Home Hot Topics Articles Directors' Choice Awards About Us / Contact Us Music for Learning Recommended Reading Activities & Curriculum Arts & Crafts Activities for Outcome-Based Learning Sharing Boards: What Do YOU Think? NEWSlink Current National News Conference Calendar Topics In Early Childhood Education Art and Creativity in Early Childhood Education State Licensing Requirements Stay Connected! We'll send you regular emails filled with articles and ideas for your classroom. Subscribe Now   ACTIVITY Wordplay By Marisa Procopio An Activity for Preschoolers This around-the-campfire activity recalls the old “Mad-Libs” games. It will encourage imagination and lots of giggling: two key components for camping out! Curriculum Area Language and Dramatic Play Before You Start Tell the kids they are going to tell a story that they will make up as they go using their words as a guide. You’ll start the story. Each child/adult is allowed to give just one sentence (unless you have a very small group). Seat an assertive, bright youngster next to you to continue the story in any way he or she wants, incorporating the word he or she will be holding. Let's Begin 1. Defer to the child next to you to continue the story. 2. Go around the circle until all of the children and adults have had a turn to contribute. 3. The last child ends the story. 4. Hand out the slips of paper to all participants. 5. Create a sentence/scenario using the word you’re holding: “Once upon a time a red sports car sped down Main Street.” Furthermore If your group is a bit younger and more visual, you can also make up slips of paper with a picture of the nouns on each. If a child gets stuck, he or she may switch words with another child who is willing to trade. If you have time and the kids really enjoy the game, have them fold and put the slips of paper into a hat or bowl, mix them up, have them choose another slip of paper, and play again. With older children, try having them use a theme for their story, be it scary, funny, etc. while using their words.   Slips of paper, one for each child and each adult, with a different noun written or typed in large print on each slip. They can say anything, i.e., car, elephant, cake, heart, bridge, etc. Articles and activities listed on this website may be printed for single use. No article or activity may be duplicated or distributed in any form, in whole or in part, without permission from the publisher, Excelligence Learning Corporation. Contact Permissions Department.

© 2006 Excelligence Learning Corporation, All Rights Reserved.