Long past the holidays yet before spring break, the month of February can be a unique challenge for preschool teachers. Add in the cooler weather and teachers will quickly notice that some kids are getting a severe case of the winter wiggles. If your students seem to have caught cabin fever, it's time to refresh the classroom routine and add in some fun new activities to keep kids active and engaged.
Theater and dramatic play: Kids love to explore the corners of their imagination. Plan a lesson to read a beloved children's book. Then organize the kids and have them act out the story together. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen are classics that are perfect for the preschool crowd.
Virtual vacation: Plan a day trip to a warmer destination and let your students' imaginations take flight. For example, head off to Hawaii by asking students to dress in tropical clothing for the day. Set up chairs in rows and pretend you're flying a plane. When you "land" you can bring students to different educational stations about Hawaii, including Hula dance, lei making, local flora and fauna, and maybe even a movie at the end.
Dance party: Turn up the tunes and let those wiggles fly! Dance is a fun way to get everyone involved. Lead the group in some different fun moves. Let kids play "follow the dancer" which is like "follow the leader" but the class mimics the dance moves of the person in charge. YouTube has a plethora of educational preschool songs if you don't have access to some already.
Scavenger hunt: A fun scavenger hunt throughout the school is an enjoyable way to shake up the routine. You can choose a scavenger hunt theme to add in some educational value. Try breaking up into small groups to find shapes, colors or letters. You might even make the hunt about finding ingredients that you can use to make a special snack at the end.
Class competition: If you have a space for large-muscle activities, it's time to plan a friendly class competition. Make an obstacle course and have everyone enjoy taking turns. Next, move on to some relay races that help foster camaraderie. Finally, have a whole class celebration to acknowledge everyone's efforts, strength and teamwork.
Long past the holidays yet before spring break, the month of February can be a unique challenge for preschool teachers. Add in the cooler weather and teachers will quickly notice that some kids are getting a severe case of the winter wiggles.