Cut shapes out of construction paper and hide them throughout the room. Go for a shape hunt. After the children have found all the shapes, match them with an identical group of shapes. Sort and pattern small objects that coordinate with your current theme or focus of study. For example, when talking about the ocean, sort sea shells. Make counting and number games to reflect your current unit of study, as well. If you are reading "The Gingerbread Baby" by Jan Brett, trace and cut gingerbread men out of brown fun foam or construction paper. On half the gingerbread men write the numbers 1-10. Make dots on the other gingerbread men to coordinate with the numbers. Place the gingerbread men on small cookie sheets in the math center along with small spatulas. Ask the children to match the gingerbread men with numbers to the gingerbread men with dots.
At circle time, instruct the children to pass a magnetic letter or alphabet puzzle piece to each other as quickly as possible. Play catchy music as the children pass the letter. When the music stops, ask the children to identify the letter for a literacy-based version of "Hot Potato." Make a KWL chart for topics of interest. Make a graph with three columns. Write the topic of study at the top of the graph and write the words "I know," "I want to know" and "I learned" at the top of each column. Ask the children to tell you everything they know about a given topic. Record their responses in the "I know" column. Next ask the children what they would like to know and record their responses under the "I want to know" column. Read non-fiction books or do an Internet search with the children to gain new information. Record what you've learned in the third column. Children love this activity, and when displayed in the classroom, the chart provides parents with a quick overview of daily learning.
Put three ice cubes in three cups. Add cold water to one cup and warm water to another. Make predictions about which one will melt first, then watch and chart the responses. Fill plastic zip-top bags with dry cereal. Instruct the children to crush the cereal with their hands, taking care not to rip the bags. Place a magnet against the bags and watch as small bits of iron are attracted to the magnet. Most cereal manufacturers add iron to cereal. Teach children about choosing healthy foods.
Talk with the children about the importance of obeying promptly to maintain a safe and happy classroom. Then give each child an instruction, one child at a time, such as "jump up and down three times" or "spin in a circle." Cheer when the child completes the task accurately and promptly. Take photos of the children expressing various emotions. Make two copies of each photo on cardstock and laminate the photos. Use the photos to discuss emotions and then play a matching game with them.