Kindergartners will get to know their kindergarten classroom and their classmates’ names. They will practice their perceptivity and dividing words into syllables. They will also start learning the ‘I’m going to school’ song.

Educational aids:

the ‘Hello!’ song, a puppet/a figure of a dwarf, a ball, a picture card with a kindergarten classroom, cards with the names of items in the kindergarten with double-sided tape, labels with double-sided tape, the ‘I’m going to school’ song.

Description of activities:

1. ‘Hello!’ – greeting children – children sit in the circle with their teacher. The teacher plays the song and shows the right gestures. The group tries to imitate the teacher’s gestures.

Hello, hello, hello, how are you? (wave to each other)
Hello, hello, hello, how are you? (wave to each other)

I’m good. (show one thumb)
I’m great! (show two thumbs)
I’m wonderful! (raise thumbs up)
I’m good. (show one thumb)
I’m great! (show two thumbs)
I’m wonderful! (raise thumbs up

Hello, hello, hello, how are you? (wave to each other)
Hello, hello, hello, how are you? (wave to each other)

I’m tired. (wipe forehead with a hand)
I’m hungry. (massage the belly)
I’m not so good. (wave index finger)
I’m tired. (wipe forehead with a hand)
I’m hungry. (massage the belly)
I’m not so good. (wave index finger)

2. ‘The dwarf’ – chatting – children sit in the circle with the teacher. The teacher takes out the puppet/figure with the dwarf and says in a changed voice: ‘Good morning Kids! I am the Dwarf. I’ve been waiting for you all summer. I’m very glad that you came. I will show you around this classroom. I hope that you enjoy it.’ In the next step, the dwarf comes up to every child to say hello and the children tell him their names.

3. ‘Hi, Ola!’ – movement activity – children and the teacher stand in the circle. The teacher throws the ball to one child and says his/her name, for example: ‘Hi, Ola!’. Next, the teacher runs around the circle and comes back to her/his place and the child throws the ball to another child, saying his or her name. After throwing the ball, she or he runs around the circle and comes back to her/his place. The game is continued until all the children throw the ball.

4. ‘Compare’ – educational activity – children sit in the circle with the teacher. The teacher asks the children to look around the classroom and try to memorize as many details as possible. Then the teacher shows children a picture of another kindergarten classroom and asks the children to do the same in 20 seconds. After this time, the teacher covers the picture and asks the children to indicate the similarities and differences between the picture and their classroom. After children provide their answers the teacher shows the picture again and asks about other similarities and differences. Next, the children speak about things which can be found in every kindergarten classroom (a carpet, chairs, desks, toys, books). The teacher (together with the dwarf) guides the children around the room and informs them about the location of items and toys.

5. ’People to people’ – movement activity – children form pairs and the teacher tells them how they should greet, for example: ‘Elbows to elbows/knees to knees/heels to heels. The teacher gives commands with several parts of the body and then says: ‘People to people!’ and children have to look for new partners. This activity is repeated 4-5 times.

6. ‘In our kindergarten classroom’ – educational activity – children sit in the circle with the teacher. The teacher puts the cards (cards with double-sided tape) with the names of items which can be found in the kindergarten classroom on the carpet. Next, the teacher asks (for example): ‘Where is it written: a window/a carpet/a chair?’. One child – a volunteer – shows the right caption and sticks the card to the window/carpet/chair. The group divides the word into syllables and tells what the first sound is. The teacher can also ask the volunteer to read the word. If the children can’t cope with the task, the teacher asks them about individual letters in the word and guides them to the word by reading it slowly.

7. ‘Just like me’ – movement activity – children sit in the circle, and the teacher goes to the middle of it and says for example: ‘Who has dark hair just like me?’. Children with dark hair have to stand up and change places. The person who’s left without a place to sit stays in the middle of the circle and says: ‘Who … just like me?’. This activity is repeated about 6 times. If children want to continue to play, the teacher tells them they can play for example after dinner/in the afternoon.

8. ‘Labels for kids’ – educational activity – children sit in the circle with the teacher. The teacher describes items/animals in the pictures – labels which will be sticked to kids’ drawers/shelves. The person who raises his/her hand and guesses what is in the picture receives the label and sticks it next to his or her name on a drawer in the kindergarten classroom, a shelf in a cloakroom, next to the towel in the bathroom ect.

9. ‘Run to you’ – movement activity – children run around the room to the rhythm of the ‘I’m going to school’ song. When the music stops playing each child has to approach another person, shake hands and say his/her name. When the music starts playing again they run again. The game lasts as long as the song lasts.

10. ‘I’m going to school’ – listening to the song – children sit in the circle and listen to the ‘I’m going to school’ song in an active way: they have to remember one pair of rhymes. After listening to the song, the teacher talks with kindergartners about the lyrics of this song and asks about rhymes. Children listen to the song again and repeat the lyrics of the first part of the song after the teacher.

I’m going to school

One two three, I’m going to school
I’m going to learn and play – that’s so cool!
One two three, I’m going to school
I’m going to learn and play – that’s so cool!

I hang up my backpack
I’m ready to start the day!
When it’s time to clean up
We put our things away
Each thing goes in its place.

One two three, I’m going to school
I’m going to learn and play – that’s so cool!

We learn to take turns
So everyone can play.
When it’s not my turn
I know I have to wait
Now it’s my turn again!

One two three, I’m going to school
I’m going to learn and play – that’s so cool!

We learn how to share our toys
And supplies with our friends
When I ask, they share with me
“Can I please use it again?”
The blue marker? Sure you can!

One two three, I’m going to school
I’m going to learn and play – that’s so cool!

I like it when our teacher
Picks a book for us to read
We sit and listen quietly
So we can hear and see
A new friend is here? Join us, take a seat!

One two three, I’m going to school
I’m going to learn and play – that’s so cool!
One two three, I’m going to school
I’m going to learn and play – that’s so cool!

11. ‘I’m going to school’ – movement activity – children walk around in the circle and sing the ‘I’m going to school’ song.

Attachments:

A figure for the ‘The dwarf’ activity

An A4 picture card for the ‘Compare’ activity

An A3 picture card for the ‘Compare’ activity

An A2 picture card for the ‘Compare’ activity

Captions for the ’In our kindergarten room’ activity

Labels for the ‘Labels for kids’ activity

Pages:

1. https://supersimple.com/song/hello/ – the ‘Hello!’ song for the ‘Hello!’ activity
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmGXBkIgqWA&ab – the ‘I’m going to school’ song for the ‘I’m going to school’ activities