preschoolers - creative nest nursery...for preschoolers 25 zoom activities for preschoolers an...

Creating a

Digital Classroom

for Preschoolers

25 Zoom Activities for Preschoolers

An outline of simple and fun activities to engage in with preschoolers 1-4

years in your new digital classroom.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

CREATIVE NEST NURSERY

Connecting with Preschoolers

© Creative Nest Nursery All Rights Reserved

At the heart of the EYFS curriculum is the notion that

children develop in response to the relationships and

environment around them with an undisputed understanding

that play is essential for children’s development. As

circumstances change, we must remember and honor the

framework that we trust in guiding children’s development.

Many practitioners have since switched to providing warm,

positive interactions through online means, which although

carries its challenges, is very doable.

While the COVID-19 outbreak has seen preschoolers all

over the country suddenly without contact or connection with

their teachers and care givers, there are ample ways in which

we can continue to connect. This document serves as a guide

to practitioners seeking innovative ways to continue to

connect and retain some normalcy for the children away from

nurseries at home.

However, as practitioners we must also be constantly

reflecting and responding to our children’s emerging needs

and interests. The ideas outlined below all focus on learning

opportunities through play and can be adapted to reflect and

meet the needs of your students.

Who am I?

Activity:

This activity helps children to create positive affirmations about themselves, their abilities and their characteristics. It also serves as

the perfect activity for ESL children by using simple sentences, identifiers and adjectives. Begin by stating a fact about yourself and

have the children respond by saying “yes” or “no” to whether it pertains to them (encourage the use of the mirror!) and if “no”

encourage them to respond with a fact back i.e. “I have two brown eyes”, “no”, “I have two blue eyes” all the while using playdough

to roll, shape and recreate the features on a glass bowl turned upside down. Take turns beginning with facts. Once done, have a

show and tell of their self-portraits.

Resources

1. 3-5 Colors of Playdough

2. Glass Bowl

3. Handheld Mirror

Learning Objectives

UW: -26 months: Learns that they have similarities and differences that connect them to, and distinguish them from, others.

PSED: 40-60+ months: Can describe self in positive terms and talk about abilities

1


Orange you Sweet Today?

Activity

This practical life lesson involves making freshy squeezed orange juice by squeezing oranges with a manual juicer. There is so much

to gain from this fun activity as the children’s motor skills and upper body strength (all prewriting skills) are put into coordination.

Also watching the orange juice flow in expands children’s concentration and awareness. You can also touch on mathematical

concepts by describing the amount of juice collected (my cup is ½ full, my cup is empty… etc.). Start your session by relating your

orange to other circular objects around you i.e. “my orange is round like the clock on the wall” and go around. Next, cut the oranges

in ½ and begin turning. Count the number of turns before pausing to talk about the quantity collected. Keep going, and then pour

yourselves a glass of refreshing and freshly squeezed orange juice!

Simplification

Touch on our 5 senses. Smell the orange juice, taste it, talk about the colour, touch/ texture and sounds made when the juice

trickles down.

Extension

Once done, paint round oranges using only yellow and red paint. Challenge the children to think about how they can make the

colour orange, and what would happen if red and yellow paint colors were to be mixed.

Resources

1. 1 Orange

2. Plastic Knife

3. Lemon Juicer

4. Cup

Learning Objectives

EAD: 30-50 months: Realizes that tools can be used for a purpose

PD: 30-50 months: Uses one-handed tools and equipment

2


Some More Orange Please

Activity

This activity can be done on its own or as an extension to making orange juice! Using two primary colours, in this case red and

yellow challenge the children to think of ways they could make the colour orange to paint a big round orange with. Together

brainstorm other orange objects that can be painted together.

Simplification

Incorporate the use of all the primary colours to paint free hand and encourage children to observe the effects of mixing different

paint colours together.

Extension

Using red, blue and yellow encourage the children to find the combination of colours that could be used to paint a plum, a kiwi or an

orange or any other fruit that comes to mind. Preceding this activity, stories such as: Handa’s Surprise or The Very Hungry

Caterpillar that touch on various colored fruit can be read together!

