- blocks
- cardboard appliance box (large)
- markers and crayons
- paint
- pillows
- scissors
- stuffed animals and other soft toys
- writing materials
- friend
MA Standards:
Speaking and Listening/SL.PK.MA.1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners during daily routines and play.
Head Start Outcomes:
Social Emotional Development/
Social Relationships: Develops friendships with peers.
Logic and Reasoning/Symbolic Representation: Engages in pretend play and acts out roles.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Language 4: Engage in play experiences that involve naming and sorting common words into various classifications using general and specific language.
New Friends
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
Educator Prep: Before the activity, cut a door and windows out of a large cardboard appliance box.
Tell children they are going to decorate the box together and then work together to make a special place for the whole group. Invite children to decorate the box with paint or markers.
- Help deepen children’s concept knowledge about friendship as they work together to decide what to put in the box. Encourage them to include something each child likes to do.
- Remind children that friends think about each other’s likes and dislikes. Prompt children to work together to decide on what to put in the box. You may want to offer suggestions such as stuffed animals, markers and paper, blocks, etc.
- Have children pretend that they are new friends, like Peep, Chirp, and Quack. Encourage children to take turns inviting their new friends to play inside the box.