Invite your students to sit on the rug in a circle, then read "Mud, Mud" by Mary Lyn Ray. Talk to your students about the book and ask them about their experiences with mud (e.g., playing in mud, slipping in mud, getting dirty). Tell them that mud is wet and sticky and can be made from water added to soil or sand.
Let your students know that the sand table will become the mud table because water has been added. Tell them that the table will be one of the areas used during their work time. Explain the rules for the mud table (e.g., four to six students, wear aprons, keep the mud on the table). Show your students some of the mud table items they can use including toy cars, shovels, sand molds, plastic letters, plastic farm animals, toy cars and construction vehicles.
At the beginning of work time, let the students sit on the rug and go over the mud table rules. Tell them to only use the items on the mud table. Point out to the students that they should stay on the plastic rug runner for this activity.
Invite the first group scheduled for the mud table to come up. Have them put on their aprons and model the rules for the rest of the class. Remind all students not to use toys from other areas in the mud table. Excuse the rest of your kindergartners to their areas.