Resources

1. Red Paint

2. Yellow Paint

3. Two Paint Brushes

4. Paper

Learning Objectives

EAD 22-36 months: Experiments with blocks,

colors and marks.

EAD: 30-50 months: Explores colors and how

colors can be changed.

3


Soak Me Up

Activity

This is such a simple and fun activity! Mix in red paint into the water in 1 bowl and yellow paint into the water in the other bowl.

Using a sponge transfer colored water from the red bowl and yellow bowl into the larger bowl. Encourage the children to observe

the effects of adding in water from the separate bowls together! An added benefit is the fine motor skill workout the children get!

4

Resources

1. 2 Small Glass Bowls - ½ full of water

2. 1 Large Glass Bowl - empty

3. Red and Yellow Paint

4. A Sponge

Learning Objectives

EAD: 40-60 Months: Explores what happens when they mix colours.


Read Me – Make Me Sandwich

Activity

Cooking is always such a fun filled activity! For this activity all you need are 3 simple ingredients and a plastic knife! Children use

their motor skills to cut the cucumber and spread the cheese, then arrange the cucumbers as they please on their bread!

Extension

Encourage the children to read the recipe before beginning and sequence the events together. Also encourage the use of math

skills by calling out the numbers the children can identify. What shall we do first, second and third? How much of everything do we

need?

5

Resources

1. 1 Piece of Toast

2. 2 Spoons of Cream Cheese

3. Half a Cucumber

4. Plastic Knife

Learning Objectives

PD 30-50 months: Uses one-handed tools and equipment

PD 40-60+ months: Handles tools, objects, construction and malleable materials safely and with increasing control.


Monkey Puzzle!

Activity

Monkey Puzzle is a lovely and funny story by Julia Donaldson. To begin this activity, read the book Monkey Puzzle together,

stopping frequently to allow the children to try and fill in the missing words. Next, talk about where monkeys live and why they

might like to eat bananas! Lastly, encourage the children to cut their bananas in half and cover them in yogurt and sprinkles. If

frozen, they can be enjoyed later much like popsicles!

6

Resources

1. 1 Banana

2. Yogurt

3. Sprinkles (optional)

4. Plastic Knife

Learning Objectives

L 30-50 months: Listens to and joins in with stories and poems, one-to-one and also in small groups.


It’s Raining!

Activity

Activities involving water are always a big hit! Using the markers, draw on the paper towel and have children share their

masterpieces. Next, challenge the children to think about what might happen if they sprayed their artwork with water. Use the

spray bottles to spray the paper towels and watch as the colours run into each other. Observe the changes and encourage the

children to retell what happened, what is happening and what might happen after they leave it out to dry.

7

z

Resources

1. Kitchen Paper Towel

2. Red, Yellow and Blue markers

3. A Spray Bottle

Learning Objectives

CL 30-50 months: Uses talk to connect ideas, explain what is happening and anticipate what might happen next


Build Me A…

Activity

The perfect combination of risky play and fun! Using a child safe hammer and a few nails role play as a construction worker building

a structure of their choice! Encourage children to count out their nails before beginning and then again as they are hammered into

the playdough. Take turns sharing your favorite places to go or their favorite places in the house, challenge them to construct it!

Extension

Incorporate learning about various community helpers. Who might be building a hospital? Who might be working within the

hospital?

8

Resources

1. Playdough

2. Nails (golf pegs as an alternative)

3. Hammer (child safe)

Learning Objectives

M 16-26 moths: Says some counting words randomly

UW 16-26 months: Is curious about people and shows interest in stories about themselves and their family


Oh, My Surprise!

Activity

This tried-and-true experiment is sure to excite! Children can place a drop of paint of their choosing in each of the muffin tray

openings and then cover the drops of paint with enough baking soda to hide the colors. Using a pipette (or spoon) children can take

turns guessing the color that will erupt when the vinegar is added.

Simplification

Substitute the Pipette with a simple pouring exercise. Using ½ a cup of baking soda and ½ a cup of vinegar and encourage the

children to pour them into one another and observe the effects.

