Circle time is an opportunity to bring your students together to join in on a class activity.
It’s the highlight of the school day for many children, and it’s a great opportunity to engage all of the students at once.
Keeping your ideas fresh for circle time can be a challenge, but we’re here to help.
Keep reading for 29 engaging preschool circle time activities the little ones will love.
1. Good Morning Song
Begin circle time each day with a simple “Good Morning” song.
This can help set the tone for the day and make children feel welcome.
The repetitive nature of songs aids in memory and language development.
2. Weather Check
Talk about the day’s weather and ask children to look out the window and describe what they see. Is it sunny? Rainy? Cloudy?
This activity not only teaches about the weather but also expands their vocabulary.
3. Calendar Time
Introduce the concept of days, months, and seasons in circle time.
Use a large calendar and mark birthdays, holidays, and special school events.
This activity helps them understand the passage of time and the cyclical nature of days and months.
4. Story Time
Reading together is one of the most popular circle time activities in schools all over the world.
Read a short story or picture book with your students and encourage them to predict what might happen next or discuss the feelings of the characters.
This promotes listening skills and fosters a love for reading.
5. Show And Tell
Allow children to bring in an item from home and talk about it at circle time.
This All About Me activity helps with public speaking skills and builds confidence while letting children share a bit about their personal lives with their friends.
6. Movement Activities
Engage the children in simple movements or dances.
For instance, they can mimic animals or do a small dance routine. This helps with motor skills and also keeps energy levels in check.
Further reading: Easy Christmas Songs For Preschoolers
7. Fingerplays And Rhymes
Teach children rhymes that involve finger movements, like “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “Five Little Monkeys”.
Activities like this boost memory, coordination, and rhythm.
8. Question Of The Day
Pose a simple question to the group at circle time, like “What’s your favorite color?” or “What did you have for breakfast?”.
This promotes listening skills, as children listen to their peers, and also encourages them to express themselves.
Further reading: Ideas for playing 20-questions with your class.
9. Group Games
Circle time provides the perfect setting for group games.
Games like “Duck, Duck, Goose” or “Simon Says” are not only fun but also teach listening skills and encourage children to follow directions.
10. Relaxation Time
End the circle time with a short relaxation or meditation session.
Play calming music and guide children to take deep breaths, helping them to calm down and be ready for the next activity.
11. Color Of The Day
Choose a specific color each day and ask children to find items in the classroom that match the color.
This sharpens observation skills and color recognition.
12. Alphabet Bag
Introduce a letter each day or week and have an “Alphabet Bag” filled with items starting with that letter.
For instance, for the letter ‘B’, you can have a ball, book, and banana in the bag.
Children can guess the items inside and relate them to the letter.
13. Emotion Sharing
Discuss different emotions using flashcards or pictures.
Ask the children how they are feeling that day and why.
This encourages them to recognize and talk about their emotions.
Learning to open up from an early age makes it easier later on in life.
14. Nature Talk
Bring in a nature item, like a pinecone, seashell, or leaf.
Let children touch and observe it and discuss where it comes from and its features.
15. Guess The Sound
Play different sounds and have children guess what they are.
This can range from animal sounds to every day sounds like a ringing phone or running water.
16. Name Song
Sing a song where every child’s name gets included. This makes each child feel special and helps peers learn each other’s names.
17. Themed Days
Have days dedicated to specific themes like “Transportation Day” or “Animal Day” and center activities around those themes.
18. Counting Activities
Introduce numbers and counting. Use items like fruits, toys, or beads.
Ask questions like “How many apples do we have?” to make it interactive.
19. Shape Detective
Talk about a specific shape and ask children to identify objects in the room that match that shape.
This improves shape recognition and observational skills.
20. Cultural Sharing
Introduce children to various cultures by discussing different festivals, foods, or customs.
This instills an appreciation for diversity from a young age.
21. Music And Instruments
Introduce various musical instruments and let children explore the sounds they make.
Combine instruments with songs for an interactive musical experience.
22. Mystery Box
Place an item in a box and give children clues about what’s inside. They can take turns guessing. This sharpens their inferencing skills.
23. What’s Missing?
Place several items in front of the children, have them close their eyes, and remove one item. They then guess what’s missing.
24. Daily News
Let one child share something exciting or new from their life. This fosters self-expression and listening skills among peers.
25. Community Helpers
Discuss different community jobs such as firefighters, doctors, and teachers. You could even invite guest speakers occasionally.
26. Safety Talks
Discuss different safety topics, like fire safety, road safety, or what to do in case of emergencies.
27. Friendship And Compliments
Ask each child to say something nice about one of their friends in the circle.
28. Days Of The Week Song
Incorporate a song that teaches the days of the week. This repetition aids memory and understanding.
29. Puppet Stories
Use hand or finger puppets to enact short stories or scenarios, making narrative sessions interactive.
In Summary
Circle time is a special chance to come together as a group and enjoy a shared activity or join in a discussion.
We’ve shared 30 of our favorite preschool circle time activities above, but which one will you choose first?
I have been in the education space for over 20 years.
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That is why I have created my site so that I can help other children, and their parents, all over the world.
I hope you find my site to be helpful.
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