FRIENDSHIP THEME- Submitted by Sherry
*****
You've Got To Have Friends!
Theme Goals:
For many children, September means a new school year (day care) and new
friends. With the ideas in this friendship unit, the children can get off
to a great start by creating a climate of kindness, sharing and cooperation.
Through participating in the experiences provided by this theme, the
children may learn:
· Who friends are.
· Why we have friends.
· Activities we can do with our friends.
· Places we can make friends
*****
Concepts for the Children to Learn:
· A friend is someone who I like and who likes me.
· My friends are special to me.
· We have friends at school/day care.
· Our brothers and sisters can be our friends.
· Friends can help us with our work.
· We play with our friends.
· We share and learn with friends.
· Friends talk and listen to us.
· A pet can be a friend.
· Friends can be boys or girls.
*****
Vocabulary:
· Friend - a person we enjoy.
· Sharing - giving and taking turns.
· Like - feeling good about someone or something.
· Giving - sharing something of your own with others.
· Cooperating - working together to help someone.
· Togetherness - being with one another and sharing a good feeling.
· Pal or Buddy - another word for friend.
*****
Circle Time Activities
Friendship Songs for Circle Time:
Begin and end your busy day with these songs about friendship.
Good Morning, Friends
(Sung to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat')
Hi! Good morning, friends.
How are you today?
Let's each try to be a friend
To everyone today!
Good-Bye, Friends
(Sung to the tune of 'Are You Sleeping?')
Good-bye, friends. Good-bye, friends.
Time to go. Time to go.
Thank you, friends, for helping.
Thank you, friends, for sharing.
Love you so! Love you so!
Different Friends Song
(Sung to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")
Love, love, love your friends,
Different as they seem.
Playing, laughing, joking, helping,
True friends are like a dream!
"Do You Know This Friend of Mine"?
(Sing to the tune of "The Muffin Man")
Do you know this friend of mine,
This friend of mine,
This friend of mine?
Do you know this friend of mine?
His name is ____________.
Yes, we know this friend of yours,
This friend of yours,
This friend of yours.
Yes, we know this friend of yours.
His name is ____________.
"The More We Are Together"
(Sing to the tune of "Have you Ever Seen a Lassie?")
The more we are together, together, together,
The more we are together, the happier we'll be.
For your friends are my friends
and my friends are your friends.
The more we are together, the happier we'll be.
We're all in school together, together, together,
We're all in school together, and happy we'll be.
There's Mary and Peter and Janet and Joshua
There's _________ and _________ and __________ and __________
We're all in school together and happy we'll be.
Insert names of children in your classroom (daycare).
"Beth Met A Friend"
(Sing to the tune of "The Farmer In The Dell").
Beth met a friend,
Beth met a friend,
When she came to school today,
Beth met a friend.
Insert the names of the children in your classroom (daycare) for each
verse.
If You're Friendly and You Know It
(Sung to If Your Happy and You Know It)
If you're friendly and you know it,
clap your hands.
If you're friendly and you know it,
clap your hands.
If you're friendly and you know it,
and you really want to show it,
If you're friendly and you know it,
clap your hands!
Friend of Mine
(Sung to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)
Will you be a friend of mine,
a friend of mine, a friend of mine?
Will you be a friend of mine
and (insert an action) around with me?
_______ is a friend of mine,
friend of mine, friend of mine,
_______ is a friend of mine,
who (insert same action) around with me.
Welcome, Welcome
(Sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star")
Welcome, welcome All my friends
We'll learn your name
Through this game
______, _________ it's your turn
Find your name, and then return.
The children sit in a circle. Put the children's name tags in the center of
the circle. They should find their names when called upon and then return to
their place in the circle. At the end of the song, when everyone has his/her
name, he/she can trade it back to you for a prize--sticker, stamp, etc.
Welcome To Circle
(Tune: Where is Thumbkin?)
Where is ______? Where is _______?
Here he is! Here he is!
How are you today, sir?
Very well I thank you.
(child response)
Sit right here! Sit right here!
Come And Join Us
(Tune: Clementine)
Come and join us in the circle
For a fun and happy time.
We will learn and play together
In our circle, yours and mine.
Listen carefully and look closely
Have good manners and be kind
We will learn and play together
In our circle, yours and mine.
Let's Find A Friend
(Tune: The farmer in the Dell)
(I begin by walking around the room while the kids are sitting
and we all
sing. Once they know the game I let the kids begin.)
Let's find a friend,
Oh let's find a friend
Heigh Ho the Derry-O!
Let's find a friend!
(At this point, call a child, they hold your hand and continue walking
around the room and singing:)
(Cameron) find a friend,
(Cameron) find a friend,
Heigh Ho The derry-o!
(Cameron) find a friend.
(Now Cameron chooses a friend and we sing that child's name. The game
continues until the entire class is walking around the room. When the last
child is called to make it a "fun" spot to be, we reverse direction so that
instead of being the "end" the last person gets to be the leader! and sing:)
We all found a friend,
We all found a friend,
Heigh Ho! The derry-o!
We all found a friend.
Friend of Mine
(Sung to the tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb)
Will you be a friend of mine,
Friend of mine, friend of mine?
Will you be a friend of mine
And (choose an action) around with me?
Name Pantomime
One child is chosen to be "it." The kids chant the following:
"Hello my friends,
How do you do?
My name is ___________.
Watch what I do!"
The child that is "It" begins a motion.
The group copies it and chants:
"Hello ___________!
We'll do it too!"
Jump Song
Original and variations here!
Pick a child, and have them pick a friend to jump with.
Let's say you are singing for Sarah and Mike
Sarah and Mike, Jump up and Down,
Jump up and Down, Jump up and Down,
Sarah and Mike Jump up and Down,
Now sit back down.