Extension

Encourage children to place 6-12 various colors in their muffin tray openings and cover them with baking soda. Take turns calling

out colors and encouraging children to remember or recall where those colors were located, have them pour in the vinegar and see

if they were right!

9 Resources

1. Paints of Various Colors in a Muffin Tin

2. A Pipette

3. Baking Soda

4. Vinegar

Learning Objectives

EAD 22-36 months: Experiments with blocks, colors and marks.

CL 22-36 months: Learns new words very rapidly and is able to use them in

communication

PSED 30-50 months: Enjoys responsibility of carrying out small tasks

PSED 30-50 months: Can select and use activities and resources with help


Paint Me Happy!

Activity

Making your own paint is always a lot of fun! Mixing equal parts of flour, salt and water with a drop of food coloring produces your

own paint. Describe the texture of the paint which is a lot of fun to touch! Use the paint to paint self-portraits!

Simplification

Substitute the flour with yogurt and omit the salt and water to make the mixture taste safe paint for children 0-26 months!

Encourage messy play as they explore the texture and the marks they leave behind.

Extension

When applied the paint is puffy and wet, encourage children to think what might happen to the paint if we leave it outside in the

sun. How might the paint look or feel different? Suggest that the children place their paintings in the sun and come back to have a

look at it after some time has passed.

10 Resources

1. ½ a Cup of Flour

2. ½ a Cup of Salt

3. ½ a Cup of Water

4. Food coloring

Learning Objectives

PD 22-36 months: Shows control in holding and using jugs to pour,

hammers, books and mark-making tools.

PD 30-50 months: Draws lines and circles using gross motor

movements

UW 3050 months: Developing an understanding of growth, decay

and changes over time.

EAD 40-60 months: Understands that different media can be

combined to create new effects


Miss Polly Had a Dolly

Activity

What a fun activity hidden with lots of fine motor skills exercises! To begin sing “Miss Polly Had a Dolly” together and note all the

areas that hurt Miss Polly (i.e. her head, because she fell off the chair on her head, her arm, because she was running and fell onto

her arm). Next together draw Miss Polly and place band-aids over the areas which hurt Miss Polly.

Role Play

Elaborate on this activity by role playing as patient and doctor. Take turns switching roles.

Extension

Incorporate shapes into the exercise by matching shapes on body parts to shapes on the band=aids. See activity 12.

11 Resources

1. Paper

2. Pencil

3. 3-5 Band-aids

Learning Objectives

CL 16-26 months: Listens to and enjoys rhythmic patterns in rhymes and

stories

CL 22-36 months: Single Channeled attention. Can shift to a different

task if attention fully obtained – using child’s name helps focus

EAD 22-36 months: Beginning to use representation to communicate,

e.g. drawing a line and saying “That’s me”

EAD 22-36 months: Beginning to make-believe by pretending


Doctor Shapes!

Activity

This activity requires a little additional setup but when done proves to be an excellent way to not only work in fine motor skills, but

math skills as well as shapes and sizes which can be incorporated into the discussion. With the above bear outline prepared, or a

drawing of a patient with corresponding shapes on the bear or patient and Band-Aids, take turns picking out body parts or shapes

to heal together as doctors!

Extension

Add talk of positional language into the mix. We can put the band-aid ONTOP, UNDER, OVER, or BESIDE of the shapes on the bear

or person draw.

Get Active

To get children up and about, have them search their rooms or toy box for toys that resemble the shapes they see and bring them

back. Use the items to role play as items that could help the bear or patient feel better.

12 Resources

1. Paper

2. Markers

3. Band-Aids

Learning Objectives

EAD 30-50 months: Engages in imaginative role-play based on own first-

hand experiences

M 22-36 months: Notices simple shapes and patterns in pictures

M 30-50 months: Uses positional language

M 30-50 months: Shows interest in shapes by sustained construction

activity of by talking about shapes or arrangements

M 30-50 months: Shows interest in shapes in the environment


Paint My Favorite Toy

Activity

This simple activity will surely excite! Ask children to select their most favorite toy and host a show and tell! Next encourage

children to identify the colors they spot on their toys and set out to paint them together.

