Effective Preschool Theme Activities - Mittens Activity

Mittens theme activity will provide the children with a great opportunity to have fun and learn a new poem, andtherefore stimulate and develop their auditory skills.

They will also develop their vocabulary, and stimulate their imaginations.

This simple activity will provide them with ample opportunity to explore their creativity and develop their fine motor skills.

The teacher could do more than one activity with the children, after teaching them the poem. This could also be part of follow up activities.

The teacher should pronounce the words correctly, use the correct intonation, facial expression, and explain the vocabulary to the children.

This is an ideal opportunity for the children to play act the poem, and develop their pronunciation, facial expressions, and most important of all, their self esteem!

The use of masks will give all preschool children a bit of confidence, and "act" the character, and feel less self conscious!

Materials needed for the Activity:

1. Three-Little-Kittens-Book
2. Poem.
3. Kitten Masks.
4. Play Dough.
5. Materials for Decoration.
6. Paint and Paintbrushes.
7. My-Red-Mittens

Where are you going my little kittens?

Where are you going,

My little kittens?

We are going to town

To get some mittens.

What! mittens for kittens!

Do kittens wear mittens?

Who ever saw kittens with mittens?

Trad.
Procedure:

• The teacher should give them the opportunity to play act the poem, and wear kitten masks. All the children should be given an opportunity to participate and this will develop their language skills and build their self confidence.
• The preschool children could mould play dough kittens, wearing mittens! Working with play dough still remains a favorite with all preschool children, and this activity is known for developing their fine motor skills, stimulating their finger-, and hand muscles.

Ingredients:

1. 500 ml Cake Flour.
2. 30 ml Creme of Tartar.
3. 200 ml Salt.
4. 500 ml Water.
5. 30 ml Cooking Oil.
6. 2,5 ml Vanilla Essence.
7. 5 ml Vegetable Coloring. (Optional, or Paint and Paint brushes.)

Method:

• Mix all the dry ingredients together in a saucepan.
• Then little by little add the water, cooking oil, vanilla essence, and vegetable coloring.
• Add all to the dry ingredients.
• Stir in slowly over a hot plate, until the mixture forms a stiff ball by stirring it with a wooden spoon.
• Switch the plate off, and continue stirring until all the moisture has disappeared.
• Let it cool a little.
• Knead the dough for at least two minutes.
• Store the soft dough in a air tight container. (It can last for at least three months, if stored like this.)
• Materials for Decoration. (Optional.)