.
Listening to music is another favorite activity for students in a kindergarten class. Kids love to dance and move around; just allow them plenty of room to move so they do not bump into and perhaps hurt each other. Choose age- and school-appropriate music and allow adequate time. This will help burn up some of the energy that students always appear to have plenty of.
Using computers at this age is not uncommon. Kindergartners may now be fully engaged in technology, and using computers in the classroom is a good way for them to learn while having fun. Choose appropriate websites for games, puzzles, and learning and allow the children to work on the units while you observe them. This will keep them busy for quite some time and allow the teacher to control the environment while the students are busy working.
Eating is a favorite for all children, and kindergarten students still eat snacks in the classroom. Children should bring their snacks from home due to possible food allergies. Snack time is important because students need a break, and the teacher needs one too. This activity will not last as long as the others, but it does give the students time to re-energize and catch their breath after engaging in other activities.