Game Time

Lesson 8

Warm Up I Can Draw With...

Equipment Required

Pictures of the various pathways: straight, curved and zig-zag
Alphabet cards that have those same shapes (optional)

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is for children to be active. Preschool children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity and 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity every day.

Overview

In this activity children will understand various directional pathways such as straight, curved, zig-zag.

How to Play

As the teacher holds up the picture of each shape, the children draw that shape in the air, first with one hand and then the other. Then have them try drawing shapes with other body parts, such as their legs, head, hips, elbows, and so on.

Activity 1 Let's Do Laundry

Equipment Required

1 parachute

Purpose

Overview

In this activity children will play cooperatively using a parachute.

How to play

Every child should be evenly spread around parachute.

Every second child is to be chosen to lie underneath the parachute. Instruct the children to be positioned towards the center of the parachute. Instruct the children underneath the parachute (the dirty clothes) to keep their feet and hands down.

Instruct children holding parachute as follows:

“

Now that we have our dirty laundry in the washing machine, let’s think about what we need to do first. Does anyone know what we need to do first to make our dirty clothes clean?

We need to put in the laundry soap! Everyone put in lots of soap to make the clothes clean. (Show children how to put soap into the washing machine by holding the parachute with one hand. Tap the other hand onto the parachute for about 30 seconds.)

Now that we have soap in the washing machine, what comes next? Let’s turn on the washing machine! (With one hand holding the parachute, use the other hand to pretend to turn the washing machine dial to its “on” position.)

Now that the machine is switched on, what comes next? It’s time to wash our clothes! (Show children how to wash the clothes by moving the parachute up and down. Instruct children to keep their feet on the ground and move the parachute up and down in front of them as quickly as they can.)

Now that the clothes are washed, what comes next? It’s time to rinse all the soap out of our clothes. (Instruct the children to move the parachute from side to side so the parachute “swishes” over the dirty clothes.)

Now that we’ve rinsed all the soap out of our dirty clothes, what comes next? It’s time to dry our clothes. (Instruct children to crouch down low to ground and on the count of three lift the parachute up as they stand and lift parachute above their heads. Remind them not to let go of the parachute. Once the parachute is above their heads, instruct them to bring it down as quickly as they can.

”

Repeat this about 5 times. Repeat the game with children switching positions.

Activity 2 Ball Toss

Equipment Required

1 small ball per child
Several buckets

Purpose

Overview

In this activity children will development manipulative skills and practice tossing a ball.

How to play

Line children up along one side of the play area. Position several buckets different distances from children. Instruct children to toss the ball into the bucket. Challenge children to use an under hand toss and get the ball in the buckets that are farther away.

Cool-Down/Wrap-Up Strrrretch

How to play

Lead children in a number of static stretches:

Stand up tall on tip-toes, reach hands over head towards roof. Hold for 10 seconds.
Stand with legs apart, one hand on hip, the other hand reaching over head and leaning to side. Hold for 10 seconds. Change sides.
Stand with legs apart. Hang body down towards floor. Touch hands to floor, move from side to side.
Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Roll shoulders forwards, backwards.
Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Hands on hips. Roll hips in circular direction.
Shake out wrists and ankles.
Instruct children to shake hands with two friends and say, “Have a nice day.”

Enrichment

Read Norma Jean, Jumping Bean, by Joanna Cole. Discuss with children how each of us has different talents and that we should use our talents, especially when they help us do things we enjoy! Also, have children act out some of the actions described in the book.

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.

Weekly Log

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.