13

Resources

1. Childs Favorite Toy

2. Paint

3. Paper

4. Brush

Learning Objectives

W 22-36 months: Distinguishes between the different marks they make

PSED 22-36 months: Expresses own preferences and interests

UW 16-26 months: Is curious about people and shows interest in stories about themselves and their family


Charity Jar

Activity

If you have chosen to talk to the children about COVID and its effects on people all around the world, challenge children to think of

ways they can help others in need. Using a class jar as a “charity” jar that they can add to at their own will and pace, paint it

together and set it aside to begin using!

14

Resources

1. Jars

2. Paint

3. Paint Brush

Learning Objectives

UW 30-50 months: Comments and asks questions about aspects of their familiar world such as the place where they live


Ice Painting

Activity

This super fun art and sensory experience is the perfect way to connect and cool off in the upcoming summer heat! Encourage the

children to explore and narrate their actions as they explore both the texture, temperature and color of their popsicle paint pops all

the while painting together.

15

Resources

1. Ice Mold

2. Water with Food Coloring

3. Popsicle Sticks

Learning Objectives

PD 16-26 months: Makes connection between their movement and the marks they make


1, 2, 3.. I See You!

Activity

While this activity involves a little setup beforehand, it serves as the perfect opportunity to discuss quantity, numbers and shapes

together! Encourage children to match up the quantity on their cups to the numerical value listed, or amount of shapes seen.

Extension

Play I-Spy together using the shapes! “I spy with my little eye: 1 star” and encourage children to find it or hold it up. Take turns

spying different quantities and trying to find them.

16 Resources

1. Transparent Cups

2. Paper

3. Markers

Learning Objectives



M 30-50 months: Shows interest in shapes by sustained construction

activity of by talking about shapes or arrangements

M 30-50 months: Shows interest in shapes in the environment


I Can See A Rainbow

Activity

This activity is loaded with fine motor skill practice and expressive arts! Using markers colour the Penne macaroni together in

various colors. Once done, roll playdough balls and stick in one skewer stick into each ball. Sort the Penne macaroni together. Take

turns calling out different colors to thread. Compare the quantity of those colors.

Extension

Incorporate mathematics into the mix by taking turns calling out a colour and a number to place on the skewer sticks example: 2

red, and place 2 red together.

17

Resources

1. Penne Macaroni

2. Markers

3. Skewer Sticks

4. Playdough

Learning Objectives

PD 30-50 months: Holds pencil between thumb and two fingers, no longer using whole-hand grasp


Pom Pom Rescue

Activity

This simple and fun activity offers the perfect challenge for toddlers! While interacting narrate the child’s action as they pull,

squeeze or hold the whisk.

18

Resources

5. Pompoms

6. Whisk

Learning Objectives

PD 8-20 months: When sitting, can learn forward to pick up small toys.


Guess Who!

Activity

This activity requires little to no preparation! Using Zooms integrated whiteboard take turns drawing out your favorite animal,

food, place or toy for others to guess. Give hints along the way i.e. “I’m drawing an animal that can fly..”

19

Resources

1. Paper

2. Pencil

*Alternative each child can use the whiteboard on screen*

Learning Objectives

L 30-50 months: Ascribes meaning to marks that they see in different places.


Animal Rescue

Activity

This simple interactive experience is a perfect bonding experience for toddlers. Call out an animal sound and encourage the children

to find and pull off the animal corresponding to that sound. Once done incorporate animal sound songs into the meeting (i.e. Old

MacDonald).

20

Resources

1. Small World Animals

2. Tape

Learning Objectives

CL 8-20 months: Has a strong exploratory impulse

CL 16-26 months: Enjoys rhymes and demonstrates listening by trying to join in with actions or vocalizations


My Very Own Paintbrush

Activity

This activity is loaded with fun for toddlers! Using a cotton ball held by a clothes pin, encourage the children to make marks

together on their papers!

21

Resources

1. Cotton Ball

2. Paper

3. Clothes pin

4. Water with Food coloring

Learning Objectives

PD 8-20 months: Holds pen or crayon using a whole hand (palmar) grasp and makes random marks with different strokes.


