Make a class fruit salad! Have the children help you cut the bananas by using tongue depressors which make good, safe knives. Cut up some apples, kiwis, and strawberries, and let the children add them to the bowl. As you work, talk about the colors and tastes of the different fruits. Serve the salad for a side at lunch or for snack. Make sure to check the allergy chart!
While improving their fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination, the children will also be building their confidence, learning to follow directions and work on mathematic skills.
Encourage the children to do more things for themselves. Model how to wash your hands, set the table, and put on your coat. Let the children complete these tasks, too. Allow them to do as much as they can independently even though it will take more time for them to do so.
As the children begin to take better care of themselves, they will also begin to think about their peers and how they can help them. They are learning to problem solve and prioritize.
Take a nature walk around the playground. Allow the children to pick up different things that they see such as twigs, acorns, leaves, or rocks. Point out new items that they may not notice. Bring the items inside and put them in the Science Center with some magnifying glasses. Ask the children questions about the observations they can make about the items.
Moving their bodies and working on their gross motor skills will also help the children become good observers. Using tools to help them compare the items and making observations will help them become critical thinkers.