Special Song
(Sung to "Where is Thumbkin?")
(Child's Name) is Special,
(Child's Name) is Special,
Yes (he/she) is,
Yes (he/she) is,
(Child's Name) is Special,
(Child's Name) is Special,
Yes (he/she) is,
Yes (he/she) is,
This song works really well when you have the children sit in a circle,
and allow the named child to stand/dance in the middle while the other
children sing, and/or clap along. They really like it.
The More We Get Together
(Another Version)
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together the happier we'll be.
'Cuz your friends are my friends
and my friends are your friends
The more we get together the happier we'll be.
With child's name, and child's name,
and child's name, and child's name
The more we get together the happier we'll be.
With child's name, and child's name,
and child's name, and child's name
The more we get together the happier we'll be.
Jump Jim Joe
(Sung to "Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Fire Truck")
Have the children sit in a circle before lunch. Pick one child, have that
child pick a friend, then have the two children hold hands and follow the
directions as you sing:
Jump, Jump, Jump Jim Joe,
Shake your head,
Nod your head,
Tap your toe,
Round and round,
And round we go,
Go and wash your hands
WITH SOAP
1, 2, 3 Good Friends
Sung to "10 little Indians"
1, 2, 3 good friends,
4, 5, 6 good friends,
7, 8, 9 good friends,
10 good friends are we!
You can also sing it in Spanish
Uno, dos, tres amigos,
Cuatro, cinco seis amigos
Siete, ocho, nueve amigos
Diez amigos son!
Who is here today?
(Sung to "the Farmer in the Dell")
Who is here today?
Who is here today?
Everybody clap your hands,
Who is here today?
Jill is here today!
Jill is here today!
Everybody clap your hands,
Jill is here today!
Substitute Jill for the names of the children in your class. Great circle
time song where the children can dance or jump while you sing their name.
The More We Get Together
(Sung to the tune of "Did You Ever See a Lassie?")
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together, the happier will be.
For your friends are my friends,
And my friends are your friends,
The more we get together, the happier will be.
Variations:
1) The more we play together
2) The more we work together
3) The more we care for others
The Kindness Pledge
I pledge to myself, on this day,
To try to be kind, in every way.
To every person, big and small,
I will help them one and all.
When I love myself and others too,
That is the best that I can do!
Share Your Toys
(Sung to row, row, row your boat)
Share, Share, share your toys,
share them with your friends
It's so much fun to share your toys,
sharing has no end.
Let's all share our toys,
Let's share them with our friends,
It's so much fun to share our toys,
Sharing has no end.
Let's Be Friends Today
Let's be friends with one another
Let's be friends with one another
Let's be friends with one another
Let's be friends today.
You can sing with a friend
you can shout with a friend
you can hum with a friend
Let's be friends today!
You can jump with a friend
you can clap with a friend
you can jump with a friend
Let's be friends today
Let's be friends with one another
Let's be friend with one another
Let's be friends with one another
Let's be friends today
Let's be friends can be expanded on by children
making up more things to do
together
*****
Finger Plays:
Friends
Friends care.
Friends share.
We need friends
Everywhere!
Friends
I like my friends.
So when we are at play
I try to be very kind
And nice in every way.
Five Little Friends
(hold up five fingers; subtract one with each action)
Five little friends playing on the floor,
One got tired and then there were four.
Four little friends climbing in a tree,
One jumped down, and then there were three.
Three little friends skipping to the zoo,
One went for lunch, and then there were two.
Two little friends swimming in the sun,
One went home, and then there was one.
One little friend going for a run,
One decided to take a nap, and then there were none
Good Friends
To help children understand what kinds of behaviors make someone a good
friend, teach your youngsters this poem. Later your little friendship
experts may want to add some new stanzas of their own.
Good Friends
Good friends are so nice to have
When we work and play.
Good friends are awfully kind.
They help along the way.
Good friends say, "Hello," or "Hi!"
When they meet each day.
Good friends can take your coat
Or put your boots away.
Good friends like to help with blocks
When you have too many.
Good friends share their crayons, too,
When you don't have any!
Good friends help clean a mess
That's spilled upon the floor.
Good friends like to let you in
When you are at the door.
Good friends play a game of catch
Or make a jump rope turn.
Good friends show you how to play
If you want to learn.
Good friends say, "Thanks for your help!"
And say, "I'm sorry," too.
Good friends say, "I'm so glad
To have a friend like you!"
Good Day!
Good day, everybody!
Good day, everybody!
Good day! Good day! Good day!
Smile everybody!
Smile everybody!
Let's chase the blues away.
Shake hands everybody!
Shake hands everybody!
Let's make new friends today.
Two Little Friends
Two little friends are better than one,
And three are better than two;
And four are much better still.
Just think!
What four little friends can do.
We Can Jump
We can jump, jump, jump.
We can hop, hop, hop.
We can clap, clap, clap.
We can stop, stop, stop.
We can shake our heads "yes".
We can shake our heads "no".
We can bend our knees a little bit,
And sit down slow.
Hand In Hand
Children go through motions with a partner
By myself I'm good, but together we're much better
Together we're much better, hand in hand
By myself I can sing, but together we're better
Together we're much better, hand in hand
Oh Big hands, little hands, clapping hand and waving hands
All different kinds of hand together hand in hand
By myself I can clap, but together we're much better
Together we're much better, hand in hand
By myself. I can jump but together we're much better
Together we're much better, hand in hand
Oh brown hands, pink hands, yellow hands and tan hands
All different kinds of hands together hand in hand
Friends
I have two friends,
(hold up 2 fingers on left hand)
And they have me;
(hold up 1 finger on right hand)
Two friends and me,
(bend each from left to right)
That's one, two, three
(hold up whle saying 1,2 3)
Five Friends
Five good friends went out to play.