Magic “Paint”

Activity

This simple activity requires little additional preparation! Using a paintbrush dipped in water encourage children to write or draw

“secret messages” to each other. Ask them to place their drawings outside for a little while and check in to see what happens.

Where did their message go? Take turns sharing the secret message before placing it outside.

22 Resources

1. Cup of water

2. Paint brush

3. Black Paper

Learning Objectives

PD 22-26 months: Shows control in holding and using jugs to

pour, hammers, books and mark-making tools

L 30-40 months: Sometimes gives meaning to marks as they draw

and paint

EAD 22-36 months: Experiments with blocks, colors and marks

EAD 22-36 months: Beginning to use representation to

communicate


Manicure

Activity

This activity is always a big hit! Encourage children to draw around their hands and draw in circles on the tips of their five fingers.

Next role play using the nail-polish, and together colour in the drawn finger nails.

Extension

To extend this activity, allocate each finger (i.e. index finger, middle finger etc.) a number associate it with a colour. Take turns

calling out the numbers or names of the fingers to colour in, not only is a great fine motor skills activity but now you’ve always

worked in numeracy!

23 Resources

1. Paper

2. Pencil

3. Nail polish

Learning Objectives



EAD 30-50 months: Engages in imaginative role-play

PD 22-36 months: Shows control in holding and using jugs to pour,

hammers, books and mark-making tools

M 30-50 moths: Shows an interest in numerals


Online Shopping!

Activity

This activity is the perfect imaginative play activity to engage in. To begin, encourage children to sort their coins by size or quantity

into piles. Next, take turns “purchasing” dramatic play kitchen items needed for cooking later by holding out objectives for others

to buy and associating it with a price. For example: “This Banana is 5 BIG coins” or “This Banana is 5 dhs” encourage the children to

hold up the correct amount.

24

Resources

1. Coins (of various sizes)

2. Dramatic Play Kitchen Items

Learning Objectives

M 30-50 months: Beginning to represent numbers using fingers, marks on paper or pictures

M 30-50 months: Shows an interest in representing numbers

EAD 30-50 months: Engages in imaginative role-play based on own first-hand experiences


A Chalky Night

Activity

Making your own chalk together not only serves at the perfect online activity, but with the remaining chalk paint, the children can

use the chalk to paint outside, in the bathtub or on paper later! After mixing equal parts of corn starch and water and adding in your

desired paint colour, encourage children to give their paint a mix and describe the texture of the mixture! Next using a black sheet

of paper, paint a starry night, the moon or self-portraits!

25

Resources

1. ½ a Cup of Corn Starch

2. ½ a Cup of Water

3. Paint

4. Black Paper

5. Paint Brush

Learning Objectives

EAD 30-50 months: Beginning to be interest in and describe the texture of things


Meet the Author &

Contributors

Dana Al-Qinneh’s journey into Early Years has truly been one of the best turn-

of-events! While she holds a degree in Radiation Science, a bachelor’s in Science

and Philosophy and a Canadian Board of Radiation Therapist License.

Motherhood and relocating found her embracing the career change and the

time she has since spent nurturing and learning alongside children! She

currently works as Head of Curriculum at Creative Nest Nursery as well as an

EYFS teacher. She strongly believes that children are born with an innate desire

to explore and learning and in the significance in building positive relationships

with them founded on love and respect to best support them.

Sehrish Farrukh is a passionate EFS teacher with a Cache 5 diploma and who

strongly believes in inclusive practices and enabling environments to best

support children’s skills and social interactions. She is trained in developing

age appropriate activities and works to provide positive and creative play

opportunities to help children achieve their individual goals as well as build

their self-esteem, trust and confidence!

Sara Khaled holds a master’s in child Psychological Studies and is a graduate

from the Childhood Education College. She began her career working in a

Montessori Nursery and currently at Creative Nest Nursery. She is a firm

believer of the Reggio Emilia approach and in the importance of play based

learning. She is a mother of 3, and considers herself a child advocate both inside

her classroom and outside. When she is not teaching, she enjoys taking part in

DIY projects and recycling materials!

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