Finger painting is always a hit with small children, and making it new and exciting is easy. Prepare three or four boxes of instant pudding mix before class and set it aside in the fridge. Sanitize a worktable and pour about 2 cups of pudding on the table. Demonstrate to the children how to practice writing letters or numbers in the pudding then smooth out the pudding surface and have them try. Use this activity as a rotation for small groups. Provide each child with a smock to protect his clothing.
While this is an important skill for pre-kindergarten, tracing the ABCs can become monotonous for your students. Try creating letters with another medium, such as tissue paper and glue. Buy pre-cut, 1-inch square pieces of tissue paper or cut out your own. With a black marker, draw a large capital letter from the alphabet on a sheet of white 8½- by 11-inch paper. Copy the page for each child in your class. Demonstrate for them how to use glue and tissue paper to outline the letter and create a piece of unique artwork.
Older preschoolers or pre-kindergarten children can practice writing their names with laminated name tracers. Using primary lined writing paper, write or print the child's first name on each line of the sheet. When all the tracers are complete, laminate them. When the child walks into the room in the morning, she will walk to her desk, sit down and trace her name on each line. This will give her a starter task for the day and greatly improve her handwriting.
An effective way to spice up your preschool classroom is to invite a special guest to teach a concept or present an activity. For example, send a note home with your students asking for a parent volunteer to come and teach a short lesson (about 10 to 15 minutes) about her career or a special interest. If there is a nurse or a doctor available, she can talk about proper hand washing or the importance of eating right. It is fun for the children to listen to a guest, and you can prepare them by giving a lesson on manners and practicing beforehand.