- small stuffed bunny or bean bag
- friend
MA Standards:
Speaking and Listening/SL.PK.MA.1a: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (e.g., taking turns in talking, listening to peers, waiting to speak until another person is finished talking, asking questions and waiting for an answer, gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
Head Start Outcomes:
Social Emotional Development/
Social Relationships: Cooperates with others.
Social Emotional Development/
Social Relationships: Develops friendships with peers
Approaches to Learning/Cooperation: Helps, shares, and cooperates in a group.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts 1: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (taking turns in talking; listening to peers; waiting until someone is finished; asking questions and waiting for an answer; gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
Play Together: I Have a New Friend Toss
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
Have children gather together in a circle. Say, We are all making new friends at school, so let’s play a game about new friends. Tell children you are going to sing a chant called “I Have A New Friend.”
Explain that when you get to the end of the chant you are going to toss the stuffed bunny to a child. Say, If I toss you the bunny, I want you to shout out your name. And then gently toss it back to me. Let's try it. Demonstrate singing the chant and gently tossing the bunny. After a few rounds have children join you in singing the chant to each child.
I Have a New Friend
I have a new friend, a new friend, a new friend,
I have a new friend, and her/his name is <child's name>
Adaptation: If children are able to toss gently to one another you may want them to toss the bunny to another child instead of back to you. If they are familiar with each other’s names, you can have them identify the child before tossing it to him or her.