Morning Circle at Preschool

Morning Circle at Preschool

Classroom Activities and Calendar Discussion

Engaging with Peers

  • The session begins with a playful interaction where students are encouraged to give high fives to their neighbors, fostering a sense of community and engagement.
  • The teacher emphasizes the importance of finding one's neighbor, reinforcing social connections among students.

Pledge of Allegiance

  • Students participate in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, demonstrating respect for national symbols and instilling patriotism.
  • The teacher praises the students for their progress in memorizing the pledge, highlighting their learning achievements.

Introduction to New Songs

  • Three new songs are introduced: "Conga Lina," "Sally the Camel," and "ABC Rock," indicating a transition into musical activities as part of learning.
  • Scott is invited to choose a song, promoting student choice and involvement in classroom decisions.

Singing Activity

  • During the singing activity for "ABC Rock," students are reminded to follow patterns without screaming, emphasizing discipline while having fun.
  • The teacher encourages louder participation from students during the song, enhancing engagement through vocal expression.

Calendar Learning

  • A calendar is introduced as a tool for understanding dates; students learn about months and days of the week.
  • October is identified as the current month; phonetic sounds are practiced by breaking down the word into syllables.

Day of the Week Identification

  • Students guess what day it is based on prior knowledge; they sing through days of the week to reinforce memory.
  • Confirmation that today is Tuesday helps solidify understanding of time concepts within a weekly framework.

Counting Activity

  • Students engage in counting exercises leading up to eight, integrating math skills into daily routines.
  • The class practices clapping hands eight times as part of an interactive counting game, reinforcing physical movement alongside numerical learning.

Weather Discussion

Weather Discussion and Yoga Activity in Class

Introduction to Weather Concepts

  • The teacher engages students by asking about their morning activities, specifically if they attended another preschool.
  • Students discuss the weather, identifying it as "sunny and cloudy," showcasing their understanding of mixed weather conditions.
  • A student named James is called upon to identify a picture representing the current weather, reinforcing visual learning.

Analyzing Temperature Perceptions

  • The class discusses temperature feelings; James concludes it's hot based on his clothing choices (short sleeves).
  • The teacher prompts further discussion about how many students are dressed for warm weather, confirming the hot temperature perception.

Comparing Weather Types

  • Students are asked to compare sunny and partly cloudy conditions; they conclude that sunny days are more frequent.
  • The concept of equality in weather types is introduced when discussing partly cloudy versus snowy days, leading to an understanding of equal representation.

Transitioning to Yoga Activity

  • After discussing the weather, the teacher transitions into a yoga session with a focus on physical movement and mindfulness.
  • Students learn specific yoga poses while repeating affirmations like "I am strong in heart" and "I support myself," promoting self-confidence.

Group Participation in Yoga

  • The class practices yoga together, emphasizing teamwork and collective participation through synchronized movements.
Video description

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoy watching what my morning circle at preschool looked like! This was several years ago so, COVID was not complicating every aspect of everyone life. I hope you can get some ideas to help in your own classroom! I have answered a few questions below! Link to book to help support articulation: https://www.amazon.com/Talkative-Tammy-Chatty-Charlie-Pennington/dp/B09243C9VQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 Yoga Cards: https://amzn.to/35ARcsm or https://amzn.to/2TpLKmr Teaching Board: You need a teaching easel that has a bar on the top so the pages can flip. Then you will need large rings, construction boards, bulletin board trim, cut out letters and lots of velcro! Please see the following links... Easel: https://amzn.to/31HnLna Rings: https://amzn.to/3jqxtjW (having extra will come in handy for other items in the classroom) Construction Boards: https://amzn.to/31KbkXP Bulletin Border: I like to keep a theme but it is also great to have each page look slightly different. https://amzn.to/37MVm2S https://amzn.to/2Jbjh1N https://amzn.to/3jxJzri Letters: Some of my favourites in different sizes, colors and textures https://amzn.to/3dXJuwd https://amzn.to/3e3UQi3 https://amzn.to/2HDpLWx Velcro: You will want heavy Duty https://amzn.to/3jA5le6 (Black) https://amzn.to/3e3tnNI (Clear) Super Spray: https://amzn.to/3mog0dN (these bottles are fun and inviting colors and the perfect size for washing and refilling each day.) Some of my all-time favorite circle time CDs: https://amzn.to/3owH8t2 (Kids in Motion) https://amzn.to/3e0xpGp (Kids in Action) https://amzn.to/3jyhdxa (We All Live Together 2) https://amzn.to/37EkN6O (We All Live Together 1) https://amzn.to/37L0G6L (Quiet Moments) All kiddos are full of sensory needs at this age! Using the super spray can be a fun and inviting strategy to not only praise positive behaviour, but to also allow their oral motor movements to awaken, and bring their whole bodies in touch with their senses! Pf course consult with your classroom parents and explain the benefits of giving them this simple yet fun reward! I have used simple things such as flavoured water, watered-down lemonade, etc. I would somedays even just put freshwater and have them do a SUPER SWIRL in a mist of water above their heads. This may be more COVID regulation friendly!