Martin answers:

Definitely set up a tent somewhere in your classroom. How fun!! Think about including a few sleeping bags or camp mats. I wonder if you could have a pretend fire? Maybe put a few blocks around some fake logs with red/orange tissue paper flames. Bring in empty graham cracker boxes and have kids use cotton balls as pretend marshmallows for s’mores. Sing camp fire songs during circle time. Is your outdoor area large enough to hold a real canoe? It would be awesome in the sand area so kids could sit in it/climb in it … Maybe even a few paddles, too? And life preservers! Maybe pretend fishing poles? Kids can trace their hands, cut them out, paint them, and paste them onto trees as leaves.

Have fun!

Martin answers:

You might want to make your reading corner out of a little pup-tent. If you put a kid size sleeping bag in the pup-tent a child can lie down while reading (and still be visible- which is always a good thing.

You can also use one or two camp chairs (especially if you get the kid size ones) for them to sit in while they read.Add this to the campfire idea mentioned by another reader and you have a whole camp site.

Check with your local free-cycling group (there are a lot of these groups on Yahoo Groups) for free sources for some of these items. You can also go to Goodwill, or Thrift Shops. That way you can amaze the children without breaking the bank.

If you are allowed to, you can make some trees out of twisted butcher paper, (large carpet rolls are also an alternative). Then you could fasten stuffed animals like raccoons or owls in the tree’s branches.

You could also try to find some bulletin board sets that go with your theme to add continuity to the room.The animal friends calendar set below is one possibility. And you could post the kids names on the bears in canoes accents under a heading that reads something like

Miss _____________’s Happy Campers

Good luck with the new school year!

Martin answers:

Just go to your local preschool and summer camps and ask if they are in need of help. Good luck to you! It’s still hard to find a job with this economy.

Martin answers:

Here’s an easy chant you can do in a circle and work your way around to each child:
Biddely diddely bumble bee
Won’t you say your name to me?
(child says name) Jane
(all clap and repeat name twice) Jane! Jane!
Be sure you take the first turn so the children can see you model what they should do when it is their turn.

Here’s one to the tune of Frere Jacques:
What is your name? What is your name?
Tell us please. Tell us please.
We would like to meet you. We would like to meet you.
What’s your name? What’s your name?
Smile at the child whose turn it is and encourage them to say their name to you. It’s easier for the children if the question appears to be coming from you rather than a big group of unfamiliar faces, but encourage all the children to sing together.

Another thing you can do is a bean bag toss. Hold the bean bag and tell the children your name. Then toss it to one child and encourage them to say their name, then toss the bean bag back to you. Continue until all have had a turn.

Check out this link: http://preschooleducation.com/ If you click on Music & Songs you’ll find tons of stuff you can adapt as you need. You may find some other activities and games you can use on this site also. Have a great week!