Raking Leaves Pretend Play

Lesson Plan:

Activity:

Lesson plan developed by Ms. Erika Geelhoed, BA Ed

Age Group:

Toddlers

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

Objectives:

Children will:

engage in dramatic play materials.
develop gross motor skills.
connect literature to real-life skills.

CDA Competency Standard:

II.7.3a

Activities and materials encourage children to develop their imaginations
- a) Dramatic play materials and activities are available for children daily

Raking Leaves Pretend Play

Materials:

child-size play rake
fabric leaves
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

Procedure:

Begin the lesson by finding a comfortable place and reading Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf with the children.
As you are reading, be sure to use excited and dramatic voices to keep the children engaged.
When finished, spread the fabric leaves out on the floor and show the children how to rake them.
Encourage the children to attempt raking on their own.

Assessment:

Observe and record the children’s gross motor skills. Were they able to control the rake to collect some of the leaves? How long were they interested in the activity? Did they ever return to the book Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf?

Note: Please provide appropriate supervision to the children in your care when completing all activities. You will need to decide what types of activities are safe for the children in your care. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when providing art and sensory experiences for children. Toddlers require special caution, only use non-toxic materials, and do not allow toddlers to put things in their mouths that are a choking hazard.

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Sign Language for Babies and Toddlers

Basic Signs for Babies and Toddlers

Babies begin to mimic what they see from a very early age, often cooing as part of an exchange with a caregiver long before they are able to communicate linguistically. This is why babies typically begin signing back earlier than they begin speaking. When introducing sign language to babies, it is important to sign and speak with them at the same time. For example, when signing “more” to an infant who may want more food, it is advisable to say, “Do you want more?” While signing the word more.

For older infants, who have not had previous sign language exposure, it is fine to start with the recommended signs for the younger age range. Chances are that they will be able to pick up the signs quickly and continue learning new ones as they are introduced. As long as the signs are taught in context and are signed often, the child will benefit from them.

Toddler signs become more specific to their feelings and important components of their daily lives. Toddlers are at an age where they are becoming aware of themselves, their feelings, needs, and the labels or names associated with their world. This is why signs such as happy, Aunt, friend, and bathroom are commonly taught to this age group.

Video: Recommended Signs for Babies and Toddlers