It was a bright and sunny day,
One good friend said, "I can't stay."
Then there were four friends left to play.
Four good friends went out to play.
It was a bright and sunny day,
One good friend said, "I can't stay."
Then there were three friends left to play.
Three good friends went out to play.
It was a bright and sunny day.
One good friend said, "I can't stay."
Then there were two friends left to play.
Two good friends went out to play.
It was a bright and sunny day.
One good friend said, "I can't stay."
Then there was one friend left to play.
One good friend went out to play.
It was a bright and sunny day.
One good friend said, "I can't stay."
Then there were no friends left to play.
Rhythm Friends
I have two friends
(hold up two fingers)
And they have me (
hold up one more)
Two friends and me, makes 1, 2, 3 !
Playmate Song
Hello my playmate.
Come out and play with me.
Slide down the cellar door.
Climb up the apple tree.
Hello my playmate.
Come out and play with me.
And we'll be jolly friends.
Forever more.
I Have a Friend- Submitted by Lisa in VA
I have a friend
Whose name is ________________
And we have fun together.
We laugh and play
And sing all day
In any kind of weather.
A Friend- Submitted by Lisa in VA
A friend is
A special thing to be.
I like you and
You like me.
We like each other
But we don’t always agree,
As you are you
And I am me.
*****
Messy Table Fun Activities
(sensory activities)
The sensory table is an area where two to four children can make new friends
and share. Materials that can be added to the sensory table include:
Shaving cream
Playdough
Sand with toys
Water with boats
Wood shavings
Silly putty
(mix equal parts white glue and liquid starch. Food coloring can be added
for color. Store in an airtight container.)
Dry pasta with scoops and a balance scale.
Goop
(mix water and cornstarch. Add cornstarach to the water until you get the
consistency that you want.)
Creative Art Projects
(arts and craft ideas)
*Friends Can Be Different* Book
_______ likes to _______ but I don't,
and we are still friends.
_______ likes to _______ but I don't,
and we are still friends.
_______ likes to _______ but I don't,
and we are still friends.
I like to _______ but _______ doesn't,
and we are still friends.
Friendship Chain
Provide strips of paper for the older children to print their names on. For
those children who are not interested or unable, print their names for them.
When all the names are on the strips of paper, the children can connect them
to make a chain. The chain should symbolize that everyone in the class is a
friend.
Friendship Collage
Encourage the children to find magazine pictures of friends. These pictures
can be pasted on a large sheet of paper for a collage. Later the paper can
be used for decoration and discussion in the lobby or hallway.
Friendship Exchange Art:
Provide each child with a piece of construction paper with "To: __________"
printed in the upper left corner and "From: ___________" on the bottom. The
teacher assists the children in printing their names on the bottom and the
name of the person to their right on the top of the paper. Using paper
scraps, tissue paper squares, fabric scarps, and glue, each child will
construct a picture for a friend. When finished, have each child pass the
pa per to the friend it was made for.
Let's Make New Friends:
Your will need construction paper patterns of children, white paper,
scissors, crayons or ma king pens, and tape.
Before beginning this
activity, cut several children shapes from construction paper. Then invite
the children to trace around the construction paper pat terns on sheets of
white paper. The children then cut out the patterns they t race, asking for
help as needed. Divide the class into pairs. Encourage children to draw
the features and details of their partners on the paper. Tape the patterns
together at the hands to make a friendship chain to display in the classroom
or on a friendship bulletin board.
Balloon Pals
You will need: 9-inch round balloons, precut feet shapes, one for each
child; tag-board; yarn scraps, colored construction paper scraps; markers,
glue; scissors.
Cut out feet shape and trace it onto tag-board. Cut out the
shape including a slit. Slide the tied end of an inflated balloon along the
slot to the center of the feet. Now the balloon can stand up while the
children use the yarn to add hair, and the paper scraps and markers to add
eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. After all the balloon pals are complete, form a
group and ask each child to introduce her pal and describe what she/likes
most about her/his new friend.
Friendship Collage
Have a large collage box and a piece of poster board with the words "A
FRIENDSHIP COLLAGE -- We shared all that we used!" The children come two at
a time to the table and chose 10 things out of the collage box to glue onto
the poster board. When it's done you have a cooperative collage. (This
activity enables you to see who can count and do 1-to-1 correspondences when
counting to 10. It also pointed out children who had difficulty working on a
project together.)
Buddy Paintings
Tape two pieces of large easel paper together. Talk about what a "buddy"
is...(a friend). The children go to the table in groups of 3 to paint
cooperatively on the easel paper. Call them "buddy paintings" because they
are painted with our friends.
Cooperation Collages
Gather magazines and catalogs, scissors, paste, glue, large squares or
circles of white butcher paper, and circle stickers in several colors. Mix
half paste and half glue to create a manageable mixture. Divide the kids
into small groups, having them work at a small table or on the floor. Each
group should have a piece of butcher paper, magazines, paste mixture, and
scissors. Put the same color sticker on the back of each person's hand in
the group. Have each group create a collage of items the color of the
stickers on their hands by tearing or cutting out magazine/catalog pictures
matching the color of their stickers. Let younger kids be less organized.
Simply put the stickers on their hands and let them work together to make
one large Cooperative Collage.
Friendship Art 1:
Have two children work on an art project together.
Friendship Art 2:
Have children draw a picture of their friend. Label the picture as such.
Friendship Art 3:
Have each child draw a picture for another child.
Friendship Art 4:
Have one child trace another child's hand, color it and cut it out.
