Preschool Programs Chapter

By Teresa Chiv

The Sixties: We Can Work It Out - Celebrate Cooperation

Books to Share

Is There Really a Human Race? by Jamie Lee Curtis.
Just a Little Bit by Ann Tompert.
Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza by Philemon Sturges.
Old Bear’s Surprise Painting by Jane Hissey.
Swimmy by Leo Lionni.
This Little Pirate by Philemon Sturges.

Books to Show or Booktalk

Crossing Bok Chitto by Tim Tingle.
Jamaica and Brianna by Juanita Havill.
Muffin and the Lesson of Kokua by Carmen Geshell.
A Splendid Friend Indeed by Suzanne Bloom.
Stone Soup by Marcia Brown.
That’s What Friends Are For by Florence Parry Heide.

Costumes and Props

The program presenter might wear bell-bottom pants, a miniskirt with boots, a wide tie, or a polyester shirt in bright colors.

Nametags

Shake Hands

Make a copy of the pattern provided in this program of two hands shaking for each child to wear as a nametag.

Serve raspberry flavored lemonade. Lemon juice and raspberry by themselves are tasty, but together they are even better! Serve gingerbread people cookies or sugar cookies cut out with a gingerbread person cookie cutter. A recipe for gingerbread cookies is available at the Cooking Light web site, http://food.cookinglight.com/cooking/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=222783.

Fingerplays

Cooperative Counting

(By Teresa Chiv.)

One, two, aren’t you new? (Hold up two fingers, one at a time)

I have never noticed you.

Three, four, I’m your neighbor next door. (Hold up two more fingers, one at a time)

And I want a cookie like yours.

Five, six, we’re in a fix. (Hold up two more fingers, one at a time)

All that’s left is cookie mix!

Seven, eight, let’s cooperate! (Hold up two more fingers, one at a time)

I can show you how to bake.

Nine, ten if that’s your plan, I’m in! (Hold up two more fingers, one at a time)

Work together and we both will win. (Clap your hands)

Flannel Boards

Make a flannel board based on the book That’s What Friends Are For by Florence Parry Heide. As you place the picture of an animal on the board, suit your actions to the advice that each animal gives.

Rhymes and Poetry

“Ring Around the World” in This Place I Know by Georgia Heard.

Songs

Make New Friends

(Traditional.)

Make new friends

But keep the old.

One is silver

And the other gold.

The More We Get Together

(Traditional.)

The more we get together, together, together

The more we get together,

The happier we’ll be.

‘Cause your friends are my friends,

And my friends are your friends.

The more we get together

The happier we’ll be.

Audio Recordings

“Can Your Point Your Fingers and Do the Twist?” on Crunchy Munchy Music by The Wiggles.
“Feelin’ Groovy” on Havin’ Fun and Feelin’ Groovy by Stephen Fite.

Riddles and Jokes

(By Teresa Chiv.)

Q. What do you have when you put two people on a playground?

A. A lot more fun!

Knock-knock.

Who’s there?

Copper.

Copper who?

Cooper-ate to get things done!

Q. What kind of ring makes everyone happy?

A. Share-ring!

Puppet Shows

“Help! Help! Help!” in Amazingly Easy Puppet Plays by Dee Anderson.

Stories

“The New Friends Band” in Telling Stories Together by Linda Haver.

Crafts

Paper-People Chain

Materials

Construction paper
Glue
Yarn
Sequins
Small pieces of felt
Markers or crayons

Directions

In advance, cut construction paper people chains with five people for each child. A Paper-People Pattern is on the Sesame Workshop web site for parents at www.sesameworkshop.org/parents/activity/article.php?contentId=75622&&. Cut yarn into one-inch pieces. Allow the children to decorate the pre-cut chains with yarn for hair, sequins for eyes, felt for clothes, or simply with markers or crayons.

Medal of Friendship

Follow the instructions at Sesame Workshop, www.sesameworkshop.org and let the children create a necklace that shows the importance of friendship.

Games and Activities

Best Buddies

Play “Best Buddies, a game from the Sesame Workshop web site, www.sesameworkshop.org. Pair the children and tell them that they are best buddies and that you are going to call out instructions. First say, “best buddies spread out.” Allow children to walk around the room and separate. Then tell the children to do an activity with their buddy by saying something like “find your best buddy and touch backs.” Before each activity such as touching backs, toes elbows, etc., tell the children to spread out again. Play the song “Feelin Groovy” on Having Fun and Feelin’ Groovy by Stephen Fite while the children are finding their buddies.

Balloon Co-op

Before storytime inflate three different colors of balloons with air. Do not use helium! Provide enough balloons of each color so that each child will have the opportunity to choose one of each. Tie each balloon to a drinking straw as you tie the knot in the balloon. Line the children up side by side in a circle. Encourage the children to turn to their neighbor on the left and ask what color balloon he or she would like. Then let the children know that you are going to pass the balloons out to them one at a time, and they will pass the balloons along until they find the color their neighbor wants. Play the song “We All Sing with the Same Voice” on We All Sing With The Same Voice by Philip J. Miller, while the children are passing the balloons around the circle. When a child has the color their neighbor asked for, they place it in on the floor front of the neighbor, who will step on the straw to keep the balloon from rolling or blowing away, and keep passing along the other balloons. When everybody has a balloon in front of them, stop the music and stop passing the balloons. Carry a basket or other container around to collect extra balloons in. Then have children pick up their balloons and thank their neighbor before they go back to their seats.

Do the Twist

Play the song “Can You Point Your Finger and Do the Twist?” on Crunchy Munchy Music by The Wiggles. Act out the lyrics with the children.

Amazingly Easy Puppet Plays by Dee Anderson.
Crunchy Munchy Music by The Wiggles.
Having Fun and Feelin’ Groovy by Stephen Fite.
Telling Stories Together by Linda Haver.
That’s What Friends Are For by Florence Parry Heide.
This Place I Know by Georgia Heard.
We All Sing With The Same Voice by Philip J. Miller.

Sesame Workshop www.sesameworkshop.org/parents: This site includes parenting advice and activities for preschool and school aged kids.
Cooking Light www.cookinglight.com/cooking/: This site includes recipes for many different light meals and desserts.

Craft Materials

Shake Hands Nametags

Hands shaking

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Links and Additional Information