Circle-Time Ideas

Circle-Time is a time for the children to be together and learn how to cooperate. It is generally done during the beginning to get the kids focused and to get a little energy and participation pumped into the room. Here are a few simple ideas: (I will indicate age group after I compile the list of ideas, so I can organize the list better)

Develop Virtues
Assertiveness - volunteer, make choices
Consideration - help all be involved
Courtesy
Enthusiasm
Friendliness - know names, communicate with others
Joyfulness
Orderliness
Responsibility
Tolerance
Trust/Trustworthiness
Unity/Cooperation - win-win

Through following principles (activites)
Participation
Observation
Attentiveness
Listening
Coordination


Participation/Cooperation
1. Pass the Bean Bag (song: quick/slow)
2. Pass Right (story: left/right)
3. Question and Answers (good for children participating)
    a) Adult asks a question; children answer then pass to another child to answer (popcorn style)
        Ex: What is your favorite color
    b) Children ask question and toss the ball to get an answer, then continue
        Ex: Have a list of favorites that each child can pick one of those questions to ask someone
4. Bullfrog Hands
Everyone puts their right hand open faced on top of their neighbor's open-faced left hand and they sing this song as the leader starts clapping his right hand to his left and sending a clap wave around the circle until the song is done. ("Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky where the bullfrog jump from bank to bank with a Hip-Hop-Hippity-Hop. And the bullfrog gets you with a big 'Ker-plop!'")
5. Hand Tapping
Everyone puts their hands down on the floor and lays on tummy. Cross right hands with neighbor's left and vice versa, with palms face down. Leader starts by tapping his hand once and the next hand taps once to keep the movement going in a clockwise direction. Once someone taps twice the direction reverses. (taps can only be one or two).


Observation
1. Button, Button, Whose Got the Button: Everyone cup their hands together as if there was a bug inside. Put the button into someone's cupped hands and have them pass or pretend to pass to each person on their left and right, then then proceed to pass or pretend to pass to the next. When the adult says "stop" (or when music stops) the children keep their hands cupped in front of them and have to guess who has the button.

2. Ring on a String: Everyone put both hands on a string with a ring on it (the string size is the same size as the sitting circle). Play some music and have the children slide their hands back and forth to their neighbors as if exchanging the ring. When the music stops, children have to guess.