Friendship Art 5:
On a very big piece of paper, have one child lay down, and the other child
trace the first child. The children may color in their bodies and cut them
out to hang around the class.
Friends Holding Hands:
Have the children use non-toxic paints to paint their hands. Then have one
child place their left hand on a piece of paper and another child places
their right hand on the same paper. Label with the children's names.
Friends Holding Hands 2:
Have the children place their hands along the outside of a large piece of
paper. On the center of the paper write "Pre-school Friends Holding
Hands" Change Pre-school to be more appropriate to your program. Say
your class is the bluebird class... "Bluebird Friends Holding Hands"
Ask the parent to bring in pictures of the children with a friend to
post in the classroom. Place a piece of contact paper over the picture
to attach it to the wall at eye level. Talk to the children about their
friends in the picture. If possible, take pictures throughout the week
to post as well, of the children with their new friends:)
*****
A Good Book and a Related Activity
The Doorbell Rang
A Sharing Story
This wonderful book, written and illustrated by Pat Hutchins, is just right
for youngsters of different ages. The predictable format of the story is a
magnet to budding readers, while the illustrations allude to the mechanics
and mathematics of sharing. After reading aloud the story, set up a similar
scene for all of your youngsters to role-play. Provide two youngsters with
enough tag board cookie cutouts to equal one cutout for each child in your
class-including yourself, if necessary, to keep the number of cookies even.
Retell the story, making alterations as necessary, until there is one cookie
per person.and the doorbell rings. If you wish to make this reenactment into
a class book, photograph the students and their cookies as the retelling
progresses. Later use the photos to illustrate your own version of the
story. During the days that follow this dramatization, divide students into
small groups at snack time. Then, for each group, provide a plate with twice
as many crackers as people in the group. Have students work together to
divide the snack evenly. On subsequent days, continue giving students
opportunities to decide for themselves how to evenly divide the snack
provided.
Every Buddy Counts:
Make an "Every Buddy Counts" Bulletin Board.
Take photos of children playing, counting, working, etc.
On one photo have one child, on the next two children and so forth.
Take photos of children holding a different number of objects.
This is a great reinforcement of the counting concept.
Children love to see themselves in pictures.
When you take the bulletin board down, make a Big Book
with the pictures and add it to your classroom library.
*****
Author Study P.K. Hallinan:
Author, P.K. Hallinan writes a series of books about friendship. Some of
those books are; My Teacher, My Friend; My Dentist, My Friend; My Doctor, My
Friend; That's What A Friend Is; A Rainbow of Friends; We're Very Good
Friends My. Mother and I/Father and I/Brother and I/Sister and I/Grandma and
I/Grandpa and I.
After reading each book, discuss the ways that the "star" of the book could
be a friend, and make a chart of those traits.
For example, do you have a brother? Is your brother your friend? What
things does your brother do that makes him your friend? This gets
especially interesting when discussing grandparents and all the neat things
kids and grandparents do together.
As you talk about all the different people who can be our friends, compare
the charts and add to a separate chart that lists things that make kids
friends with other kids. Your students will come up with lots of great
ideas!
Keep a basket of yellow paper stars near a "Shining Stars" bulletin board.
When someone feels that another student has done something special --
something that makes that student a good friend -- they take a star, write
their friend's name on it, and staple it to the board. Younger children may
need help doing this. Older children can add a few words about why that
person is a good friend.
It's also very interesting to listen to the reasons the children give why
their doctor or dentist is also their friend ("She helps me feel better when
I'm sick," or "He makes sure my teeth are strong"). This discussion extends
naturally into a discussion of why other adults are our friends -- police,
firefighters, the principal, the man who drives the ice cream truck, etc.
Other "Friends" Books
Kids enjoy writing stories about their friends. The first story might be an
illustration with a single sentence, telling who is in the picture and what
the friends in the picture are doing. Make paper available for the kids to
make as many single pages as they like about their friends, and staple them
into construction paper folders. Display some of the stories on the walls.
Use a writing frame that says "________ is my friend because ________." Do
the first page as a group activity, with each child making their own page
about anyone they like. Then set paper out in the writing area for them to
make additional pages during writing time and/or Literacy Centers. The
kinderkids and some first graders will need help filling in the blanks.
More accomplished writers can copy the sentence onto their papers and do
their own writing.
Use the writing frame to make class books based on each of the friends'
books we read. That way, we have our own books called My Teacher is My
Friend, My Father is My Friend, etc. The kids enjoy reading these, and
reading their friends' names
Make Our Own Books:
Make books where the children tell the important thing about themselves.
For this book, we tell the important things about being a friend.
"A Friend"
A friend likes to _______.
A friend will _______.
A friend can _______.
A friend never _______.
But the most important thing about a friend is that he/she likes me!
"With a Friend"
With a friend I can slide.
With a friend I can hide.
With a friend I can walk.
With a friend I can talk.
I like my friend an awful lot
A List of Books that could be used for this theme
Sharing by Nanette Newman
Count on Your Friends by Becky Daniel
Playmates by Pam Adams
We Are Best Friends by Aliki
Bill and Pete by Tomie dePaola
Friends by Rachel Isadora
Two Good Friends by Margo Mason
Making Friends by Fred Rogers
Best Friends by Steven Kellogg
Let's be Friends Again by Hans Wilheim
The Best Friends Club by Elizabeth Winthrop
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
The Best of Friends by Josephine Haskell
Partners by Betty Baker
Two Is A Team by Lorraine Beim
Shawn Goes To School by Petronella Breinbrug
Three Friends by Robert Fremlin
My Buddy by Audrey Oeokfsky
Making Friends by Eleanor Schick
Best Friends - Myra Berry Brown
Dandelion by Don Freeman
Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
The Three Friends by Robert Kraus
Will I Have a Friend? by Miriam Cohen
Every Buddy Counts by Stuart A Murphy
My Teacher, My Friend by P.K. Hallinan
Best Friends by Miriam Cohen
Frog & Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
My Best Friend by Pat Hutchins
A Rainbow of Friends by P.K. Hallinan
Do You Want To Be My Friend by Eric Carle
Bernstein Bears - The Trouble With Friends
*****
Bulletin Board Ideas
Friends Bulletin Board
Ask the children to bring pictures of their friends into the
classroom/daycare. Set up a bulletin board in the classroom where these
pictures can be hung for all to see. Remind the children that friends can
be family members and animals too.
