Themes & Activities

Back to School
Open thematic poster - Back to school

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK, MONTH, YEAR

In the educatall club, you will find a complete section of printable documents. For example, you will find the friendly caterpillar, the task train, perpetual calendars, the good habit chart, the visual routine, the hand washing poster, the conflict resolution rainbow, etc. Use these precious tools to get children involved in the daily routine while encouraging autonomy.

Don't miss our special requests, posters, memos, and tools. They are packed with documents which may be printed and used to organize your walls and organize your days. Select tools you can integrate into your routine for the year to come. Present new tools one at a time. Once the group has mastered its purpose, add another one. Don't forget to visit our archives section!

CIRCLE TIME

Have fun with this imaginary game suggested by Claudine Richard. (Open thematic letter - Back to school) Print the letter and insert it in an envelope. Place the envelope in an easy to find location in the daycare. During circle time, ask children to find the letter. Read portions of the letter to them each day.

SUGGESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION PERIODS

Take time to explain the various tools you selected for your group. We have prepared a visual daily routine which presents each portion of the day including greeting, snack time, workshops, naptime, lunch, departure, etc. (Open tools - visual routine) Print and hang at children's eye level.

AREA SETUP

Organizing your toy bins
Print a new series of labels to identify your bins. (Open labels - storage bins) Print, and display on your various bins to identify their content.

Setup of your entrance
(Open poster - Welcome) or (Open poster -Farewell) to announce the arrival or departure of members of your group.

Setup of your circle time area
We suggest introducing a magical tree. Paint the tree directly on the wall or draw it on a large roll of white paper. Trace only the tree trunk and the branches. Gather before the tree each day. Explain to the group that the tree will remain with you throughout the year. As a group, you will decorate it throughout the seasons, themes, and occasions. Here is a suggestion for the Back to School theme (Open poster - Back to School) Print, laminate, cut out, and hang over the tree. Next, (Open memo - identification). Print and display each child's name. Add a picture of each child beside his or her name and display at the top of the tree.

PICTURE GAME

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group. Use them to decorate your daycare or a specific thematic corner.

(Open picture game - Back to School) Print, laminate, and store in a Ziploc bag or in your thematic bins.

ACTIVITY SHEETS

Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions.

(Open Activity sheet - Back to school)

WORKSHOPS

Have fun with these wonderful workshop ideas provided by Caroline Allard.

To begin the year, here are several activities which do not belong to a particular theme. They encourage "free play" and help new additions to the group to get used to the daily routine. They are meant to introduce just a few new rules at a time.

Construction and building blocks:

Blocks of all kinds: Legos, wooden blocks (colored or natural), Bristle blocks, Duplo, Mobilo, etc.
Cardboard boxes lined with newspaper which can be used as giant blocks
Figurines
All toys representing means of transportation: cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, trains, etc.
A garage, a mat representing streets to play with small cars, cardboard cylinders to represent tunnels, and

Traffic signs

Farm animals, zoo animals, reptiles, pets, etc.
Natural construction elements such as branches, rocks, pieces of bark, etc.

Arts & Crafts:

Easel and large sheets of white paper for painting.
Different sizes of paintbrushes, brushes, sponges, small rollers, old toothbrushes, etc.
Water paint cakes
Finger paint and glossy paper
Chalkboard and chalks
Straight and special design scissors
Various hole punches
Glue sticks, white glue, sparkly glue, etc.
Adhesive paper
Feathers, confetti, pipe cleaners, bits of yarn, ribbons
Multicolored construction paper
Colored or white pieces of cardboard
Cellophane paper, tissue paper, wrapping paper
Paper plates, cone-shaped glasses, cardboard tubes
Popsicle sticks, toothpicks
Recycled elements
Catalogues and flyers
Stencils
A plastic tablecloth to protect the table

Drawing:

Coloring pages related to the daily routine, workshops, friends, the group's name, etc.
Markers, wooden crayons, waxed crayons
Pastel crayons, colored chalk
HB pencils and erasers
Rulers and stencils
Stamps and stamp pads

Role Play:

Anything and everything that can be used for costumes and disguises
Adult and children's clothing (parents may provide odd items), hand bags, shoes, belts, scarves, old jewellery, etc.
Small electronics (toys or the real thing with the electric cords removed), dishes, table and chairs, plastic food items, empty food containers
Dolls, doll clothing, high chair, baby bed
Puppets and puppet theatre

Manipulation:

Back to school memory game using educatall pictures
Puzzles
Modeling dough and cookie cutters for sculpting various shapes
Multicolored beads, in various sizes and shapes to make necklaces
Lacing shapes
Shapes with buttons, zippers, snaps, etc.
Toys which can be embedded and assembled
Lotto games, memory games, and other games adapted to the group's age
Card games
Magnetic letters and numbers
Magnets of all kinds with a metal baking sheet

