Passing and catching a ball helps preschoolers with their aim and coordination, and it can help wake up their bodies in the morning. Bring in a soft ball such as a beach ball. Say a child's name, then roll the ball to him. He must pick it up, then choose another child and roll the ball to her. Continue until each child has had a turn with the ball, then try tossing the ball to one another. Finally, have everyone stand up and kick the ball back and forth.
Circle time can get chaotic, with each child eager to share something. Children will be calmer if they are guaranteed a chance to talk. Bring in an object that makes noise, such as a rain stick or a small drum. Each morning, pass the object around the circle. When each child receives the drum, he can share a thought if he wants to. Children can tell you what they ate for dinner, what they dreamed about, or whatever else they choose. Once each child is finished speaking, he can hit the drum three times and pass it on to the next child.
Get each child's imagination moving and teach everyone about teamwork. Each day, create a new story together. Start off with an opening line, such as, "The girl sat down to eat some spaghetti." Going around the circle, ask each child to add one line to the story. Allow children to pass if they're too shy to contribute. The stories will likely be silly and not make sense, but children will feel bonded once they've created something together.
Stretches and exercises can wake up sleepy children or help calm down antsy children. Have children stand up and stretch their arms out and do some jumping jacks. Have children sit down and lead them in a round of calming moves. Ask children to rub their hands together, then rub their cheeks, earlobes and the tops of their heads. Have them move on to patting their stomachs, squeezing their arms and rubbing their legs. End by having children close their eyes and take five deep breaths.