What Is A Friend?
Help your youngsters think about what friendship means by asking them to
brainstorm a list of descriptive words to complete the sentence, "A friend
is...." Write the student-dictated words on cards, and display them on a
wall or bulletin board. Using white construction-paper Friend Figures
(pattern attached), have each youngster create a self-portrait. Instruct
each youngster to cut out his figure; then arrange the figures near the word
cards so that they appear to be holding hands.
Hands Of Friendship
With a fine-tip black marker, carefully trace around each youngster's hands
on a sheet of white construction paper. Let each youngster color in his
handprints with a skin-toned crayon or marker. Write each youngster's name
above his pair of handprints. Arrange all the children's handprints on a
bulletin board so that they make a circle. In the center of the circle,
attach a photograph of the entire class. Title the display "A Circle Of
Friends."
Friendship Talk
Make a paper chain of children. Explain that this is like our class - we are
each individual people, but all together we are friends! A friend is someone
to have fun with, to play with, to laugh with, to sing with, and to share
with. A friend is a buddy, a pal - a friend! Who are your friends? What
special things do you like to do with your friends? What things do you like
to do by yourself?
I Am A Special Friend Because.....
Prepare a circle shape for the head, cut out of construction paper, and
attach it to a tongue depressor for the body (one per child). The children
decorate the faces to look like themselves by adding yarn for hair and
coloring in the features of the face. Write a short phrase on the tongue
depressor that completes the sentence, "I am a Special Friend because. . ."
*****
Games to Play
Cooperative Hugs
Your classroom will be tilled with friendly vibrations when your youngsters
play this cooperative game. Begin by having your youngsters spread out
within a large, open space. For safety's sake, be sure to emphasize that
this is a walking game with no running allowed. Play a recording of some
moderately paced instrumental music to accompany the game, or play an upbeat
song with friendly lyrics such as the classic "You've Got To Have Friends"
by Bette Midler. Play the music while youngsters dance around in place. When
you stop the music, instruct each child to find one person to hug. Play the
music again and have each pair of youngsters dance together. Stop the music
again. This time have each pair of youngsters find another pair to hug. Then
these foursomes can dance together until the music stops and they join other
foursomes for a big hug. Continue in this manner until all your youngsters
join together for one big friendly hug.
Make A New Friend
Help your youngsters get to know each other with this simple cooperative
activity. On white construction paper, reproduce the Puzzle Pals patterns
(attached) so that there will be one puzzle piece for each student. Use
markers to color each puzzle pair with a distinctly different pattern or
color. Laminate the patterns; then cut along the bold lines to cut each pair
apart. Punch a hole near the top of each puzzle piece and thread a long
piece of yarn through the hole. Tie the ends of the yarn to form a necklace.
Before pre-school starts one morning, place a Puzzle Pal necklace in each
child's cubby or at his seat. Encourage students to wear their necklaces.
Give each youngster time to locate the wearer of the matching Puzzle Pal-his
partner for the day. Ask each child to introduce his new friend to the class
by saying, "This is my friend [insert child's name]." As this pair of
students moves to a designated space (for forming a large circle), encourage
everyone to sing "The More We Get Together." Repeat this entire cycle until
every child has been introduced and all students are forming one large
friendship circle
Make A Circle
This cooperative game is lots of fun to play and provides youngsters with an
opportunity to develop their listening skills as well as their imaginations.
Have youngsters spread out within a large, open space. Have them walk around
quietly, listening for your signal. When you are ready, stand still and
call, 'Make a circle!" Your youngsters must move to where you are and join
hands to make a circle around you. Do this several times always moving to a
different spot in the room.
When your students have mastered the basic circle-forming skill, throw in
some simple variations. When you signal them, call something different such
as, "Tiptoe into a circle!" or Make a monkey circle!" (Students move like
monkeys once they are in the circle). Remind students that the circle must
be formed around you each time.
The Friendship Train
This game is easy, but it takes quite a bit of cooperation to keep a string
of little bodies all moving in the same direction! Have your youngsters
spread out within a large, open area. Try this game a few times with an
adult leader (the engine). Play some instrumental music softly in the
background. Have the leader move toward one youngster. As the leader passes
him, the youngster "hooks" on by placing his hands on her hips. Continuing
from child to child, children continue to join the Friendship Train. The
last child, or caboose, may then become the engine for the next game. If
desired, make the game a bit more difficult by asking that youngsters build
a train in boy-girl-boy-girl sequence.
Wear A Shirt
Gather a supply of long-sleeved, extra-large men's shirts. Ask for
donations, or search yard sales and thrift shops for inexpensive castoffs.
Make sure that you have enough shirts for every two youngsters. Group
students in pairs and give one shirt to each pair. Explain that both people
in each pair must wear" the shirt together! Encourage students to come up
with several different ways of doing this. After a while, have students
select new partners and repeat the activity.
Buddy Crawl
Assign partners once again for this activity. Line up several sets of
partners along one side of your play space. Instruct each pair to move to
the opposite side of the play space together. Further explain that each
person in each pair must be crawling and that the partners must remain in
physical contact as they move. Youngsters can develop and try a number of
different ways to accomplish this task. Some pairs may hold hands and crawl.
