Circle Time with Ms. CeCe’s “Snowflakes Falling”
Begin circle time with Snowflakes Fall written by Patricia MacLachlan and illustrated by Steven Kellogg. “Each one different—All beautiful.” Next, share Ms. CeCe’s “Snowflakes Falling” (Sing as a fingerplay with fingers floating down like snowflakes – to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”) Snowflakes falling gently down, gently down, gently down. Gently falling. Join me now. Falling, falling, falling down. Repeat. (Another option? Invite the children to become snowflakes drifting gently to the ground). Each one of you is different and unique. Your handprints are different too. Today you may decide to create either mittens or gloves using your hands. (Trace your fingers making a glove, and then trace your hand to make a mitten. Children may gather as partners to help each other trace or as individuals with the teacher helping.)
A Guessing Game: CeCe’s “Five Fun Facts About Our Friends”
Next, play “Five Fun Facts About Our Friends” (Peak curiosity with the teacher’s glove.) Oh! Look what I found! My glove. (Reach into your glove, pulling out a piece of paper – with five descriptive sentences about each child.) After reading, children guess the friend described.
Gathering Time: Each Friend is Unique
Each child shares their mitten or glove design from the opening activity. Books to read at gathering time include The Skin You’re In, written by Michael Tyler and illustrated by David Lee Csicsko. “It’s whatever you do skin, be happy it’s you skin. You can’t live without it— I’m glad it’s me too skin. And look at the shades it comes—the shades of your colorful skin.” I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont. “I like me on the inside too, for all I think and say and do.” You Be You By Linda Kranz, “Life is a grand journey, Adri,” Mama said, “You be you.” A fun closing activity? Play a memory game with children taking turns in the teacher’s chair – while children recall five fun facts about each friend!