I need some ideas for a project to do with a group of about 5 kids, ages 3-5.?

Question

I have a job interview in a pre-school and I don't have any experience which makes me very nervous. The director wants me to come up with a project to do with the kids during their free-play time so she could see how I'm interracting with them. I have about 45 minutes for that. Any advice will be very welcomed and appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

finger painting, tie-dying shirts, Valentine cards, etc.

Answer 2

well first off im an early childhood educator....and if your doing a project thats not free play...free play is when children are playing on their own not doing a craft or something like that. its hard because you dont know what the childrens interests are...so you cant really make it interest based. though if there is snow something they might really enjoy is going outside and putting food colouring and water in spray bottles and letting them draw what they want in the snow. thats always fun...if you want an activity get them to make playdough with you so they are all involved

Answer 3

I do this with my kids in class. Take construction paper (white) and two pieces of clear contact paper larger than the construction paper.  Place the paper in the center of one sheet of contact paper. Put two or three colors of paint (blue, red, and yellow work best) in the middle of the construction paper. Place the second piece of contact paper on the construction paper. Have the children run toy cars over the paint to mix it up. The kids have so much fun.

Answer 4

Last week we made beautiful sparkling decorations to hang in our classroom.

Supplies needed:

small balloons

glue

yarn

glitter

Directions:

Have child pick out balloon. Blow it up for them. Put glue in bowl. Cut about 2-3 ft. of yarn and have child cover it completely with glue. Wrap end of yarn around balloon tie then have the child help you wrap it around the balloon in different directions. It was kind of hard for some of my students so I had them guide the yarn as I turned the balloon. While it is still wet, cover it with glitter. Hang them up to dry. They can pop the balloons the next day. If you use white yarn and white glitter they look like snow falling in the classroom.

If you decide to do this activity make sure that there are no allergies to latex first.

Answer 5

1) have them paint styrofoam bowls red on the out side, glue black dots on them and put 8 blk pipe cleaners (4 cut in half) as legs makes a ladybug

2) have them decorate 2 plates, put beans or rocks in them and glue the insides facing each other for a musical inst to play

3) using index cards, have them make their own "color match game" by glueing or coloring colors on one side of the index cards

4) bring all the ingredients in to make something like chex mix, trail mix, or have them assemble their own horduerves (cracker, cheese, piece of pepperoni), then you have a snack

5) take them outside to find a list of things like a rock, bug, stick, ball, ect.

6) do a "mad lib", don't use the words verb or noun, use "animal", "game", "name", "food" and make it real funny

Answer 6

when i was around that age i had so much fun doing this......you get a balloon and some newspaper  glue and water and you can use paint if you want  

you get the ballon put news paper on the ballon and you can paint it like its the earth or use your imagination and make it be what you want it to be and you can paint it ne color we did it to learn planets

or you can make apple smiles which is so much more simple you will need apples peanut butter and marshmellows you get the apple give each child a half of apple you spread the p-nut butter r u let them spread and then they make faces on the apple and then enjoy its delicious

Answer 7

45 minutes is a long time to be observed. Be sure you have thought about a way to keep them under control. I suggest stickers. They love them at that age. You can get little ones and place them on the top  of their hands when you see them doing good (ie, sitting quietly). Give LOTS of verbal praise.

Have several things lined up but reading fun books aloud is really a good thing. Do some project related to that. Eric Carle has a book about clouds. The character sees images in the clouds. You could make binoculars out of TP rolls and go looking for clouds after the story. IF there are no clouds out or poor weather. Le the kids use white chalk or cotton balls to make them on blue paper. Hang them up and go on a cloud walk spotting them around the room.

Answer 8

is there a theme in the classroom?  perhaps winter?

you could make snowmen....kids glue cotton balls onto snowmen...or you could do water coloring...or you could make playdoh with them and then make things with it (snowmen?)...think simple 3 step type projects...cut, color, glue...i like to choose activities based on the theme of the classroom, so think about that...

you could make a mask out of paper plates (you will need to cut out eye holes in advance)...you could make paper bag puppets...kids love those...there are a million things you could do...just be creative and keep it simple!

Answer 9

Pre-schools love when teachers have the kids up and moving.

Have the kids act out things. For example, you could have them pretend to be a cat, then noodles, and so on. Animals are good. 3-7 year olds usually love this, but it only lasts about 10 min.

I also suggest reading the kids a story, and keeping them involved. The story I highly suggest is Chica Chica Boom Boom.

Chica Chica Boom Boom is great because  it rhymes. Books with long stories tend to bore kids younger than ten. Also, when the story says "Chica Chica Boom Boom", have the kids say it with you. If you choose to read it, make sure you practice at home. You have to use lots of expressions and basically act the story out with your voice.

Make up a silly dance, and dance with the kids. Hopping around and twirling is easy and fun. You could try the Hokey Pokey.

Are there any drums at the pre-school? If so, you could teach about beats. Having kids first listen, then play, is very good and keeps them occupied. You could also have them make up their own beats!

All in all, these are activities that keep the kids happy, and they have always worked for me.

Good luck!

Answer 10

Try something artistic because kids like art. How about painting a memory like "family", "father", etc, etc.

Answer 11

Books called Alphabet Magic, written by Karen Kenney and Evelynn Rizza

Look at me productions, P/O box 7429, Algonquin Illinois, 60102

1 847-658-0050.  

Everything you will need guarenteed!

Answer 12

i think you should stop being nervous first of all.relax.ok.children like having fun so do arts and craft.teach them how to do things.talk to them.