Some may crawl side by side, keeping their torsos in contact. And some may
crawl with one person leading while the other person crawls holding the
leader's feet. Explain to students that this game is less of a race and more
of a challenge to work together creatively.
Move A Hoop
Pair your students; then give each pair one plastic Hula-Hoop. Ask each pair
to step inside the hoop. Then instruct the pairs of children to move to a
specified location. Explain that youngsters may move in any way, but they
must both remain inside the hoop. Repeat the task a second time with the
same partners to allow each pair to refine its communication and movement
techniques. Later direct partners to jump, hop, skip, or otherwise move
together inside the hoop to reach their destination.
Make A Shape
Provide each pair of children with a jump rope or six-foot length of heavy
cord or rope. Hold up a sign bearing the outline of a square, circle,
triangle, or rectangle. Have each pair work together to re-create the shape
on the sign. Continue the activity, changing the outline to be copied.
Later you may want to include signs with more complex shapes such as an
oval, a diamond, or a heart. Or you may want signs showing numerals or
letters of the alphabet.
Musical Names
Arrange chairs in a circle. Walk around them to music. Sit when the music
stops. Take one chair away. If you don't find a chair to sit in ....stand
behind someone who is seated. The standing child tries to name the seated
child. Later when there are not enough chairs...stand behind someone who is
seated --or in a line behind someone who is seated....try to name the person
who is in front of you...(we'll always help if you don't know!) Continue
until everyone is standing behind 1 seated person.
Friendship Salad
Give a note to each parent and ask them to bring one piece of fruit. Then
you take the fruit and cut it all up and make a salad. Kids like it because
they have all contributed something.
Hand Hugs
Sit the children in a circle holding hands. The teacher starts the chain of
"hand hugs" by gently squeezing the hand of the child next to her. The child
then passes on the hand hug to the next child, etc. around circle.
Musical Hugs
Put on music and encourage children to move the way the music makes them
feel. They can sway, twirl, jump, slide, etc. Tell them when the music
stops, they need to look for a friend to hug. Continue with music, stop, hug
another friend, etc.
Jigsaw Puzzle Pair-Ups
Cut apples out of tag-board. Then cut each one in half in a different way,
so that they only match with one piece. Have the children move around the
circle until they find their "Puzzle Pal". Then for the day, they can sit
together in-group, sit next to each other for snack, line up together, etc.
It's a good "ice breaker". This can be used for any season; cut pumpkins,
hearts, eggs, flowers, etc.
Fishing For Friends
Will need individual pictures of classmates, smooth metal juice can lids,
fishing poles, magnets Allow children to glue photos of themselves onto
metal juice can lids. They can decorate them with stickers etc. Attach
magnets to fishing poles. Have the children sit in a circle. Scatter the
juice lids in the center of the circle. Give one child a fishing pole and
instruct her/him to "fish" for a friend by dangling her/his line over the
center of the circle.
Once she/he has "caught" the friend, the child whose picture is on the lid
receives the pole and takes her/his turn "fishing." The juice lid is
returned to the center and the pole is passed from child to child according
to the "catch." Once the game is understood, hand out several poles to be
used at the same time. Extension: When a child "catches" a friend then that
child can tell something nice about that friend. It is a great self-esteem
booster.
Find A Friend
Set up 1 chair at the front of the rug area. Everyone hides their eyes. When
you are tapped you quietly rise and sit in the chair. When the adult says
"OK" everyone looks and sings the song. At the end we take turns guessing
the name of the person sitting in the chair. Later in the year, the people
tapped go to the chair and hide behind a large piece of poster board....look
around the circle....who is missing?....Can you tell who they are by their
shoes? etc.
Do Not Topple The Tower
Give each child a block & have the children sit in a circle. Start by
putting one block in the middle of the circle and have each child add his
block, trying to keep the tower from falling over. When the tower topples
start over again. So simple & the children really love this one!
Buddy Pudding
Box of Jell-O Instant Pudding, Milk (follow directions on side of box), and
Large Zip-lock Bag: Place Instant Pudding mix and milk into zip-lock bag.
Seal bag tightly. You begin by telling the children something about yourself
and as your speak you manipulate the pudding mixture with your hands. Each
child then takes a turn to tell their new friends about themselves while
continuing to manipulate the pudding mixture. When the pudding is complete
place in small plastic cups and enjoy a great treat.
Put Ups
We go around the circle and ask each child if there is anyone they want to
give a "put-up" to (Put UP instead of down). Has anyone done something
especially nice for you? Shared?, Etc. The adult contributes too, so we make
sure everyone hears his/her name mentioned. Sometimes I write the comments
down and send them home for the parents to read. It does encourage the
children to remember the "good" interactions they have with others.
I Spy
Play "I SPY" game only give clues about a friend in our room. "I spy someone
with long hair, yellow pants and blue sneakers. Who do I SPY?"
Team Towers
Provide plenty of blocks and a large area to build in. Let small groups of
children use the area to work cooperatively on a team tower. When they agree
that their tower is complete, take a picture of it. If you don't want that
expense, suggest the group draw a picture of it, or measure it by
alternating their hands the height and width of the tower, and/or dictating
a description of their construction for you to print on paper.
Dealing With Emotions
Name emotions and ask the children to make their faces look like each one.
Then you act like each emotion and have the children identify it. Switch
roles and have the kids take turns acting out emotions for others. After
identifying lots of emotions let the kids talk about what makes them feel
these emotions. Finally, describe some daycare situations to emphasize and
discuss feelings.
EXAMPLES: Today is Tyler's birthday and he's brought a treat for everyone.
