Introducing Playdough

When Young Children start childcare it may be there first experience with playdough.
Although it may seem natural to know what to do with playdough. For some children they need some explanation.

Sitting with a child and showing them how to roll, make a ball, use the cookie cutters etc. will help them engage in this activity with proper expectations.

Here is a song to make it fun too.

(Tune Mary Had a Little Lamb)

Watch me while I roll my playdough
rolly my playdough, roll my playdough
Watch me while I roll my playdough
into a big ball.

Watch me while I pound my playdough,
pound my playdough, pound my playdough
Watch me while I pound my playdough
To make it oh, so flat

Watch me while I poke my play dough.
Poke my playdough, poke my playdough
Watch me while I poke my playdough
with lots of little holes.

Watch me while I stretch my playdough
Stretch my playdough, stretch my playdough
Watch me while I stretch my plaough
until it falls apart.

You can add other verses depending on the equipment available at the playdough centre.

Including

Watch me while I cut my playdough
cut my playdough, cut my playdough
watch me while I cut my playdough
Into the shape of a "duck" (whatever cookie cutter there is)

Watch me while I roll my playdough
roll my playdough, roll my playdough
Watch me while I roll my playdough
into a big long snake

Here is a link to a website with a playdough recipe
playdough recipe
Another link to the scholastic website for other ideas to introduce with playdough play
scholastic

Bubbles

Popping Bubbles (Allouette)

Popping bubbles, I like popping bubbles
Popping bubbles, its so fun for me.

Can you pop them on your knee?
Can you pop them on your knee?
On your knee, on your knee
Ohhhhhh

Popping bubbles, I like popping bubbles
Popping bubbles, fun for you and me

Great summer song for teaching body awareness, and vocabulary for body parts.

Great for kids to challenge their gross motor skills by trying to pop a bubble with their toe etc...

Feelings

My goal is for the preschoolers to how they feel when asked.

To ensure all the kids are able recognize and label the feelings. We are starting with singing "If You are Happy and You Know It" I have made visuals to accompany the song.

If You are Happy and You Know It

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap clap)

If you're sad and you know it, cry boo hoo (rub eyes)
If you're sad and you know it, cry boo hoo (rub eyes)
If you're sad and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you're sad and you know it, cry boo hoo (rub eyes)

If you're angry and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp, stomp)
If you're angry and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp, stomp)
If you're angry and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you're angry and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp, stomp)

When the children are successful with this song than I'm going to add

Hello Song to the tune (Goodnight Ladies)

Hello Susan, Hello Susan
Hellos Susan
and How are you today.

Using the same visual props from the previous song the children will pick on to represent how they feel.


Feeling Link from kizclub.com

http://www.kizclub.com/Topics/myself/feeling.pdf