Teaching your kids can be a challenge, especially when it comes to circle time activities for preschoolers. But don’t worry, we’ve got some exciting ideas to make learning fun and engaging!
We’ll explore 10 effective circle time activities that your little ones will love. Get ready to shake up your routine and watch as your kids become more eager to learn!
Great Circle Time Activities for Preschoolers
Let’s start our circle time activities with “Calendar Time”! Although preschoolers may not yet understand the concept of time and personal appointments, we can use calendars as a tool to teach numbers and patterns.
Each day, identify together which day of the month it is and count from the beginning of the month to the current day. It’s amazing how much it can help them learn to count beyond 10.
Any calendar will do, so don’t worry if you don’t have the perfect calendar pocket chart. I’ve even seen some people use linear calendars, which is a great idea for preschoolers.
By incorporating Calendar Time into your daily routine, you’ll not only be helping your kids learn to count, but you’ll also be providing structure and consistency to their day. Plus, it’s a great way to start the day and get everyone on the same page. So, let’s grab a calendar and get counting!
Don’t miss out on learning more about this activity at thesuperteacher.com. Or, see more of our favorite calendar activities for preschoolers.
The next circle time activity is the Weather Chart Activity! This is a great resource for younger children who are learning about the weather, and it’s free to download from the site. You can use it in centers and during circle time to make learning fun and interactive.
To use this resource, you’ll need to organize the pieces onto one board to display the chart and wheel. The site suggests using cardboard wrapped in fabric to make it visually appealing and easy to use. You can also add an envelope to hold the small pieces for easy storage.
The weather chart has five days, from Monday to Friday, making it perfect for school days. Children will learn to track the weather conditions on the days they are in school. This activity not only helps children learn about weather patterns but also encourages participation and engagement during circle time.
For more information about this activity, make sure to explore our article 10 Fantastic Weather Charts for Preschool.
The third activity during circle time is the entertaining game called “Bugs in a Rug.” To begin, play some music and allow the children to move and dance freely. Once the music stops, they must all imitate the position of a curled-up bug by tucking their heads into their knees. While the children are in this position, cover up one of them with a blanket so that no one can see who it is.
Then, ask the remaining children to stand up and try to guess who is hidden under the blanket. If any participant finds it difficult or impossible to curl up on the ground, they can choose to remain still in any comfortable position with their eyes closed. This is a great game to encourage participation, engagement, and critical thinking skills.
To obtain additional details about this activity, be sure to visit appetitetoplay.com.
Our next activity is Storybook Reading, and it’s a classic for a reason! But not all books are created equal when it comes to circle time. Here are some tips for choosing the perfect preschool storybook:
First of all, go for shorter books to keep the attention of a large group of young students. Big, bold pictures are also important so that everyone can see the illustrations. Look for books with repetitive text that encourages kids to join in on familiar parts, and ones that have character voices that allow the reader to change their voice for different characters.
Sections to act out are also a great way to actively engage kids during story time. Books with a rhythm and rhyme can also help draw students into the story. And, of course, don’t forget class favorites, which are guaranteed to be an instant hit with your little ones.
If you need more information about this activity, check out growingbookbybook.com.
Our next circle time activity is Singing Songs and Rhymes! Kids love these fun preschool rhyming songs, and they’re perfect for circle time and transitions between activities. Not only are they fun, but they also help your little ones hear and produce rhyming words, which is an important early literacy skill.
Some classic examples of preschool rhyming songs include “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”, “The Wheels on the Bus”, and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”. You can also find plenty of fun and educational rhyming songs online or in children’s music books.
Singing songs and rhymes is a great way to get your little ones moving and engaged during circle time. And, as a bonus, they’ll be building important language and literacy skills without even realizing it! So, break out those vocal cords and get ready to sing and rhyme with your preschoolers.
Make sure to visit earlylearningideas.com to find out more about this activity.
Fingerplays are a great way to engage your preschoolers in learning while also helping them develop important skills like fine motor control, language development, and pre-writing skills.