Alex came to daycare too late to have a snack. Meredith thought Gracia was
her friend, but she doesn't want to play with her today.
Puppet Play
Bring several puppets to circle time. Think of everyday situations where
children will need to negotiate and compromise. Some examples: There's only
one bike, but two kids want to ride it. Everybody playing house wants to be
the baby. The provider is reading a book, and all the kids want to sit by
her. Practices working out the situations by letting the children speak
through their puppets.
Fun On The Run
Gather several pails, detergent boxes with handles, and plastic milk bottles
with the tops cut off but the handles still intact. Have the kids use these
containers to move dirt from one area to another or to move sand from a pile
to the sandbox.
They may want to work out a cooperative system where some of the kids fill
the containers, others load the containers on wagons and transport them to
the new site, and still others dump the materials when they arrive. Then
everybody builds/creates once the moving is done.
A Friendship Game:
Do you know how to make friends? What do you say to someone when you want
to be friends? Do you tell your new friend your name? Can you tell me the
name of one of your friends?
Would you please stand up if your name is (Joe)? Would you please stand up
if your hair is (brown)? Stand up if your eyes are (blue). Continue the
game until all children have been included.
Divide your group into pairs. Invite the children to introduce themselves
to each other by saying " Hello, my name is (Susan) and I am happy to be
your friend." Explain to the children that when you ring a bell, they
should switch partners and meet someone new. Then encourage the children to
draw pictures of their new friends on sheets of white paper. Print the
children's names on name cards to place beside the drawings. Display the
drawings on a bulletin board labeled "Marking New Fall Friends." Then
invite the children to take their drawings home to share with family
members.
Do As I Say Game:
Can you stand on your tiptoes? Let's try it together. Can you clap your
hands? Let's clap our hands three times. Can you twirl around? Let's see
you twirl around.
What games to you like to play? Have you ever played "Simon Says"? Who
knows how to play? Would you like to play "Simon Says"?
Ask the children to follow several directions, such as "Touch your nose,"
"Touch your toes,", and Touch your mouth.". Challenge the children to
follow more complex directions, such as " Touch your knees twice and them
touch your head.". When children are ready, invite on child to be the
leader and give the other children directions. Encourage the children to
take turns being the leader and giving directions for their friends to
follow. Make sure each child gets a chance to be the leader.
Getting To Know You
Pass out memory cards to each person. Then have them walk around and try
to find their match. But, before they see if they have a match, they would
have to say, "Hello, My name is Mark" and the other person would say,
"Hello Mark, my name is Jane". "It's nice to meet you Jane". Then they can
see if they have a match. The first group to find their match wins a small
prize. Then, you would have them ask a few simple questions of their new
friend. Name? Age? Favorite Color? Whatever...
Then you would go around the room and each person would introduce their
new friend. Then... Ask children to name their new friends. Count how many
they get right... and the people who remembered the most.. get a prize.
Name Game:
Ask each child to name all of the other students during circle time.
During Group Time Have the children count the number of children in the
class. Every child can have a turn. Make a graph and make how many boys
and girls are in the class. Extended version: continue to mark the graph
each day.
What time is it My New Friend?
This is a fun game to play outside. You can change the name to suit any
theme. The children all line up against a wall or fence. And one child,
(My New Friend) or the teacher faces away from the children, a good
distance away from the children. The children yell, what time is it "My
New Friend", My New Friend answers 1 o'clock, and the children all take
one step toward My New Friend. The children yell again, what time is it
"My New Friend", My New Friend answers (fill in the blank) o'clock, and
the children all take same number of step toward My New Friend. This
continues until all the children are very close to My New Friend then My
New Friend will answer it's midnight, and My New Friend chases the
children back to the fence or wall that they started at. The first
person My New Friend touches will be the new My New Friend.
My Friend May I?
Played just like Mother May I? The child and parent stand at opposite
sides of a room. The child asks if he/she may: take so may step forward.
i.e. "Mother may I Please take 3 baby steps forward?" the answer would
be either, "Yes you may", or "No you may not." The child wins when they
reach you. Encourage the use of descriptive words, such as little, big,
huge, tiny, and giant. You can also play this with a group of children.
The winner would be the one who reaches you first.
Red Rover
Line the children up against one side of the room. Have one teacher on
one side and one on the other. The teacher on the opposite side of the
children calls out "Red Rover, Red Rover, let (child's name) come over."
The child goes to the other side of the room. This continues until all
the children have gone to the other side of the room, and then the other
teacher calls out the names. Variation... call out "Red Rover, Red
Rover, let children wearing red come over" and other colors, this allows
more children to be active at one time.
Name Ball Game
Have the children sit in a circle and supply the children with a ball or
bean bag. The child must say the child's name that they are going to pas
the beanbag to or roll the ball to.
Friendship Tables
Set up a table for two children to play together, legos, blocks, crayons,
and
whatever. In order for the children to sit there they must cooperate in
their activity and one must ask to other to join him/her in the activity
before they go to the table.
Friend Memory
Ask the parents to supply you with a picture of each child in the class.
Make 2 black and white photo copies of each photo and glue the copies to
the back of a blank index card. Now you have the cards to play memory.
Who is missing?
Have all the children cover their eyes. I have found that when they lay
on their bellies they tend to peek less. Tap one child on the shoulder.
That child will hide. Then the other children have to guess who is
missing.
Hello My Friend!
Have one child sit in the middle of a circle on a chair. This child should
cover his/her eyes. Then pick one child to go up to the child in the middle
and say, "Hello my friend, can you guess who I am?" The child in the middle
gets three guesses. Then the child who spoke sits in the middle and the
child that was in the middle chooses another speaker. The children can use
their normal voices, but if they are familiar with the person in the chair,
silly voices can be more difficult and amusing.