Pre-reading:

Fairytales, storybooks, picture books
Book and CD sets with headphones
An album filled with pictures of the children
Alphabet primer
Magazines with pictures
Felt boards with shapes to create stories
Comfortable chairs, cushions, a small table
Posters to hang on the walls
A "hideout" corner for children who want quiet time alone
A small lamp

Pre-writing:

Dot to dot activities
"Find the errors" games
Hunt and seek games
Various activity sheets to practice writing, tracing, etc.
Games with educatall word flashcards
An old typewriter for children to print real letters
Magnetic letters and numbers
A white board with dry-erase markers

Sensory bins:

Sandbox or water table: replace sand or water with oats, lentils, pasta, sunflower seeds, cotton balls, leaves, peas, cereal, etc. The possibilities are only limited by the ages of children in your group. Use your better judgment.
Spray bottles
Funnels and empty containers for pouring and transferring
Small objects or figurines which can be hidden in bins
Kitchen utensils to stir the contents of bins
Straws, sponges
Measuring cups, colanders
Objects which float and objects which sink

Science &Nature:

Animal posters or posters related to natural phenomena
Maps, atlas, globe
Plants, soil, vivarium, aquarium, gardening tools
Magnifying glasses, plastic gloves
Objects found in nature (logs, branches, leaves, rocks...)
Scale
Funnels, eyedroppers
Containers of all kinds which can be used to make mixtures

Music:

Posters of musical instruments
A tape recorder and a microphone to sing and record
Music from different countries, different styles of music
Musical instruments (real or toys)
Rhythmic sticks, triangles, drums, cymbals, xylophone, bells, etc.

Get to know the various workshops (Open chart - workshops) We suggest a simple method of using pictures to represent the various workshops. There are different types of workshops: some are always open, such as the kitchen and building blocks. Other workshops are open only at certain specific moments such as the computer area, the drama area, etc.

To ensure workshops are a success, it is sometimes necessary to limit the number of participants. Posters indicating the number of participants help you manage how many children will be authorized to participate in each workshop. This chart can be used to simply and efficiently show children how many of them can take part in a particular activity. Children add their picture or name to the workshops which are offered and still have available spots.

Word flashcards

Use the cards to spark a conversation with the group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins.

(Open word flashcards - Back to school)

Desk, book, school, daycare, teacher, backpack, lunchbox, chalkboard, crayons, caregiver, calendar, snack

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Hunt and seek
Have children sit in a circle. Say, "I am looking for something round and blue!" The object must be visible within the daycare. When a child recognizes the object he raises his hand and says, "I found it!" The child then gets the object. If he is correct, he continues the game by describing another object.

Guided tour
Stand single file. Children hold each other at the waist to form a train. Announce the train's departure. Children make train sounds. When you reach a different area of the daycare, shout out, "Stop! We have arrived in the kitchen." Let children play in the area for a while and then announce that the train is boarding for the next destination (room). This is perfect for reminding or telling children which areas they have access to and which areas they are not supposed to go to.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

What is your name?
Sit in a circle. Throw the ball to children, one at a time, saying their name. Next each child must throw the ball to another child, saying the child's name.

ACTIVITY IMPLICATING PARENTS

Ask parents to prepare miniature photo albums with their children. Children can use them to present everyone and everything which is dear to them. Some examples of pictures to include are their house, their pets, and the members of their family.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Days of the week
(Open - Days of the week) Print, laminate, and cut out. Children enjoy associating the days of the week to the correct color on the xylophone.

Time of day
(Open Games - Routine game) Print, laminate, and cut out. Associate each symbol to the correct time of day, morning, noon, afternoon, or evening.

Memory game
Played like the traditional memory game. Take pictures of children in your group. Print two copies of each picture. When children turn cards over, they must say the name of the child in the picture.

Look closely
Gather children in one corner of the daycare. Show them an object you are about to hide. Ask them to turn their back to you so you can hide it. Place the object in an obvious location so children do not have to overturn or move other objects to find it. Children search for the object with their hands behind their back or on top of their head. When a child sees the object, he must remain silent. He simply comes to sit near you. When the entire group has found the object, start over again.

What is different?
Invite children to walk around the daycare and take special notice of where objects are. Have them go to another room or close their eyes. Make changes in the daycare. For example, move a chair, hide a lamp, turn a picture frame or poster upside down, etc. Tell children to come back in the daycare and search for changes. At the end of the game, children return all objects to their original positions.

I am bringing...
Sit in a circle with the group. Begin the game by saying, "I am going to daycare and I'm bringing...(my smile for example)". The game continues. The next child must repeat your item and add a new one. Each child repeats the previous items and adds a new one to the list.

