Getting Ready for Kindergarten: Physical

As part of our summer reading program for the preschool and all ages storytime the Develop Young Learners Team put together 7 weeks of special activities that highlight the six domains (+ science) of early learning (WaKids):  Physical, Social-Emotional, Language, Literacy, Cognitive,  Math (and we added science to the mix).

I developed the activity for physical domain--Animal Movement Cubes.

A child chooses six of the twelve animals to cut out and glue onto a 3x3 box.

The child rolls the dice and then moves like that animal.

Here is the take-home handout I made for parents and caregivers:

Children need to continue to increase their ability to regulate their body movements and develop their muscles.  This includes whole body movements such as jumping and balancing, as well as small muscles in hands and fingers to be able to write.  All physical development can be made into games so children do not even realize they are developing important skills to be ready for kindergarten. 

Today you had the opportunity to make an animal dice with your child!  The purpose of this dice is to encourage your child to move in different ways.

Make an animal dice:

Tape a square box together, also taping the lid shut.  Cut out 6 animal clipart pictures and glue to each side of the box.

Have your child roll the dice and move like that animal moves.  For example, if they rolled an elephant your child may stomp their feet when they walk or swing their arm like an elephant’s trunk.  Roll the dice and play again!

Further Activities at Home:

Make another dice with different animals using clipart, pictures, or drawings.

Use the dice to help children transition to different activities.  For example, “It’s time to go! Can you get to the car like a _______________?”

Questions to ask: Can you think of other movements for the animals?  Do the baby animals move differently than the parent?  Can you make the animals sound as you move?  Can you make just your fingers move the way an animal moves?

Sing actions to the tune of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” substituting different animals and the movement they make.

This is the way we jump like a frog

Jump like a frog

Jump like a frog

This is the way we jump like a frog

So early in the morning!

Check out these books about movement:

·         You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses by Taeeun Yoo

·         From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

·         Run, Jump, Wiz, Splash by Vera Rosenberry

·         Hop, Hop, Jump! by Lauren Thompson

·         Stretch by Doreen Cronin

The children really seemed to enjoy making and playing with the animal cube! :)