Follow my Friend
Play "Follow my Friend", just like follow the leader.
*****
Science Activities:
Comparing Heartbeats
Provide stethoscopes for the children to listen to their friends'
heartbeats.
Fingerprints:
Inkpads and white paper can be provided for the children to make
fingerprints. Also, a microscope can be provided to encourage the children
to compare their fingerprints.
Friends Voices:
Take the children's voices through the course of the day. The following
day, leave the tape recorder at the science table. The children can listen
to the tape and try to guess which classmate is talking.
Animal Friends:
Prepare signs for the animal cages listing the animal's daily food intake
and care.
*****
Dramatic Play Ideas (Prop Box)
Puppet Show:
Set up a puppet stage with various types of puppets. The children can share
puppets and act out friendships using the puppets in various situations.
A Tea Party:
Provide dress up clothes, play dishes, and water in the dramatic play area.
DRAMATIC PLAY
Set up the play area to make a small house with several rooms, such as a
kitchen, bedroom, and family room. Plan a scenario for every day, such as: a
birthday party, taking care of a sick family member, getting ready to move
to a new home, cleaning day, caring for a new baby, preparing for the start
of school. You may want to read a book dealing with the chosen situation and
then have the kids plan the needed additions.
*****
Large Muscle Activities
Double Balance Beam:
Place two balance beams side by side and encourage two children to hold
hands and cross together.
Bowling Game:
Set up pins or plastic bottles. With a ball have the children take turns
knocking down the pins.
Outdoor Obstacle Course:
Design an obstacle course outdoors that is specifically designed for two
children to go through at one time. Use balance beams, climbers', slides,
etc. Short and simple obstacle courses seem to work the best.
*****
Math Activities
Group Pictures:
Take pictures of the children in groups of 2, 3, 4, etc. Make separate
corresponding number cards. The children can then match the correct numeral
to the picture card.
Friends Charts:
Take individual pictures of the children and chart them according to hair
color, eye color, etc. Encourage the children to compare their looks to the
characteristics of their friends.
*****
Field Trips
The Nursing Home
Visit a nursing home allowing the children to interact with elderly friends.
*****
Cooking Activities
Pound Cake Brownies
¾ cup butter margarine, softened,
1 cup sugar,
3 eggs,
2, 1ounce squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled,
1 teaspoon vanilla,
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour,
½ teaspoon baking powder,
¼ teaspoon salt,
½ cup chopped nuts
Cream butter and sugar; beat in eggs. Blend in chocolate and vanilla. Stir
fl our with baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Mix well.
Stir in nuts. Spread in a greased 9x9x2inch baking pan. Bake at 350
degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool. If desired, sift powdered sugar over
the top. Cut into bars. Yields 24 bars.
*****
Music and/or Videos Ideas
Free to be You and Me, Thomas, Marlo & Friends
Getting to Know Myself, Palmer, Hap
Ideas, Thoughts and Feelings, Palmer, Hap
Look at My World, Poelker, Kathy Lecinski
Let's Be Together Today, Rogers, Fred
Toddles on Parade
Children's Song Around the World
Play Along Games and Songs (Video)
Scruffy and Friends (Software)
*****
Other Ideas:
Our Friendship Goals
Foster a sense of cooperation, acceptance, and togetherness in your
classroom by focusing on positive, friendly behaviors. Keep a camera handy
so that you can photograph your youngsters when they are cooperating or
working well together. Display these photos on a permanent bulletin board
that you add to throughout the year. You may find that you'll have lots of
youngsters who are quite proud to be caught in the act of being friends!
Conflict Resolution
To aid in conflict resolution, select your youngsters' top three or four
typical conflicts. Photograph your students in the midst of acting out each
of these disagreements in turn. Then photograph them demonstrating several
possible solutions to each of these conflicts. Display these photos on a
bulletin board. Later, when similar conflicts arise, youngsters can refer to
the photos for possible solutions. When they feel more competent at conflict
resolution management, transfer the photos to an album titled "Our
Friendship Guidebook." You may be surprised to see how many youngsters refer
to the guidebook instead of opting for an unsuitable alternative.
A Special Someone
After learning the "Good Friends" poem and seeing some of the behaviors in
action, your students will be able to talk about what it means to be a
friend. Take time each day to have youngsters tell you about friendly things
they have seen people doing. Keep a list of these positive behaviors on
chart paper and refer to them often. You can also review them as possible
solutions to unresolved classroom conflicts.
Have your youngsters make a big book that features some of the friendly
behaviors that they have seen or that they have performed. Ask each child to
draw a picture that shows someone doing something "friendly." Write each
youngster's description of her illustration in the remaining space on her
paper. Staple all of the pages together beneath a construction-paper cover.
Title this class booklet "Friends Do Special Things."
Friendly Words
Involve your youngsters in the establishment of a positive classroom climate
by having them brainstorm a list of friendly words to use every day. Before
beginning, help them understand the difference between friendly and
unfriendly words. Talk about how some words make people feel good or happy
when people say them. Other words have the opposite effect. Write the
brainstormed words on construction-paper cards and display them in a pocket
chart. Use these words in the chant below. (Some example words are; kind,
happy, nice, friendly, helpful)
Friendly words, friendly words,
Use them every day.
Friendly words, friendly words
Feel so good to say.
[Chant your list of brainstormed words.]
Do you like to make new friends? Why? What special things do you do with
your friends?
Can you tell me the name of a friend who is wearing (blue) today? What
color are the eyes of the friend sitting next to you? Ask the friend
sitting next to you what his or her favorite food is.
Outside Games and Activities
(See Games and take them outside - LOL)
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