SEQUENTIAL STORY

(Open - Visual routine) Have children place the pictures according to the order in which they occur at daycare.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Let's get to know each other
Children sit two by two, facing each other. They take turns imitating their partner's facial expressions.

Internal mail
Each child prepares one or more drawings for other children in the group. When they are done, they can deposit them in a mailbox you previously prepared together. The mailman is in charge of distributing internal mail. Randomly select drawings. You can ask the child who drew the picture to describe it to the group. This activity can last as long as you wish, a day, a week, or an entire month.

Standing ovation
Select a different child each day. Throughout the day, the child may request a standing ovation at any time simply by saying, "I would like a standing ovation please." The rest of the group stop what they are doing and clap as loud as they can.

Rallying cry
With the group's input, invent your own rallying cry. Explain to the group when you will use it (if they are old enough to understand). Use your daycare's name for inspiration. When you begin the rallying cry, children must complete it and remain silent to hear the explanations or instructions you have for them. For example if you say, "Little mice", they complete with, "hi hi hi".

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

Welcome cocktail
Prepare for the welcome party by making special cocktails with the group. They can serve them to their parents. You will need measuring cups for this activity. Children must all have equal quantities of orange juice and pineapple juice. Add grenadine and decorate glasses with fresh fruit, miniature umbrellas, etc.

ARTS & CRAFTS

My scrapbook
(Open scrapbook) Print several copies of each page. Have children color them. Take pictures of the children. Add pictures of each child to the group's scrapbooks. Add personalized comments. Glue the cover page to heavy paper and join the pages together with ribbon.

My very own placemat
Make plenty of material available to children. Suggest they make a collage that you will later laminate to make a placemat. This is an interesting activity for younger children. It will encourage them to remain seated during lunch. Another approach to this activity is having children cut pictures of their favorite foods out of grocery store flyers. This will help you prepare snacks and meals the group will enjoy.

A bookmark for the daily communication journal
(Open model - Bookmark) Print onto colored paper. You may use confetti, sparkly glue, or even children's pictures to decorate. Laminate so they can be used all year.

Cutting exercise
(Open game - I am learning how to cut) Print and staple together to make a booklet for each child. Throughout the week, children trace and cut out the shapes on the dotted lines.

COLORING PAGES

(Open coloring pages theme - Back to school)

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Organize a special day in honor of the new group.

(Open perpetual calendar - School Day)

Greeting: Children bring their lunch to daycare in a lunch box.

Circle time: Discussion about school, visit a kindergarten classroom.

Lunch and snack: Children enjoy the lunch they brought from home

Special activity:
Children pretend to be at school. They take turns being the teacher. Prepare activity booklets they can complete. Organize the daycare so it resembles a classroom. Include desks, chairs, a table and a chair facing the others for the teacher, chalks, a bell, notebooks, pencils, backpacks...You are a teacher for the day. Plan your day like a normal school day with schoolwork, drawing, a craft, a song, recess, lunch, the bus ride home, etc. Use accessories which can often be found in a classroom such as activity sheets or the letters of the alphabet. At the end of the day, present children with diplomas for various challenges they have succeeded.

Some examples of challenges are:

I can tie my shoes
(Open poster - I can tie my shoes) Print, laminate, and hang in the daycare. Using old shoes or lacing toys,

have children practice tying their shoes.

(Open diploma - I can tie my shoes)

I am learning how to use scissors
(Open Game - I am learning how cut) Print and staple the booklets together. Children trace and cut on the dotted lines. (Open diploma - I am growing)

I know my numbers

(Open chart - Numbers) Print, laminate, and hang on the wall at children's eye level. With Velcro, children associate the correct number of symbols to each number. (Open diploma - I know my numbers)

I know the alphabet
(Open activity sheet - I can trace the alphabet) Children trace each letter of the alphabet.

(Open diploma - I know the alphabet)

I am learning colors
(Open Game - I know my colors) Children take turns rolling the dice. With their pawn, they move to the corresponding color.

When the dice shows a color, they must name it.

(Open diploma - I know my colors)

Have nice day!

Educatall team

Our job is to make yours easier. Do not hesitate to suggest themes you would like to see us develop. Let us know of any printable documents or tools which could be useful. Send us your comments and suggestions!

No part of this text may be copied, reproduced, distributed, published, translated, downloaded, posted, or transmitted, in any way, without first obtaining written authorization from educatall and the copyright holder. Elements of the text may be posted or downloaded solely for personal and non-commercial use provided no modification is made and that all notices of intellectual property are clearly indicated (name of the author, title of the article, name of the website, date the text is used).