| First thing a preschool teacher needs to do, is to get a | | | | Next up for your little preschoolers is the numerical |
| carpet or rug and make your circle on it. It needs to big | | | | date. Again, these are numbers that can be pinned up |
| enough to hold all students, but small enough to have | | | | and taken down when the month changes. Choose a |
| students and teacher close together. | | | | preschooler to put the number up. Show it first, have |
| Staring off your preschool day with circle time is a | | | | them repeat it. |
| great way to transition your preschoolers into the | | | | The Weather and Preschool Circle Time |
| learning day. However, you can devise a circle time at | | | | Have a chart similar to a calendar. Have many cut |
| just about any time of the day in your preschool | | | | outs to represent rain, sun, clouds, cold, etc. Choose a |
| classroom. | | | | preschooler to pick what the weather is and put this |
| When your preschool students arrive, you probably | | | | up. |
| have them do a little free play as they wait for all | | | | Other Preschool Circle time Activity Suggestions |
| students to show up. When all are there, now your | | | | Have a large board or something similar that you can |
| preschool can start your circle time! | | | | post things on a daily basis. Have a good selection of |
| You may have a bell to ring, or even play a song to let | | | | preschool songs and music. |
| your preschoolers know that it is now circle time. | | | | - Play a song that has motions. Very important for |
| Each day you will choose different preschoolers in | | | | preschoolers to be active. |
| your class to lead all circle time activities. I would | | | | - Play a learning song that preschoolers can learn |
| choose a different student for each activity, but many | | | | quick and sing along. |
| preschool educators choose one student to all circle | | | | - Have large letter cut outs. Pick a 'letter of the day' to |
| time activities. | | | | be repeated by your preschoolers and put up on the |
| Instead of sitting down first, you can call one of your | | | | board. |
| preschoolers to get a flag and they can recite the | | | | - Have large preschooler appropriate words on cards. |
| pledge. Then all students sit. | | | | Choose a word of the day and let a preschooler put |
| The Calendar and Preschool Circle Time | | | | this on the board as well. |
| A calendar for preschool circle time is a must. You can | | | | - During preschool circle time, it is a great idea for all |
| get a large blank one where each day and month can | | | | students to say the names of everyone as you or a |
| be either pinned up or otherwise attached, and taken | | | | student points to them. |
| down when the month changes. Many preschool | | | | - Preschool circle time can also be used to read a |
| instructors use pointers for some of their circle time | | | | story. Have lots of preschool books! |
| activities. | | | | - Make a magic wand. Something simple, a small stick |
| If it is a new month, the name of the month should be | | | | with a star on the end. Choose a preschooler to use |
| written on a card, shown to the students, and all say | | | | this magic wand and point to students one by one to |
| the name. Then choose a preschooler to stick it on the | | | | return to their seats or go to the next activity. |
| calendar. If it is not a new month, your preschoolers | | | | These are just a few simple suggestions for your |
| repeat the name when you point at it. | | | | preschool circle time. Hopefully it will encourage you to |
| You can do the day of the week next. These will | | | | come up imaginative ways to conduct your preschool |
| probably be permanent on your calendar. Use the | | | | circle time and make it meaningful as well as fun! |
| pointer or choose a preschooler to point to all days | | | | For more preschool classroom ideas, visit: Preschool |
| and say the names. Ask what day is today. | | | | Resources Website. |