NUMBER:
5 Five Little Toe Prints: Tired of fingerprints? Try this for something a little different: Allow children to dip just their toes in paint and make 5 "toe prints" (use one color paint or 5 different colors -- one per toe). By the way, getting each toe to make a print is sometimes a bit tricky but the experience is fun, it's great fine motor for those small muscles in the feet, and the sense of touch is amplified.
Stormie's Games: By the way, I offer a "Counting Cards" game in the "Teaching Aids" section of "Stormie's Stuff for Teachers.
Five Little Monkeys: Provide a mattress or mat for jumping and make
sure there's plenty of space -- make safety a priority.
Have the children divide into groups of five. As everyone repeats the familiar
"5 Little Monkeys" rhyme, allow 5 children at a time to jump on the mattress,
pretending to fall off accordingly. This game is ideal for learning about
the number "5," learning how the letter "Jj" sounds, and for practicing the gross
motor skill of "jumping." And if your shape of the month happens to be "star,"
how about rewarding each child with a star sticker for participating. This
very simple game is also a creative drama activity and promotes social development
through group cooperation. By the way, did you know there's also a book
available? It's Five Little Monkeys Jumping
on the Bed, by Eileen Christelow
Susan
Wray, Library Storytime Leader, from Dyersburg, Tennessee, shares this absolutely
terrific extension to acting out "Five Little Monkeys":
Stormie, I brought a "Dr. coat" (could be an old white
shirt), flashy tie already tied, stethoscope, cell phones, robe, big slippers
for Momma, big T-shirts for the 5 monkeys, and a roll or toilet paper. Five
"monkeys" hold hands and jump while I recite the rhyme. Momma is on one
side and the doctor on the other, phones in hand. When I got to "one fell
off and bumped his head," I gently, but quickly, move him/her off the rug and
wrap their head with toilet paper, then continue the rhyme and actions.
We have so much fun and the children love it (parents do too). From
Shelli Smith, Riverton, Utah:
How about using
a blanket for children to jump on? A blanket isn't so bouncy and limits
the bumping into each other. Also, for smaller groups or smaller rooms,
a smaller blanket (baby size) could be used with one child jumping at a time (but
still using 5 kids to reinforce the number 5).
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Reminder
from Stormie: If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom
ideas (each on a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you
can do so by ordering my "Activity Cards." Click here
to check them out.
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