These teachable moments are perfect for circle time, large group learning, small group learning, musical settings, one-on-one, and even for independent play. Some popular fingerplays include “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “Five Little Monkeys,” and “Where is Thumbkin?”.
Fingerplays are easy to learn and can be a lot of fun for both you and your little ones. They also provide a great opportunity to introduce new vocabulary and concepts playfully and interactively. So, why not give fingerplays a try during your next circle time? Your preschoolers are sure to love them, and you’ll be helping them develop important skills at the same time!
If you’re looking for more information about this activity, preschoolinspirations.com is the site to visit.
This next activity will surely add some excitement to your circle time! Our next activity is Circle Time Props. Props can be a great addition to your circle time routine as they provide a hands-on element to your lessons and can help keep your little ones engaged and focused.
Some popular circle time props include stuffed animals, puppets, felt boards, and educational toys. You can use props to introduce new concepts, act out stories, and reinforce learning. For example, use a felt board to illustrate a story or song, or use a puppet to ask questions and encourage participation.
Props can also be a great tool for helping children develop important social and emotional skills like empathy, communication, and problem-solving. By encouraging children to use props to act out scenarios or tell stories, you can help them develop their creativity and imagination.
For further information on this activity, be sure to browse teaching2and3yearolds.com.
It’s time to level things up with our next activity: Alphabet Soup Circle Time! This fun and interactive activity will have your preschoolers excited to learn their ABCs. After reading a book about soup, tell the children they will be making Alphabet Soup with letters instead of vegetables and chicken broth.
Ask each child to pretend they are a chef and invite them to come up and stir the pot with a ladle to scoop out a magnetic letter. Say the rhyme, “Stir the soup, it makes it better, now use the ladle to get a letter!” As each child gets a letter, label it verbally to the class.
Continue the game until everyone has had a turn. For smaller classes, you can go around twice, but don’t push it – once may be enough! This activity will help children with letter recognition, fine motor skills, and turn-taking. It’s a fun and engaging way to learn the alphabet!
If you want additional details about this activity, don’t forget to explore notimeforflashcards.com.
In this activity, called Act the Emotion, children learn to identify and express different emotions. Three emotion cards are placed in the center of the circle – happy, sad, and angry – each with a corresponding facial expression. The adult goes first to demonstrate how to act out an emotion, and the children guess which emotion is being expressed.
Then, it’s the children’s turn to stand up and act out an emotion. The others try to guess which emotion is being acted out. As they participate, talk about the different body language and facial expressions associated with each emotion.
This activity encourages children to express their feelings and recognize the feelings of others, building emotional intelligence and empathy. It’s a great activity for small groups and can be adapted to include more complex emotions as children become more comfortable with the concept.
Earlyimpactlearning.com is the place to go for more information about this activity. We also gathered more preschool feelings activities you might want to check out.
This last activity is a classic and always a hit with kids: Would You Rather? This game is simple yet entertaining, and can also encourage critical thinking and decision-making skills.
To play, simply present two options to the group, starting with “would you rather.” For example, “Would you rather eat pizza or tacos for the rest of your life?” or “Would you rather be able to fly or become invisible?”
Have each child take turns answering the question, explaining why they made their choice. This can lead to interesting discussions and debates, and can also help build social skills and encourage children to respect each other’s opinions.
You can tailor the questions to fit your group, whether it’s themed around a particular topic (such as animals or sports) or just silly and fun. And the best part is, you can play this game anywhere, whether it’s in the classroom, during a car ride, or at home with family and friends.
To learn more about this activity, make sure to visit empoweredparents.co.
Conclusion
Remember, circle time is a valuable opportunity for young children to learn, grow, and have fun. With these engaging and interactive activities, you can make the most of this time together.
Whether you’re focusing on literacy, social-emotional development, or just having a good time, these activities are sure to keep your circle time fresh and exciting. Thanks for reading! Visit us again for other themed activities for preschoolers!
