Infant Lesson Plans

Rainbow Poems, Songs and Rhymes

Spring Lesson Plans

Infant Ball Pit 

Lesson Plan:

​Activity:  ​

Infant Ball Pit ​

Lesson plan developed by Ms. Erika Geelhoed, BA Ed

Age Group:

Mobile Infants

* Lesson plan objective and assessment can be adapted to use this activity with toddlers.

Objectives:  

Children will:

• develop sensory motor skill.
• develop fine motor skill of grabbing.

CDA Competency Standard:   

II.4.2a

• Activities and materials encourage children of varying abilities to develop their small muscles
  • a) Individual fine motor skills are encouraged through a variety of developmentally appropriate materials and activities

Materials: 

• large box or laundry basket
• plastic balls

Procedure: 

• Place the child in the basket or box.
  
• Fill with plastic balls.
• As the child plays, you can introduce color names to build vocabulary

Assessment: 

• Observe and record the children’s reaction to experience. How are their fine and gross motor skills developing? Were they able to grab and pick up the balls? Be sure to take pictures to share with families or place in portfolios.

**Always supervise children during sensory activities. Do not allow the children to climb out of the ball pit without assistance to prevent injury**

Online Early Childhood Education

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Benefits of STEM Block Play

With STEM curriculum comes much more than just incorporating more science, technology, engineering, and math lessons. ​

STEM is also a process in which identifying, problem solving, critical thinking, and hypothesizing all come in to play. ​
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STEM curriculum teaches children to use the separate elements of STEM along with prior knowledge to create a cohesive unit in which to build even further knowledge. Social skills and community relationships are another benefit of STEM curriculum. Many STEM lessons or activities will involve groups, pairs, or community members, giving children a platform for learning cooperatively through social interactions. Many early childhood classrooms focus on social skills and relationships in their existing curriculum and routines, and STEM will help reinforce those skills.